By Jeremy Cronon, NOLS Partnership Director
Since 1965, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has been at the forefront of outdoor education, empowering hundreds of thousands of participants with leadership, wilderness medicine, and technical skills that prepare them for the journey ahead. Through decades of backcountry experience across diverse landscapes, NOLS has refined its understanding of what it takes to lead and thrive in the wild. Along the way, we’ve learned that expeditions require more than just good gear—it’s about planning, skill-building, environmental stewardship, and a mindset that prioritizes risk management, adaptability, care, and expedition behavior.
Contrary to popular opinion, our gear has gotten lighter and more compact over the last 60 years, but it has certainly not kept up with the burgeoning industry of lightweight gear. The principles we rely on in the backcountry, however, are applicable regardless of how heavy your pack is. Our packs may still be on the heavier side, but yours doesn’t have to be.
Embarking on a backcountry adventure requires careful preparation, environmental awareness, and thoughtful gear choices. Intentionally lightening your pack, however, requires you to think critically about your skills, your gear, and your plan.We believe that considering these principles can enhance your outdoor experience while keeping your systems light and efficient, without minimizing your ability to manage risk or enjoy yourself.
For some, planning their trip is almost as enjoyable as the trip itself. That may or may not be true for you, but planning ahead will improve your chances for a solid outcome. At NOLS, we emphasize that knowing your route, the terrain, and potential risks can be the difference between a successful trip and a dangerous one. When you incorporate factors like climate, water sources, and elevation change into your plan, you minimize on-the-fly decision-making. A well-informed plan can also support situationally appropriate weight saving decisions (synthetic vs. down insulation, water purification systems, or layering systems). The plan informs the packing list.
Not only does making a plan allow you to think critically about how to use the skills and tools you have to support your experience, it also allows you to communicate that plan to others, helping you manage the inherent risk of backcountry travel.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IS PARAMOUNT
We all have a responsibility to minimize our environmental footprint. The first step is to understand the ecosystem you’re entering. Knowing more about where you are going can fundamentally change the way you pack and travel. Researching water access along your route can mean the difference between purifying on the go or carrying 3-4 liters on your back. Previewing the weather report and noting seasonal norms can help you decide the warmth and breathability of your hiking clothes, as well as what you’ll need to be comfortable overnight. Thinking critically about campsites can mean the difference between a cold night of sleep in a canyon bottom or staying comfy on a ledge above the canyon floor. Managing the impact we have on our environment AND the impact our environment can have on us are both key to a sustainable and successful trip.
No piece of gear can solve all your problems and ensure the perfect backcountry trip. Using your gear appropriately for your environmental context can get you most of the way there.
3. SHARE THE LOAD
With the growing popularity of thru-hiking in recent years, solo hiking is on the rise. That said, backpacking doesn’t always need to be a solo effort. Teamwork is essential, and at NOLS, we’re big on sharing responsibilities. This applies to gear, too. Instead of one person carrying everything, some gear can be divided amongst your group. For example, instead of everyone carrying their own first aid kit, decide collectively what you think could be stored in a communal vs. individual personal kits. Dividing your group gear up equitably (as opposed to equally) means that all group members are supporting one another and helps insure a collective understanding of shared resources.
Applying the lightweight mentality to group travel requires communication and compromise, but can ultimately lead to more balanced and positive outcomes.
This image shows a group crossing a river using the Eddyline technique, where the force of the river is distributed equitably across the participants. They move as a group, which allows them to manage risk more effectively and work as a team, spotters standby downstream to support!
As hard as it may be to believe when looking at an equipment list, backpacking isn’t just about individual items. It’s about the system you create with those items. NOLS emphasizes understanding how all your gear, from your tent to your stove, works together. Choosing to leave your midweight fleece behind shifts the way you think about your wind shirt and rain jacket. Bringing puffy pants changes the way you think about your sleep system. Increasing your caloric intake and bumping up your mileage might mean carrying less layers. Ultimately, understanding the ripples of each strategy takes time and practice… and that is part of the fun!
Each component of your kit should complement the other, creating a seamless experience that prioritizes efficiency and minimizes redundancies.
5. LIGHTEN WHERE YOU CAN (TO ADD WHERE YOU WANT)
When packing, be critical of everything you bring, but don’t neglect what brings you joy. NOLS teaches that every item should serve a clear purpose. This allows us to reduce pack weight (and clutter) without sacrificing functionality. For some, the lightest, most minimal pack is all that matters. For the rest of us, simplifying our gear list can allow us to make space for the things that consistently make us small, but fall outside the generic packing list: the biodegradable glitter for summit day, the mirrorless camera, the coffee grinder…. You know the kind of gear I am talking about.
