Lightweight Hiking Goes High-Tech

Let's say you agree that a lighter load makes for a happier hiker.

Let's say you've pared down your list of essentials. Gone are the nesting pots, the backcountry oven, the espresso maker, and the knife with 42 implements on it. Gone, too are the extra changes of clothes, the inflatable pillow, and the collapsible chair. (All of which, incidentally, can be purchased at any outfitting store.)

Let's also say that you've substituted lightweight items for heavyweight items, as we talked about in Lightweight Hiking: Shedding Weight.

When you heft your pack, it's lighter—much lighter—but it's still not exactly what you'd call featherweight.

Technology to the rescue! Now that you've got your gear stripped down to the basics, it's time to consider what high-tech fabrics and materials can do.

I'm not suggesting that you spend your next month's paycheck on a whole new outfit. But as pieces of gear wear out, you might want to consider replacing them with lighter, high-tech alternatives that save weight. From bear-bags and pots to packs and raingear, high-tech, lightweight gear offers ways to shave ounces and even pounds off of your load. Be advised—when we say high-tech, we mean it. Some of the materials in our featherweight equipment have been used to make bulletproof vests and satellite tethers. Such technology can come with a price tag as hefty as the gear is light. Here are some examples of what's on the market.