4 Top Tips for Fast & Light Backpacking

Packed for a 4-day trip - Sawtooth Mountains, ID

Fast & light backpacking is all about stripping away distraction and focusing on experience. The noise that crowds daily life fades and what remains are the things that really matter. Friends, vast wild places, and the time to enjoy them.

It can be hard to know what to leave behind when you set out for your next backpacking trip. You start packing your bag with all the things that seem like they’ll add to the trip, and pretty soon your pack’s bursting at the seams and you can’t lift it off the floor.

This article is all about helping you identify the type of trip you’d like to have and selecting the gear to support it. I’ve included a few of my own recommendations to give you an idea of the gear that’s working for me right now.

Alright, let’s get started.

1. Set your intention. Take some time to get crystal clear about the experience you want to have. This understanding will drive all your other decisions. Be honest about what your priorities are, there aren’t any wrong answers. The main question to ask yourself is whether you will prioritize comfort in camp or on foot. The objective of your trip will be your North Star as you bring a critical eye to your equipment.

2. Gear - focus on the big wins. Most of your weight savings will come from optimizing your primary systems and minimizing everything else. Your primary systems are your shelter, sleep system, and backpack. Since these systems tend to be both bulky and heavy, optimizing just these three things is a huge step toward a lighter, smaller pack.

Gear Tips & Tricks

Part 1: Primary Systems

Shelter

Traditional double-wall tents are both bulky and heavy. Transitioning to a single-wall tent or tarp tent can save several pounds and a great deal of bulk. Before you invest, check your tent. Some double wall tents can be pitched with just the fly and footprint, which is nearly as light as a tarp.
***My Pick:*** BD Beta-light tarp tent

Sleep System

**Sleeping bag.** High-loft down (850 fill power or greater) greatly reduces weight and bulk. For summer backpacking a higher temperature rating (30-40 degrees) will suffice for most trips if you’re a warm sleeper.
***My Pick:*** REI 850 fill down bag
**Sleeping pad.** Depending on preference, you might be able to get away with a simple foam pad (i.e. Therm-A-Rest Z lite), or you might want to invest in a comfy light air mattress.
***My Pick:*** Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Xlite
**Photo:** Oregon Timber Trail
(Credit: Brady Lawrence)

Pack

Optimizing your primary systems and minimizing everything else means you can comfortably use a much smaller, lighter pack with a minimal frame.
***My Pick:*** CiloGear 3030 worksack
**Photo:** Sawtooth Mountains, ID
(Credit: Elliot Hohn)

3. Food. Keep it light and calorie dense. Unless you have experience to draw from, simple is best. Freeze-dried backpacking meals and energy bars make calorie counting and trip planning easy. Throw in some salami and cheese or another favorite snack to keep things interesting. Separate your food into days based on calories (I target ~3,000 calories a day for trips longer than 3 days) and bag each day in a plastic produce bag to keep your food organized on your trip.

Josh Counting Calories and Repackaging Food - Denali, AK

4. Embrace an experimental mindset. There’s no substitute for knowledge and experience when planning a fast & light trip. To get started, recognize where you’re at and embrace experimentation and learning. Minimize your pack weight as much as you feel comfortable and try it out. As you gain experience with a variety of conditions, eliminate items you find you aren’t using. Look at it like a puzzle and have fun with it!

‘Alpine Burrito’ Technique - Timberline Trail, OR

Gear Tips & Tricks

Part 2: Secondary Tips

Essentials (*my picks*)

**Map & compass.** (*Caltopo Printouts, Suunto M-3*)
**GPS App.** (*Caltopo, Gaia GPS*)
**Simple first aid kit.**
**Lightweight pocket knife.** (*Victorinox Pioneer Alox*)
Simple cup, spoon
**Lightweight Water Filter.** (*Katadyn BeFree, Salomon XA, Aquamira Drops*)
**Photo:** Mt. Hood Wilderness, OR
(Credit: Steven Mortinson)

More Favorites

**Synthetic puffy jacket.** This highly versatile layer provides quick warmth when you need it and comfort for hanging out in camp. Often this, a t-shirt, and a rain shell are the only layers I bring.
***My Pick:*** Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody
**Stove.** For single night trips I sometimes skip the stove and grab a sandwich on the way out of town. For longer trips, the ability to rehydrate food is worth the weight.
***My Pick:*** Snowpeak GigaPower
**Lightweight drybags.** Keep your sleeping bag dry and organize food and clothing. <strong>
***My Pick:*** Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
**Clothing.** Think multi-function. Bring layers good for variable conditions that you will use often.
**Photo:** Territory Run Co Loowit Hat & Petzl Actik Core Headlamp, Rogue River Trail, Oregon

You may not need to buy an entirely new kit to start light backpacking. Ideally you’ll start with a few key pieces and experiment to find what works well for you before upgrading your kit. Investing time and effort up front will pay dividends when you get into the mountains.

It can be hard to know where to start with fast & Light backpacking, but if you break it down it’s actually fairly simple. Get clear on your intention, invest some time on your primary systems, make a simple food plan, and have fun with the experiment. You got this.

Have a question about fast & light backpacking? Drop it in the comments or send me an email, I’d love to help you out.

See you on the trails,
-JT

Keep Learning

For a complete gear list and packing video, see Kit: Fast and Light Backpacking
Enter your email below to download a complete fast & light backpacking gear list: