Ultralight tramping is a style of packing that emphasises carrying the least amount of gear, and the lightest versions of that gear, while still being safe. The goal is to optimise for comfort, distance, and enjoyment of the outdoors.
Although the definition of ultralight hiking is baseweight less than 4.5kg (10lbs), the ultralight philosophy can and should be applied by everyone. Ultimately, the ultralight movement is the embodiment of progress in tramping and tramping gear, a form of minimalism that focuses on the essentials of outdoor travel. You can read more about the philosophy here, but let's start with the basics.
What is my baseweight?
Baseweight is the weight of your pack itself and all items inside it which remain constant throughout the trip. This includes things like your shelter and sleep gear, cooking, spare clothing, etc. The clothing you wear daily is considered “worn weight”, and the weight of food, water, fuel and other consumable items are considered “consumables”. Your pack weight is your baseweight plus consumables. These categories are mostly useful as a framework for thinking about your kit. It's easier to discuss with others, and it's easier to see where the essentials are.
This isn't to say the weight of clothes, shoes, and food doesn't matter - all weight costs you energy to carry. It's worth considering everything: the calorie density of your food, the amount of water you'll carry on average, the type of footwear you use, etc. As they say, a pound on the foot equals 5 on your back.
Why go ultralight?
Everyone wants a lighter pack, the benefits are obvious to anyone who's spent much time walking around outside. By carrying less, you can travel longer distances with increased comfort and less stress or strain. You can see more in a shorter trip than you would have otherwise, and explore areas you wouldn’t feel comfortable traveling with a heavy, traditional load out (think rock scrambling and off-trail adventures). In addition, carrying a lighter pack increases agility for river crossings, downed trees, and avalanche routes. Carrying a lighter pack can also reduce the strain on your body, reducing wear and tear and the risk of injury.
Maybe you value some of the same things and want to keep doing what you love for longer.
In this sense, progress is on a sliding scale. The more you reduce your weight, the more you will reap the benefits of a lighter pack. Regardless of if you sit under that magical baseweight of 4.5kg, every step on your minimalist journey will pay dividends over time.
I heard ultralighting is unsafe, or that it can't be done in NZ.
One of the biggest hurdles is the misconception that lightweight gear is unsafe, or that ultralighters are unprepared. Lightweight tramping becomes unsafe at the same point any other base weight becomes unsafe - when a tramper goes into the outdoors unprepared or uneducated.
People carry ultralight weight gear all over the world, and at all times of the year. Every year it becomes easier to do, and more start doing it. Why? Progress in materials and design has been rapid, and adoption grows as more options are produced.
There are two components to this. On the one hand, companies are bringing cutting-edge materials to market (such as our suppliers at Rip Stop By The Roll and Challenge Outdoors). On the other hand, you have the innovation happening at cottage companies where these new materials are coupled with designs that have forever changed the outdoor landscape.
Together, this means you can put together a kit with far better gear than was possible 10 or 20 years ago. Our big 3 (tarp, pack, and quilt), only weigh around 1.5kg altogether, that's quite a bit better place to start than buying one of those items for that weight from a big box store. Now all you have to do is be equally selective with your clothes, cook system, etc. We have a more specific gear guide all about that HERE. But lets answer a conceptual question first:
How can I lighten my load?
Weigh everything you would usually take on a tramping trip. Use a spreadsheet or website such as www.lighterpack.com to organise. Sometimes it can be surprising to see how much you're actually carrying.
The cheapest way to lighten your load is to leave things at home. Look at your duplicates. When you come back from a trip, think about the things you didn’t use - could you leave them at home next time?
Try to reduce the weight of what you already have. For example, you can cut off extra straps and leave stuff sacks and storage boxes at home. This extra weight adds up, and if you need more than 2 dry bags you should probably just reduce what you're carrying.
Think about the weight of consumables as well. Carry a water filter and fill up at any stream/lake you come across rather than lugging multiple litres. Look for foods that have a high-calorie density, and cut down on the volume of sunscreen, toothpaste, etc. (maybe just leave the deodorant at home).
Use multipurpose gear - leave the bowl and mug at home and eat/drink directly out of your pot, use a tent or tarp that utilises walking poles to pitch, your phone already has maps and a compass to pair with your extensive knowledge of the terrain (you brought this weightless skill too right?), and so on.
Once you've worked through these basics, look at replacing your gear with lighter alternatives. Ultralight gear makes a huge difference to your pack weight. Look at replacing the things that will have the biggest impact first: typically your shelter, sleep system and pack. Replacing your pack can be a delicate balance, replace it too soon and it will likely be heavier/bigger than you may need in the long term or to light to comfortably carry old gear you're still lugging around!
Here's a typical, ultralight, 3 Season loadout:
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