The main factor to bear in mind when transitioning to an ultralight pack is this: as your pack weight decreases with lighter gear the load-bearing ability of your pack is lessened. If you are going on a short trip of just a few days (the type of trip most people do, and which this guide primarily caters for) the need hardcore alpine pack with a heavy internal frame is even less necessary.In general, with ultralight backpacking, it is not necessary to have frame in the pack to support the load, as the support that the frame offers can be achieved through careful packing. Neither is a complex and heavy hip belt with an integrated free-floating suspension system desirable. Once you eliminate these two traditional mainstays of the backpack, you can easily get the initial weight of your pack down to around 500g / 1lb.As mentioned above, with an ultralight load you'll be carrying far less weight, so the load-bearing demands put on your pack will be considerably lessened. The corollary of this is that with a lighter load you will be able to hike further and longer, so it's still important that you are able to carry your pack comfortably over longer periods and distances.

Traditionally, a frame helps to maintain pack shape and carrying position. But the addition of a frame – typically taking the form of metal stays – can add a lot of weight to a pack. Some UL packs offer a compromise by providing lightweight aluminium removable stays. If you're packing light you can remove it, but if you a planning a longer trip, you can easily slip the stay back in for additional support. Another alternative to metal stays is a plastic, removable framesheet. Lighter in weight, but still offering some structural support, it's an adequate option, although less popular among true ultralight manufacturers, and similar rigidity is arguably achievable through other means; namely a good packing strategy.When you see a frameless backpack for the first time, it seems impossibly flimsy and shockingly light. Most schoolkids' backpacks are heavier. Can something this insubstantial really carry enough gear comfortably for a weekend trip or longer? The secret is in the way you pack.

Instead of a fitted frame, you simply use the items you take with you to create a frame or structure inside the pack. The easiest way to do this is with your sleeping mat. Simply roll the mat loosely to fill the pack and create a kind of burrito in which you'll stuff the rest of your gear. Alternatively, as I generally do, fold your deflated sleeping pad (I currently use a Therm-a-Rest X-Lite) to create a torso sized framesheet. You can leave a little air in it to add some rigidity if needed.A fairly recent new development is an air frame. Klymit's AirBeam and Gossamer Gear's similar versions are  good examples. They essentially perform the same function as a folded sleeping mat, but double up as pillows, sit mats, or pad extenders. This is kind of neat, and making use of multi-use items is, as we shall see, one of the principles of ultralight.Once you have your improvised frame in place, it's simply a matter of packing everything else in to create a nice, tight bundle that carries comfortably.

We'll be looking a little more closely at that in the "Pack Knowledge" chapter.It is always better to transfer as much of the weight of your pack to the hips, rather than to the shoulders. You'll know when you have a poorly fitted pack. wampa backpackAt the end of a day's hiking, your shoulders will be killing you. laptop backpack pcmagThis, I find, is as true for ultralight backpacking as it is for traditional heavyweight backpacking. gcu backpackThe amount of pain is different, of course, but I've had aching shoulders with a lightweight pack.117g backpackHeavy backpacks often have elaborate hip belts, and they need to because the packs are designed for people carrying everything including the kitchen sink into the wilderness – with a 15kg pack you're going to want a decent hip belt. zoot backpack ultra tri

But with a total pack weight less than around 8kg, the hip belt can be a lot simpler, or in extreme super ultralight cases, it can be dispensed with altogether.Personally, I like to have some form of semi-rigid hip belt to take most of the weight off of my shoulders. cymbal backpack ebayit can be as simple as a slip of unpadded Dyneema, but I generally prefer a little foam padding to more comfortably distribute some of the load onto my pelvic area.ronaldinho backpackSome packs (like the Laufbursche huckePACK) have belts that are fixed to the pack, which provides good weight transfer. Others (like the Gossamer Gear Mariposa) forsake that for removable/switchable hipbelts, so you can order one just the right size. The lightest weight packs have very flimsy hipbelts, if they have them at all. This is fine if you carry next to nothing, and their main purpose is then to stop the pack flapping around as you walk. 

When packs become simpler, they generally lose a lot of flexibility when it comes to sizing adjustments. With a heavy pack you often can adjust the torso length, for example, to meet your specific anatomical peculiarities. Again, all those straps and attachment systems add to the weight of the pack. Most ultralight packs dispense with the fine-tuning and come in three sizes (small, medium, large) for different torso lengths. A few manufactures (notably Granite Gear and GoLite) offer variations of their packs designed for women, which is always a good thing. For a comfortable carry, it's vital to choose a pack that fits well – and not all packs will. It's possible you'll find what seems like the perfect lightweight pack, only to discover it simply doesn't feel comfortable when loaded. Should this happen, avoid the temptation of buying that otherwise perfect pack, for I guarantee it will transform your pleasant hike into an arduous slog.A well-fitting pack should rest on your pelvis, not on your shoulders.

Most of the weight should be on your hips, with the shoulder straps helping the pack hug your body, and taking only a small percentage of the weight on your shoulders.Another feature common to heavy packs, but frequently (sadly) omitted from lightweight packs are load lifters. These shoulder-mounted straps pull the top of the pack in close to your body, and create a much better and more solid carrying position. It's essential to have the weight hug your shoulders, rather than tugging away from them. Some hardcore ultralighters might argue that with an extremely light load, load lifters become irrelevant. I would argue that any load when carried for extremely long distances will be felt eventually, and a small sacrifice in weight for a pair of load lifters makes a huge difference to your carrying ability and stamina. We can go ultralight and still maintain comfort.A heavy backpack is positively loaded with non-essential straps, pockets, compartments, dividers, pockets, load adjusters, pockets, lids, tie-off points, pockets, and additional pockets.

Some of the pockets even have pockets inside them.An ultralight backpack typically has one compartment, two or three mesh pockets on the outside, and some lightweight compression cords – and that's about it. Many packs forego a lid for a simple roll-top closure system which keeps rain or spindrift out. A large exterior mesh pocket is ideal for stuffing damp shelters in. Side pockets keep essential items and water handy. And the main, single compartment is really all you need, and cuts out a bunch of extra material and zippers.Ultralight packs today are made out of a variety of materials, with two perhaps proving the most popular: DyneemaX and Cuben/Polyester Hybrid. DyneemaX is a durable, strong, water resistant fabric, while Cuben Fiber/Polyester is more waterproof, more expensive, but, in white, looks very hip and cool. I tend to go for Dyneema for durability and price reasons. There are of course other materials in use, but these are by far the most common at present.Most ultralight packs these days are already cut down to the bare minimum. 

The gram counters out there will eagerly take a pair of scissors to a new pack and cut off extraneous straps and labels, shearing whole fractions of an ounce off the weight of the pack. This may seem utterly obsessive and crazy, but don't be surprised to catch yourself doing it. It's perfectly acceptable, and you will not be alone.For the most minimal packs (for example, HMG's packs) you'll probably want to add things to the outsdie. While these packs offer a great deal of flexibility, those essential additions all add up, inflating the price.A ultralight pack is not much use if you don't have lightweight, compressible, compact gear to put inside it – they are simply too small to contain a lot of traditionally sized and weighted gear. Unless you already have a nice, light, down bag or a tiny shelter, you'll fill your new pack with your heavier versions of those items, putting a lot of stress on the seams, and leaving no room for any other gear or food. I would say, unless you happen to have a lot of disposable income, most people making the transition to a lighter load would be better off beginning with the contents of the pack rather than the pack itself.