Ultralight Backpacking: SMART Choices or DUMB Decisions? 

👍👍👍 .. good advice 😊. Here in Switzerland, just last weekend in Valais, Swiss Alps, five cross country skiers froze to death (the sixth is still missing) when they got caught in a snow storm, became disorientated and even though they tried to dig a snow cave to protect themselves from the wind, according to the Rescue Services who found their bodies .. to the effect, 'what they had was not up to the task'. It appears that they then panicked, 'bombshelled' and that was it. All five were from one family group, ages ranging from 21 to 58, were apparently experienced cross-country skiers and were practising for an upcoming Cross Country Ski Race. Their planned route was relatively short .. 4 km 'as the crow flies' .. obviously longer on the ground in the mountains. One of them, late afternoon, managed to get a message out that they were in trouble and needed help. Rescue Services were able to pinpoint their position but were unable to get to the site until the following day .. by air or land due to the weather. The Weather Forecast beforehand had predicted stormy weather on the horizon, which it appears, they ignored. The incident is under investigation but one report did state that 'they were 'lightly equipped' .. clothing and supplementary gear. I no longer 'backpack / hike' distance due to bad knees and suspect hip due to age .. turn 74 this month, but now 'Nordic Walk' year-round here in Switzerland. Although I am one of the 'Be Bold, start Cold' Brigade, I 'carry heavy' in my pack .. having, depending on the Season, Weather and Location, what I need for 'just in case'. Tragic, the six .. hopefully we can learn by it. Thanks for sharing, hopefully some heed your advice. Take care .. 'Ultralight' .. can be highly dangerous (and at the very least, very uncomfortable) if one succumbs to the 'snobbery' and such. Me .. within reason, I would rather 'have and not need' than 'need and not have'.

Buying a tether for my phone was one of my best investments in trail safety. If I drop my phone, it’s still attached to my pack, and I don’t have to worry about it going over the side or ending up in a creek.

I have done stupid light. I am lucky that I did not pay a high price. It was just an uncomfortable night and hike out. I can do a 9 to 12 pound base weight (I am short, so I use shorter gear, like pads and quilts). Anything lighter means either the weather is awesome (and hopefully won't change) or I have a few light items (heat packs) to make it work. I much prefer to carry light, but I do not like to suffer or just simply survive. I like my Fozzil bowl to eat from and I like a pillow instead of my jacket. I live in the east (aka lots of summer rain). I hate a rain jacket, as it is usually too hot, but I want a dry jacket in camp. I use a poncho for hiking in the rain. My core stays dry and I don't over heat. I want to enjoy my hike. My average base weight is around 13 pounds. That is comfortable to carry, I have everthing that I need and a few things that I want. I hope folks watch this video. You have great insight.

I carry heavy 🙄 but I learn from others in each of my longer hikes about a gear or a way to organize my pack that eventually reduces my weight but does not change my comfort, it takes time and experimentation, don’t be afraid to ask others when you observe something that might help you, folks love talking gear in general, then decide if it’s for you 😊

Here in the Netherlands in the summer, this is not an issue, then I don't take much with me for multi-day hikes. But I think many people believe that the conditions in the mountains are the same as here in the Netherlands. A big mistake. Shoes, clothing, sleeping, cooking, etc., everything is completely different and can change all at once. Be prepared for the unexpected!

On maps I have found so many future adventures by spreading my map out while on an overlook and sorting out what mountain with overlooks that was way out in the distance.

Thank you for saying this!!! I keep seeing videos of people who are so obsessed with the idea of ultralight backpacking that they look like they’re completely uncomfortable with their shelter setups. I haven’t gone on my first trip yet, but I know when I do there are just certain things I’m going to need to feel comfortable. I love being outside but I’m high maintenance and I’m not going to sacrifice my experience to lose a few pounds. Honestly I’m so used to overpacking that having only a heavy backpack is going to feel like nothing 😭 (for reference my trip to Ireland I went with one very large suitcase that ended up being like 60lb or something and then I accumulated items on the trip and had to buy a whole other large suitcase 🙃) so if I can get my gear in a 65L pack I’ll be happy with that 🤣

100% agree, ultra light backpacking (or ultralight anything) is what I consider a more advanced form of the original thing that often focuses on optimizing speed in sacrifice of safety. I always advise others to not go down this road unless they are experienced and self-sufficient.

This is such a timely video for me as a newbie who is just wrangling gear together. I have everything I need to go out and just start learning and to see if I really like it before I invest in a very expensive tent that would shave about 2 lbs from my total estimates. I am just 52 and probably pack a little extra care/hygiene items. All my gear plus estimates for consumables and a classic Gregory pack and small UDAP bear can get me just about 32-34lbs. I am horrible at throwing for a bear hang bc of shoulder trouble so that’s out. I know I could shave a little off depending on weather mostly at the time I actually get to go. Things like bear spray add up. Do you count your “worn weight “ in your calculations? On one hand I think that’s useful but on the other I have to wear the clothes for the weather etc.

Yes! I tend to go for durability, so I often purchase thrifted gear. Once I figure out which designs, fabrics and types of kit I like, I may buy a fancier version.

Great advice Joey. I find friends often weigh their gear, but don't think about how to lighten their food. I find drying my food, and weighing food options saves a lot of weight.

I so enjoy your videos, Joey.👍. I always either learn something valuable, or am entertained, or am inspired. Most times, it is all three! ☺️. Keep up the good work.

I would disagree about a compass on the AT. You’re on trail and you gotta go, Spring has sprung and it’s full green everywhere, you go left or right whichever looks best for a good distance, knowing the direction you went is good thing coming back. Woman got lost and died because she became disoriented. Phones are a wonder of the age but they can fail. They hate cold. Maps have worked for thousands of years so I’m with you on that. I carry both.

Ultralight backpacking, and also the "leave no trace" principles, make sense to some extent, but seem sometimes embraced by obsessive people who over-interpret it and whose main motivation is virtue-signaling.

I don't weigh my pack - But always strive when replacing older gear to try and get something better and lighter - I never cutback on safety gear A lot of what a person carries depends on what there going to be doing 4 miles and setting up a base camp to enjoy time with friends is different than traveling 20 miles a day for 300 miles. The write gear for the write task.

good video, skimping on weight shouldn't mean skimping on safety, leaving home a chair is definitely different than using a summer sleeping bag in late fall, even if it saves the same number of ounces/grams

The only thing that irks me is those doing it because it’s trendy without understanding it. It’s taken me years to trim kilos out of the pack and I’ll never achieve “ultra” light.

"Pack light, freeze at night"😞

So, about six people a year go missing on the Appalachian Trail despite it being so well marked. Having a Compass is absolutely essential for travelling the outdoors. it is 100% a nonnegotiable tool that everyone should have. There’s really no debate on this whatsoever. It’s like debating seatbelts at this point.

Some people take the parody of UltraLight Jerk seriously.

My thought on pack weight is this: If you are so weak that you've gotta have the lightest of the light equipment, maybe you need to stay at home and do some serous conditioning before you go out backpacking.