Ultralight backpacking: Difference between revisions

Standard backpacking [[sleeping bag]]s are filled with synthetic material, and weigh several pounds. Ultralight backpackers save weight by substituting for bags filled with down, which are lighter by volume. A minority carry quilts in place of sleeping bags; with adequate insulation from a sleeping pad underneath, a quilt can weigh half as much as an equivalent sleeping bag. Ultralighters also tend to carry bags rated for warmer temperatures than traditional-weight backpackers, and make up the difference on cold nights by wearing more clothing.

The remaining gear (see [[ten essentials]] for some of the other items) carried by an ultralight backpacker follows a similar philosophy. Very light weight alcohol or solid fuel stoves, such as a [[beverage can stove]], can be substituted for heavier gas stoves, and a single titanium pot with just a titanium spoon or spork can be carried instead of a mess kit and utensils. Since an ultralight backpacker carries much less weight, hiking boots are excessive and can be substituted with trail running shoes for equal support. An ultralighter's first-aid kit and repair kit tend to be stored in plastic or silnylon bags instead of the conventional packaging that a conventional backpacker might carry. A quarter-ounce LED light can substitute for a heavy flashlight or headlamp. Even a toothbrush can be adapted for the ultralight philosophy -- an infant's toothbrush with holes drilled through the handle will clean teeth as effectively as a full-sized one weighing an ounce or two more.