| Backpackers who pack light can travel further and | | | | to get out of it because of the reduced pace. Or |
| faster. Lightweight backpacking allows one to wear | | | | perhaps an injury during the hike requires medical |
| running shoes and a fifteen-pound backpack instead | | | | attention: reaching civilization to the backpacker |
| of heavy hiking boots and packs in excess of 45 | | | | treated would take longer than if they had lighter |
| pounds. This allows the backpacker not only to travel | | | | gear. |
| further in shorter period of time, but provides an | | | | So now you can clearly see there are many |
| increased level of comfort and safety, which equates | | | | disadvantages to bringing heavy gear on your next |
| to more fun. | | | | excursion. What advantages does lightweight |
| First, let's explore the disadvantages of traditional | | | | backpacking offer? |
| backpacking. When hiking with heavy, bulky | | | | Lightweight backpacking provides a greater degree |
| equipment, the user has less freedom. One can't | | | | of safety than traditional backpacking. With a lighter |
| simply run up over a hill off the trail to see what's | | | | pack on, a hiker is much less likely to lose his balance |
| over there because this would be very exhausting. | | | | and fall, or if he does, it is likely to be a much softer |
| Or if one were to set down the heavy backpack to | | | | fall. Where a traditional backpacker might get caught |
| go see, the equipment would be left behind and the | | | | in a storm like in the previous example, a lightweight |
| user would have to come back to retrieve it. | | | | backpacker would have a better chance at getting to |
| Of course, traveling with heavy gear fatigues the | | | | shelter before it hit. |
| wearer more quickly. This results in sore muscles, | | | | Lightweight backpacking is simply much more |
| blisters on the feet, sprained and twisted ankles, | | | | comfortable, as it only requires the wearer to carry |
| knee injuries, back problems and all sorts of maladies. | | | | less than 20 pounds of equipment, whereas a |
| These result from tired wearers with simply too | | | | traditional backpacker might be expect to lug around |
| much weight on their back and legs, causing hikes to | | | | 50 pounds of gear. Lighter, more comfortable running |
| be much less enjoyable. | | | | shoes as opposed to thick hiking boots almost |
| Additionally, traditional back packing is more | | | | eliminates blisters. Also, wearing a lighter backpack |
| time-consuming. Not only must the backpacker travel | | | | frees up more weight for the hiker to wear a |
| slower because of the increased weight, preventing | | | | heavier coat. |
| him from reaching distant, exotic locations quickly, | | | | In order to reduce weight, many companies offer |
| they must also spend more time packing the | | | | lightweight versions of their products. It is also |
| backpack as well as spend more time putting it on | | | | important that the lightweight backpacker knows |
| and taking it off. This means less time for the fun | | | | how to use his equipment for maximum efficiency, |
| parts of a hike like swimming in a remote lake. | | | | where the traditional backpacker can make up for |
| Finally, traveling with heavy equipment involves more | | | | this with the sheer amount of tools he can bring. |
| risk. If backpackers get caught out in the wilderness | | | | Lightweight backpacking might not be for everyone, |
| with lots of burdensome gear when a storm rolls | | | | but for some it is surely much more enjoyable than |
| through, they have much less chance of being able | | | | traditional backpacking. |