This website ( link ) has a few good articles & gear lists. Another good place to look up is BackpackingLight .

In general, there are two aspects of lightweight backpacking: 1) Take only what you need, not forgetting the 10+ essentials. 2) Make sure that the items you do take are the most lightweight options that are right for you.

Expect your pack weight to drop year by year, not all at once. On my first attempt, my pack went from 45 to 26 lbs for a 2-night trip. That happened mostly by getting a new tent, shelter, sleeping bag, cook set, and by leaving unneeded clothes home.

I found the transition from "regular" backpacking to going lightweight to be a bit of a lifestyle change, and you might too; don't be surprised if you find yourself sleeping in a different shelter than you're used to, or if the food you bring is totally different. Keep an open mind, experiment, and you'll probably find the weight savings worth it.


Edited by Wolfeye (05/04/10 08:24 PM)
Edit Reason: fixed speeeling error