Nowadays the word “ultralight” seems to be analogous with
“religion”. Various individuals and institutions have a different
interpretation of it, and promote their doctrine as the “true” one. Some are
earnest and others are self-serving.
If you Google the words “ultralight backpacking” you will
see what I mean.
Near the top of the list is REIs “Ultralight Backpacking
Basics”, which comes through as “mainstream-light”. Backpacker Magazine has
come on board too, and their idea of ultralight is based on what the big
companies (their advertisers) have to offer. Again “mainstream-light”. You
basically get the same response if you walk into an outdoor store and ask the
clerk for her ultralight gear advice.
There are many people out there who don’t want to take the
time and effort to research something before they act. They prefer to follow
the advice from a credible source, such as the above. All I can say is these
people are the target audience of the purveyors of the ultralight backpacking
advice described above.
I have been accused of being “elitist” and “preachy” before,
so I want to avoid that in this blog, if I can.
The best advice, I believe, is to do your homework first,
and take your time. The internet is a vast resource, and there are several good
books too. Research it until you find your comfort level on the ultralight to
lightweight scale, and what kind of gear is needed for where you intend to
backpack. Plan on investing some time if you want to get it right.
However, the “just do it” advice from others is hard for me
to support. It’s simple, but you learn everything the hard way.
One big obstacle is the inability to try something before
you buy it. Most people want to be confident about something before they buy
it, but where do you get the information you need? Online gear reviews help a
lot, especially from a creditable source. If you research something enough, a
consensus does emerge.
That’s the reason I write gear reviews; I want to help
people make an informed decision. But I follow that up by saying -- don’t just
listen to my advice, read a range of opinions and make your own decision.
Want a quick way to do research on the internet? Google "ultralight backpacking" and then click on "images" at the top and peruse through the many images of ultralight gear. Click on whatever interests you to go to the source.
Want a quick way to do research on the internet? Google "ultralight backpacking" and then click on "images" at the top and peruse through the many images of ultralight gear. Click on whatever interests you to go to the source.
Your thoughts?
