Go Ultralight #1. Reduce Backpack Weight Without Sacrificing Comfort or Safety

Ken is losing weight! He’s going ultralight. It is easier on the old body and I can now hike further. This is the first in a series of videos about how to reduce your pack weight, without sacrificing comfort or safety and without costing a lot. Join the adventure and learn along with me as I explore the lighter side of backpacking.

I live in southeast Texas, USA, where the climate is semi-tropical; so I don’t need to carry a lot of heavy gear to keep warm. The biggest issues are protection from creepy crawlers and staying cool. In the summer, heat indices are often between 105 and 110 F.

The ultralight kit is used for this trip included:
Osprey Trip 20 Daypack 0.77 lb (0.35 kg)
Nylon Ground Cloth, 8 steel stakes, 1.37 lb (0.62 kg)
frogg toggs Poncho, Socks, Washcloth 0.68 lb (0.31 kg)
Sterno Stove and GSI Cup, 0.88 lb (0.40 kg)
Hammock made by Bill in the Hills, 2.49 lb (1.13 kg)
Hennessy HEX FLY Nylon Tarp, 1.56 lb (0.71 kg)
eno Atlas Hammock Straps, 0.70 lb (0.32 kg)
Medical Kit, Compass, Map, Light, 0.29 lb (0.13 kg)
Shovel, Paper, Bug Repellent, Lighter, 0.62 lb (0.28 kg)
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter, 0.16 lb (0.07 kg)
Battery Charger for Phone, Camera 1.21 lb (0.55 kg)

Total weight without food and water: 10.73 lbs (4.87 kg)
Food for one overnight: 1 lb ( 0.45 kg)
One quart of water: 2 lb (0.91 kg)
Most water was filtered from the lake

Body-carry items items included: Keys, tick-removal tool, wallet, plastic bags, lighter, headlamp, whistle, neck-knife, camera/phone with mini-tripod.

Videography by Ken Kramm, 6 July, 2016, Sam Houston National Forest; iPhone 6+, Final Cut Pro X. "Hammock Fight, Mr. Mealey’s Mediocre Machine,” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...