I finally stopped overpacking my backpack after a brutal hike in the Smokies last fall

Carried a 45-pound pack up to Charlie's Bunion and swore I'd rethink every item after seeing a guy with a 25-pound setup fly past me, so now I cut my gear down by 40 percent and actually enjoy the trail - what's the one thing you ditched that made the biggest difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma6841d ago

And it's the same thing everywhere, isn't it? Once you realize you don't actually need half the stuff you're carrying, you start wondering why you ever thought you did in the first place.

andrew72d ago

What did you ditch first, the cook system or the tent? For me it was the second pair of boots. I used to bring hiking boots AND camp shoes, now I just wear trail runners with good insoles and let them dry out overnight. My pack weight dropped by almost 8 pounds just from that change alone. I also stopped carrying a full size camp towel and switched to a bandana. Those little ounces add up fast, but getting rid of the extra footwear made the biggest difference for my knees.