Ultralight Backpacking

Ultralight Backpacking
(And, General Gear and Pack Weight Issues)

I wish to begin this section by making three big points:

It's your backpack and your gear. it's your Isle Royale trip. It's your body and your life. Thus, you are entitled to carry as little (or as much) gear as you like and it can weigh as little (or as much) as you choose. Hike Your Own Hike (HYOH)
Many people believe that having lighter gear and having a lighter overall pack weight tends to make for a more comfortable and easier backpacking trip (or portage).
"Going lighter" isn't necessarily always "better" for everyone. An important argument can be made for using the gear that you are familiar with and which "works" for you -- even if it is heavier. It is pretty simple to drop some pack weight . However, at a certain point, it takes specific knowledge, skills, and experiences in order to (safely and comfortably) make your overall pack weight much lighter--and many people just don't have that specific set of knowledge, skills, or experiences. AND, THAT'S OK!

Some Definitions:

BASE WEIGHT: The weight of everything in your fully loaded backpack (including the weight of the backpack itself) EXCEPT FOR CONSUMABLE ITEMS--such as food, water, and fuel.

LIGHTWEIGHT: No official definition exists, but one common definition tends to be a BASE WEIGHT of 20 lbs. --or less.

ULTRALIGHT (UL): No "official" definition exists, but is commonly accepted to be a BASE WEIGHT of 10 lbs.-- or less.

SUPER ULTRALIGHT (SUL): No "official" definition exists, but commonly accepted to be a BASE WEIGHT of 5 lbs --or less

How Much Should YOUR Fully Loaded Pack Weigh?

ULTIMATELY, that is a personal decision. However, several sources suggest NO MORE THAN 20% of your body weight. A few sources say NO MORE THAN 30% of your body weight. Still other sources say "try to keep it under 30 or 35 lbs.". I hope that having three different definitions clears things up. (Note: The Isle Royale Guy typed that with a fiendish grin).

If you weigh 150 lbs. -- 20% of your body weight is 30 lbs,--and 30% would be 45 lbs.

My own BASE WEIGHT typically is in the 9 to 15 lb. range--depending upon what gear I choose to bring, the length of the trip, and the weather that is expected. My fully loaded pack weight--with food, water, and fuel--tends to fall somewhere between 20 lbs and 35 lbs--depending upon how much food and water I am carrying at any given moment. (Water weighs 2.2 lbs per liter--so 2 liters of water is 4.4 lbs and 3 liters of water is 6.6 pounds). On long Isle Royale trips--where I am doing little or no resupply--my pack might weigh around 40 lbs at some points in the hike.

On my June/July 2022 Isle Royale trip, my BASE WEIGHT was around 7.5 lbs and I don't think that my fully-loaded pack (with food, water, and fuel) ever weighed more than 18 lbs. (I did do a resupply at the mid-way point in the hike in order to reduce how much food and fuel I had to carry at any one time). I could have had a base weight that was a pound or two lighter, but I was backpacking across Isle Royale (SOLO) from Windigo to Rock Harbor (via the Greenstone Ridge Trail) -- AND BACK to Windigo (via the Minong Ridge Trail)--and I wanted to make sure that I had everything that I might need in the event of emergencies or unforeseen circumstances on that 85+ mile hike. SAFETY is far more important than having the lightest pack weight.

Click on this link to watch a video that I created called "WHAT'S IN MY BACKPACK?".

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Fractions of ounces quickly add up to full ounces. Full ounces can soon add up to whole lbs. Thus, it is important to try to cut even FRACTIONS of ounces whenever possible ...it all adds up and (together) the many little weight reductions can become pretty significant

SOME SIMPLE AND EASY WAYS TO LOWER YOUR PACK WEIGHT

REDUCE HOW MUCH STUFF YOU BRING WITH YOU
In my opinion, many people bring far more "stuff" than they really need--and all of that extra "stuff" adds weight. Here are some things that I would suggest that you MIGHT want to leave at home:

