35 Tips to Lighten Your Backpack for FREE, by Oscar Hikes on YouTube. 13 min 44 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 44 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Empty your pack and weigh every item on a kitchen scale. Write each weight down so you can see where the kilos really come from.
Sort your gear into three piles: must have, nice to have and never used. Leave the last pile at home.
Cut packaging and tags off everything. Remove cardboard, plastic wrap and instruction leaflets you do not need on the trail.
Decant toiletries and food into small bottles and bags. Take only the amount you need for the trip, not full tubes.
Trim your first aid kit and repair kit to the basics for your route. Keep blister plasters, painkillers and a small roll of tape.
Choose one set of spare clothes and wear the rest. Skip spare trousers and extra layers you can layer up instead.
Swap heavy bottles for a light water container and refill on the way. Carry only the water you need to the next source.
Repack so heavy items sit close to your back and light bulky items go at the bottom. Tighten the straps so the load does not shift.
Weigh the finished pack and compare it with your first number. Note what you could still drop next time.
Tips and common mistakes
Weigh your pack before and after so you can see the real savings.
Do not cut safety gear like a map, headlamp or rain shell to save grams.
Test a lighter load on a short local walk before a long trip.
Share group gear like a stove or tent with your hiking partner instead of carrying duplicates.
Questions
How much weight can I save without buying new gear?
Most people can drop a kilo or more just by removing packaging, spare clothes and unused items. The exact amount depends on what you were carrying.
Is it safe to leave items at home to save weight?
Only cut comfort items and duplicates. Always keep water, food, weather protection, a map and a basic first aid kit for your route.
Do I need a scale to do this?
A scale helps a lot because it shows which items are heaviest. A simple kitchen scale is enough.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
