How to Cut Unnecessary Weight From Your Hunting Pack

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One of the most common questions from backcountry hunters, both rookies and veterans, is “How do I cut weight in my backpack?” I certainly remember my first trips into the backcountry and I was asking the same thing. Since those first trips a decade or so ago, I have learned a few tricks to help with such things. These tips will surely help you go in more lightweight and, hopefully, come out heavy!

1. What Do You REALLY Need?

Especially if you are new to backpack hunting, there are things in your pack that you don’t really need. I guarantee it. I’m betting you’ve got a whole lot of “just-in-case” items. It’s time to cut the fat.

The best way I have found to narrow down what you need and what you don’t on a backpack hunt is by creating a list. Create a list or spreadsheet of all of the gear you bring on a hunt. After each trip, go through and mark everything you didn’t use. If three trips go by and an item still hasn’t been used, you likely don’t need it. First-aid kits are an exception to this. Hopefully, you never need to use that. That extra pair of pants or shirt, though? You likely don’t need those.

2. Multi-Use Items

The more efficient your backcountry system is, the more lightweight the kit will be. One of the ways to accomplish this is by seeking out multi-use items.

A great example of this is trekking poles. Trekking poles can be used for a number of things. For instance, depending on the shelter design, you can pitch a tent with a trekking pole. I’ve also taken apart trekking poles before and used the tube to create a spout to direct water into a water bag. Additionally, I’ve used trekking poles to work out knots in muscles and even help tighten the straps on backpacks.

3. Know the Capabilities of Your Gear

Knowing what your gear is capable of past the point of what specs tell you is crucial for achieving the ultimate lightweight kit. Clothing is a great example of this and so are sleeping bags.

So many people will overpack in these areas for fear of getting cold. I get it because what you have is all you have in the backcountry. But, if you truly knew what temperature your bag or clothing system could handle, then it would keep you from reaching for the heavier 0-degree bag or that extra vest purely out of precaution. These things add up across the board.

When the boot tread meets the trail, you are the one in the driver’s seat. I can’t for certain tell you what’s going to work best in your backcountry kit. Only you can do that. My goal here, though, is to provoke a bit of thought into your system. I’ve never heard a backpack hunter say “I wish my backpack was heavier,” unless they were referring to the absence of game bags filled with meat, of course.

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