Going light is 50% science and 50% art.
The short version of the mantra goes something like this:
Look at your big items; shelter, sleep system, pack, cooking and clothing. Do your research and see how much comfort at camp you are willing to trade for comfort on the trail. Most UL packers opt for a tarp instead of a tent or even just a bivy. Alcohol stove reign king due to more the efficient fuel means carrying less of it. Here at this stage, onces always count, grams are discretionary.
Next go over EVERYTHING else. First look to see if you even need the item or if it's redundant. Second, look to see if you can combine uses with a single item therefore leaving one or more out of the pack. A bandanna is useful for a lot of things! Last, eliminate all the crap that you don't need to drag along like manufacturer tags or half of that toothbrush handle. During this stage even grams count.
Its scary how light a full multi-day pack can get if you are persistent at shaving weight. A favorite site of mine is:
www.backpackinglight.com
Dave
