Tips and Tricks to Reduce Your Overall Weight
Clothing modifications
-Replace zipper pulls with loops of Spectra cord.
-Convert full-length zippered jackets into pull-overs.
-Remove tags.
-Remove pockets.
-Remove drawstrings or replace them with lighter cord.
-Remove self-stowing pockets.
Backpack modifications
-Remove unnecessary inches of waist, shoulder, sternum, and compression strap webbing; the sternum, compression, and waist straps can be removed entirely, with caution.
-Remove daisy chains, tow loops, and ice axe attachments if you do not use them.
-Replace zipper pulls and roll-top cinch cords with spectra cord.
-Remove the hydration sleeve if you do not use a hydration reservoir with a tube.
-Remove the foam pad housing from a frameless pack if you use your sleeping pad as a "virtual" frame.
-Remove the framesheet if the pack’s weight does not warrant this feature (if it’s less than 30 pounds).
-Remove the accessory bungee cord if you do not need it.
-Remove the top lid if you don’t need the volume, and remove the accompanying webbing and buckles if you will never use the top lid again.
Shelter modifications
-Replace the default 2.5mm nylon guylines with spectra cord.
-Remove wall pockets.
-Replace the default aluminum poles with carbon fiber poles.
Shoe modifications
-Shorten laces.
-Remove heel loops.
-Shorten cinch straps and webbing on snowshoes and crampons.
Sleeping Bag & Pad modifications
-Convert your sleeping bag into a quilt by removing the bottom layer of insulation, which provides little warmth when crushed underneath you. Use caution – this can get messy if it’s a down sleeping bag.
-Replace the bungee hood cinch-cord with a static Spectra line.
-Cut your closed-cell foam pad to the precise size of your body’s imprint.
Miscellaneous modifications
-Replace your compass’ lanyard with a shorter loop of Spectra cord.
-Cut off the margins of maps and guidebooks.
-Replace alkaline batteries with lithium ones.
-Cut toothbrush and utensil handles, then drill holes through whatever remains.
-Replace the cinch cord on stuff sacks with Spectra cord, and replace the cinch lock with a smaller model.
-Remove handles from pots, mugs, and lids.
-Shorten your watch band.
-Remove the straps on your trekking poles.
-Replace your camera’s wrist strap with Spectra cord.
-Remove the plastic sides on Swiss Army knives, so long as you don’t need the tweezers or toothpick.
-Shorten the elastic webbing on your headlamp.
Different packing options
-Re-roll duct tape and toilet paper into smaller (and lighter) rolls.
-Repackage ointments and lotions (like sunscreen, antibiotic, toothpaste, and
Hydropel) into smaller balm jars, just be sure to label them.
-Repackage liquids (like Dr. Bronners, DEET, Aqua Mira, and denatured alcohol) into smaller dropper bottles or plastic water bottles, just be sure to label them.
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These are a few great ideas to reduce your overall weight. You might think that cutting your shoe laces shorter won't make a difference, but it's when you add up all the modifications that you really see how each little thing adds up. These and more tips can be found at http://www.GoLite.com!
