35 Tips to Lighten Your Backpack for FREE

Summary

This video offers 35 cost-free tips to lighten your backpack for hiking without sacrificing essentials. It suggests removing excess weight by eliminating duplicates in first aid kits, utilizing rain jackets for wind protection, and repurposing items for multiple uses. The script also advises on food preparation, gear sharing within groups, and the strategic placement of items for comfort. It emphasizes the importance of minimizing weight and optimizing space without spending money on ultralight gear.

Takeaways

• 🎒 Use a trash bag instead of a rain cover for lighter, cheaper, and 100% waterproof protection.
• 💊 Simplify your first aid kit by removing duplicates and unnecessary items, and store it in a waterproof Ziploc bag.
• ☀️ Consider using only a sun cap for both day and night by utilizing the hood of a rain jacket for warmth.
• 🧥 Utilize rain jackets for wind protection even when it's not raining to stay warm with fewer layers.
• 🪓 Choose a small saw over a hatchet for gathering firewood as it's lighter, smaller, and more efficient.
• 🔄 Communicate with your hiking group to share gear like saws, stoves, pans, and pots to reduce individual pack weight.
• 🦷 Refill travel-sized toothpaste from a larger tube to save weight and space.
• 🛌 Leave your inflatable camping pillow at home and use spare clothing as a makeshift pillow.
• 🔦 A headlamp or phone flashlight can replace the need for a lantern or handheld torch.
• 👟 Avoid bringing extra camp shoes, considering them a luxury item unless necessary for cold or extended campsite time.
• 📚 Rely on digital navigation tools like locus maps and Gaia GPS instead of physical guidebooks, maps, and compasses, but use with caution.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on providing 35 tips to lighten your backpack without spending any money.

Why does the speaker suggest removing a built-in rain cover from your backpack?

Removing the built-in rain cover can save weight. Instead, you can use a large trash bag to keep your gear dry, which is lighter and also 100% waterproof.

What should you do with your first aid kit to reduce weight?

You should remove any duplicates or unnecessary items and store the essentials in a Ziploc bag, which is lighter and waterproof.

Why does the speaker recommend bringing only a sun cap instead of both a sun cap and a beanie?

If you wear a down jacket with a hood, it can provide sufficient warmth, eliminating the need for a separate beanie.

How can you use a rain jacket even if it's not raining?

A rain jacket can block most of the wind, helping to keep you warm with fewer layers underneath.

What is the benefit of bringing a small saw instead of a hatchet for building a fire?

A small saw is lighter, easier to use, and can gather firewood more quickly than a hatchet.

How can you reduce the amount of toothpaste you carry?

You can refill a small travel-sized toothpaste tube from a larger one, saving space and weight.

What alternative does the speaker suggest instead of bringing an inflatable camping pillow?

Use the hood of your down jacket stuffed with spare clothing as a pillow.

Why might you not need to bring extra camp shoes?

Camp shoes are considered an extra luxury and are usually unnecessary unless it's very cold or you plan to spend a lot of time at the campsite.

What are some good lightweight snack options for hiking?

Good options include protein bars, nut bars, dried fruit, nuts, and peanut butter, which are high in calories and lightweight.

Why does the speaker suggest not bringing a full-size bath towel?

A full-size bath towel takes up a lot of space in your backpack. A small microfiber towel or a small bath towel is more compact and practical.

What should you do if you need light after dark on a hike?

You can use a headlamp instead of carrying a lantern or handheld torch. Some people also use the torch function on their phone.

Why does the speaker recommend using regular grocery store water bottles instead of metal or plastic hiking bottles?

Regular grocery store water bottles are lighter, readily available, and easily replaceable.

What does the speaker suggest doing with heavy items in your backpack?

Place heavy items towards the center and close to your back to reduce shoulder strain and distribute the weight better.

What are the advantages of using a fanny pack during a hike?

A fanny pack can help organize quick-access items, reduce weight from the backpack, and provide easier access to things like your phone, snacks, and camera.