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Step 1
Think in ounces, not pounds. You want to shave off every little bit of weight that you can, since it all adds up. Some ultralight backpackers even drill holes in their toothbrushes to minimize weight.
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Step 2
Switch your footwear. It's not just your pack that should be ultralight. Unless you're hiking in extreme conditions, you don't need those big hiking boots. There are many excellent trail-running shoes on the market that are far lighter and more comfortable.
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Step 3
Take what you need, not what you want. To go ultralight, you'll need to sacrifice amenities like filtered coffee, full-sized stoves and pillows. It's critical to be very exacting when it comes to packing your gear. Of course, you don't have to do it all at once. Gradually slim down your pack on consecutive camping trips to figure out what you can and can't live without.
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Step 4
Live off the land. You can minimize your load by finding some of your supplies in nature, particularly water. Plan your route to include a stop by a fresh water source every day or two, and bring along some water purification tablets. Learn about wild plants and berries, and travel in areas where you can forage off the land.
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Step 5
Go long. The whole point of ultralight backpacking is to free yourself to tackle routes and distances not feasible with a traditional load. Once you have your ultralight pack, think about hitting some higher elevations or more technically difficult routes. Some ultralight backpackers have tackled mammoth routes like the Pacific Coast Trail--a 2,600-mile trail from Mexico to Canada.
