Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook For Light And Ultralight Backpacking (Falcon Guide)

The illustrator of this book, Mike Clelland, has a way of drawing some neat sketches of the important concepts in this book, and these sketches work particularly well for younger readers such as boy scouts. They are simple, kind of irreverant, and therefore memorable. My son has paged throught this book any number of times, and has now totally internalized the message of the importance of light weight in backpacking and hiking. He also gained an understanding of the range of equipment that is available along the weight continuum.Not to say that others would not benefit from the material in this book, as it is well organized, not too brand specific, and very accessible. But it is not a treatise, and not a reference book. Just a great way to pick up some concepts quickly and enjoyably.

This was a very good guide in how to select lighter backpacking gear. I admit I come from a more traditional backpacking approach and as I'm getting older, a lighter approach is needed. I had no idea there where equipment choices that are half the weight or even less. Using gear that covers several uses instead of taking more specialized stuff is perhaps obvious, but I hadn't actually gone through a check list and weighed each item in my kit. Now I have and I've already shaved off a bunch of weight. I'm now prioritizing equipment purchases to focus on the heaviest items for replacement. The backpack, shelter, and sleep systems are the "Big Three" as Don calls 'em. Each should be 2 lbs or less. My knees will be so much happier!!

picked up a few good pointers

Don Ladigan's book is a good introduction to the theory and practice of lightweight camping and hiking. Even experienced hikers who have read other authors and been thinking about this for a long time will find some pearls of wisdom to mull over. Mike Clelland's illustrations are entertaining, and I also heartily recommend all of his books on ultralighting and backcountry skiing. Innovations in lightweight gear and techniques have made it possible to hike with a very light pack and maintain a level of comfort undreamed of even a decade ago, to say nothing of the Trapper Nelson pack board and tube tent days of my youth.

When I started backpacking, I put my traditional canoe camping gear in a big pile, and then bought a backpack big enough to carry it all. It weighed over 60 pounds with food and water for an overnighter. I was like a Sherpa, only not as physically fit as one and the hills ate me up. I jut figured this is how it had to be.This book should be required reading before buying a backpack.Since I have read this book, I have upgraded some gear that was really unsuited to backpacking and have gone from an 80 liter pack that had a base weight of over 50 pounds down to a 50 liter pack that has a base weight of 20 pounds. My feet and my knees thank you Don.I now enjoy the walk, instead of dreading it. Instead of praying for the campsite to come into view, and dumping the pack with a groan/sigh of relief, and collapse for a while until I muster up the energy to set up camp, I now arrive with plenty of energy and feel great. I no longer carry all kinds of "just in case" items, and now I look at each item and decide if it is really worth bringing along, and I have found I do just fine, in fact I do even better, without all the unnecessary gear.

It's good as far as it goes, which is really maybe twenty pages of material. It doesn't go into so much depth that I become struck by some unknown insight; it is a collection of good tips and demonstrable multi-tasking that can save weight and show off a little of your backcountry skills, i.e. build rather than buy, and make on site rather than haul in and out. All of these tips are things you already know, codified for about one hour of reading.Worth it? Dunno. If you're an experienced hiker, you could intuit almost all of this. Any reputable 1st Class or above Boy Scout could do the same at age 14. I'm not impressed with it, and know I'll never re-read it. However, it does serve a purpose to the less-experienced, so in that regard, the content was solid and well-presented.-Fred

Book is full of suggestions for lightening your pack weight. Following the author's suggestions and advice I got my base pack weight down to less than 7 pounds. I have started 3 day, 2 night backpacking trips with a pack that weighed, fully loaded, 12 pounds.

This is a fun to read book with nice illustrations. It's short- only took me a couple hours to read- but it's entertaining and illuminating. I haven't gone full ultralight yet, but this book did help me eliminate a good 10lbs from my pack weight.I have since read other books that helped me reduce pack weight even more, but I don't think they would have been as effective if I hadn't had this book as an introduction first.

Great read

I LOVE this book it s the best and only book you will need

Tout est dit !Ouvrage complet, tant par le texte que par les dessins humoristiques.Une simple description vaut souvent mieux qu'un long discours.Chaudement recommandé !!!

Great book loads of great advice

Magnifico libro para iniciarse al senderismo ligero/ultraligero. Una buena cantidad de información cubriendo todos los temas y fácil de entender.