How I pack ultra light without sacrificing safety | TIPS FROM THE TRAIL: Episode 1, by Jocelyn Briggs on YouTube. 6 min 49 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 49 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Lay out your hydration pack and all gear on the floor. Weigh the full pile so you know your starting weight before you cut anything.
Fill the 500 ml flasks and add a water filter bottle. Plan refills along your route so you carry less water at once.
Pack a rain jacket and rain pants at the top of the pack. Check they fit over your layers so you can pull them on fast.
Build a small first aid kit with lube, foldable scissors and a flashlight. Keep it in one bag you can find without unpacking.
Add one warm weather layer and an ultralight puff jacket. Choose thin layers you can stack instead of one bulky item.
Pack a fast charging battery pack and a short cable. Charge it the night before so your phone and lights stay alive.
Clip on small lights and carry a headlamp or flashlight. Test each one before you leave so a dead battery does not strand you.
Add sun protection for desert days: sun shirt, sun hat and a bivy for an emergency night out. Carry a satellite messenger if your route has no phone service.
Tips and common mistakes
Weigh each item and leave behind anything you have not used on your last three hikes.
Keep rain gear and first aid where you can reach them without taking the pack off.
Carry a satellite communicator like a Garmin Inreach where there is no cell service.
Test new gear on a short hike before a long race or multi day trip.
Questions
How much water should I carry on a desert hike?
Carry enough for the longest stretch between refills, plus a spare filter bottle to top up at water sources. Check the route ahead for reliable water.
Do I really need a bivy on a day hike?
A bivy is a light backup if you get stuck out after dark or get injured. On remote desert routes it adds little weight for real safety.
What is the lightest way to stay warm?
Use thin layers you can stack, like a sun shirt plus an ultralight puff jacket. Add rain gear on top to block wind and wet.
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.
