Lightweight is the way to go when backpacking. Here are are a few lightweight items that, if used correctly, can be well worth their weight.
From multi-tools with a bevy of uses to emergency bivvy sacks you can place in your pack and forget about, when aiming to go the distance backpacking, it can be the little things that count.
Emergency Bivvy
For anyone familiar with emergency preparation, the crinkly sound of a space blanket isn’t far from your imagination. Super lightweight (less than 4 oz.) and potentially lifesaving, space blankets can provide a makeshift shelter and heat conservation in casual outdoor use or in an emergency. You can increase the utility of a space blanket by upgrading to an Emergency Bivvy, which features a sleeping bag design that can trap more heat than the traditional space blanket.
Fire Starter
If you’re reliant on fire for cooking or warmth, it’s always wise to have more than one method of starting a fire in your pack or skill set. While simple lighters work most of the time, having a backup plan to account for bad weather (or losing a lighter) can be the difference between going to bed hungry and cold, or not. As you should always have a multi-tool on you, bring a Signal which also has a tried-and-true fire starter built in.
Lightweight Trowel & Stink Sack
Abiding by good nature policy, if you’re bringing toilet paper into the wilderness you should also be bringing that toilet paper back out with you, used or not. While it’s not the most openly discussed subject of camping (depending on who your friends are), it does happen, and it helps to have something in your pack to assist with the process. If you’re aiming to save weight, a great recommendation is to check out the backcountry potty trowel, The Deuce of Spades, which comes in at a slim 0.6 ounces. Couple that toilet tool with medium black Stink Sack bag to store your used T.P. squares, and you have a winning combination for lightweight waste removal.
Multi-Tool & Knife
When it comes to a multi-tool on a lightweight expedition, the secret is to get the most utility for the ounces. The right multi-tool won’t just have a lot of gadgets, it will have a lot of uses for you. A great combination of lightweight efficiencies and practical toolsets can be found within the pocket-size line of Leatherman multi-tools, including the impressive Juice C2 at 4.4 ounces with 12 tools and several different uses—or the Style CS with foldable scissors, tweezers and a knife blade—all of which will find great uses during trail life. If you’re aiming for something more simple, the Skeletool KBX features a single blade and weighs only 1.3 ounces.
High-Powered Flashlight
Whether you’re afraid of the dark or plan on doing a lot of night hiking, having some sort of high-beam flashlight to supplement a personal headlamp can make a big impact on how well you see the adventure in front of you. Because an extra flashlight means extra batteries, if you’re trying to keep weight down, it’s key to look for the best weight-to-lumen ratio. Keep your flashlight of choice under six ounces, and you’ll be happy about the extra light it will shed on certain situations.
Camp Shoes
A point of contention between the luxury and necessity list of lightweight backpacking, camp shoes come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you add them to the pack or not, anyone who has trekked a long distance in hiking boots knows that when the day is over, your feet don’t want to be in those shoes anymore. If you decide to add the extra weight of camp shoes to your pack, but you still want to keep things light, ditch the Chacos or Tevas, and instead opt for something like sport sandals from Xero Shoes that fold up and come in at just under 6 ounces (each).
Paracord
Found in nearly every outdoor person’s gear closet, parachute cord (paracord) is a lightweight nylon rope that can be the adventure equivalent of duct tape in many cases. Serving as laces for your boot, a suspension system for your sleeping pad, or a dedicated rope for hanging your food stash, paracord often comes in handy for planned intentions and plenty of impromptu uses as well. About 100 feet of 550 paracord weighs roughly 7.3 ounces, meaning if you want to keep things light, take half that amount. Whatever the reason you use it for though, you’ll be glad to have stashed this lightweight multi-use item in your pack.
Spork
When you’re carrying just one utensil to do all your stirring, eating and peanut-butter reaching, it’s worth your while to get a high-quality spork. Forget the normal collection of cutlery you’d normally dine with, because products like the Titanium Spork from Vargo can meet all your noshing needs. Wherever you get your new favorite eating utensil from, go for a material meant to go the extra mile (like titanium), because it can be a rough ride for a plastic spork in your backpack.
Note Book
Because inspiration strikes on the trail, it’s not a bad idea to include a notebook or journal in your pack. While the size of your journal will be dependent on the intentions of your trip, if you’re going for a lightweight theme, something like the weatherproof Memo Book from Rite in the Rain could be the ticket. Whatever notebook you decide on, be sure it’s ready to handle the adverse conditions of backpacking, and don’t forget your writing utensil. While pens can work, a good old-fashioned #2 pencil that can be sharpened with your knife may be more reliable.