Lighten your backpack

EVERY GRAM COUNTS

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY

(Writing this piece really brought back memories of my trip to the Arctic Circle. I remember getting in to Whitehorse thinking, “How am I going to fit all this gear into my canoe?” In the end, I had more gear and food than I needed – what you want in an isolated area.)

Every kilogram matters when backpacking or portaging. And it’s not just when rough or hilly terrain makes pack straps bite hard into shoulders. At the end of the day, a few extra grams here a few more there, add up to real weight.

Easy first steps

Take a really close look at your packing list and leave all non-essentials at home. Ditch packaging. Throw away bulky cardboard. Put that oatmeal cereal into double-packaged zip-lock bags. Measure food servings into individual ziplock bags, and if possible eat out of the bag. Leave your wallet, most cards, and heavy loonies and toonies at home. Take only big bills ($20, $50), a Visa and medical card. No water filter for purification. Use chemical or a UV treatment (like SteriPEN).

No books

I love reading late at night in a tent. But books are like bricks in a pack. Use the Kindle app to download a public library’s worth of novels onto your phone, or download MP-3 audio books. If guidebooks have vital material for your adventure, photograph relevant pages with your phone and keep it on airplane mode to conserve battery life.

Wardrobe compromises

Wear swimming trunks for hiking, take two polypropylene T-shirts (one for day, one for night use), and a hand towel for swims and drying off. Stuff extra clothes into your sleepingbag cover and use it as a pillow. Layer your clothing at night, rather than carry a heavy three-season sleeping bag. Carry a toque for cold nights and cheap cotton gloves. Leave heavy leather boots at home unless you’ve got weak ankles or you’re trekking through really rough terrain. Light trail runners will do the trick.

Pack according to the weather

If the weekend forecast calls for hot and sunny, tarp and rain gear stay at home. Bring an extra, large plastic bag as an emergency raincoat. No rain means campfires are easy to light and maintain, so no need for a stove or fuel. Discover the adventure of outdoor gourmet cooking over a campfire – just like Huck Finn! Bring a small pot for cooking,

and a micro-frying pan. After cooking, use them as a plate or bowl to eat from.

Avoid ultra-lite

Most ultra-lite gear (e.g. chop-sticks, fork, spoon, cups) is costly and delivers only minor weight savings. Cut the long handle off an old toothbrush, make throwaway chopsticks, and carry only a small travel tube of toothpaste. Do you really need a metal insulated mug or would a Dollar Store plastic mug work as well?

Food preparation

Plan calorie-dense meals. Nuts are packed full of protein and mix easily into lunches or suppers. Kraft Dinner offers a good carbohydrate base for adding on nutritious treats. Drop in a foil pack of tuna, and a bit of Parmesan cheese. Look for raspberries, blue berries and strawberries along the trail, and add them to your meals.

But avoid misery!

Pack only those luxury items that make your outdoor adventure memorable. Leave the rest. If compromises result in a bit more weight, that’s OK. Comfort on the trail is important. Packing light involves trial and error, so do a couple of dry runs before you start packing for real. •

LIGHT HIKE/CAMP TIPS

• SLEEPING BAG If you're looking to drop weight and drop it fast, go for a down sleeping bag • SLEEPING PADS Inflatable pads are typically lighter • TENT POLES = LESS WEIGHT

On the trail, your home is a tiny nylon shell which you crawl into at night. During the day, you carry your home on your back, kinda like a turtle. That’s why you want it to be light • WATER FILTERS Gravity filters are a great option for ultralight hiking; Hand pump water filters are a tried and true method in the backcountry; waater Iodine tablets or chlorine drops are an option that doesn’t add much weight to your pack