Consider Lightening Your Pack

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, my full pack typically weighed between 45 and 65 pounds--with my record being 75+ pounds. On my July 2022 (nearly 90 mile) Isle Royale hike, my pack never weighed more than 18 lbs--even with 3 liters of water and up to 5 days of food. (And, I could have made it 2-3 pounds lighter if I had wanted to).  I am not recommending pack weights of over 75 lbs nor pack weights of 18 lbs. (or less). However. most people could probably benefit from lightening their pack a little bit. That's what I want to talk about in this article.

I saw the above photo online and it is what was inspired this article.  I remember those days. It was an era when many people bragged about how HEAVY their pack was (as opposed to the modern trend of boasting of the LIGHTEST pack weight).

I still see many people hiking with fully-loaded packs like this (and that is their right and their choice. "Hike Your Own Hike" -- HYOH). Some of these people truly love this type of backpacking and are comfortable doing it.  However, many other people carry loads like this and they look uncomfortable, miserable, exhausted, and sometimes they are even limping.  While I am writing this article for everyone -- my target audience are the people who currently hike with loads like those seen in this photo--but who are miserable and are looking to explore other options.

Screenshot of me holding my super ultralight pack--loaded with everything except food. Notice how small and empty it is.   There is very little in the main body of the pack--even several inches below where my hand is located is essentially empty. It is much smaller and lighter than the packs worn by the couple in the earlier photo. With two liters of water and 5 days of food--this will weigh around 15 lbs. fully loaded--including the weight of the pack.

LEAVE STUFF HOME!

One of the primary reasons why some people's packs weigh so much (and why the wearer of the pack is miserable) is the fact that they simply bring too much stuff with them.  Much of the stuff is simply not needed on an Isle Royale trip and should probably be left at home.  Allow me to list some of the things that I leave home. (This is MY list--and your list may vary).

• Ax and saw. There is little (or no) need for an ax or saw on Isle Royale. Campfires and cooking fires are allowed in only a very limited number of places. You are not permitted to cut down any trees or cut off any tree limbs (whether they are dead or alive). You are advised to only burn wood that is no bigger around than your wrist. You are not permitted to do trail work or do any clearing of trails--unless specially trained, specifically authorized to do so, and properly supervised. So, why bother bringing the saw and ax?  How and where will you need it?
  
  
• Bring fewer changes of clothing. I oftentimes personally get by with just ONE change of clothing--and almost never bring more than two changes of clothing. This includes undergarments. I bring less clothing--I wear it longer--and I rinse it out and/or wash it during my trip. I see many people who bring MUCH more clothing than that. Just remember--it all takes up space and it adds to the pack weight. When it comes to socks, I never bring more than the pair of socks that I am wearing and 1-2 additional pairs.
  
  
• Bring fewer OUTER Layers. Some people will wear a t-shirt and throw a long-sleeved shirt over the top of it. They might also have a long-sleeved base layer. They will also bring a fleece jacket, a "puffy" jacket, (and MAYBE a wind shirt or wind breaker), AND rain gear. Some people will even bring two (or more) long-sleeved shirts and a couple of fleece jackets. Do you REALLY need all of these layers --or can you leave some of them home?  Do you need BOTH a fleece jacket AND and a puffy jacket (and a windbreaker)? Do you need more than one long-sleeve shirt and more than one fleece jacket? Do you need BOTH a long-sleeved shirt AND a fleece jacket? Do you need a windbreaker AND rain gear--or can you use your rain gear as a windbreaker layer? It is amazing what I can accomplish with just a long-sleeved base layer, a puffy jacket, and rain gear.
  
  
• Camp chair. Bring it if you want it. However, I would rather stand, sit on the ground, or sit on a rock or log than carry (even a lightweight) camp chair (and I am age 62).
  
  
• Camp shoes. They are a nice item to have--but I don't always bring a pair. (And, if I do bring camp shoes--I try to bring something light like thin and lightweight flip-flops--or "water shoes"). There is no need to bring 2-4 lb. running or athletic shoes to wear around camp.
  
  
• Bring less cooking and eating gear. I don't really cook when I am in the wilderness. I heat water and add it directly to food packages and I eat out of the food packages -- using a long-handled titanium "spork".  I drink water out of my water bottles.  So, I bring no cup, bowl, plate, no other eating utensils than my spork, no cooking utensils--(like spatula, tongs, or mixing spoon), no frying pan or additional cooking pots. And, I bring no dish washing gear--because all I have is my spork and a small pot in which I only boiled water.
  
  
• Bring less electronic "stuff" and accessories.  Some people bring LOTS of electronic gear and accessories. Some of those items include cellphone, camera, radio, GPS, Nook or Kindle reader, satellite communication device, an "iPad". etc. Plus, all of the cords, chargers, and/or battery packs. Try bringing fewer (and/or NO devices) -- and preferably bring items that can serve multiple purposes and which can share charging cords and chargers. Some people bring 2-5+ pounds of electronic stuff and accessories.
  
