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.

Outlines

00:00

🧳 Tips for Ultralight Backpacking

This paragraph introduces the concept of ultralight backpacking, offering 35 tips to reduce backpack weight without spending money. It suggests removing rain covers and using trash bags for waterproofing, minimizing first aid kit contents, and opting for multifunctional items like a sun cap instead of both a sun cap and beanie. Emphasis is placed on communicating within hiking groups to avoid duplicate gear, and using Ziploc bags for waterproof storage. The focus is on practical, cost-free methods to lighten the load while ensuring essential functionality and safety.

05:02

🏕️ Practical Gear Swaps for Hikers

This section continues with practical gear suggestions, such as replacing a hatchet with a small saw for gathering firewood and sharing communal items like stoves and cookware among group members. It advocates for lightweight options like refilling travel-sized toothpaste, using spare clothing as a pillow, and bringing a headlamp instead of a lantern. The emphasis is on using existing items more efficiently, avoiding unnecessary duplicates, and choosing multipurpose gear to keep the backpack light and organized.

10:04

🌲 Smart Packing for Outdoor Adventures

The final paragraph highlights advanced packing strategies and tips for outdoor trips. It suggests using trail runners instead of heavy hiking boots for lighter steps, carrying fewer toiletries, and repackaging food into smaller containers. Recommendations include optimizing the backpack's weight distribution to avoid shoulder pain, using a fanny pack for quick-access items, and considering the necessity of each item to prevent overpacking. The section emphasizes practical, thoughtful packing to enhance comfort and efficiency during hikes.

Keywords

💡Ultralight gear

Ultralight gear refers to lightweight and compact outdoor equipment designed to reduce the weight carried by hikers and backpackers. In the video's context, it is mentioned that while ultralight gear saves weight, it can be expensive. The video offers tips to lighten one's backpack without incurring additional costs, emphasizing the theme of budget-friendly backpacking.

💡Rain cover

A rain cover is an accessory typically used to protect backpacks and their contents from getting wet in rainy conditions. The script suggests removing a built-in rain cover from a backpack and instead using a large trash bag for protection, which is lighter and cheaper, illustrating a cost-effective alternative to traditional gear.

💡First aid kit

A first aid kit is an essential component of any outdoor adventure, containing items to treat minor injuries and emergencies. The video recommends going through the first aid kit and removing duplicates or unnecessary items to reduce weight, showcasing the idea of prioritizing only the most necessary items for a lighter load.

💡Sun cap vs. beanie

The sun cap and beanie are two types of headwear used for different weather conditions. The video suggests bringing only a sun cap, as the hood of a rain jacket can provide similar warmth to a beanie, thus eliminating the need for an extra item. This highlights the video's theme of minimizing gear for weight reduction.

💡Rain jacket

A rain jacket is a waterproof garment designed to protect against rain and wind. The script mentions using a rain jacket not only for its intended purpose but also for its wind-blocking properties, which can help keep the wearer warm even with fewer layers, demonstrating a versatile use of gear to reduce overall pack weight.

💡Small saw

A small saw is a lightweight tool for cutting wood, often used in camping and hiking for gathering firewood. The video suggests that a small saw is a better choice than a hatchet due to its smaller size, lighter weight, and efficiency, reinforcing the theme of selecting gear that is both practical and lightweight.

💡Group communication

Group communication is the process of discussing and coordinating the division of gear among group members to avoid redundancy. The script advises hikers to communicate about what gear each person will bring, such as sharing a single saw among a group, to reduce the overall amount of gear and weight each person must carry.

💡Travel-sized toothpaste

A travel-sized toothpaste is a smaller container of toothpaste meant for travel and temporary use. The video recommends keeping a small travel-sized toothpaste at home to refill before a trip, as an example of a simple way to reduce the amount of packaging and weight in one's backpack.

💡Inflatable camping pillow

An inflatable camping pillow is a lightweight and packable alternative to traditional pillows for outdoor use. The script suggests leaving it at home and using the spare clothing in the hood of a down jacket as a makeshift pillow, illustrating a creative and weight-saving tip.

💡Headlamp

A headlamp is a portable, hands-free light source worn on the head, often used for camping and hiking at night. The video mentions that if one is already bringing a headlamp, there is no need for additional lighting like a lantern or handheld torch, emphasizing the importance of avoiding unnecessary duplication of gear.

💡Minimalistic maps

Minimalistic maps are simplified and visually appealing representations of trails or routes, often used by hikers for navigation. The script promotes minimalistic maps as a lighter alternative to traditional maps, offering a discount for their maps through a specific website, which ties into the video's theme of lightweight and efficient gear.

