Free Ultralight Backpacking Gear

August 31st, 2010 | by admin |


Here are a few things you probably already have lying around that you can use to reduce your pack weight. Have others ideas? Please share!

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  1. 25 Responses to “Free Ultralight Backpacking Gear”

  2. By beege19 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    “one-use” plastic bottles like Aquafina use BPA in the manufacture of the plastic used, which leaches out of the plastic over time and is toxic.

  3. By mikeaye on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    One thing to keep in mind about cooking using cans is that there is usually a chemical on the inside to keep them from rusting. This chemical can be slightly poisonous when heated. Luckily from what I’ve heard, if you wash it out with soap then boil water in it maybe two or so times, most of it will be washed/evaporated off. The downside to this is that now the can is capable of rusting so you shouldnt use it more than 2 or 3 times.

  4. By Johnsnow85 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    @jasonklass
    I agree Heineken is good for dowsing fires. I prefer drinking a good Doppel bock

  5. By kwiggy69 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Great video. How did you cut the top off of the Heineken so that it will still work as a cap? Where do you get Kevlar tape?

  6. By bintasyllah on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Wow. Thanks so much. This is likely not totally the same, but when I travel internationally, I like to travel as light as possible, but look good/stylish and have creature comforts. Your video was a gentle reminder why it’s so unnecessary to spend money buying crap when we often have most of what’s needed.

  7. By MikeSkiera on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Boston market has the best free sporks

  8. By SaviourSole on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    I’m not sold on the spork or the cup. Way too likely to break and way too much of a bummer if it DOES break.
    I love the coffee bag and condiments ideas!
    Water bottles are starting to be made with skimpier and skimpier caps to save on plastic. Don’t buy one of these skimpy cap water bottles for backpacking use as a water bottle; instead get a large carbonated beverage bottle, since they CAN’T skimp on those.

  9. By rhonbell2003 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Just an FYI – you can get pencils from other places than golf courses or sushi bars, such as Walmart or Work. Haha… good video

  10. By MobsterNine on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    I’ve tried two side cutting can openers on heineken cans, but can’t seem to find one that doesn’t dent the top of the can. Any suggestions?

  11. By BlacKSuNCanada on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Wow….don’t use a can as a pot. All Aluminum cans have a liner that will lift off can get in your food….with lots of BPA. Make sure you are using cans that don’t have a liner…..and those are hard to find

  12. By invictus1984 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Haha dude… appreciate the good intentions of your video and attempt of humor at the end =D I couldn’t help but noticed you snag stuff everywhere you go LOLs. Just kidding man, great ideas and definitely helpful.

  13. By bebertq on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    We can’t find the large-mouth 1 L Aquafina bottles anymore where I live (eastern Canada)… that sucks.

  14. By Deadphans on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    MMM Fat Tire! You must be from the mid-west! I went to a festival in Arkansas (Wakarusa) and had the pleasure of tasting it for the first time…I am a New Englander myself. Needless to say I was loving the Fat Tire! Delicious!

  15. By dogwarrior142 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    I liked the info and have already implemented into my S&R pack thanks

  16. By ChadCoulter21 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    thanks for the help im defienantly going to use that plastic fork rather than the metal sppon that we use

  17. By Amatordeus on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    The coffee bag idea was new to me, thanks for that!

    Here is my gear rule: Cheap, Sturdy, or Lightweight – Pick two. All of these suggestions will work and are good for people starting out, students, etc. and they keep some trash out of the landfills. I think if you fell on your pack while hiking that you’d lose your coffee cup and beer can pot. It’s excellent to know how to use these and they’re great for easing someone in, but if you frequent the wilds you need sturdy gear, IMHO.

  18. By tbrucia on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    The scary thing is that the heaviest unneeded thing I carry is about 30 pounds of fat around my waist…. I’m hoping to cut my *total* pack weight once I trim my saddlebags…. (I’m figuring I can cut an ounce every mile I walk: 16 miles a day = 16 ounces a day = 1 lb of fat = 30 lbs of fat a month…). What a way to diet :-/

  19. By NedAndTedProductions on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    thanks a lot! this really helps me before my first backpacking trip!

  20. By xXbackcountryXx on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    I bet this guys pack weighs about 12pounds haha…….
    no for real how much dose your pack weigh?

  21. By jvineyard2004 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Great ideas! I’m very new to this and your video helps a lot! Thanks.

  22. By positiveworldtravel on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    sporks are the future. I love mine!

  23. By smithdream on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    Cool and helpful vid.
    Good ideas.
    :O)

  24. By dwang008 on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    @Nershedify Your teacher’s talking about BPA (Bisphenol A) which is a xenoestrogen. I use a platypus bottle (BPA free and lighter than aquafina) but its kinda expensive and floppy.

  25. By RLSCS on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    You spork stealer you! lol

  26. By mjdancz on Aug 31, 2010 | Reply

    It isn’t free by a mylar emergency blanket is incredible warm and light weight. It makes sure you have no need for a sleeping bag or extra blankets, if you can put up with a little noise.

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