Why Choose Lighter?

There are many advantages to packing lighter, but the most important one is of course that you will have a more enjoyable experience in nature. Sound doubtful? Try packing a 30 kg backpack and hiking up a nearby hill or mountain. Do the same with just 5 kilos in your bag. Which experience is the most enjoyable? Let's go for 5 kilos!

However, it is important to remember that there is a balance. Going too far in reducing weight can affect comfort and safety. Sure, you can replace your spoon with your fingers, skip the tent, skip toilet paper and so on - but while it's possible to be extremely minimalist, it's usually neither safe nor desirable for most hikers.

Another big benefit of packing lighter is the energy you save. A lighter backpack and, more importantly, lighter shoes will allow you to hike longer. If you go from 30 kilos to 15 kilos of packing, that means you can hike 120 minutes longer per day! In addition, you will reduce the risk of injury and have a better experience throughout your hike. For more tips on how to maximize your hiking experience, check out"Five lightweight tips."

So, what is the goal of a hiker? For us, it's about enjoying both the hike and the camp. It's about the climb up and the descent. It's about enjoying the whole journey. If you don't love the hike itself - then what's the point?

Getting started:

Understanding your tools and needs is probably the most important part of your backpacking adventure - regardless of your weight or goals. If you don't know exactly what's in your backpack, why bring it? Think about how a skydiver always packs their own equipment, checks every detail and knows exactly what's in their backpack before they jump out from thousands of meters. Similarly, you should have full control over your packing for your adventure. A badly packed backpack can have as serious consequences as a badly packed parachute.

In my opinion, the backpack is the most important part of the trek. You should know exactly what is in it - down to every gram. Create an accurate packing list and document everything. How you document is up to you: Excel, a document, your smartphone or a paper journal. We recommend services like lighterpack.com, which is a user-friendly and free service where you can create and share your packing list.

To get started, invest in a digital kitchen scale and start weighing the largest items in your pack. Document each item in your list, which might look like this:

Sample packing list - The Big Three:

1. Tent - Hilleberg Akto: 1.6 kg
2. Backpack - Fjällräven Abisko: 2.4 kg
3. Sleeping bag - Cheap synthetic summer bag: 1.4 kg
4. Sleeping pad - Expanded Synmat: 560 g

Total weight - the big three: 5.96 kg. In our world, these are heavy options. You can easily halve this weight.

Now that you've documented the big three, move on to the rest of your packing. To stay organized, divide your packing into the following categories:

1. The big three (tent, backpack, sleeping system)
2. Hydration and cooking
3. Clothes in the backpack
4. Personal items (laundry, first aid, dental care, hygiene)
5. Electronics (camera, tripod, batteries, smartphone, iPad, computer)
6. Extras (things that do not fit in other categories)
7. Clothing on the body (during the trek)

Once you have weighed and categorized all your equipment, it will be much easier to make decisions about what is really needed. You will have full control over what is in your pack, its purpose and weight. Focus on the heaviest items (the big three: tent, backpack and sleeping system) to make the biggest improvements in weight and efficiency.

This guide will help you understand how packing lighter not only improves your hiking experience, but also gives you control over your tools and needs. Good luck on your next adventure!