Highlights

Utilize a trash bag instead of a rain cover for lighter, cheaper, and 100% waterproof protection.

Optimize your first aid kit by removing duplicates and unnecessary items, using a Ziploc bag for waterproofing.

Replace a beanie with a sun cap and a rain jacket hood for warmth in cold evenings.

Wear a rain jacket for wind protection even when it's not raining, to stay warm with fewer layers.

Choose a small saw over a hatchet for its lighter weight, easier use, and quicker firewood gathering.

Coordinate gear sharing within a group to avoid redundancies, such as one saw for the entire group.

Refill travel-sized toothpaste from a larger tube to save weight.

Use spare clothing as a pillow instead of bringing an inflatable camping pillow.

A headlamp can replace the need for a lantern or handheld torch, and a phone's flashlight can also suffice.

Avoid bringing extra camp shoes as a luxury item unless necessary for cold or extended campsite time.

Minimizeist maps from Trailgoals.com offer a discount with the code OscarHikes and provide essential trail information.

A microfiber towel is a space-saving alternative to a full bath towel for camping.

Electronic devices can replace the need for physical guidebooks, maps, and compasses, using apps like Locus Maps and Gaia GPS.

Carry the smallest possible gas canister and repurpose it for car camping when it gets light.

Layering with long johns under shorts is lighter and warmer than hiking pants, with the trade-off of a slightly more cumbersome change.

Pre-wrap food in aluminum foil for cooking over a fire, eliminating the need for a cooking pan.

A small sit pad made from an old foam mat is a lightweight alternative to a dedicated camping chair.

Limit toilet paper to a small section to save space, and avoid bringing a full roll.

Transfer contents from glass to plastic bottles for a lighter load, and repackage food into smaller zip bags.

Choose lightweight, high-calorie, quick-cooking food options like texturized soy protein for hiking.

Opt for instant coffee over a heavy coffee mocha pot for a lighter, quicker morning brew.

A thermos may be unnecessary if a camping stove is available for boiling water.

Use grocery store water bottles for their light weight and easy replacement instead of metal or plastic bottles.

Check backpack pockets before hiking to remove unnecessary items and reduce weight.

Duct tape or repair gear can be used for quick fixes on the trail, reducing the need for heavy repair items.

Trail runners or even regular running shoes can be lighter and more comfortable alternatives to heavy hiking boots.

Leave extra bedding like sleeping bags, pads, and pillows at home to save weight and space.

Lighten your keys and wallet by using a small Ziploc bag instead of a bulky wallet.

Bring only essential toiletries like toothpaste, lip balm, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer, avoiding heavier liquids.

Optimize backpack organization by placing heavy items close to the center and using a fanny pack for quick access items.

