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Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking
Short, to the point, and humorously illustrated by famed outdoor illustrator Mike Clelland, this book presents everything hikers and backpackers need to be safe, comfortable, and well-fed while carrying a very small and lightweight pack.
112 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2005
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282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 7, 2010
Good intro to lightweight hiking. I learned some things like:
-instant hummus powder exists! makes a good hiking snack
-you can put food in freezer safe bags then pour boiling water directly in for an easy meal.
-good ways to test shoes in the store before you buy
-the PCT method for hanging food from a tree. Genius!
Hilarious illustrations as well.
-instant hummus powder exists! makes a good hiking snack
-you can put food in freezer safe bags then pour boiling water directly in for an easy meal.
-good ways to test shoes in the store before you buy
-the PCT method for hanging food from a tree. Genius!
Hilarious illustrations as well.
April 2, 2009
I've read a ton of backpacking books lately. This book is the shortest, and hits all of the major points. It's also more practical than the others. Trail Life or Beyond Backpacking are more wishy washy. This book is practical.
October 10, 2020
A light and cheerful introduction to the art of “light and ultra-light backpacking”. A breeze to read with some interesting advice here and there. Must buy? No. Buying regrets? None.
June 22, 2007
A great introduction to lightweight backpacking. It is nowhere near a complete guide to subject, but it was not intended to be complete. It is easy to read and with many great illustrations. If you know nothing about lightweight backpacking but are curious to learn you should check out this book. If you want to go more in-depth with lightweight backpacking you should read Lightweight Backpacking & Camping.
June 22, 2009
Really fun read, and excellent info, including superb illustrations. You can always learn something by reading about cutting down on weight.
November 16, 2024
Written by a veteran camper who teaches a course at the University of Oregon on "Ultra-Light Backpacking," this ultra-light book (less than 100 pages) not only has some valuable advice on how to travel light while camping, but it has practical ideas for everyday living--or traveling--even if you aren't staying in a tent in below zero weather. Fun to read, bringing back memories of days when I did more camping--the book is also useful as a metaphor: how to travel more wisely and lightly into the future.
March 15, 2020
This book was invaluable for my trip to Norway, even though it was mostly a series of day hikes interspersed with car rides, instead of a full backpacking trip. As a complete novice, this book gave me tons of solid tips as to what to bring, how to pack it and how to make the most of what I had with me.
February 19, 2020
Short and simple intro to ultralight backpacking. I've been doing a lot of research and browsing r/ultralight on reddit but it can be overwhelming. While this book is over 10 years old, I still think it's worth a read and I was able to borrow a digital copy from library.
August 15, 2020
I am not an ultralight backpacker, nor am I likely to become one any time soon, but I really enjoyed this short little book. Plus some of the advice is surprisingly useful when it comes to packing airline luggage or the trunk of a car for family vacations.
February 25, 2017
Good intro into backpacking, even if you're not going for light or ultra-light. Though, if you're looking for more than an intro, I don't think this will be your book.
February 11, 2017
Excellent overview of how to lighten your backpacking load. Funny yet useful illustration and short, to the point text makes this book a great read.
August 3, 2017
Many useful ideas
Focused book helpful in planning a more enjoyable hike. Will help any hiker lighten their load whether all of the suggestions are used or not.
Focused book helpful in planning a more enjoyable hike. Will help any hiker lighten their load whether all of the suggestions are used or not.
July 29, 2018
Definitely out of date in a few areas, but still a really good primer.
September 6, 2020
Изключително практична!
December 10, 2022
Nice primer for new backpackers
Covers all the bases without preaching or sounding extreme. Really an awesome starting point for beginners like me. Highly recommended.
Covers all the bases without preaching or sounding extreme. Really an awesome starting point for beginners like me. Highly recommended.
March 30, 2023
Nice tips and tricks, some outdated, some not. But please don't cook food in a plastic bag using boiling water, same goes with re-using PET-bottles on long hikes. That shit ain't good for you...
August 2, 2023
A great book for beginner backpackers. Maybe even better for people who haven’t bought gear yet or who are willing to purchase new equipment.
January 19, 2025
I was pulling old books off the shelves while volunteering at the bookstore, and this would have been sent to the trash.
It's about packing the least amount of weight while being safe and comfortable. These people are usually self-reliant, modify commercial equipment, have custom-made or homemade gear. The basics are a backpack, shelter, sleeping gear, food, warm clothing, and useful small items. The gear of the lightweight hiker versus the gear of the traditional backpacker will be lighter and more compact. People usually carry duplicate or redundant items and the lightweight person eliminated redundancies and maximizes the usefulness of many items by using gear with multiple purposes.
Hikers who pack less spend less energy and they can hike faster and farther. They have more agility. Photographers can carry more of their equipment.
The illustration recommended taking an environmentally responsible route and walking over a durable surface like a rock and not a fragile surface that would damage plants and soil.
