The purpose of this special interest website is clear:

I just want you to go straight to the good information and the good products, before getting bad information and purchasing the not-so-good products, and then, believe all adventure sport and especially all backpacking has to be an ordeal.

I have listed and discussed choices among products generally only the lightweight and ultralight special interest backpackers, mountaineers, and kayakers may be aware.

The product names are correct for "googling" at that search engine and will return a first page result, if a link is not already provided in a list or paragraph. I have links inside content only to navigate around this website, or when the product link or website referral would be ambiguous and you might not be able to locate that product or that website easily. There are off-site links on every page.

There are page links to each section of the website, at the bottom of the page.

There are more excellent products out there to find. I am actively updating the website and happily more products will be added, because the manufacturers of products are also interested in lightweight and ultralight products.

I am adding my mountaineering and mountain scrambling information as I go because most of us already know these products. I will put more of these products in here, because there is always room for more outdoor adventure enthusiasts.

The outdoors is a very big place.

I have added kayak camping information, because kayak camping is built on backpacking and mountaineering practices and principles. Also, I kayak.

I even have off-site links for helping us all to get in shape for all of these activities.

For example, for people that may have only walked to and from their car, there is advice for strengthening ankles for hiking, so you do not have to wear heavy hiking boots.

My website is intended to be a resource, not more, not less.

The next page, after this short introduction, is for packing the lightweight or ultralight pack. There is the selection of the pack and there is selection of the items that will go in the pack. There is weight distribution. The weight distribution of the items packed in the backpack is important, and not obvious.

There is more selection involved for lightweight and ultralight backpacking. I have some of the particulars at Packing.

Particular items in the pack must be securely packaged. I have some practical information and resources at Packing.

My Gear list is based on thousands of miles and on thousands of dollars replacing stuff with better stuff, only to find out a less expensive item is the best one, and equally, the best one is costly but is so superior and will last for years.

The gear list you put together will not be identical, however you may pick up some helpful ideas from my own gearlist and from the gearlists of others at the next page on this website and at the Links page for different lengths of travel in a different climate.

The Gear Lists page has the gear lists of other experienced backpackers, as well as gear lists at reputable online stores. The "Gear Lists" will also have different lightweight and ultralight purpose packs and gear for hiking, mountaineering, mountain scrambling, hiking, and kayaking.

There is a nice aid for making your own checklist for various gear lists here. A good checklist you update will help you bring only what you need.

The 10 essentials pages have more information about essential gear and skills, that ought to enable you to make good choices for your own safe and enjoyable experiences hiking or trekking.

I have provided a page of information about each of the 10 essentials, from links found on the 10 essentials page: any and all of this information is equally useful for mountaineering, mountain scrambling, hiking, or kayaking.

At Products, I have my best links to products at stores for the current best selection for all the basics for a comfortable and safe trip. I have divided the products page into clothing, gear, stores, and specialized food.

The links to navigate the products pages are found near the bottom of each products page, on the left hand side.

I have other relevant websites and forums at Links.

There is considerable resource here. If all this seems overwhelming right now, better here than out on the trail.

For the impatient, I have a shortcut: The Last Word.