For those backpackers who are hardcore enough to enter the realm of lightweight or ultra-light backpacking here are some techniques that can lighten the load on your next trip. Some of these do tend towards the extreme and will test your skills in the wilderness so be aware that if you don't know what you are doing you can get into more trouble then you might think.
The heaviest items on any backpacking trip are your tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. The first thing to consider going without is your sleeping pad. Knowing the environment where you intend to backpack will allow you to determine if there will be materials available that will allow you to build a natural mattress.
Dead leaves, pine needles, dead grass, and dry bracken ferns can be used to create a pile large enough to set your tent or bivy sack on. This gets you up off the hard cold ground and provides insulating value much as a sleep pad does. When you break camp be sure to scatter your mattress materials and leave your site in its natural state.
A Wilderness Survival Course can also help you reduce the weight of your backpacking treks because the knowledge gained can help you make better more informed decisions on what to take. For instance if you know which berries and other fauna are edible you can get by with packing less food. You can also leave your stove at home if you bring ready-to-eat foods to go along with foraging off the land.
Take a look through all your gear and look for ways to save weight there. Do you need full on rain gear or will a lightweight poncho suffice. Cut the handle off your toothbrush and silverware. Do you really need that bowl and cup or can you drink your hot tea or soup from your cooking pan.
You can also update your gear with the latest and lightest equipment. Down sleeping bags that weight less then 2 pounds but are good down to 15 degrees and lightweight backpacking tents can save pounds off your load. This lightweight gear is not cheap but it is well made and will last through many backpacking seasons.
Combining lightweight backpacking gear with some of the above techniques will allow you to truly enjoy the benefits of lightweight backpacking.
