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Backpacking Light

Pack less. Be more.

You are here: Home / Archives for Skills & Techniques

Skills & Techniques

Learn the "howto" of lightweight backpacking with these tips, tricks, gear lists, and comprehensive skill guides.

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Lightweight First Aid and Trauma Kits: Perspectives from a Mountain Rescue Medic

Aug 6, 2019 by Emylene VanderVelden

This article features an interview with a Canadian Mountain Rescue Medic, focusing on how to assemble lightweight first aid and trauma kits for backcountry travel.

adventure medical kits, first aid

Podcast 014 | SKILLS SHORT – Training for Backpacking

Jul 29, 2019 by Backpacking Light

It’s no secret: the more physically prepared you are for a backpacking trip, the more you are going to enjoy yourself. But what are the most effective ways to reach optimal backpacking condition? That’s the topic of today’s BPL SKILLS SHORT: training.

fitness, garmin, nutrition, outdoor fitness, Patagonia, training

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Lighten your pack, and your body

Jul 17, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

I’d like to address what I do in each of these areas at some point in the future, but for now, I want to expand on why I believe a lean body weight – in addition to carrying less weight in your pack – is really important for a backpacking lifestyle.

fitness, nutrition

Crossing Rivers and Water Shoes

Jul 16, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

Crossing rivers “ultralight style” – that’s when you simply walk through the water wearing your hiking shoes and keep walking on the trail once you get to the other side.

footwear, minimalist footwear

How to choose backpacking footwear so you can keep hiking until you die

Jul 14, 2019 by Ryan Jordan

Most advice about minimalist footwear can be rejected outright. Often, the advice is given by hikers who haven’t put in the time required to understand the complexity and depth of foot biomechanics and the long-term effects of overuse that is endured by walking for decades. Here are some guiding principles if you want to keep hiking into your sunset years, so you can delay the inevitable onset of overuse conditions like hallux rigidus.

altra, approach shoes, footwear, hoka, la sportiva, minimalist footwear, scarpa, shoes, sole, trail running shoes

MYOG Ultralight Fastpacking ‘Tivy’

Mar 3, 2019 by Ellen J

Step by step instructions on how to construct my MYOG tivy model and videos and pictures of it in use.

bivy sacks, DIY / MYOG, MYOG

Resources, Tools, and Processes for Planning Nontechnical, Off-Trail Backpacking Routes

Nov 14, 2018 by Ryan Jordan

The purpose of this article is to document the process I often use to plan and execute off-trail trips in the mountains using digital mapping and navigation tools.

apps, caltopo, gaia, google earth, gps, hillmap, navigation

Navigating Without a Compass, Map, or GPS

Sep 14, 2018 by Kenneth Posner

This article describes natural navigator techniques I’ve found helpful while bushwhacking – navigating without a compass, map, or GPS.

Catskill Mountains, map & compass, navigation

MYOG: Seam Construction and Taping of New Dimension-Polyant Fabrics

Jul 1, 2018 by Roger Caffin

This article presents the results of some cursory material construction tests using the newer Dimension-Polyant (DP) fabrics from the LS, VX, and WX families, as well as seam-taping using DP-supplied seam tapes. The context here is MYOG/DIY backpack construction.

backpacks, dimension-polyant, DIY / MYOG, MYOG

Case Studies: Using Google Earth to Plan Wilderness Trips

Jun 3, 2018 by Luke Schmidt

This article presents some case studies of using Google Earth for wilderness trip planning, with a presentation of my process and lessons learned.

British Columbia, bushwhacking, Canada, google earth, hamber provincial park, Jarvis creek, jasper national park, kakwa lake, Monkman Provincial Park, moose river, packrafting, planning, wood river

Wet, Cold Feet When Backpacking: How To Keep Your Feet Dry(er) and Warm(er) in Inclement Weather

Sep 29, 2017 by Ryan Jordan

Keep feet warm and dry by using a carefully designed system that involves different types of socks, shoes, and gaiters.

altra, cold, Darn Tough, footwear, gaiters, Goosefeet Gear, hoka, inclement weather, Rocky, salomon, shoes, Smartwool, socks, trail running shoes, zpacks

MYOG Synthetic Fill Vest (Make Your Own Gear)

Jul 9, 2017 by Jerry Adams

Step by step guide on how to MYOG synthetic fill vest. This is an easy first project if you are interested in making synthetic clothing.

DIY / MYOG, insulated clothing, MYOG, Sythetic Vest

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