Your plan is to get out in the backcountry this summer, and you’d like to travel light without sacrificing comfort? Here are ten items to bring that will help lighten your load.
Warning: this post is not for the ultra-light fanatics. This one is for the rest of us who want to hike without carrying super heavy packs, but who plan to change our socks every now and again.
1. When every gram counts, opt for the Inertia X Frame sleeping pad by Klymet. Comfortable and compact, it packs down to about the size of a pop can in your pack. 301g.
2. Thanks to a pivoting hipbelt, the MEC Eos 60 backpack moves with you and doesn’t shift side to side. You expend less energy and the load you’re carrying feels lighter. 2.2kg
3. MEC’s Volt 2 A/C tent is sturdy, easy to put up and provides 2.8 square metres of living space. Roomy enough for two people to sleep comfortably, and there’s plenty of storage space for gear. 2.1kg
4. Victorinox’s Outrider Knife has a locking blade and super-useful saw, making an excellent survival tool despite its minimal weight. 135g
5. Even the ultra-light tweakers might opt for the Merlin DF -3 °C. 774g
6. A simple, lightweight method to deal with contaminated water. Pristine’s mini pack of ClO2 purifies up to 120L. 70g
7. Don’t skimp on safety when you’re out in the wilderness. Adventure Medical’s UltraLight .7 First Aid Kit has supplies for two people for four nights. 226g
8. It’s easy to forget that UV rays are more harmful in high altitudes. Protect your eyes with Suncloud’s King Sunglasses. 135g
9. Easy to use, bombproof, and requiring little maintenance, MSR’s WhisperLite International Stove also comes with a wrap-around windscreen. 441g
10. This quick-dry polyester multi-tubular headwear by Chaos can be worn as a scarf, hat, hood, mask, bandana, headband, or balaclava. You could even use it as a potholder. 34g
Add it all up, and these ten items weigh in at 6.28kg. Bring some food and water, clothes, your extra socks, and step lightly onto the trails.
Filed under: Activities, Gear, Hiking/Camping