Transcripts

getting ultralight gear will save you a

lot of weight but unfortunately it will

also cost a pretty penny that's why in

this video we're doing the opposite of

that here are 35 tips to lighten your

backpack quickly and without spending a

single dollar but before we begin keep

in mind that these tips are just

suggestions depending on your gear

climate preferences or experience in the

outdoors you may not want to follow some

of them check if your back pack comes

with a builtin rain cover and remove it

if it does instead of protecting your

gear from the exterior with a rain cover

or from the interior with waterproof dry

socks you can put it all in one large

trash bag and then put it inside the

backpack because this trash bag is

lighter it's cheaper and it's also 100%

waterproof go through your first aid kit

and remove any duplicates or any

unnecessary things because chances are

that even if something would happen you

would only use one or two things from

the first aid kit I personally only

bring an emergency blanket some wounds

disinfectant wipes a gauze Luco tape

some bandages something for your stomach

and IBU profine I would also recommend

putting it all in a Ziploc bag because

it is waterproof and it's also lighter

instead of bringing a sun cap for hiking

during the day and a beanie for the cold

evenings bring only the sun cap that's

because if you're bringing a dawn jacket

and a rain jacket if you put on the hood

it's pretty much as warm as the beanie

so there's really no need to bring the

extra beanie utilize rain jackets even

if it isn't going to be raining because

rain jackets actually block most of the

incoming wind which in turn keeps you

warm even when wearing only a few layers

underneath it you'd have to experiment

with this yourself before setting out on

the hike but for example for me

personally if I'm wearing a dawn jacket

underneath a rain jacket I really don't

need to bring another fleece to where in

the evenings unless it's going to be

below freezing during the night if

you'll be building a fire than bringing

a small saw is a way better choice than

bringing a hatchet because it's smaller

it's also lighter it's easier to work

with and also you can gather firewood

much quicker with a small saw than with

a hatchet if you'll be hiking in a group

always communicate with each other on

what gear each one of you will be

bringing for example you can probably

bring bring only one saw for your whole

group instead of each person bringing

their own this also applies to similar

items that can be shared like camping

stoves pans and pots knives and similar

items always keep a small travel-sized

toothpaste at your home and before you

set off on your hiking trip you can

refill it if needed by pressing it

against a larger toothpaste tube you can

leave your inflatable camping pillow

back at home and put all of your spare

clothing in the hood of your down jacket

and use it like a pillow below you also

don't need to bring a lantern or a

handheld torch if you're already

bringing a headlamp some people don't

even bring a headlamp because you

already have a torch in your phone you

usually set up your tent before it gets

dark so realistically there's not a lot

of Need for light when it gets dark

especially if you're hiking in summer

when the days are very long you also

probably do not need to bring extra Camp

shoes to wear around Camp I pretty much

always treat these as an extra luxury

item which which I almost never bring

unless it's really cold outside or I'm

planning to spend a lot of time around

the campsite together with my wife we

make minimalistic posters of various

through hiking trails we've been working

on a new design which has more elevation

and terrain data they'll have more

colors at the same time they'll also be

really minimalistic we'll be launching

this design for our most popular maps in

the upcoming weeks so keep an eye out

for that but right now we have

minimalistic maps for over 100 different

through hikes and you can check them out

over at Trail goals.com and you'll get

10% off with the discount code Oscar

hikes but now let's get back to the

video you probably do not need to bring

a towel unless you're planning on taking

showers in campsites or swimming in

these cases bringing a small microfiber

towel is the best option if you don't

have one don't stress about it because

you can also use a small bath towel

because the size difference isn't really

that large just whatever you do do not

bring a full large bath towel because it

takes up a lot of space in your backpack

this is probably going to sound a bit

controversial but you do not need to

bring a guide book a compass and a map

because you have it all on your phone

for offline navigating I use the free

versions of locus maps and Gaia GPS by

caching the map data on my phone but

honestly I do not want to push this too

much because relying just on your phone

is not ideal especially if you're hiking

in a new area that you aren't very

familiar with so yeah take this with a

grain of salt and do not follow this tip

unless you're comfortable with doing

that always bring the smallest possible

gas canister that you can find because

it already weighs pretty much as is and

the larger ones will just add a lot of

needless weight when I've gotten about

10 uses on this thing and I can start to

feel that it is starting to become

pretty light I usually set it aside to

use up on my car camping trips when

hiking in summer instead of bringing p

hands to wear for the colder evenings

and shorts to wear during the day bring

a pair of shorts and a pair of long

johns to wear underneath the shorts

they're lighter than hiking pants

they're warmer they're more comfortable

to sleep in and also if you wear them

underneath shorts in my opinion they

also don't look too bad the only

downside is that if you want to put them

on quickly you first have to take off

your shorts then put on the long johns

then the shorts back again which can be

a bit frustrating for quick overnight

trips where where you know that you'll

be making a fire or you know that there

will be a fireplace at the campsite you

don't need to bring a pan to cook your

food because you can already pre-wrap

Meats fish potatoes and similar Foods in

aluminum foil and cook them directly in

the fire instead of bringing a dedicated

camping chair bring a small sit pad you

can just cut off a small section from an

old foam mat and you're pretty much good

to go do not bring a full roll of toilet

paper and instead only bring a small

section of it of course this won't save

you a lot of weight but it will save you

quite a bit of space in your backpack

refill everything from glass into

plastic bottles because they're lighter

repackage your food from larger

containers into smaller zip plug bags

