My hiking shoes are waterproof Keen “tennis” shoes. But after walking across too many streams barefoot on sharp rocks — and an achilles injury from new boots — I decided to carry a second pair of shoes. Extra shoes, of course, means extra weight. This video shoes three alternatives. I encourage you to share other [...]
Jason Klass shares his video tips for finding lots of free stuff that will cut ounces off your ultralight backpacking load and — the best part — it’s all free.
If you’ve read my blog, you know that I love to find little stuff — call them quality of life items — that don’t cost much, don’t weigh much and yet can add a lot of comfort.My latest find are rubber finger protectors for cuts, burns, scrapes. They look like condoms for your finger and [...]
If you’ve read my posts about technology, you know I love iPods as trail companions. I’ve struggled lately on the trail: do I bring my iPhone (with camera, movies, music, GPS app – 5 ounces) or just go with my Flip Ultra (video camera that easily uploads to YouTube). To complicate matters, the new iPhone [...]
In the latest issue of Backpacker Magazine are 33 tips for lightening your load. One I have pointed out before, but it is worth mentioning again: don’t leave behind items that can make your trip comfortable and/or satisfying. Example: I have three sleeping pads: 14 ounces, 20 0unces and 36 ounces. Two are self inflatables: [...]
Your favorite music to help you sleep or to give you inspiration during an uphill slog can be a welcome backpacking companion. As long as it doesn’t add a lot of weight.The new iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation weighs all of .38 ounces — that’s right, just a tad over one-third of 1 ounce. Holds 1,000 [...]
Backpacker Magazine’s Medicine Man, Buck Tilton says bear spray may be effective against snakes. On my upcoming trip to Cache Creek Wilderness, known as rattlesnake country, I think I’ll take my Grizzly spray. Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
In earlier posts, I mentioned that I have three ground pads:Â a 3/4 Thermarest, a full-size Thermarest and a down-filled Exped Downmat 7. The D7 is heaviest, but is thick and ground-insulating with an ultralight sleeping bag. In a Yahoo discussion group a guy was inquiring about the Gossamer Gear 1/4 inch pad. A reader [...]
On one hand, you can argue that if you forget to take something, you’ll be lighter on the trail. But you may also be sorry. I have a detailed backpacking list. Yet, sometimes you need to check and double check. On my recent trip to the John Muir Wilderness, I found that I had left [...]
One of my ultralight backpacking partners, Wild Bill, and I just completed a quickie and butt-kicking 16-mile hike in the popular Ansel Adams/John Muir Wilderness in the Eastern Sierra. I’ll do a trip report shortly, perhaps with video. But first I want to comment on an article in the latest issue of Backpacker Magazine with [...]
