There’s joy in tramping with lightweight sustainable gear. Just ensure your pack is full of essentials, not ‘nice to haves’. By Cody Howell

The desire for lighter gear is nearly universal among outdoor enthusiasts. 

While there’s always been a push for better gear and more comfortable kits, the rapid progress made by the ultralight movement has brought with it many myths regarding the viability and safety of using lighter gear or having an ultralight base weight (<4.5kg pack weight, before food and water). 

With that in mind, here are four concepts about lightweight gear that could improve your experience in the outdoors.

Ultralight gear is for everyone, not just fastpackers

Thru-hikers often get much of the credit for pushing boundaries over long distances, but many come to ultralight backpacking because it’s better for your joints and back. Hunters and packrafters also want ultralight gear because the rest of their specialised gear can be heavy.

Everyone can find a reason to benefit, whether for safety, comfort or health. Once weight is dropped from packs, people see the benefits and usually want to keep pushing it. It’s rare for  people to take this to a dangerous point if they’re well informed. 

The truth is, most people pack their fears.

The New Zealand environment doesn’t make ultralight unwise or unsafe

“But New Zealand can have four seasons in a day!” So can North America and the UK. It’s why tent manufacturers consider wind forces and snow loads in tent designs, and why the concept of layering should be the basis of every tramper’s toolkit. The New Zealand environment is special, but not in any way that makes lighter gear a poor choice.

Some consider lightweight gear unsafe, or think that ultralighters are ‘unprepared’. This couldn’t be further from the truth. To go multi-day tramping with a base pack weight under 4.5kg takes significant consideration and experience. Every piece of gear must be chosen carefully. 

If you want to simplify your kit to include only the true essentials, making friends with a zealous ultralight backpacker can be a great first step!

Not all ultralight gear is expensive

Ultralight gear isn’t expensive when compared to common alternatives, providing the alternative is also a quality product. However, the gear can seem expensive if you’ve already bought a bunch of stuff you don’t need, or decide it’s time to upgrade. 

Rain jackets are a great example. Even the most advanced and expensive ‘breathable fabric’ won’t keep you dry while hiking in the rain for hours. Why not get a 100–200g sil-jacket that can be shaken dry, instead of using something three to four times heavier that will wet out? 

Or why not make it yourself? Nothing gives you a more intimate relationship to your gear than making it yourself.

Ultralight is more like solving a puzzle than about competing for the lightest weight

When asked what the ideal base weight is, I always answer: “As light as you can safely make it for the trip planned.”

The reward for solving the ultralight puzzle is enjoying the simplicity of the result. The greater the distance walked, the more noticeable this becomes. A short overnighter or weekend trip may not register; but over longer distances, there will be significant benefits for your energy levels and overall comfort if you use lightweight footwear and a lighter pack. 

Changing to an ultralight tent, quilt or pack could save kilos in base weight, but of greater importance is having a minimalist mindset. Accept that you don’t need spares of everything, keep unnecessary items to a minimum, and think in terms of layering, with warmth supplied by one base layer, one thermal layer and one rain shell. A good rule of thumb is to ditch any item not used during three trips – excluding the PLB, of course. Everything you carry should be essential.

Trampers have always leaned towards lighter, high-quality gear. In this sense, ultralight philosophy isn’t just a trend, it’s a natural progression. I believe ultralight backpacking is currently the best way to tramp in terms of comfort, safety and quality of the experience.

– Cody Howell is co-founder of ultralight gear manufacturer Kiwi Ultralight