The Ultralight Backpacker: The Complete Guide to Simplicity and Comfort on the Trail

Review originally written March 7, 2005. John Muir spent weeks at a time in the High Sierras with little more than an overcoat and a bag of bread, and thought it was a lot of fun. Most people today, even backpackers, want more comfort than that. Backpacking is usually done by people who think a lot. It is an attempt to return to an older and simpler way of life. It is not done out of necessity. It is done for philosophical reasons. People used to walk for long distances carrying heavy, uncomfortable loads by necessity. Then we all got automobiles, and some of us started walking for long distances carrying heavy, uncomfortable loads for fun. Ryel Kestenbaum's short, interesting book is about walking for long distances for fun carrying light, comfortable loads. I have Colin Fletcher's Complete Walker III in front of me. It is 670 pages long and weighs 3lbs. Ryel Kestenbaum's is 139 pages long and weighs just under 12oz. I love Colin Fletcher's book, started with his first, a long time ago. But I find the ultralight approach very interesting. Carry a light pack, and you don't need heavy shoes. If you don't wear heavy shoes, your legs don't get so tired, so you can go farther with less fatigue. It all fits together. The gear recommendations are straightforward. Fortunately for us, the same technology that has made life in general easier for us is making it possible for us to walk more comfortably while carrying less weight. Kestenbaum's survey of gear, like the book, is brief, but to the point. His most important recommendation is to minimize the gear. I was interested by his training recommendations for long-distance backpacking trips, and his rationale for them. To end on a philosophical note, Thoreau said that the purpose of life is to contemplate. I think he was cribbing from Aristotle, who said that the goal of life is to have the leisure to think. Thoreau practiced the ultralight philosophy before his time, and would no doubt do so today. Aristotle would probably say make some objective observations, then judge for yourself. The Ultralight Backpacker is a good place to start. Update, July 11, 2005: Attempting to follow some of Kestenbaum's recommendations, I set out to find a new pair of low-top lightweight hiking shoes/boots to replace my worn-out Vasque Skywalks. I have wide feet, which has been a problem in the past, and it still is: None of the available major-brand low-top hiking shoes come in wide sizes. The local EMS had none in my size in even a regular width, let alone wide. LL Bean's "Mountain Treads" come in wide sizes, so I ordered a pair. The 11 1/2W, my correct foot size, was too small. The size 12W was a better fit, but it is made on an Italian last, so the toe was too narrow and the heel too wide, so that my heel wouldn't stay seated in the shoe. The Vasque Skywalks have served me well, so I decided to look for some new Vasque boots. REI carries the Vasque brand, but didn't have my size

I never realized just how fulfilling and amazing nature can be until a friend of mine encouraged me to enroll in a backpacking class... the instructor was Ryel Kestenbaum, the author of this book. His methods and style were so right on, and it was clear to all of us how deeply passionate Ryel is toward going ultralight. It was one of the most enlightening weekends of my life, and it began a love affair with the wilderness that seems to get stronger all the time.That was three years ago. Today, I've refined my own ultralight techniques to fit my personal needs, and they're not far different than what Ryel spells out in his book. Trust me, ultralight is the only way to go. You will love yourself for it, as well as every step you take into the backcountry. Why struggle, why be intimidated, why find any reason at all to not appreciate all that nature has to offer? Start with this book, use it as a springboard, and find out why ultralight backpacking is gaining so many followers. You won't regret it.

Having lugged around heavy packs in the past, I found this book and the whole ultralight concept to be a great discovery. The book is a nice introduction to lightening up pack load - it is easy to read and well organized into subjects. It may not have the kinds of detail that the previous reviewers were looking for, but I found it to be a great resource when coupled with research on the web. He's not too fanatical and he gives specific (brand, model) recommendations for products, some of which I've actually used. If you are new to backpacking or new to the light-weight/ultralight-weight concept, I would recommend this book.

I think that some of the reviews here are from folks who were expecting an encyclopedia to ultralight backpacking, and were therefore disappointed. This book serves as an excellent introduction, covering all the topics relating to ultralight backpacking, but not going too deeply into any one topic.There's info on everything from cutting your toothbrush in half to getting rid of excess food packaging to getting fit for the trail to buying the right pair of shoes. If you're just getting into backpacking, and would like to see if ultralight backpacking is right for you, I can't imagine a better resource than The Ultralight Backpacker. I've been doing the ultralight thing for over ten years now, and I'm glad that now there's a way for others to see the benefits of going light. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to people eager to get into the backcountry but without the know-how.

I've been experimenting with various ways of trimming down my backpack after finally getting sick of dragging around my regular 40 pound pack, but everyone I asked for advice seemed to suggest only things that had worked for them individually.The Ultralight Backpacker does a great job of providing a complete survey of ultralight backpacking so that just about anyone can start practicing the Ultralight way and incorporating the benefits into their outdoor experiences. There's info on clothing, packs, shelter, walking, breathing, food preparation and everything else you'd find on an ultralight backpacker. There's even a chapter on the ultralight backpacking philosophy and developing the ultralight state of mind.I like this book better than Ray Jardine's books, which always seemed to me filled with a lot of information I really didn't need to know... this book just gives you what you need to know so you can get out on the trail quickly.Lots of pictures and diagrams, well written, and thorough... I've gotten my packweight down to less than 20 pounds now, and could definitely get it to less than 15 with a little more scrutinizing. If you've ever thought about lightening your load and seeing what this ultralight business is all about, get this book. Highly recommended.