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Ultralight to lightwieght backpacking gear part 1

If you like to hike or trek over 20 miles in a day you will know how the weight of the gear you carry with you is a very significant factor. Experiences hikers, trekkers and backpackers know that to reduce the weight of your gear you need to concentrate on the three main items: your sleeping bag, shelter and the backpack itself.

So you will want to leave your huge 10 pound tent and snug 5 pound sleeping bag at home and get yourself the lightest backpack you can find.

It may be hard to believe but there are some really good quality backpacks that weigh in at less than four ounces. That’s no exaggeration. The typical capacity for a bag like this will be between about 1500 and 2000 cubic inches which is more than enough space for about 15 pounds of equipment. This should be more than enough for a lightweight sleeping bag, a tarpaulin and a few vital necessities like some food and a first aid kit. And you mustn’t overlook the need to carry some water with you.

In fact the water that you need to carry when trekking can become the heaviest item. You can reduce the amount of water that you need to carry with you by planning your route to take you via locations where you can refill.

Another big benefit of going ultra light weight is that the equipment tends to be much cheaper than the heavier, tougher alternatives. You can even find some perfectly adequate lightweight backpacks, often sold as day sacks, in various bargain disount store costing only a few dollars. They can be a very simple in desgn with only a few, if any, external pockets. But they can be excellent for lightweight trekking.

If you are going lightweight it’s also worth considering your clothing. Forget your all weather outdoor clothing and instead go for an ultra lightweight rain and wind proof fold-up cagoule and some light weight sports shoes rather than heavy walking boots.

If you lighten your load by reducing your clothing weight, equipment and using a lightweight backpack you should find that a 20 mile hike is suddenly much easier to complete.

Backpacks are variously called as rucksack, knapsack, or pack. Nylon or canvas is the most common material that is used to make backpack. A heavy fabric best suits a backpack for heavy loads. The lightweight backpack uses ripstop. Travelers prefer to use backpack when traveling. It is now popular amongst them. The preference for backpack is because of the ease with which you can move around with it. you also do not feel the strain as the load is comfortable shared between your legs and hips besides the shoulders.

Canvas and nylon are used commonly to manufacture backpacks. Nylon has advantages over canvas. They are lighter in weight than canvas. Its high melting point makes it safer from catching fire. It is tougher than canvas. It does not tear and wear easily. It has a high durability. The contents are safer inside a nylon backpack. It resists molds, animals and insects. Its high flexibility makes it easier to handle. Nylon can be made in any color making this an attractive material. For all these reasons, nylon is more widely the preferred material for the manufacture of backpacks.

There are three types of backpacks available in the market. They are the frameless backpacks, the external frame backpack and the internal frame backpack. The frameless backpacks are more common. The external frame backpacks are useful when the load that has to be packed and carried is more. The internal frame backpack is for lesser load. It is more comfortable to carry around. The Osprey Argon 110 is a backpack that packs comforts for long trips.

The backpack once packed can be closed with a zipper or a buckle mechanism or drawstring with a cord lock. There are also straps to restrict the movement of the contents inside the backpack when one is traveling with the backpack. When deciding to buy a backpack, there are a number of factors that you need to consider. The first is the extent of load you intend to take. The second is the duration of the trip. The third is the terrain whether plain or steep. Of course, there is the budget you need to also consider.

Backpacking Italy

Backpacking is growing in popularity with people from all walks of life. Those with families are turning to this great activity as a way to enjoy a low-cost vacation that provides value and quality time, while other people look at backpacking tours in wild places as a type of extreme sport! If you’re thinking of taking up backpacking, check out these ideas for getting started:

Start small if you have kids. Ultra light backpacking trips that only involve a small fanny pack or waist backpack to hold some snacks is the best idea. Children tire easily and won’t enjoy a whole-day expedition or a full-blown hiking vacation. If you’re planning to take a backpacking camping vacation, make sure your kids are old enough to enjoy walking long distances. As well, choose lightweight backpacking equipment for your kids or carry the load yourself. They can hang on to the water bottle or emergency pack and they’ll feel important to have the responsibility.

If you don’t have children or if your kids are old enough to enjoy long hikes or backpacking tours, there are plenty of vacations you can take on a shoestring budget. Backpacking is a cheap sport and you won’t have to worry about bus trips or navigating unfamiliar cities or landscape with your car. You can take a backpacking camping vacation and sleep in tents or under tarps and save the cost of lodging or accommodations.

You can even take a European backpacking tour or be an Ireland backpacker and hike the beautiful mountains of another country. Plenty of tourist destinations have beautiful trails over hillsides, through forests, or offer tours for backpacking mountain paths. A holiday trip to go backpacking on Mexico’s beaches might make a nice alternative for those who want a more physical southern vacation. Backpacking Italy can give you a fantastic look at beautiful buildings and country scenery.

Of course, these expeditions are of the tamer variety. There are many tour companies and outfitters across the world that now offer an extreme version of backpacking. Responding to the demand of people wanting thrills and excitement, some vacation spots now have backpacking tours that carry a level of risk or challenge. Some tours include visits to difficult terrain or that involve observation of animals such as lions.

Backpacking tours that have you traveling to another country for your expedition may need to be covered by insurance. There is backpacking travel insurance available for those who prefer to have medical coverage in case of emergencies. You’ll certainly want to consider backpacking travel insurance in locations that are high risk for injury or accidents, such as backpacking mountain ranges or exploring wildlife areas. Better to be safe than sorry!