Mountain skills

Top advice from Trail’s experts

1 Pack twice. Pack the day before you go, then empty your bag, cull any unnecessary items, and pack it again. Do you really need three layers or will two do?

2 Swap packs. Effectively the same thing, but swap packs with your walking buddy. You get rid of any unnecessary items from their pack and they shed the same from yours.

3 Make a list – and then stick to it. Don’t add anything you haven’t previously decided on taking.

4 Divide and conquer. Toothpaste, first aid kit, stove… if you’re camping in a group or with a pal then you’ll only need one of each. Split the kit between packs so someone carries the stove, someone the food, another the tent...

5 Sweat the small things. Glasses cases, headphones and power banks all add weight. Get rid of them or replace with lighter versions, a fabric pouch for your glasses for example or a tiny travel toothpaste.

6 Test it. When you get back, lay out everything you took in three piles: emergency kit and things you used a lot; stuff you used a bit; and things you barely touched. The first pile is all you really need.

Get a smaller bag. 7 Nothing will teach you to pack light like fitting a night or two of gear into a sub-45-litre rucksack.

8 Pack smart. Some things, like your first aid kit, often go unused but remain essential. Go through it and make sure it contains everything you need and absolutely nothing more.