Simplify Your Life With a Small Backpack

Hiking is a great past time and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or a whole week.  Whatever kind of trip you decide to take it is essential that you bring the right gear.  What is nice is that on a hike, that doesn’t need to be much so you can just bring a small backpack.

Wether you are hiking in the city or country minimizing the amount of weigh you will have to carry can go a long way towards increasing your level of enjoyment.  Take too much useless stuff and you will be carrying a very heavy burden that seems to increase in weight the long you carry it.  If you are on a family hike it is important to teach your kids that they need to carry their share of the load.  Give them a small backpack and let them bring some things along that will increase their fun.  This gives them the opportunity to have some freedom and not constantly be asking you to stop and give them a drink of water.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to backpack.  One is the kitchen the sink mentality that would have you think that the more you take the better you will be, then there is the minimalist idea.  I tend to side with the latter and what is great about minimalism is that it teaches you to be creative and enjoy what you have.  Leave no trace, pack in pack out, these are all associated with the minimalism attitude towards the outdoors.  Take a small backpack with the essentials and enjoy nature on a more primal level than with the computer backpack, and cooking stove.

Getting the right backpack can make or break a trip.  Carrying a cumbersome bag that weights 10 pounds empty is not a good way to start out a minimalist hiking trip.  Look for a small backpack that is relatively light weight and has lots of storage.  You may be going light but you will still want to be able to organize the things you do take.  Look for durable fabric and strong zippers and latches.  A good suspension system will go a long way and a waist and chest strap can help with the ergonomics of the backpack.

So, as I said before wether you are taking a walk in the woods or just going down the street a small backpack is essential for carrying anything that you might need.  Avoid taking more than you need, simplify your life and enjoy the moment.