Short, to the point, and humorously illustrated by famed outdoor illustrator Mike Clelland, this book presents everything hikers and backpackers need to be safe, comfortable, and well-fed while carrying a very small and lightweight pack.
Ultralight Backpackin' Tips
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From the Back Cover
Walking into the wilderness with a pack on your back is an empowering experience—all the more so when that pack on your back isn’t weighing you down. That’s where this book comes in. Outdoors expert and celebrated illustrator Mike Clelland offers advanced techniques on how to pack light without sacrificing the essentials or your safety yet staying well fed and comfortable.
Written in the tradition of the successful Allen & Mike’s Really Cool Telemark Tips, with 153 trail-tested tips full of solid advice, as well as more than 100 humorous and helpful illustrations, Ultralight Backpackin' Tips is the ultimate guide for backpackers serious about traveling ultralight. Just a few of the top ten tips expounded upon in the book:
* Use a scale.
* Comfortable and safe are vital!
* Make your own stuff, and making it out of trash is always the best!
* It’s okay to be nerdy.
* Try something new each and every time you go camping.
* Know the difference between wants and needs.
About the Author
Mike Clelland is an instructor with the National Outdoor Leadership School and is an illustrator who studied Mad magazine rather than go to art school. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including Allen & Mike’s Telemark Tips and Allen & Mike’s Really Cool Backpackin’ Book (both FalconGuides).
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More About the Author
Mike Clelland! never went to art school, he studied Mad Magazine instead. Mike grew up in the flat plains of Michigan, then spent ten years (as a yuppie) in New York City. In 1987 he thought it might be fun to be a ski bum for one winter in Wyoming. Unfortunately, after living and skiing in the Rockies, he found it quite impossible to return to his previous life in The Big City. Mike is presently living in a shed in Idaho where he divides his time between illustrations at the desk and working as an instructor in the mountains.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By William Fink
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I reformed and became a light packer ever since a grueling hike in West Virginia last year, and I'm always looking for ways to tweak my gear and shed more weight. This book has lots of info and gets you thinking about ways to trim the fat out of your kit. While most of the tips were things I've already done, I still gained quite a few ideas for making my gear more efficient. It's a quick read, and easy to refer back to. Like the other reviewers have stated, Clelland's writing style is light-hearted with silly humor throughout.
Pretty much my only point of disagreement is going into the wilderness without a knife. The author advises just carrying a single edged razor in your kit. Is this fine for most trips? Almost certainly. But if you are like me, and most of your travels take you deep in the wilderness far from any help, going without a good knife is irresponsible at best. Remember Murphy.
Pretty much my only point of disagreement is going into the wilderness without a knife. The author advises just carrying a single edged razor in your kit. Is this fine for most trips? Almost certainly. But if you are like me, and most of your travels take you deep in the wilderness far from any help, going without a good knife is irresponsible at best. Remember Murphy.
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By M. Martin
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another reviewer described the move to being an ultralight backpacker as a "leap of faith," and the religious metaphor is entirely apt. Ultralight devotees almost always talk about their baseweight and their featherlight gear in the language of zealots. At times, this can be rather annoying to the unconverted. The virtue of Clelland's writing is that almost never does he go too far into the preachy. I'm what he would call a lightweight backpacker (base weight of 12#) since I have yet to deprive myself of the luxurious pleasures of a tent, a sleeping bag, and a powerful stove. For me, his series of recommendations about how to drop weight was helpful and pleasurable to read. I learned a few things that I immediately put into practice and found good (and I'm even considering trying an alcohol stove). I think anyone who backpacks will feel similarly, and will find his book a source of innovative new approaches.
On the other hand, I have no intention of going without a knife and a roll of toilet paper. Call me unreformed.
Still this is a great little book, and fun to read. Give it a try.
An update on 3/2012: I still carry that roll of toilet paper, but I've since been converted and I'm now officially ultralight at 8#. I've also re-read Clelland's book and I've found it to be wonderful and helpful on a second pass. Highly recommended, as this is likely to be the best money you spend on a backpacking book.
On the other hand, I have no intention of going without a knife and a roll of toilet paper. Call me unreformed.
Still this is a great little book, and fun to read. Give it a try.
An update on 3/2012: I still carry that roll of toilet paper, but I've since been converted and I'm now officially ultralight at 8#. I've also re-read Clelland's book and I've found it to be wonderful and helpful on a second pass. Highly recommended, as this is likely to be the best money you spend on a backpacking book.
67 of 78 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
What I like about this book:
- Good mental framework for going UL: Question every piece of gear to see if you can find a suitable UL replacement or simply leave it at home. One of the biggest challenges of going UL is the shift in mindset required to do it successfully.
- Good understanding presented on "systems" versus "gear". It is helpful to approach UL from the perspective of systems: shelter system, food system, etc. The author leaves out one of the most important systems: the survival system (addressed below).
- Some good specific guidance on weight reduction gear piece-by-piece. Take what works for you and ignore the rest.
Even if UL is not for you, going lighter should be a constant quest for every long-distance trekker. I am not a UL trekker, but the base weight of my pack drops with every trip (currently at 25 pounds minus consumables).