He recommended trying the lightweight or homemade gear in your backyard or campground before taking it in the wild. If it doesn't work then keep the old gear until the new stuff has proven it works. Lighter weight materials may be less durable, less weatherproof, or have less insulation.
This is recommended for mild weather and low altitudes. Only experienced people should use lightweight gear in winter or high altitudes.
They recommend starting with a small pack. Lightweight bags are small with feeder compartments. Ultralight backpacks are those with the top flaps. And getting a waist belt to see if you like it, takes weight off shoulders.
Most Single-walled tents don't have liner to manage condensation. Much is from hiker's breath, and from perspiration and damp gear. Setting up near a stream or in humid area with no wind will have condensation.
Have socks for sleeping that go on at night and come off in the morning. Put them in a plastic bag so they'll stay dry. Place the socks you wore during the day in a place where they'll stay clean and dry.
It was smart that he said to try shoes on in the late afternoon or evening because feet swell during use and larger after being walked on all day. And to wear the same socks we'll wear when hiking so we'll know they fit in the shoe. And make sure we can fit two fingers behind the heel because shoes will shorten when they wrinkle up at the toes where the toes bend. Wiggle room for all toes, shouldn't be tight on pinkie toe. Try walking up in line or kicking something; toes shouldn't hit the front of the shoe. Break in shoes by first walking around the house, then on short neighborhood walks, with hills, and then on day hikes so they will soften and shape to your foot.
The nude drawings about layers of clothing or bathing were so funny (from the back of course). I didn't expect to see a butt in here! The illustration showed a guy pouring water from a soda bottle on his head, and washing with a bandanna as a wash cloth. You only need one drop of biodegradable soap and you're supposed to wash at least 200 ft from a water source to keep it clean for others.
He advised starting out with minimal packaging for food items so you have less trash by the end.
Consolidate food once you've passed through public transportation so you don't have to explain strange, unlabeled food items. The illustration showed pouring crackers from a box into a zip lock bag which cuts down on weight and space.
You can buy dried food or dehydrate food at home to make food lighter, smaller, and less likely to spoil.
It's all about cutting down on weight and size, getting something down to its smallest size.
I loved the tip that you can add hot water to food and this is the simplest thing to do. You can reconstitute dried and freeze-dried meals, make tea, coffee, hot chocolate and hot drinks, soup and hot cereal. You can add hot water to granola, oats, dried fruit and powdered milk. You can add hot water to the bag with the food and eat out of the bag with a spoon.You can use a handkerchief as a pot holder.
It's crazy that someone thought to buy a paint can and use it to keep animals away from your food. You just take the handle off. There are odor-barrier bags so food won't give off a smell. There are animal-resistant food sacks.
It showed that a sunglasses case is too heavy to pack, so have sunglasses with the cord, wrap them in a bandanna, and wrap it in a hat. "It's a multiuse case!"
It's crazy that using an established campsite is actually a bad thing. Litter is usually there, usually too close to a stream, with animals habituated to getting food. The picture of the man standing there with a squirrel looking up at him saying "Feed me!" was so cute.
This book is so helpful for hiking. I was amazed at the pro insider tips. It's evident that he spent years learning the best way to do these things and these methods would save a lot of effort and save your back! There is so much info to apply.
It's about packing the least amount of weight while being safe and comfortable. These people are usually self-reliant, modify commercial equipment, have custom-made or homemade gear. The basics are a backpack, shelter, sleeping gear, food, warm clothing, and useful small items. The gear of the lightweight hiker versus the gear of the traditional backpacker will be lighter and more compact. People usually carry duplicate or redundant items and the lightweight person eliminated redundancies and maximizes the usefulness of many items by using gear with multiple purposes.
Hikers who pack less spend less energy and they can hike faster and farther. They have more agility. Photographers can carry more of their equipment.
The illustration recommended taking an environmentally responsible route and walking over a durable surface like a rock and not a fragile surface that would damage plants and soil.
He recommended trying the lightweight or homemade gear in your backyard or campground before taking it in the wild. If it doesn't work then keep the old gear until the new stuff has proven it works. Lighter weight materials may be less durable, less weatherproof, or have less insulation.
This is recommended for mild weather and low altitudes. Only experienced people should use lightweight gear in winter or high altitudes.
They recommend starting with a small pack. Lightweight bags are small with feeder compartments. Ultralight backpacks are those with the top flaps. And getting a waist belt to see if you like it, takes weight off shoulders.
Most Single-walled tents don't have liner to manage condensation. Much is from hiker's breath, and from perspiration and damp gear. Setting up near a stream or in humid area with no wind will have condensation.
Have socks for sleeping that go on at night and come off in the morning. Put them in a plastic bag so they'll stay dry. Place the socks you wore during the day in a place where they'll stay clean and dry.
