You've put together plans for an incredible adventure. You've picked a remote destination and put together an elite group of adventurers (or maybe just some people you like to hangout with). You've planned a menu for eating better than you do at home.

The only problem is you have to carry everything on your back; first aid gear, food and cooking utensils, clothing, tents, etc… Not only do you have to carry it, but how are you going to fit it all into your backpack?

So how can we lighten your pack?

Well, heres the 6 fundamentals to cutting backpack weight:

Fundamental #1 – Look at the biggest and heaviest things first. Replacing a 5 pound pack with a 1 pound pack saves you 4 pounds! Replacing a 7 pound tent with a 1 pound tarp saves you 6 pounds! By picking just two of the heaviest items of gear you've already shaved over 10 pounds and we've only just begun.

Fundamental #2 – Find multiple uses for one item. The more uses you can find for one item the less items you'll have to take.

Fundamental #3 – Find the lightest and smallest gear you can. Take a smaller LED flashlight or headlamp, consider taking an old Gatorade bottle instead of those big wide- mouth Lexan bottles. And don't forget lightweight cook pots or just one pot and use zip-lock bags to mix and eat in. By themselves these substitutions may not seem like much, but in combination they add up.

Fundamental #4 – Get rid of that big backpack. With a big backpack you have a tendancy to fill it, but with a smaller backpack, you just don't have the room. Hence, you'll usually be a little more picky about what you bring.

Fundamental #5 – Forget it at home. Everyone has forgotten something before, it's always amazing how you were able to get along without it. So ask yourself, do you really need those extras?

Fundamental #6 – Evaluate you gear. After each trip look at what you used and what you didn't. After a few trips you'll be able to tell what can go and what can't.

I used to have a buddy that I backpacked with that would be bring everything and some spares. His backpack weighed a ton, but he always had extras. Then it hit me, why not just forget more at home and borrow all those extras, he's bringing them anyways.

I remember I was almost to the point of just bringing my pillow in my pack, when he figured it out and decided to go lightweight. Well, all good things must come to an end.

Hopefully these tips can help take the burden off your back.