  
• Bring less food. Always bring enough food--and always bring some extra food (in case transportation is delayed and you are on the Island 1-2 extra days). However, some people bring enough food to feed a small army and they then take lots of food back home with them. Why carry all that extra food everywhere that you go? (On longer trips, I will usually "re-supply" one or more times--so that I am carrying less food at any one time during my trip.)
  

Get a Scale --and Weigh Things.

One of the best investments that you can make is to buy a small postal scale or a kitchen/food scale. Preferably this will be a digital scale. Then weigh all of your potential pack contents.

Bring Lighter Weight  Items.

When trying to reduce your pack weight, one of the more "dangerous" thoughts is that "a fraction of an ounce doesn't really matter" or "a few ounces won't make a difference". Thus, you bring the additional item or the heavier item.

Fractions of ounces add up and soon equal full ounces. Full ounces add up and equal pounds.

Let's assume that you have 32 items in your pack. If you reduced the weight of each item by an average of just half-an-ounce you would cut a pound from your overall pack weight. If you cut the average weight of each item by TWO OUNCES -- you would cut 4 lbs of pack weight.  It all adds up.

Most of the time, you can cut quite a bit of pack weight without buying anything else (other that the above-mentioned scale). Let's assume that you own two pairs of shorts.  One pair weighs 6 oz. and the other pair weighs 4 oz. Bring the lighter pair of shorts. Some people bring a 7-10 ounce "Rambo" survival knife with them on their trip. I bring a tiny 0.7 ounce knife.  Thus, I bring half-a-pound less -- just by my choice in knives. If you make enough of these lighter types of choices (from among the gear and clothing that you already own) you can potentially drop several pounds off of your pack weight.

Bringing items that are "bigger than you need" can also add to pack weight. I tend to be a solo hiker who almost never heats more than two cups of water at a time. Why should I bring an 6 to 10 cup cooking pot?  Why should a solo hiker bring a 2-4 person tent?  Should a solo hiker bring a small (1 to 3 ounce) Sawyer water filter or a "pump-style" water filter (which is more appropriately suited for small group use) and which weighs over a pound?

A Special Note About Food

Do you REALLY need to bring a large amount of food--or can you easily and safely get by with bringing less? Bringing just 2-4 ounces less of food per day--can easily shave a pound (or more) from your pack weight on a week long trip. So, think twice before you keep adding more food items "just in case". ALSO, pay close attention to the CALORIES PER OUNCE. Here is an example: Walnuts have about 185 calories per ounce.  Conversely, a 2.6 ounce packet of tuna--has just 70 calories -- which is less than 27 calories per ounce. To get nearly 1,500 calories, you can either bring ONE 8 ounce bag of walnuts--or 21 foil packets of tuna (that will weigh more than 3.4 pounds). The number of calories per ounce can make a big difference in both pack weight and pack volume.

The "Big Four" Items

I am NOT suggesting that people run out and buy all new gear that is lighter in weight (and expensive). However, we all need to eventually replace or upgrade pieces of gear as they wear out. Thus, when you are replacing gear -- try to keep weight in mind. Over a period of years, you can lighten your pack weight significantly -- especially when you replace any of the "Big Four" items.

The "Big Four" items are:

1. Tent
2. Backpack
3. Sleeping Bag / Quilt
4. Sleeping pad

TENT:  Some tents weigh 5-7 pounds (or more).  There are other tents that weigh under 2 pounds. Some tarps weigh under 8 ounces. (NOTE: Using very light tents and/or using a light tarp instead of a tent -- is not safe or advisable for everyone).

BACKPACK: Some empty packs weigh 5-6 pounds. One of my current packs weighs between 8 and 13 ounces --- depending upon how I have it set up. My other main pack weighs just 1 lb. 10 ounces. NOTE: Light packs are definitely not for everyone. They can carry very little weight. They can carry far less volume, and the material is oftentimes more subject to ripping and tearing. My lightest pack is designed to carry no more than 15-20 pounds of stuff.

SLEEPING BAG / QUILT:  Some weigh over 5 pounds. Others weigh between 1 to 2 pounds. That is a BIG difference.

SLEEPING PAD: They can range in weight from less than 8 ounces to over 3 lbs.

Thus, the "Big Four" can weigh a combined total that is OVER 21 pounds or as little as under 3 pounds. Therefore, let "weight" be one of the deciding factors whenever you replace items -- especially when you replace one of the "Big Four" items.

CONCLUSION & WARNINGS

Pack weight is a very personalized choice -- or a very personalized series of choices.  ("Hike Your Own Hike"). However, if you want to reduce your pack weight, there are many ways to do so that wont "break the bank" or empty your wallet. (There are also some -- semi--costly -- ways that you can reduce your overall pack weight -- as you replace worn out gear with lighter gear over a period of years).

WARNING:  Going lighter with gear, clothing, and food is NOT advisable or safe for everyone (especially going ultralight or super ultralight). Using some types of lighter gear, lighter clothing, or less food or lighter food is advisable only if you have special training or experience. Please exercise extreme caution as you attempt to lower your pack weight.  PLEASE NOTE: The author of this article has over 53 years of camping and hiking experience as well as military training and wilderness survival training. He has also been to Isle Royale National Park nearly 20 times. He has many decades of experience using lighter gear and doing light weight backpacking.