SAVE 10KG FROM YOUR PACK

Walking with a lighter pack, especially on multi-day routes, makes you quicker, more agile and less likely to get injured. Here’s how to cut it down...

1 Know your base

weight. This is the weight of all your essential constants – eg pack, sleeping bag, mat and shelter. Food, water and other items that fluctuate or are only used occasionally (eg sunglasses) don’t count. Packweight is the fully loaded rucksack.

2 Replace the ‘big 3’.

When your shelter, sleep system and rucksack wear out, buy lighter options. This is the easiest way to save masses of weight. -5kg

3 Plan your water.

One litre of water weighs one kilogram and often it’s this and food which adds substantial weight to your pack. Cut down the amount carried by using an on-the-go water filter and planning your route to pass water features. -1kg

4 Plan your food as precisely as possible. If you’re taking freeze-dried camp food, this is easy enough. If you’re using home-made food, work out how much you’ll need and measure it precisely into ziplock bags. -1kg

5 Don’t pack your fear.

Do you worry about getting too cold, hungry, wet or not sleeping well? This can often lead to overpacking of clothing, food or comfy items. Lay out all your gear and check that you’re not packing more than you need. -1kg

6 Weigh your pack, then unpack everything. See if there’s anything you could lose without too much trouble and repack. Even more effective: swap packs with a mate and trim each other’s kit. -500g

7 Trim the fat. Get rid of unnecessary items. Do sunglasses need a hard case or can they go in a soft pouch? Do you need the whole map or just a quarter of it? -200g

8 Streamline your

clothing. Get to know your hillwalking clothing, exactly what works for you and how it works together to ensure you’re not carrying excess layers. Make yourself a backpacking uniform. -1kg