It was smart that he said to try shoes on in the late afternoon or evening because feet swell during use and larger after being walked on all day. And to wear the same socks we'll wear when hiking so we'll know they fit in the shoe. And make sure we can fit two fingers behind the heel because shoes will shorten when they wrinkle up at the toes where the toes bend. Wiggle room for all toes, shouldn't be tight on pinkie toe. Try walking up in line or kicking something; toes shouldn't hit the front of the shoe. Break in shoes by first walking around the house, then on short neighborhood walks, with hills, and then on day hikes so they will soften and shape to your foot.
The nude drawings about layers of clothing or bathing were so funny (from the back of course). I didn't expect to see a butt in here! The illustration showed a guy pouring water from a soda bottle on his head, and washing with a bandanna as a wash cloth. You only need one drop of biodegradable soap and you're supposed to wash at least 200 ft from a water source to keep it clean for others.
He advised starting out with minimal packaging for food items so you have less trash by the end.
Consolidate food once you've passed through public transportation so you don't have to explain strange, unlabeled food items. The illustration showed pouring crackers from a box into a zip lock bag which cuts down on weight and space.
You can buy dried food or dehydrate food at home to make food lighter, smaller, and less likely to spoil.
It's all about cutting down on weight and size, getting something down to its smallest size.
I loved the tip that you can add hot water to food and this is the simplest thing to do. You can reconstitute dried and freeze-dried meals, make tea, coffee, hot chocolate and hot drinks, soup and hot cereal. You can add hot water to granola, oats, dried fruit and powdered milk. You can add hot water to the bag with the food and eat out of the bag with a spoon.You can use a handkerchief as a pot holder.
It's crazy that someone thought to buy a paint can and use it to keep animals away from your food. You just take the handle off. There are odor-barrier bags so food won't give off a smell. There are animal-resistant food sacks.
It showed that a sunglasses case is too heavy to pack, so have sunglasses with the cord, wrap them in a bandanna, and wrap it in a hat. "It's a multiuse case!"
It's crazy that using an established campsite is actually a bad thing. Litter is usually there, usually too close to a stream, with animals habituated to getting food. The picture of the man standing there with a squirrel looking up at him saying "Feed me!" was so cute.
This book is so helpful for hiking. I was amazed at the pro insider tips. It's evident that he spent years learning the best way to do these things and these methods would save a lot of effort and save your back! There is so much info to apply.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2008
This might have been fine as a first book about lightweight backpacking, but it's just far too simple and shallow. The illustrations are humorous and the book touches on important points regarding lightweight backpacking (take clothing layers that can all be worn at once for flexibility in different temperatures; maintaining safe temperatures while reducing weight; reduce unused gear, etc) but doesn't get into any details about the things that backpackers looking to get lightweight gear have to worry about: fabric technology, fill weights of down, companies that specialize in light weight gear, etc.
Between this and the backpackinglight.com book, I'd certainly suggest the latter. This 90 minute read just isn't detailed enough for anyone seriously interested in the subject and the information is just covered in more detail elsewhere.
Between this and the backpackinglight.com book, I'd certainly suggest the latter. This 90 minute read just isn't detailed enough for anyone seriously interested in the subject and the information is just covered in more detail elsewhere.
August 7, 2015
This book was an easy read and a good primer for the various gear options when going on an overnight backpacking trip. While other, more thorough guides are available, this small book gave a handy overview of the various options available. The focus of the book was on packing light compared to traditional hiking techniques. For each category, the pros and cons of each gear selection were considered. Included humorous helpful illustrations. Ultimately, each hiker will need to develop their own gear list and preferences. This book is good for those who want to quickly understand the basics of backpacking gear options before digging deeper. Recommended for beginning backpackers and traditional hikers who want to go lighter.
February 6, 2015
I admire the author's willingness to put out his message in such a little book, but it is an effective medium for its contents, and I think this book is about the best way possible to introduce a moderately experienced outdoorsman to lightweight backpacking. Nicely done!
December 30, 2016
I bought this thinking I might pickup a few ideas for lightening up my pack... which I did (thought I haven't gotten it out on the trail)... but it's got me interested in the idea of ultralight backpacking...
It's informational, and the illustrations are funny.
It's informational, and the illustrations are funny.
August 10, 2010
Apparently you don't need to take everything you own when you go backpacking. In fact, backpacking CAN be cheap!
May 5, 2011
The best introduction to making your pack lighter. Don't be fooled into thinking it is shallow because it is short. This is concentrated stuff. I learn something new every time I read it.
February 26, 2012
Informative, concise, and easy to read.
February 20, 2013
Wow, I didn't realize how seriously some backpackers take their pack weight.
Great ideas in the book about packing it in and taking it out.
Great ideas in the book about packing it in and taking it out.
May 8, 2014
Lightweight backpacking is like writing well because you only take what you need.
October 1, 2015
Fast, fun read with humorous line drawings. Great primer for light backpacking. Made me want to get out and do some overnight hiking.
January 10, 2023
Very good, easy-to-read book about how to pack safe and lightweight for hiking!
November 11, 2024
I've read countless blogs, posts and videos online. This short book does better to summarize the concept better than anything, without being a product-driven book. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews