Pack weight varies somewhat predictably by season. Summer gear is the lightest, winter is the heaviest, and shoulder season lands somewhere in between. The issue many people (myself included) run into is the unpredictability of fall backpacking paired with the tendency to pack for our fears. It could snow overnight. It could be really cold up at the higher elevations. At this point in the season, we’re not quite into winter backpacking, but it makes sense that you’re looking at the forecast with a critical eye. With that in mind, your pack will likely be heavier than it is in the summer—but there’s no need to gain 5 pounds of gear. Instead, make these smart swaps.
Are you packing for your fears, or are you being realistic about the conditions?
The adage “you pack for your fears” is rarely more true than with shoulder season’s variable weather. But we’re still in three-season territory, so unless you’re venturing high into the alpine, fears about being too cold may be unfounded. Do your research beforehand, including seasonal conditions and daily highs and lows from past years, and make sure to account for elevation, tree cover, windbreaks, and exposure. Understanding potential conditions can help you gain a more objective view of how to prepare and will likely convince you to leave the expedition-level jacket at home. You can also take a peek at hiking-specific weather apps like Hiker’s Weather, which allows you to set your own comfort-level parameters and tailor the regional condition report to your preferences for wind, precipitation, and air temperature.
Use the temperature swings to your advantage
For most fall backpacking trips, the added weight comes from a warmer sleep system, which makes sense since temperatures drop sharply overnight. This means most of your cold-weather gear updates will be in the form of a heavier sleeping bag and maybe a sleeping pad with a higher R-value. However, fall daytime hiking temperatures are usually still manageable in lightweight hiking layers. Pack accordingly for warm days and chilly nights by leaving extra active layers at home. You can always toss your down jacket on in the morning or accept that your first few miles of hiking will be chilly. You’ll warm up fast.
Make compromises with nonessentials
If saving pack weight matters enough to you, you’ll have to make some sacrifices with luxury items. Start by evaluating where in your gear list you can save weight. If you’re bringing a warmer sleeping bag and an extra midlayer, drop food weight by swapping out heavier items for freeze-dried meals. Food is one of the fastest ways to add pack weight, and using all the weight-saving tips at your disposal (leaving fresh food behind and repackaging your meals) can make up for the difference in a warmer sleep system. This also means luxury items I might throw in my pack in the summer, like a Kindle or camp pillow, get left behind when I add weight to my sleep system with a warmer sleeping bag and sleeping pad.
Yes, you can use your camp clothes for morning miles
I used to be pretty strict about leaving my camp clothes as “sacred layers” that were under no circumstances to be used during the hiking day. While I appreciate putting on fresh (or mostly fresh) clothes at camp, I’m no longer so strict about not using them for hiking, especially on a shorter trip. If the mornings are super cold, I’ll put my sleeping pants on for the first hour of hiking, then strip down to shorts once the sun has warmed the trail or my heart rate is high enough to keep me warm.
Make smart layering choices
Maximize your warmth-to-weight ratio by making smarter layering choices, starting with your hiking clothes. Natural fibers like merino and alpaca wool have better insulating properties than synthetic fibers and will better trap your body heat under external layers without a weight penalty. A compressible down jacket is also a better bet than synthetic when you’re trying to save weight. Synthetic fills have their advantages (I actually prefer them for all but the most weight-conscious outings), but down still has the edge in packability and warmth-to-weight. A lightweight rain shell helps trap warmth even more with the windproof material, and a hat and a pair of liner gloves provide far more value than their weight when it comes to extra warmth.
Keep the same size pack
Assuming you don’t need true cold-weather gear (in which case all of the advice here is moot), use your summer pack for fall backpacking excursions. It can be hard to resist filling all the space in your pack—after all, it’s there, why not use it?—and with a 65 to 70-liter pack, filling all the space adds up. A smaller pack capacity in the 45 to 55-liter range will force you to be more conservative and choosy about what you carry.
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