Ax, hatchet, and/or saw. Very few people need such things on Isle Royale--and these items add a great deal of weight. There are very few places where you can have a campfire on Isle Royale. On the rare occasions when you can have a campfire, the Park Service recommends using firewood that is 3 inches in diameter --or less (about the same thickness as your wrist). So, you should be able to break such firewood with your hands--or by stepping on it. You also are not supposed to cut down dead trees or dead branches off of a standing (dead/alive) tree. Doing any trail clearing (without proper training and official authorization) is forbidden. Thus it is hard to think of an important reason to bring an ax, hatchet, or saw.
The big "Rambo-style" knife. In many/most circumstances--people will need only a very small knife --if they need a knife at all. (My knife weighs around 0.7 ounce.)
Do you REALLY need all of that cooking and eating gear--or can you scale things back? Example: I tend to hike solo, and it has been YEARS since I have needed a cooking pot that holds more than two cups. So, why should I bring a big pot that can hold 4 to 16 cups? I drink my fluids out of my water bottle--or sometimes out of my cooking pot. Thus, I don't bring a drinking cup. The only eating utensil that I use is a titanium spork--I don't need a fork, spoon, butter knife, and/or steak knife. I eat my food--even my hot food--right out of the bag or container. So, I leave the bowl and plate at home. Although I can (and have) cooked fancy meals in the wild.--I typically eat only freeze-dried or dehydrated meals to which I just need to add (hot) water. Thus, I need just one small cooking pot--and no cooking utensils like spatulas or serving spoons. I don't bring multiple cooking pots, or a fry pan, coffee pot, cutting boards, etc. And, because I eat out of the bag and only boil water, I don't need to bring extra stuff (like soap, sponges, and scrubbing pads) to wash the dishes.
How much clothing do you REALLY need--and can you get by with less clothing by layering items? In addition to what I am wearing. I often only bring an extra pair of pants, and extra shirt, one (or two changes of underwear) and one (or two changes of socks). I tend to rinse out my clothing--or wash it--and reuse it. Plus, my hiking pants are "convertible"--with the lower leg of the pants being able to zip off and become shorts. I tend to bring a down "puffy" jacket and/or a light fleece --jacket --but not always both. I bring a rain poncho. I also bring a very light "wool" hat or "beanie" and another hat to keep the sun and rain out of my eyes. (And, I could get by with even less clothing if needed). If I wear and layer all of that clothing--I can be pretty darn warm and dry if the weather turns nasty.
Do you need that big camera--and all of the accessories--or can you get by with just your cellphone camera or a small "point and shoot" camera?
How many electronic devices do you need (plus all of the different cords, batteries, power packs, chargers and other accessories)? A person can very easily find themself carrying over five pounds of electronic gear and supplies. Perhaps leave some of the electronic stuff at home (or get items and accessories that can serve multiple functions).
I don't bring a camp chair. I am content to stand, or sit on a rock, a log, or even the ground. Other people would never dream of doing that (or have health issues that make it difficult to do that--plus the weight of these camp chairs is becoming lighter almost every year,
A spare pair of shoes is probably nice to have with you. (However, I must admit, I don't always bring "camp shoes"). At the very least, see if you can bring a LIGHTER pair of extra shoes.
Will you REALLY use all of that fishing gear, books, cards, games, toys, musical instruments, binocculars, telescopes, and other "recreational" and relaxing "stuff" that you want to bring--or can you leave it home and/or bring less of it.
Can you safely get by with only a very simple, light and small First Aid Kit--or do you really need to bring most of a hospital emergency room with you?
Do you need to bring a pillow--or can some of your clothing and/or gear function as a pillow?
Are you bringing a decent amount of food with you--for the number of days that you will be on the Island (plus at least one extra day of food in case your transportation home is delayed) --or are you bringing enough food to feed a small army for a month?

Bring LIGHTER Stuff

One of the best investments that you can make (if you wish to carry a lighter load outdoors) is to purchase a quality kitchen scale or a postal scale--and weigh every item (and try to find lighter versions of a similar item). Some examples include:

Do you use a 5-7 lb, backpack OR do you use a 2-3 lb. backpack --OR are you at the point in your ultralight journey where you can get by with just a 13 oz. backpack? (The same can be said about sleeping bags and tents--with almost exactly those same type of weight options being available). If your pack, sleeping bag and tent EACH weigh 7 lbs.--that is 21 lbs for the three items. If you brought the 2 lb. version of each of those three items--the weight drops from 21 lbs down to 6 lbs.
This is where the food or postal scale can be very helpful. Weigh each item that you might bring on your trip --and explore the similar options that you already own (or look up new items online and check their listed weight--and maybe purchase some new and lighter stuff--IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT). As often as possible, try to bring the lightest options. Let's say that you already own three pairs of shorts.--and wish to bring just a single pair of shorts on your trip. One pair weighs 14 oz. One pair weighs 7 oz. The third pair of shorts weighs just 4 oz. If you choose to bring the 4 oz. shorts--instead of the 14 oz. shorts--you've cut 10 ounces
Let's HYPOTHETICALLY say that you are bringing 32 items with you on your trip. If (on average) you can somehow reduce the weight of each of those 32 items by JUST one ounce--that is a reduction of 2 lbs. If you can (on average) reduce the weight of each of the 32 items by 2 oz.--you can reduce the overall weight by 4 lbs. It adds up!

