ResourcesLink Site Message Forums, Gear Reviews, and Tools The Lightweight Backpacker Excellent message forums on a variety of UL subjects in a great format. Also, lots of gear reviews and a section on how to make your own gear. Yahoo Groups Backpacking Light A very active message forum on everything related to Ultralight backpacking. Thru-Hiker Message forum, gear reviews, hiking articles, and make your own gear. Ultralight Biker Dave's page has lots of lightweight and ultralight backpacking resources. His Home Buyer's Guide lists zillions of lightweight gear items and reviews. BackpackGearTest Volumes of user reviews on the full gamut of backpacking gear. Sgt. Rock’s Hiking HQ Lots of great message forums where you can get or share information on lightweight backpacking and related subjects. Backpacking
Gear Weight Calculator Download Chris Ibbeson's free utility and use
it to select gear to take on a trip and calculate its weight. Good tool to
help you lighten up. Lightweight Backpacking Home Pages Adventure Alan’s Ultralight Backpacking Page Lots of good information on Ultralight backpacking, and a good section on backpacking food focusing on calories and nutrition. Andy’s Lightweight Backpacking Site Andy sells Tyvek and has some good gear reviews on his site. Great Lakes Lightweight Backpacking Lots of good tips on how to lighten up. Joe’s Ultralight Backpacking Lots of good information and trip reports. Ken Knight’s UL Backpacking Way Good discussions of ultralight philosophy, techniques, and how to lighten gear and clothing. Michael’s Ultralight Backpacking Michael covers everything, and he has been backpacking ultralight for quite a while. Onestep’s Ultralight Backpacking Resource Ultralight backpacking forum and lots of good information on ultralight gear. Thru-Hiker Ayce has loads of great articles on technique, how to make your own gear, and gear reviews. He sells ultralight gear as well as materials for your projects. Books The Ultralight Backpacker: The Complete Guide to Simplicity and Comfort on the Trail—Author Ryel Kestenbaum shows that, thanks to recent improvements in equipment design and manufacture, as well as in food processing, ultralight backpacking now offers a safe and comfortable alternative to traditional backpacking methods. He dispels the myths surrounding this rapidly growing trend, acquaints readers with the ultralight philosophy, and shows how backpackers can once and for all do away with heavy packs and move quickly and comfortably on the trail, whether on a day-trip or season-long trek. He also provides the most complete survey available of ultralight equipment, clothing, and footwear, along with tips on how to select the right gear for each reader’s unique interests, needs, and personality. Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine’s Guide to Lightweight Hiking—Author Ray Jardine does an excellent job of explaining ultralight philosophy and techniques. The Advanced Backpacker: A Handbook of Year Round, Long-Distance Hiking—Author Chris Townsend provides detailed discussions of everything from finding routes and choosing locations to planning, financing, equipping, and supplying oneself for the long haul. He addresses the specifics of hiking in all climates, from deserts and mountains to the arctic tundra and the tropics. The
Backpacker’s Handbook, 2nd Edition—Chris Townsend delivers an
in-depth look at all backpacking styles, from ultralight to long-distance
hiking. Covers planning, techniques, and gear. Sources of Ultralight Backpacking Gear Brasslite Alcohol Stove is the state-of-the-art, unless you want to make your own alcohol stove. Adventurelite sells silnylon pack covers and stuff sacks; rain gear, Photon II flashlight, long johns, and other accessories. Their gear lists provide some good ideas. Albion’s MO sells the Pound Plus Pack; silnylon pack covers, tarp, stuff sacks, poncho/tarp, and groundsheet; an ultralight (6.6 oz) bivy; and other products. Backcountry Gear sells a variety of ultralight and lightweight tents, sleeping bags, raingear, and stoves. Bozeman Mountain Works sells a variety of state-of-the-art ultralight gear. Campmor sells silnylon tarps, silnylon poncho/tarp, microfleece long johns, and other lightweight clothing. GoLite sells a full line of ultralight and lightweight gear direct from their website and through a network of local outdoor stores. Gossamer Gear Glen Van Peski makes his ultralight G4 and G5 packs available at a reasonable price. He also sells the Z-Rest foam pad and Photon II flashlight. Integral Designs has a number of innovative lightweight bivy and tarp designs. LW Gear sells the 1-pound pack, silnylon tarp and tent, groundsheets, silnylon stuff sacks, and other accessories. Only The Lightest sells a full line of ultralight and lightweight packs, tents, tarps, sleeping gear, clothing, and accessories. Good gear lists and links. Six Moons Designs sells the Moonlite pack and Europa tent. Thru-Hiker Store sells a full line of ultralight and lightweight packs, tarps, tents, sleeping bags, rain gear, clothing, stoves, and accessories. Timberline Water Filter is a lightweight (6 oz) pump-type filter. Ultralight Adventure Equipment sells ultralight packs and shelters. When you
order their P-1 or P-2 pack, you can choose from a list of custom
features. Outdoor Gear Manufacturers Chet Fromm's Backpacker Guide has numerous links to manufacturer and retailer websites, e-gear sites, gear review sites, and gear repair sites. Gearfinder is a handy tool to search for gear options that meet your criteria. For example, you can search for all available down sleeping bags that weigh less than 2 pounds. |
