Are These 5 Classic Ultralight Hacks Still Worth Your Time?

When I dragged my 45-pound pack over Colorado’s Electric Pass on my first overnight after misreading the trail profile, the notion of ultralight wasn’t even a flicker in my mind. But between that hike in 2011 and my first thru-hike in 2015, the weight-saving ethos had steadily gained traction in the thru-hiking world. The most hardcore Appalachian Trail ultralighters carried 30-liter glorified sacks and wouldn’t be caught dead with a hip belt.

Continue reading to learn more about ultralight hacks, written by Maggie Slepian.

Foto miniatura Blog Autor
Menciones en los medios de Maggie Slepian
Maggie Slepian
She has backpacked thousands of miles around the US, and is an avid bikepacker, climber, and mountain biker.
/
Página web

Backpacker: Are These Classic Ultralight Hacks Still Worth Your Time

Woman in hiking gear standing outdoors with trekking poles and mountains in background.
Maggie Slepian
Last updated:
August 10, 2026
|  5 min read

Are These 5 Classic Ultralight Hacks Still Worth Your Time?

When I dragged my 45-pound pack over Colorado’s Electric Pass on my first overnight after misreading the trail profile, the notion of ultralight wasn’t even a flicker in my mind. But between that hike in 2011 and my first thru-hike in 2015, the weight-saving ethos had steadily gained traction in the thru-hiking world. The most hardcore Appalachian Trail ultralighters carried 30-liter glorified sacks and wouldn’t be caught dead with a hip belt.

Continue reading to learn more about ultralight hacks, written by Maggie Slepian.

Maggie Slepian
Menciones en los medios de Maggie Slepian
Maggie Slepian
She has backpacked thousands of miles around the US, and is an avid bikepacker, climber, and mountain biker.
/
Página web
Foto miniatura Blog Autor
Menciones en los medios de Maggie Slepian
Maggie Slepian
She has backpacked thousands of miles around the US, and is an avid bikepacker, climber, and mountain biker.
view author profile
Popular posts
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
View all blog articles
Campfire conversations with our community, from Squad MembersSquad Members and Ambassadors to Brand Partners and the Sawyer team.
We build products withindustry-leadingstandards and technology, designed to keep you outdoors for longer. Explore what others are saying about Sawyer.
News fromSawyer HQin Tampa Bay, FL, including product resources, updates in technology, and recent brand developments.
NewThere’s nothing like seeing hearing from those who are personally touched by the promise ofclean water. Explore their stories and lift your soul; you’ve made this work possible.
Stories and experiences encompassing a spread of outdoor enthusiasms, from theBackcountry to the BackyardTM. What keeps you outdoors?
Trail tips and packing list guides for backcountry travel, gear choices.Trail guidesfor hiking, biking, thru-hiking and more.
Read aboutproduct reviewsfrom various media outlets, customers, community members, and outdoor gear websites.
Next Blog Post
A right facing arrow
You are here:
Home
/
Blog
/
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
/
Backpacker: Are These Classic Ultralight Hacks Still Worth Your Time

Backpacker: Are These Classic Ultralight Hacks Still Worth Your Time

Woman in hiking gear standing outdoors with trekking poles and mountains in background.
Maggie Slepian
Last updated:
August 3, 2026
|  5 min read

Are These 5 Classic Ultralight Hacks Still Worth Your Time?

When I dragged my 45-pound pack over Colorado’s Electric Pass on my first overnight after misreading the trail profile, the notion of ultralight wasn’t even a flicker in my mind. But between that hike in 2011 and my first thru-hike in 2015, the weight-saving ethos had steadily gained traction in the thru-hiking world. The most hardcore Appalachian Trail ultralighters carried 30-liter glorified sacks and wouldn’t be caught dead with a hip belt.

Continue reading to learn more about ultralight hacks, written by Maggie Slepian.

Foto miniatura Blog Autor
Menciones en los medios de Maggie Slepian
Maggie Slepian
She has backpacked thousands of miles around the US, and is an avid bikepacker, climber, and mountain biker.
/
visit author Website
Foto miniatura Blog Autor
Menciones en los medios de Maggie Slepian
Maggie Slepian
She has backpacked thousands of miles around the US, and is an avid bikepacker, climber, and mountain biker.
learn about the author
Popular posts
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
View all blog articles
Campfire conversations with our community, from Squad MembersSquad Members and Ambassadors to Brand Partners and the Sawyer team.
We build products withindustry-leadingstandards and technology, designed to keep you outdoors for longer. Explore what others are saying about Sawyer.
News fromSawyer HQin Tampa Bay, FL, including product resources, updates in technology, and recent brand developments.
NewThere’s nothing like seeing hearing from those who are personally touched by the promise ofclean water. Explore their stories and lift your soul; you’ve made this work possible.
Stories and experiences encompassing a spread of outdoor enthusiasms, from theBackcountry to the BackyardTM. What keeps you outdoors?
Trail tips and packing list guides for backcountry travel, gear choices.Trail guidesfor hiking, biking, thru-hiking and more.
Read aboutproduct reviewsfrom various media outlets, customers, community members, and outdoor gear websites.
Next Blog Post
from the squad
A placeholder image thumbnail
browse all articles
Aquí en Sawyer
Explore more content
Filtro de agua Sawyer

Recent mentions

August 10, 2026
Halfway Anywhere: Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit Gear List
You’ll find a complete breakdown of my sleep system, clothing, backpacking gear, accessories, electronics, and everything else I'm bringing.
View post
August 10, 2026
Washington Trails Association: Pacific Crest Trail Section J
A report of the four day hike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J.
View post
August 10, 2026
Newsbreak: What You Really Need in Your Emergency Kit and Go Bag
The information from experts in emergency and disaster relief should help you gather the supplies that could one day save your life.
View post
August 10, 2026
Backpacker: Are These Classic Ultralight Hacks Still Worth Your Time
Here are five of the most common hacks I’ve seen throughout my years on the trail, and whether or not I think they’re still worth it.
View post
August 10, 2026
Health: Ways To Stay Safe While Hiking Alone
Simple precautions can help you stay safe and prepared on the trail and hike with confidence.
View post
August 10, 2026
The Cut: Tu guía para caminar solo de forma segura
I decided to speak with some avid hikers and learn a few tips to get me (and anybody who wants to hike solo) out on the trails, safe and sound.
View post
August 10, 2026
National Deer Association: Lower Your Risk of Tick Borne Diseases
I decided to get aggressive about controlling ticks so we could enjoy those woods again.
View post
August 10, 2026
Leadership Story Lab: Sawyer Uses Story to Save Lives and Close Deals
A brief brilliant story helps bring people into the conversation with curiosity.
View post

Other categories

Del Escuadrón
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
Historias de impacto
Vida al aire libre
Consejos y guías
Reseñas
Aquí en Sawyer

You might also like

Book cover for Farther, green fields with white text overlay "eight months on America's triple crown trails"
Sawyer Took Me Farther
Heather Anderson
Badger Sponsorship banner hiker landscape
The 2026 Badger Sponsorship
Sawyer
Sawyers trail maintenance pacific northwest
Sawyers at Work: Trail Maintenance on the PNT
Abs Evans
Woman drinking filtered water solo on hike Grand Tour des Combins
The Five Stages of a (Female) Solo Hike: A Film
Kendra Slagter
Dan Becker stands in front of Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya with The Bucket Ministry
Dan Becker's Christmas Call to Action: Fundraising for Shompole
Sawyer
Bucket filter desert
Water in The Merzouga Desert: The Driving Force of Nomadic Life
Tato Boada