Try to Find Items That Can Do Multiple Things

One example of this can be found in the photo at the top of this page. It is a photo of my Gatewood Cape (made by Six Moons Designs). It weighs about 10.5 ounces. It is BOTH my rain gear AND my shelter. The "tent pole" is really my hiking or "trekking" pole--doing double duty. Let me be clear, the Gatewood Cape has some advantages and many disadvantages--so I am definitely not telling people to go out and buy Gatewood Capes. HOWEVER, that photo provides a great example of how items can serve multiple purposes--and cut your overall weight.

I have a special backpacking quilt (that is no longer produced). It has a small opening near the center of the quilt (that seals up with Velcro). I can use the item as a quilt AND I can also take the same quilt, put my head through the opening and wear the quilt like a very warm poncho. Thus, I don't always have to bring a down jacket with me. The quilt can become a piece of cold weather clothing.

Probably the first time that I gave an item a "double duty" was back in the late 1970s. I brought a Frisbee with me ...and I ALSO used it as a plate at meal time. After the meal and dishes were done, we could start tossing the Frisbee around as a game.

REDUCE YOUR BODY WEIGHT!

At one level, it seems sort of silly to be overly concerned about saving fractions of ounces here and there with your gear--while at the same time your body is 30 lbs. overweight. Just like your gear, you are going to haul that extra 30 lbs of body weight up and down the trail with you. Thus, it makes sense (UNDER PROPER MEDICAL SUPERVISION) to reduce your body weight

WARNING: THERE ARE "TRADE-OFFS" AND "RISKS"

Going lighter--especially going ultralight and SUPER ultralight--comes with "trade-offs" and "risks".

Lighter gear can be less durable and more prone to damage. You need to treat the gear and clothing gently.
When you intentionally leave items home--there is always the risk that you leave stuff home that you might need for your safety or comfort.
There is less room to make errors and mistakes when you are going ultralight and/or super ultralight. Example: If you are sleeping in an 8lb., double-wall, essentially "bomb proof", tent (with a super warm sleep system and many changes of clothing) -- you will have lots of ways (and lots of opportunities) to stay dry and warm even if you make some errors in how you do things. Conversely, when you are using just a very small and light tarp (instead of a tent), a small and thin sleeping quilt, a 1/8 inch thick sleeping pad--and bringing a bare minimum change of clothing--you have very little room to make any errors--without there being a potential for the errors to become dangerous or fatal.
You will (oftentimes) give up some comfort as you go lighter--especially the lighter that you go. At the end of the day, it is almost impossible for a 13 ounce sleeping quilt to be as comfortable as a 4 lb. (heavy duty) sleeping bag. A 1/8" thick foam sleeping pad, will provide nowhere near as much warmth and softness as a 4-inch thick, inflatable, 2.5 lb sleeping mattress--with an R-Value of 6.
Ultralight backpacking--and especially SUPER ultralight backpacking--are generally not something that are advisable for beginning backpackers to try (particularly in a remote wilderness area). Part of the reason that people can get away with safely bringing less gear (and extremely light gear) into a wilderness area--is because (over a significant period of time and in safer settings)--such people have developed many skills and experiences that can help them compensate for having less gear and very minimalistic gear. Over a period of years, they have gradually learned to use a small tarp in ways that can protect them from the effects of bad weather--even in high winds and driving rain. Over a period of years, they have experienced ways to cope when gear malfunctions or totally gear failure. Experience and skills (which are acquired over a period of years) are probably the two most valuable items for an ultralight backpacker to have. And, the only way to gain experience and skills, is to do a lot of camping and backpacking (in diverse settings and conditions)--over a long period of time.
Generally speaking, ultralight backpacking is something that people slowly transition into over an extended period of time--slowly experimenting with using less and less gear and gradually acquiring lighter gear and more experience.