and only bring the amount that you will

be consuming also if you want to add

some veggies to your meals it's a good

idea to precook them at home before you

set off that way you'll get rid of some

of the water that will add a lot of

weight and also you'll drastically

reduce the cooking time at Camp avoid

these Foods because of a poor weight to

calorie ratio or because they take too

long to cook canned goods fresh fruit

and vegetables chickpeas beans lentils

and rice for your dinner you'll need to

get some protein carbs and fat for

protein some good options are dried fish

or meat but fresh meat is also pretty

good but from my own experience the best

option by far for getting protein while

hiking is using texturized soy it cooks

very quickly you just need to add some

boiling water it has more protein than

meat or fish and it weighs pretty much

nothing for the carbs some good options

are pasta egg rice or spinach noodles

couscous quick oats or quinoa it's also

really important to add some fat to your

meals because you'll be burning a lot of

calories while hiking the best option

that I found for this so far is to bring

a bit of olive oil in a plastic bottle

and just add it to your meals because it

contains a ton of of good calories some

good snacking ideas that you could eat

quickly during the day that are

lightweight high in calories and that

aren't too bad for your health include

protein bars but the main downside is

that they do cost quite a bit not bars

which are somewhat similar only much

cheaper dried fruit nuts and peanut

butter I used to always bring a coffee

mocha pot because I love to have a good

cup of coffee in the morning and I know

that this will probably irritate some of

my Italian viewers but honestly having a

bit of instant coffee or just pouring

some boiling water on top of ground

coffee beans makes a pretty good coffee

as well especially if you're outside in

the middle of nowhere

cheers so maybe keep your mocha pot at

home because this thing is very heavy

and it will save you a lot of weight

also while we around the subject do not

bring an extra cup because you can

always drink coffee or tea directly from

the

pot a thermos is a really nice extra to

have especially on very cold and rainy

days but it weighs a lot if you're

bringing a camping stove then there's

really no need to bring a thermos as

well because you can just boil your

water here do not store your water in

metal or plastic Nene water bottles

instead use regular grocery store water

bottles because they're lighter they're

readily available pretty much everywhere

and you can replace them very easily if

needed make it a habit to always check

all of the pockets on your backpack

before setting off because a lot of

times you'll find a lot of weird stuff

in there like a cool rock that you found

on your previous trip or some trash from

your previous hike on shorter hiking

trips maybe 1 2 three nights you really

don't need to bring repair gear and

extra cords if you do need quick repairs

on the spot for example you tear your

down jacket you can do that quickly with

a bit of duct tape wrapped around your

lighter or you can fix it properly with

repair gear when you return home do you

really need to hike in big hiking boots

because on most Trails hiking in trail

Runners is a better choice because

they're lighter which means that on

every step that you take you have to

carry less weight which allows you to

walk more and carry more stuff in your

backpack I would even argue that on very

simple and flats Trails hiking in

regular running shoes or even Converse

sneakers would be a better Choice than

hiking in big and heavy hiking boots

keep all of the socks for your sleeping

bag your sleeping pad your tent and your

pillow back at home because they aren't

really needed and they do add up also

these items pack more efficiently

meaning they take up less space when

they're squished down at the bottom of

the pack lighten your keys and your

wallet there's no need to buy a new

wallet you can just use a small Ziploc

bag for this exact purpose honestly I

often forget to do this myself so I end

up carrying this big thing in my pocket

instead of bringing a large knife bring

a small pocket knife or no knife at all

the only real instance where you might

need a knife like this or something

larger is if you're fishing hunting

you're into Bushcraft or something like

that or if you're watching too much of

Cades hiking and now you're pretty much

paranoid of going out into the woods

bring only two pairs of hiking socks one

to wear during the day and one to wear

during the night if you need to wash one

of them you can tie them to your

backpack and they will dry out as you're

hiking how many toiletries do you really

need on your backpacking trip I

personally only bring toothpaste

although a smaller tube than this some

lip balm sunscreen and a bit of hand

sanitizer on longer hikes I'll also

bring some eco-friendly soap that I can

use to wash my dishes my clothing and

myself and also in some occasions I'll

bring a bit of bug spray some toiletries

that you probably don't need are de

deodorant shampoo and for the girls

makeup and dry shampoo most of them are

liquids so they take up quite a bit of

weight and space in your backpack and

you can probably live without them just

for a few days while you're out hiking

here in the nature optimize the

placement of items inside your backpack

so that it feels lighter and it causes

less shoulder pain do not attach

anything heavy to the exterior of the

pack especially here on the top you can

attach something lightweight to the

bottom of the pack like a foam sleeping

mat because it won't do much harm to

your shoulders also put all of the

heaviest items towards the center of the

pack and closer to your bag instead of

here on the top the more heavy stuff

that you put here on the top or towards

the outside of the backpack the more it

will pull away from your shoulders and

cause more shoulder pain use a fanny

pack to organize some of the quick grab

items because it will remove some weight

from the backpack and move it over here

to the front and another bonus is that

it just provides much quicker access to

some of the items that you may need

quickly like your phone wallet some

snacks a camera maybe and something like

that in one of my recent videos somebody

pointed out that I shouldn't call this

thing a fanny pack because fanny has a

quite different meaning in the UK I

believe but well I'm not from the UK and

we call them that here so fanny pack

fanny pack fanny pack fanny pack fanny

pack if you know of any other tips that

allow you to save some weight or space

in your backpack for free please try

them down in the video comments to help

out other people thank you for watching

and I'll see you in one of my next

videos bye