Backpackers often seem obsessed with "how much things weigh," and for a very good reason. Even a relatively light backpack can feel like a bag a bricks after only a few miles, so any strategy that helps shave a few pounds is worthy of attention. At its heaviest, your pack (fully loaded) should not weigh more than 20% of your own bodyweight. Ideally, it should be closer to 15%.

Not only can the weight or you pack make the difference between an enjoyable outing and a torturous slog, it can also become a real health and safety issue. Your feet are more likely to blister if your pack is too heavy. “Pack bruises” may reduce your ability to hike the next day. It’s also harder to keep your footing if your pack makes you overtired and off-balance.

Outlined below are a few general strategies we’ve come up with to help keep down the weight.

Bring items with multiple uses. A good rain jacket can also double as a cold-weather jacket (when worn over an insulating layer like a fleece pull-over) as well as a wind-breaker. A tent bag, when stuffed with clothing, can double as a pillow. A pot lid can also serve as a plate. Swim trunks can serve as shorts. A Swiss army knife can… well, you get the idea.

Bring only what you need. All your gear should fall into two categories. Stuff you use every day, and stuff you’d be really sad not to have if it turns out you need it (first aid kits fall into this later category). Less critical items, such as camp chairs, hammocks, nose-hair trimmers, electric fans, and that groovy portable television set can all be left at home.

Calculate water and fuel. These two items are especially heavy, so if you can avoid carrying too much you’re already ahead of the game. Research your trail. If there is ground water along the way (and you bring a water purification system) you can carry a little less. Figure out how much fuel you’ll need to cook your meals. Keep your emergency reserves reasonable.

Keep your stuff dry. Things get wet, of course, but if you can find a way to dry out your gear before putting it away you can save a little bit of weight. Let the morning dew evaporate before packing your tent. Hang soggy items on the outside of your pack to dry while traveling. Use quick-drying materials like wool and synthetics. Avoid materials that dry slowly, like cotton.

Invest in lighter gear. The heavier gear tends to include your clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, boots, rain gear, and community items like stoves, fuel bottles, water filters, and pots. Sometimes investing in lighter versions of these items is worth the expense. Also watch the weight of your empty baggage, such as your backpack, stuff-sacks, ropes, and fasteners.

Shoot for less than full. Just because you have a 12,000 cubic inch backpack doesn’t mean you have to fill the bloody thing all the way to the top. In fact, we’ve sometimes found it necessary to reallocate gear, especially when traveling with children or in the rare instance someone gets injured. This kind of gear reallocation is impossible if you’re already loaded to capacity.

Break open pre-packaged goods. You don’t need a whole box of band-aids, a full tube of toothpaste, and a full package of batteries for a three-day trip. Break-down these items so you only carry what you need for the time you’ll be on the trail. Clear plastic bags (that you can see into without having to open) are wonderful things and can even help keep your stuff dry.

Plan Ahead. It takes preparation to pack light, and a highly critical approach to your gear. If you throw all your stuff in a bag 10 minutes before you hit the trail, you’re much more likely to take too much (or too little). Chat with your fellow hikers and make sure you’re not hauling four sets of cooking gear down the trail. Discuss common gear and decide what can be shared.