Backpackinglight · Guide

Lightweight hiking – the complete guide to packing lighter

Most first-time hikers carry too much, and their bodies feel it. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right knowledge and conscious choices, you can drastically reduce your pack weight without compromising comfort or safety.

Lightweight hiking is about carrying the right things, not just fewer things. The goal is not to suffer with as little as possible, but for every item you carry to earn its place in your pack. That applies whether you are aiming for 5 kg or 12 kg base weight.

Two out of three hikers who have walked Gröna Bandet (1,300 km through the Swedish mountains) carry less than 10 kg base weight – and if they can, so can you. This guide shows you how, based on data from Gröna Bandet hikers combined with our experience and in-store expertise since 2012.

In this guide

Understand and map your pack — what base weight is, where the weight hides and how to take control
Choose the right gear — tent, backpack, sleep system, shoes, clothing and stove
Plan food and resupply — food strategies and resupply boxes
Packing list — download our packing list based on what hikers actually pack
Common mistakes — what experienced hikers wish they had done differently
Frequently asked questions about lightweight hiking

New: Gröna Bandet 2026 – hikers’ choices and experiences

Want to go deeper? In our article series we go through what worked all the way, part by part – with results, ratings and rankings from the Gröna Bandet surveys. Everything is collected on Gear on Gröna Bandet.

1. Understand and map your pack

Before you replace a single item you need to know what you have. It sounds obvious, but most people who pack heavy have never weighed their gear. This is where it all starts.

What is base weight?

Base weight is the weight of everything you carry except food, water and fuel – the permanent weight you always have on your back, whether the stage is one day or one week. It is the only number that matters when talking about light packing, because food and water vary while the gear does not.

Hikers commonly use three approximate levels:

Light hiking: 10–14 kg base weight — conscious choices with traditional gear
Lightweight hiking: 6–10 kg base weight — systematic weight reduction, often with specialised gear
Ultralight: under 5 kg base weight — optimised in every detail

How heavy is a backpack?

Most experienced hikers are at 6–10 kg base weight. In our surveys of Gröna Bandet hikers, 65% had a base weight under 10 kg, and 34% were under 7 kg.

Asked "how weight-conscious were you in your planning?" (scale 0–10), the average is 7.9. That shows light packing is not extremism – it is mainstream among those who actually hike long distances.

Weigh everything you own

This step is not optional. Without weight data, light packing is a guessing game.

Get a scale and weigh every single item – toothbrush, socks, charger, everything. Write it down in a list. We recommend lighterpack.com, a free service where you can see exactly how your weight is distributed in percent.

When you see your first list, you are almost always surprised.

Find where the weight is — "The Big Three"

In lightweight hiking people talk about "the big three": the tent, the backpack and the sleep system (sleeping bag and sleeping pad). Together they account for the largest part of your base weight, often 40–60%. These three decide whether your pack feels light or heavy, and this is where you make the biggest savings. Switching from a heavy tent to a lighter alternative can save you several kilos on a single item, and it changes the whole experience.

Chasing grams on small items can become a sport in itself, and it can definitely make a difference in the long run, but by far the biggest difference lies in the big three. Read more about The big three under 3 kg.

Once you have the big three under control, go through the rest of your list. Ask yourself three questions about each item:

Does it weigh more than it needs to for its function?
Is there a lighter alternative that does the same job?
Do I need it at all?

Test, learn and adjust

Your first trip with your new pack is rarely perfect. You will realise something is missing, something else was unnecessary, and a third thing didn’t work as intended. That is not failure – it is the process.

The same pattern shows clearly in our data: hikers who have walked Gröna Bandet several times report a changed base weight for each new trip. One hiker went from 8 kg to 4.8 kg to 5.5 kg to 6 kg over four years.

Gröna Bandet part 1: What worked? The bigger picture and the key lessons

2. Choose the right gear

Now that you know where the weight is, it’s time to look at each part of your gear – what works, what doesn’t, and which products experienced hikers actually use.

Backpack

Which backpack you should have, and what size it should be, depends on your body shape and what you will carry in it. That’s why the backpack should really be chosen last. If you have a narrow or short back, a backpack designed for women can make a big difference on longer trips.

With a light tent, sleep system and stove, you suddenly don’t need the same big, heavy backpack. A backpack built for a 25 kg load when you carry 10 kg means you are hauling unnecessary frame and padding.

When you try on a backpack, fill it with gear and feel how it sits. How does it sit on the hips? How does it feel on the shoulders? The most important thing is that it fits your body. Among experienced Gröna Bandet hikers, the most satisfied carry backpacks under 1 kg. That doesn’t mean you have to start there, but it shows where the journey often leads.

Tent

The type of tent you choose affects both weight and comfort more than almost anything else in your pack. The difference between a traditional mountain tent and a lighter alternative can be a few kilos.

The most important thing is to match the tent to the conditions you will actually hike in. Does it need to handle storm, rain and snow, or easier forest trails in summer that make other demands? A tent that works perfectly in the birch forest can be completely wrong above the tree line, and vice versa. Consider whether you need a freestanding tent, or whether a lighter tent supported by trekking poles is enough for your trips.

Hiking alone? Then a one-person tent is the obvious starting point. If you hike with a partner, a two-person tent can still be lighter per person than two separate ones – but only if you share the weight.

Sleep system

How you sleep affects everything. Our survey answers clearly show that hikers who chose too cold a sleeping bag or the wrong sleeping pad regret it. One hiker changed sleeping bag halfway and described the trip as completely different afterwards. Sleeping well is not a luxury on a trip – it is a prerequisite.