The lighter your pack, the more energy you’ll have for the things that truly matter… Just don’t talk yourself out of bringing the items that truly make you smile.
6. FOCUS ON DURABILITY AND VERSATILITY
Your gear needs to handle the demands of the backcountry. NOLS stresses the importance of durability and reliability when it comes to backcountry equipment. You don’t want to be caught out with gear that fails at the wrong moment, nor do you want to have to own a different piece of gear for each adventure you want to go on. With a focus on repairability, replaceable components, and sturdy design, NOLS has carefully designed their expedition kit to withstand the rigors of hard use and extended time in diverse, remote areas. Designing your own kit around these principles ensures that you will increase your familiarity and skill with your systems, be able to manage it across varied environments, and have the know-how to fix items when they fail.
Whether you’re on a thirty-day expedition or a day hike, having confidence in your gear is vital. Knowing how to use, maintain, and repair your kit regardless of environment are all important steps in preparing for the backcountry.
Prioritize your essentials, and understand what you truly need for your adventure. NOLS instills the idea that “more” is not always “better.” Broad categories like shelter, pack, and sleep system only get you so far, even if they often represent a large portion of your overall base weight. As you spend more and more time in the backcountry, the list of your essentials becomes clearer and increasingly personal. You’ll start to notice what items you gravitate towards and which are simply along for the ride. This takes time (and a willingness to experiment), but can be a truly gratifying experience.
Simplifying your gear list while still covering all essential needs will make your experience more enjoyable.
8. COMPETENCE WEIGHS NOTHING
No piece of gear can replace the knowledge and skills you develop in the backcountry. Whether it’s navigation, first aid, or campcraft, competence weighs nothing, but it can make or break your experience. In effect, the gear you bring should reflect and complement the skills you possess. NOLS places a significant emphasis on building competence — learning and refining skills that make you capable in the backcountry, no matter what gear you’re carrying.
People often say that “we pack our fears.” The less you know, the heavier your pack. Focusing on learning and expanding competency allows us to see beyond the fears or uncertainties that may inform our decision-making.
While it’s crucial to be prepared, redundancy can add unnecessary weight. NOLS advises carrying backups for items that are difficult to repair or improvise. For example, NOLS expeditions travel with a combination of 1-way and 2-way satellite communication devices. This allows groups to travel independently of one another (with an emergency communication device), but also to have backups with any given expedition. We also often carry a spare fuel pump, as it is harder to repair than our Whisperlite stoves. NOLS also carries repair kits that are specifically designed to support essential items. In general, reliance on redundancy decreases as your competency increases in the art of backcountry problem-solving.
Consider what can truly fail and plan your redundancy thoughtfully to avoid overpacking. Additionally, how could a fishing rod (and ample opportunities for fishing) support a decrease in overall weight of rations?
10. ANALOG LEARNING PROMOTES DIGITAL PROFICIENCY
NOLS has been teaching wilderness skills and leadership since 1965, reading maps and using a compass are baked into our curriculum. We also know that technology can be a helpful tool, but it shouldn’t be a crutch. NOLS encourages analog learning—like map reading, compass skills, and using natural navigation techniques. This fosters a deeper understanding and awareness of your environment, making reliance on technology a viable alternative, rather than a core need.
In a world where digital tools are increasingly available, we believe that learning these analog skills makes you more proficient at utilizing digital tools appropriately and in ways that are informed by a fundamental understanding of reading the environment and navigating the backcountry.
The principles outlined above are takeaways from decades spent in the backcountry. We hope they can help you prepare for your next backcountry experience, whether navigating remote landscapes or scouting out a nearby trail system. By thoughtfully considering your gear, skills, and environment, you can lighten your load without compromising safety or enjoyment. At NOLS, we believe that the combination of proper planning, environmental awareness, and a mindset that prioritizes both competence and simplicity will not only enhance your journey but also help you build a deeper connection with the wilderness.
As you build your kit (and your competence), please consider both Hyperlite Mountain Gear and NOLS as resources. Hyperlite’s systems-based approach and design ethos that centers lightweight durability makes them the perfect place to dial in your kit. With the restart of the Lightweight Program at NOLS, you could expand your skillset (or test the ones you’ve honed) in the mountains of Wyoming or the canyons of Utah.
