Resources for Light Weight Backpacking
Part of Mark Verber's A
Guide to Light Weight Backpacking
Community & Publications
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The
Backpacker's Handbook by Chris Townsend
(now in 3rd edition)
is the best general book I have found.
Balanced and informative without being as voluminous as The Complete Walker.
I wish I could find a shorter book that I could recommend.
-
Backpacker's Pocket Guide by Chris Townsend
is the best condensed summary of the backpacking craft. This book will
not help you effectively select the items you want to take: it has a
very basic gear list which doesn't discuss options or talk about how items
function together as a system.
- Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book by Allen
O'Bannon is a humorous introduction to backpacking with funny
illustrations. I personally found Chris Townsend's books
more useful that this. I thought Townsend's Pocket was easier and
clearer to read, and his Backpacker's Handbook has a much richer discussion
about gear selection.
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Lighten Up! Complete Ultralight Backpacking by Don Ladigin is the best
book to help someone who is a traditional backpack thing about lightening
their load. If I could write well, this is exactly the sort of book I would
hope to right. Rather than getting bogged down in specific products which
would become dated, Don looks at general principles which are easy to apply.
-
Lightweight Backpacking: A Field Guide To Wilderness Equipment, Technique,
and Style by Ryan Jordan. If you like my general outlook, you will
like this book. Ryan is one of the founders of backpackinglight.com
which has had a large influence to my current backpacking style.
- The Complete
Walker IV by Colin Fletcher is the classic book, comprehensive, through.
Great discussions about techinque. Interesting discussions about gear. My only regret is that ultra-light
gear (other than tarps) are not covered well.
-
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills edited by Steven M. Cox, Kris
Fulsaas is the classic guide to mountaineering. Pack full with useful
information about mountain environments, snow techniques etc.
- Beyond
Backpacking by Ray Jardine is a bit extreme, and at times
heads off into la-la land, but this book is filled with valuable
information which will provide a great framework / perspective on backpacking,
help you learn important techniques, and change the way you select gear.
- Yogi's PCT
Handbook provides a lot of good advise for someone who is considering
hiking the PCT or would like to learn from the experiences of a number of
thru-hikers.
Videos