The most important choice in a sleeping bag is the insulation. Down is lighter and packs smaller, but loses its warmth when wet. Synthetic is heavier but still works when damp. Which you choose depends on when and where you hike, and how careful you are about keeping the bag dry.

The sleeping pad insulates you from below and affects both warmth and comfort. A thin foam mat weighs almost nothing but insulates little, while an inflatable pad gives more warmth and comfort. Many experienced hikers combine the two: an inflatable pad as main insulation and a thin foam mat as extra insulation and backup if something breaks.

Don’t forget the pillow. It may sound like a luxury item, but a good night’s sleep in the mountains is worth every gram.

Shoes

You notice the wrong shoes. Maybe not on the first day, but after a few days of blisters and chafing, shoes can ruin an entire trip. Blisters and chafing are the most common problem among hikers, and can be caused by anything from wrong fit and size to moisture, the wrong socks or shoes that are not broken in enough. Several hikers changed shoes along the way, either because they were worn out or because they didn’t work as intended.

Many who start lightweight hiking discover they no longer need heavy boots – with a lower base weight you need less support. Among experienced Gröna Bandet hikers, trail runners dominate with around 60% of all shoe choices. Trail runners also barely need breaking in compared with traditional leather boots, which can take weeks of use before they fit well.

Clothing

Another common mistake among hikers is bringing too many clothes. In the survey answers, nearly 30% say: "you need less than you think."

The key is layering – a modular system where each garment has a function and can be combined in different ways depending on weather and temperature. A thin merino base layer next to the skin, an insulating mid layer and a windproof shell go a long way, even in the mountains. Merino is popular among long-distance hikers because it stays warm even when damp and doesn’t start to smell as quickly.

Stove

The stove is the gear with the highest satisfaction in our surveys, 9.2 out of 10. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Most long-distance hikers use a simple gas burner and a titanium pot, nothing more.

Hot food after a long day in the mountains matters, not just for energy but for mood and recovery. For many hikers, food is one of the highlights of the trip. At the same time, some hikers skip the stove entirely and eat cold food or just heat water – it depends on your priorities.

One pot is usually enough. Always weigh stove and fuel together – it is the total weight that matters.

Trekking poles

Trekking poles make hiking easier on knees and hips, especially on descents and with a heavier pack. Another benefit is that the poles can replace tent poles. If you choose a trekking-pole tent, you save weight both on the tent and in the backpack, since the poles are already in your hands.

Packing system

Keep it simple. Several stuff sacks work better than one large waterproof liner – they make it easier to stay organised and spread the weight in the backpack. Pack what you need first at the top and the heavy items close to your back.

Electronics

Electronics are easy to underestimate weight-wise. A power bank, a phone with offline maps and emergency communication are what most experienced hikers carry. A headlamp may seem obvious, but on summer hikes in the Nordics with long, light nights it is rarely necessary. Think about what you will actually use and need – every charger and cable weighs something.

3. Plan food and resupply

The lighter your gear becomes, the more of the total weight is food. 46% of Gröna Bandet hikers send resupply boxes to themselves and 39% buy food along the way. Both strategies work – satisfaction is 8.2 out of 10 regardless of method.

Some dehydrate and pack their own food. A hot meal every evening makes a big difference to mood and recovery. Don’t underestimate portion sizes either – several hikers noticed they were eating too little after a few days.

4. Packing list

Use a packing list based on what experienced hikers actually pack. It helps you keep track of what to bring, what it weighs and what you can leave at home.

Packing lists for Vita and Gröna Bandet

5. Common mistakes

We asked hikers who have walked Gröna Bandet what they wish they had done differently. The same things come up again and again: too many clothes, too cold a sleeping bag, the wrong shoes and unrealistic food planning. Most mistakes can be avoided with better planning and by testing your gear before the trip.

6. Frequently asked questions about lightweight hiking

Is lightweight hiking safe?

Yes, as long as you don’t remove safety features. Lightweight hiking is about choosing lighter solutions for weather protection, warmth, food and navigation – not going without them. A well-chosen lightweight tent can handle the Swedish mountains, and a lighter sleeping bag doesn’t have to mean a colder one. It’s about choosing smarter, not worse.

Do I have to buy all new gear?

No. Start by weighing what you already have. You can often reduce the weight considerably by removing unnecessary items and duplicates. Then replace one or two big items where it makes the biggest difference.

How much does it cost to start lightweight hiking?

It doesn’t have to be expensive. Weighing your pack and removing unnecessary items costs nothing. The biggest weight savings are in the tent, sleep system and backpack, and there are alternatives in different price ranges. Many hikers upgrade one thing at a time instead of everything at once.

Does lightweight gear work in bad weather?

Yes. A lightweight tent designed for wind and rain handles tough conditions. A down sleeping bag keeps you warm if you keep it dry. What matters is matching the gear to your trip, not choosing the lightest available regardless of conditions.

What is the difference between lightweight and ultralight?

Lightweight hiking means a base weight of about 6–10 kg. You reduce weight through conscious choices without major compromises. Ultralight packing is under 5 kg base weight and requires more optimisation in every detail. Most hikers end up at lightweight – it gives a good balance between comfort and low weight.

How much should my backpack weigh in total?

It depends on how long the stage is. A base weight (everything except food, water and fuel) of 6–10 kg is a good lightweight level. With food for 3–4 days you end up at 10–14 kg in total. That is a weight most people handle well without wearing out their body.