How does one reduce pack weight, especially for 2-4 day mountaineering or backpacking?

Bob Weber

Expert Answer:

Gather your entire outfit together and then ask these questions about each item:

		Can I do without it but not reduce safety?
		Will something else do the same job? (e.g. spare socks double as mitts, a big mug serves double duty as a mug and a plate.)
		Does each member of the party need it, or can we split the weight? (e.g. repair kit, first aid kit, etc.)
		Is there any duplication? (e.g. if you have one windproof shell, another garment that has a shell built-in represents inefficiency and unnecessary weight to carry.)
		Is its comfort worth its weight? (e.g. will the one mug and spoon do, or does the prospect of bean-garlic-noodle hot chocolate justify the weight of a plate?)
		If conditions change and the remaining outfit proves inadequate, can I — or do I want to — curtail the trip because of insufficient gear?

		Mark the weight on each item for future reference — indelible magic marker on the care label for apparel will do.
		Check the catalogs to find lighter items to do the same job. (e.g. we carry Petzl Tiblocs for crevasse rescue — at 1.3 oz they are worth the extra weight over prusiks, but heavier ascenders wouldn't be justified for our needs.)
		Ask yourself if your gear needs to be heavy - duty and therefore heavy — or which items can be light duty. (e.g. in dry climates, the rarely needed, but occasionally lifesaving rainwear could be light duty; for glacier skiing we can get by with a lighter rope than is needed for climbing.)
		Choose items that don't get heavy in wet weather (e.g. truly water repellent tent fly, "dry" treated climbing rope.)
		Weigh every item of food — you'll probably discard the apples and oranges!

That's the theory at least, but it takes discipline, and my wife and I still tend to take too much!