Hiking with light luggage – doesn't that sound promising? Learn more about ultralight trekking and what you should pay attention to!
Ultralight Trekking: Great Adventures with Light Luggage
Do you enjoy being outdoors and prefer hiking with light luggage instead of a heavy backpack through nature? Then ultralight trekking is perfect for you! With less weight on your back, you can enjoy the beauty of nature on the trail even more – we will explain everything important about the so-called ultralight hiking and give you practical tips and tricks so that you are well-prepared for your first ultralight hiking tour. Let's go!
What is meant by ultralight trekking
In ultralight trekking or ultralight hiking, the goal is to be on the move with as little equipment in your backpack as possible, following the motto: Carry less, experience more. Being ultralight offers you the following advantages for you:
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Joint protection
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More energy for long distances
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Fast progress
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More joy in nature
When ultralight hiking, there is a so-called base weight, which is the weight of your backpack without water, food, and fuel. In ultralight hiking, a base weight is considered a maximum of 5 kg. If the weight of your backpack is between 5 and 9 kg, it is also referred to as light trekking and with over 9 kg of normal trekking.
Proper equipment for ultralight trekking: What should be considered?
5 kg as base weight is not much, but with theright equipment items quite feasible. When packing the backpack, it’s all about the “Big Four”, which are the following four big items: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad.
1. Backpack
Your backpack for an ultralight-hike should primarily be light and functional. A rough guideline is: Backpacks with a volumebetween 30 and 60 liters you can plan for your ultralight hike. Additionally, you should avoid unnecessary extras, such as thick padding or frame construction, to keep the weight of the backpack low.
2. Tent
As sleeping accommodation, the classic tent is just one of many options in ultralight trekking:
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Tent: Modern ultralight tents offer the usual comfort of classic tents – with significantly less weight thanks to lightweight materials and a light frame
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Tarp: A tarp is essentially a robust, flexibly deployable tarp that weighs even less than a tent.
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Bivvy sack: The probably lightest option is a bivvy sack, which protects you as a waterproof cover against wind and moisture and can be used alone or in addition to a tarp.
Whether tarp, tent, the combination of tent and tarp (Tarptent) or a bivvy sack: The choice of your sleeping accommodation should always depend on your preference, your personal sense of security and the weather conditions depend. Because especially tarps and bivvy sacks are weather- or season-dependent, but are of course particularly suitable during the warm months to save weight.
3. Sleeping bag
In ultralight trekking, down sleeping bags the first choice. Because they offer an unbeatable warmth-to-weight ratio and can be extremely small compressed. However, they are sensitive to moisture. Alternatively, there are synthetic sleeping bags, which are more robust and easier to care for, but are usually heavier and bulkier. Also popular among ultralight hikers are so-called quilts – sleeping bags in blanket form, which are lighter than classic sleeping bags but provide the same warmth performance.
To protect your down sleeping bag from moisture, ultralight, waterproof stuff sacks are recommended: To the stuff sacks
4. Sleeping Pad
Sleeping pads are essential for ultralight trekking, as they insulate against ground cold and ensure restful sleep in your sleeping bag or quilt. An important aspect is the so-called R-value , which indicates how well the sleeping mat insulates heat. Particularly popular are inflatable models with a high R-value, but also foldable plastic mats with a foam structure and low pack size are widespread. The right compromise between weight and insulation value is crucial – because poor sleep robs you of strength while hiking.
Packing list for ultralight trekking
So that you have everything important with you on your first ultralight hike, we have created a packing list for your orientation. What you pack from it, of course, depends on your personal preferences as well as the weather conditions depend.
To the checklist as a PDF file
Thanks to the packing list, you now know what belongs in your backpack for the tour, but you wonder how to best pack your outdoor gear? In our article “Packing a Backpack Correctly” we provide you with concrete tips for an optimal weight distribution of your luggage.
5 Professional Tips for Ultralight Hiking
Before you dive into your first ultralight adventure, we give you some practical tips and tricks to take with you:
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Think multifunctionally: Less is more, because your buff can be a scarf, hat, pot holder, and eye mask all at once.
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Ultralight does not mean ultra-naive: Safety comes first. Make sure to take important equipment items, such as a first aid kit, maps, and sufficient provisions with you.
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Weigh equipment precisely: When packing your backpack, you should weigh everything you pack precisely to avoid excess weight. A digital kitchen scale is suitable for this.
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Unpack unnecessary items: Even though a Plan B is always advisable, you should ask yourself whether you really need each item and perhaps leave the second down jacket at home.
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Water filter instead of bottle: With this trick, you save a lot of weight, as you only take as much water as you need.
Conclusion: Ultralight trekking is more than just a hiking style. It is rather a conscious step towards simplicity and a connection with nature while hiking. Because you will quickly realize that you can actually get by with fewer things on the way. And those who reduce their backpack weight will also quickly notice: It becomes lighter in the mind, so you now have a clear head for the beauty around you. Now it’s time to pack your backpack, eliminate unnecessary items, lace up your trail runners – and hit the trail.