One other option to going truly UL is to condition your body and mind to handle extra weight. I do many local day hikes with an overweight pack (up to 60 pounds) as training for true wilderness treks. Once you have humped around a 60 pound pack your 25-45 pound pack feels light as a feather. Being in shape for trekking is just as important as your gear.
What I do not like about this book:
- Going UL/minimalist should not mean sacrificing safety. The goal is to enjoy the wilderness and come home alive. The author ignores the absolute necessity of the survival components of your systems/gear. The advice to take a razor knife into the wilderness is irresponsible and dangerous in my opinion. I do take one - in my first aid kit. I also carry a full-tang, high quality knife. It is gear essential item #1. After all, with a knife I can more easily make shelter, fire, hunt, etc. You should always have the gear and mindset to deal with the unexpected on backcountry excursions. If you venture out into the wilderness often enough you will eventually find yourself in unpleasant, perhaps even life-threatening conditions. Good luck with your razor knife and your book of bar matches (another ridiculous suggestion). I carry 18 oz of gear in my survival kit (excluding my knife). When your life is on the line an extra 18 oz of gear does not seem like such a heavy burden to carry.
For what it's worth, I have trekked over 25K miles on foot both as a 12-year infantry officer in the Army and as an avid outdoor adventurer. I have been in true survival situations and I can tell you that a good knife and other minimal survival gear (550 paracord, firesteel, etc.) can and does save lives (even if it's not your own necessarily).
- Good mental framework for going UL: Question every piece of gear to see if you can find a suitable UL replacement or simply leave it at home. One of the biggest challenges of going UL is the shift in mindset required to do it successfully.
- Good understanding presented on "systems" versus "gear". It is helpful to approach UL from the perspective of systems: shelter system, food system, etc. The author leaves out one of the most important systems: the survival system (addressed below).
- Some good specific guidance on weight reduction gear piece-by-piece. Take what works for you and ignore the rest.
Even if UL is not for you, going lighter should be a constant quest for every long-distance trekker. I am not a UL trekker, but the base weight of my pack drops with every trip (currently at 25 pounds minus consumables).
One other option to going truly UL is to condition your body and mind to handle extra weight. I do many local day hikes with an overweight pack (up to 60 pounds) as training for true wilderness treks. Once you have humped around a 60 pound pack your 25-45 pound pack feels light as a feather. Being in shape for trekking is just as important as your gear.
What I do not like about this book:
- Going UL/minimalist should not mean sacrificing safety. The goal is to enjoy the wilderness and come home alive. The author ignores the absolute necessity of the survival components of your systems/gear. The advice to take a razor knife into the wilderness is irresponsible and dangerous in my opinion. I do take one - in my first aid kit. I also carry a full-tang, high quality knife. It is gear essential item #1. After all, with a knife I can more easily make shelter, fire, hunt, etc. You should always have the gear and mindset to deal with the unexpected on backcountry excursions. If you venture out into the wilderness often enough you will eventually find yourself in unpleasant, perhaps even life-threatening conditions. Good luck with your razor knife and your book of bar matches (another ridiculous suggestion). I carry 18 oz of gear in my survival kit (excluding my knife). When your life is on the line an extra 18 oz of gear does not seem like such a heavy burden to carry.
For what it's worth, I have trekked over 25K miles on foot both as a 12-year infantry officer in the Army and as an avid outdoor adventurer. I have been in true survival situations and I can tell you that a good knife and other minimal survival gear (550 paracord, firesteel, etc.) can and does save lives (even if it's not your own necessarily).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
very informative
This is a good read. Lots of good tips and useful information. I do not however agree that you shouldn't take a knife camping. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Brad Galles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wealth of information
Great source of ideas to help any backpacker rethink what he carries. This has helped me cut my load in half... I'm about to go through it again and cut even more.
Published 13 days ago by Lori T Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Tip Summary
Traditionally backpacked in 2000 and up to the John Muir Trail in 2001. Getting back in to it and wanted to learn more about lightweight tips. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars
BUY THIS BOOK
Great book to rethink the way you pack for backpacking! I love the illustations (I'll remember those on the trail when the book is home!). Read more
Published 23 days ago by Mama23
5.0 out of 5 stars
Way cool, practical book
This book is essential to me because I always take way to much stuff on a backpacking trip. I can't wait to go ultralight on my next trip. So, liberating!
Published 24 days ago by Chuck
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Useful Guide to Ultralightness
The style is airy and flowing. It is literally a numbered collection of tips, but the sum actually is better than the parts. I've already started acting on some of the tips. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Byron Nevins
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of good info, humorously written
I wasn't really looking for a book on ultralight backpacking, but rather backpacking in general. I think Mike's obsession with going really light is beyond my current interest. Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Alcorn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of great tips!
As a first time backpacker there were plenty of useful suggestions. Some were a bit extreme, but if you are looking for ultra light the author knows his stuff!
Published 1 month ago by Larry Sorenson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
Mike Clelland did an excellent job writing this book, combining humor and great information all into one fun, easy to read book.
Published 2 months ago by Ben Streeter
3.0 out of 5 stars
NOT BAD
Nice read but he goes a bit toooo far into the GREEN ZONE, if you ask me . He may be a NOLS instructor and his methods may work for him but I have been hiking a bit myself and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by George J. Stepien
