Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook For Light And Ultralight Backpacking

by Don Ladigan and Don Ladigin

Book Overview

Short, to-the-point, and humorously illustrated by famed outdoor illustrator Mike Clelland, this book presents everything hikers and backpackers need to be safe, comfortable, and well fed while carrying a very small and lightweight pack.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0762737344
• ISBN13: 9780762737345
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Falcon Press Publishing
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Perfect book for scouts

The illustrator of this book, Mike Clelland, has a way of drawing some neat sketches of the important concepts in this book, and these sketches work particularly well for younger readers such as boy scouts. They are simple, kind of irreverant, and therefore memorable. My son has paged throught this book any number of times, and has now totally internalized the message of the importance of light weight in backpacking and hiking. He also gained an understanding of the range of equipment that is available along the weight continuum. Not to say that others would not benefit from the material in this book, as it is well organized, not too brand specific, and very accessible. But it is not a treatise, and not a reference book. Just a great way to pick up some concepts quickly and enjoyably.

A good "meat and potatoes" guide

There are many books about lightweight backpacking. Books that will help a traditional backpacker lighten up, shed their gear and enjoy the simple act of walking again. However, most of these books are too gear wonkish in my opinion. The books place an emphasis on the gear (and some times specific gear). Backpacking is portrayed as a hobby for merely collecting and fine tuning gear. Where walking and enjoying the wilderness is secondary to having the perfect gear setup. LIGHTEN UP is different. Rather than focusing on specific gear it gives more of an overview. It helps the person wanting to make the transition from a traditional gear setup to a more streamlined and less extraneous kit. Other books are good for fine tuning your techniques. This is the book to get for a person taking the initial steps into the world of lightweight backpacking. Often times too many details get in the way of accomplishing a goal. Besides, a LIGHT book on lightweight backpacking seems to be more fitting than a heavy book on lightweight backpacking. :)

lighten a load with a very light book

I found this book full of little tidbits to use. Some ideas I have never heard or thought of. You can't skip any pages becuase you might miss some knowledge or some humor. This is worth every penny and great for the beginner to the advanced.

Excellent and concise advice

I've read several books on backpacking. This book is the best, without a doubt. Sure, you can read extensively on the backpackinglight.com web site and eventually learn much of what is in the book, as another reviewer suggests. But you will spend much more time doing it and read a lot of misleading information as you puruse the backpackinglight.com forums. Don't get me wrong. I'm a member and reader of backpackinglight.com. I enjoy it. But this book does an excellent job of concisely stating lots of good information on how to lighten a backpack. I wish it would have been the first book I read, but it wasn't written yet. If you're interested in backpacking, I strongly urge you to read this book.

Lightweight Backpacking makes sense!

What a wonderful little book with some just amazing ideas! I've been lightweight backpacking for several years now, and Don Ladigin has included bits of his wisdom that will make time spent out in the wilderness even more rewarding. Some of his ideas seem so simple and straightforward, I wonder why I didn't think of that! Thanks Don!