Backpacking Skills >> Lightweight Backpacking >> Unnecessary Backpacking Gear
How does overpacking happen? We backpackers are often tempted by those shiny catalogs trying to get us to buy the latest and greatest equipment. These purchases all add up in weight and cause our packs to swell to the point where we have to resort to hanging miscellaneous accessories (that we may never even use) on the outside of our pack. Sometimes we may pack in a hurry and carelessly toss items into our pack without much thought or pre-trip planning. Often the stuff we bring is unneeded overkill and if we allow ourselves to lighten up by eliminating nonessentials we will find that we have more fun.
Axe or saw
Unnecessary packaging and oversized sundries
Heavy duty carabiners
Blue jeans
Overloaded 1st aid kit
Binoculars
Backpacking towel
Soap
Snakebite kits
Excessive electronics
The equipment we choose to pack for a trip is often a very personal choice and no single backpacking gear checklist will meet the needs of every hiker. Your choices on what to outfit yourself with will be determined by what activities you will participate in on a hike. A photographer, a bird watcher, or a fisherman may all have different subsets of gadgets and accessories. If your goal is a lighter pack then you must reduce unessential items, carry multi-function gear that can replace other items, and adapt your backpacking habits to be a more flexible and minimalist style. Hopefully these few tips serve well to help you lighten your load.
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