The Ultralight Backpacker : The Complete Guide to Simplicity and Comfort on the Trail Paperback – July 17, 2001

This book has some useful information in it as long as you are reading it with a critical mind. Each person pursuing "ultralight" is going to have preferences regarding trade-offs and items that cannot be left behind. Ryel prefers to do without the extra ounces of books on the trail, but needs his double-wall tent in inclement weather. Others will carry only the shelter of a 12 oz. sil-nylon tarp and afford themselves the luxury of reading material.It's easy to see how the author arrived at his own conclusions and his recommendations do make sense, but they are not the only way. Opinions are good and the author doesn't hide his, however, a fairer and perhaps purer treatment of going ultralight should probably address more directly how to get as light as possible and then discuss the trade-offs. For example, it makes little sense to me that 4+ lb. double-walled tents should end up getting the thumbs up (because they shelter you properly in rain and don't have as many problems with condensation... everyone knows that), while well-ventilated single-wall tents are discouraged and lightweight tarps only get honorable mention toward the end of the chapter. This is just one example where the author reveals that, at the time of writing, he was ultralight in spirit, but only a lightweight in practice. I will carry a 1 lb. tarp and fuss with it a bit every night if it means shaving 3+ lbs., getting to add back a small luxury item, and being connected with nature even during a rain storm. Ryel confesses to wanting to sleep under the stars every chance he gets, hates fussing with improvised shelters, and had at least one bad experience getting wet under a tarp, so now it's "real tents" or nothing. You get my point.Even so, most areas of importance get at least some attention from the author and you get enough information to form your own opinions. This book is better than some, maybe not as good as others. Not the last word in going ultralight, but enough information to make the book purchase worthwhile, especially if you have an afternoon or two to reflect on the author's opinions and see how they compare to your own. I definitely liked this book better than Don Ladigan's "Lighten Up! A Complete Handbook...", which was far from "complete" and should have been subtitled "A Beginner's Guide". I would buy this book again, hopefully on discount.

This book was published in 2001, and in that time there have been incremental improvements to the gear that is mentioned in these pages. A large portion of this book focuses on the selection and use of gear. This information is dated, but that is not the reason for a poor review.First I take issue with the overall tone of the book. It seems to me that the author wants to speak from an experience he does not fully encompass himself. The chapters will quickly strike a reader as "preachy" and repetitive with poorly constructed clichés sold as truth. From chapter 5 on clothing, "Despite what some promoters might have you believe, no clothing bestows superpowers that enable you to leap tall mountains in a single bound." Well obviously. These clichés are scattered throughout the work and when they are connected together you must wonder what the author was thinking about his audience. This combines in the book with statements that cast doubt on the authors knowledge of the subject which he is speaking.This quote is from chapter 6, "After I cut half of the handle off the lightweight plastic spoon I carry, I take the time to drill a few holes along the portion of the handle that remains. This might seem extreme, but its actually an important step to take if you want to completely assume the commitment to being an ultralight backpacker." Earlier on in the text the author eschews using a tarp and instead opts for the use of a double walled tent. What difference will a few holes make if you are still carrying a double wall tent?The prose in this book is generally poorly constructed from chapter 5 "Amazingly, there is clothing that can meet all our outdoor requirements admirably." From Chapter 7 on food, "Sure, ice cream tastes good, especially if it contains as many different forms of chocolate as possible, but is obviously impractical for a backpacking trip." These are just a few examples of what litters this book.Overall I am not sure the author has a clear mind about what he is professing. There is precious little discussion on how things actually function on the trail. There are no lengthy anecdotes about how a certain piece of gear performed or failed to. The author it seems wants to direct his writting towards those who might be part of both the "yoga crowd" and the average backpacking masses. That by itself isn't the issue, the author it my mind fails make a commitment between the two. Who was he writing this text for? The work's composition is wishy-washy and a bit maddening. I would not recommend the book.A good alternate to this text would be  Lightweight Backpacking and Camping: A Field Guide to Wilderness Equipment, Technique, and Style (Backpacking Light) .

This book has some useful information and guidance so I decided to give it two stars. It isn't the worst book I've seen on backpacking but it isn't very good. I understand why others don't like the "preaching". The book is loaded with it.The author recommends that you cut tags, cut straps, cut off toothbrush handles, etc. According to the author, this gets you into the state of mind for ultralight. It isn't what lightweight backpacking is about. It is about knowing the weight of everything you put in your pack. In the clothing section, the author only mentions fleece for the insulation layer. This is very out of date. There are far better insulation layer alternatives that are much lighter. In the shelter section, he doesn't cover tarps sufficiently, the only option for someone going ultralight. In the section that covers water, he recommends iodine tablets, a very poor choice with Aquamira and other chlorine dioxide products on the market.After reading lots of books on backpacking, reading the internet, and practicing it for two years, I came back and read this book again. Some books I get something of value when I read them the second time. This book was a complete zero for me the second time around. If you're interested in lightening your backpack and want to read a short book like Kastenbaum's Ultralight backpacker, I strongly recommend Don Ladigin's Lighten Up! book. It is far better.

I am so glad I bought the book.Expect a more thorough review after this summer's exploits, but in terms of helping me to visualise and prepare for a fairly easy few days wild camping in Scotland, I couldnt have asked for a more helpful introduction.I should say that I am not going to the ultralight extremes this guy suggests ie I will be taking a tent (and underwear!)In fact, Im taking a relatively heavy back pack (Berghaus C1 ) but he goes through the preparation and planning in such a simple lighthearted and clear way, I have to encourage anyone considering their first overnight hikes to get it..I feel much more confident and upbeat after reading it. Happy camping!

I got this book as I came to the realisation that I'm carrying far too much kit when I'm on the trail. I thought there might be some good field craft tips in this book and there are, so I'm relatively pleased. However the author is very extreme in his views of what can accompany you on a backpacking trip. I understand the philosophy of "every single gramme (or ounce in this book's case) must ear it's place in your pack" but going to the point of not bringing underwear is a little extreme for me. The book is also a little USA centric, and I think there's an expectation that you will only go backpacking when its guaranteed to be dry. So all in all not a bad book for the money, but nothing revolutionary either.

Bücher über die leichte/ ultraleichte Trekking-Ausrüstung müssen sich den Vergleich mit anderen Büchern zu Thema gefallen lassen; seit dem (inzwischen vergriffenen) Klassiker von Ray Jardine ("Beyond backpacking") sind nämlich einige neue Werke hierzu erschienen.Ryel Kestenbaum befasst sich ausführlich mit verschiedenen Aspekten der Ausrüstung, geht aber fast nur auf kommerziell erhältliche Produkte ein (während in anderen Büchern auch Anleitungen für Selbstbau üblich sind). Ergänzend wird vieles zur "richtigen Einstellung" zum Ultraleicht-Wandern ausgeführt (darunter einige Absurditäten wie das Absägen der Zahnbürste und der Verzicht auf Klopapier).Insgesamt gelungene, umfassende Darstellung, die für mich aber nur als Ergänzung zu dem hervorragenden deutschen Klassiker von Stefan Dapprichsinnvoll erscheint.

This is a good book but unfortunately I am the wrong reader. There are many excellent tips on lightening your hillwalking or backpacking load safely but they are aimed squarely at an American audience. All the equipment and sizes considered are those of the USA rather than Britain or Europe and I would argue that the author is a very experienced backpacker in the USA; some of his advice could result in very serious problems for someone on Dartmoor or the Cairngorms with all four seasons apparent in one day!