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Gear & Base Weight

Ultralight gear, the big three, and how to cut base weight without spending a fortune or freezing at night.

The Shakedown Hike: Test Your Gear Before the Big Trail
Gear & Base Weight

The Shakedown Hike: Test Your Gear Before the Big Trail

A shakedown hike lets your gear fail cheaply at home instead of expensively on trail. Here's how to plan one, run the three-pile gear audit, and show up at the terminus with a dialed, field-proven kit.

Jul 9, 20267 min read
Ultralight Backpacking: How to Cut Your Base Weight
Gear & Base Weight

Ultralight Backpacking: How to Cut Your Base Weight

Cut your base weight without buying new gear. Weigh everything, attack the big three, trim the small stuff, and keep the safety margin that keeps you alive.

May 12, 20263 min read