Lightweight backpacking or ultralight backpacking certainly enable you to travel more miles in a day. I can easily go farther in my running shoes, with my fifteen-pound pack on, than I could with heavy hiking boots and a forty-pound pack. That isn’t all, though. Going light also means more comfort, more freedom and even more safety.

Disadvantages Of Traditional Backpacking

Less freedom. It isn’t easy to take a side trip up that hill, just to see what’s there. Do it without your pack, and you have to go back the same way to get your pack.

More tiring. It’s clearly more tiring with a heavy pack, and you probably won’t enjoy yourself as much when you are tired.

More Injuries. Blistered feet, sprained ankles, sore muscles, and back and knee problems are just some of the common consequences of too much weight on your back.

More hassle. Removing and putting on a heavy pack quickly becomes a chore. Some backpackers start to leave it on during rest stops, just so they don’t have to deal with it.

Slower. Weight equals slower progress, meaning less access to wild places, since you can’t go as far on a trip. It can also mean less time to for enjoyable activities, like a swim in a mountain lake, or a relaxing evening in camp.

Riskier. Injuries are more likely with heavy packs, but that’s not the only risk. The inability to move as quickly when a storm is coming or when an emergency requires you to get to a road, can be a real problem. Then there is the possibility of bad decisions due to tiredness.

Lightweight Backpacking Advantages

Safety. Have all necessary items, but bring lighter versions. Lighten the load, and you’re less likely to lose your balance and fall, or otherwise injure yourself. You can also respond faster to iffy situations. Safety is also a matter of knowledge and experience. Expert survivalists are safer with no shelter than a neophyte with the best tent. Know how to use you equipment properly, or to read the sky for comimg storms, and you can go lighter and safer.

Comfort. Does 18 pounds on your back instead of 50 sound nice? I completely stopped getting blisters when I started using running shoes instead of hiking boots. There’s no sacrifice here. Eliminate twenty-five pounds of pack weight, and you can add back a heavier coat, or whatever you need to be comfortable.

Speed and freedom. When I walk past overloaded backpackers struggling up steep trails, and I have an eleven-pound pack on, I remember being in their place, and I know I am enjoying myself more now. Lightweight backpacking allows you to move faster, but notice I say “allows.” No requirement, just the option, and that means more freedom.

Never yet have I met or heard about a person who tried lightweight backpacking, and then went back to a heavy load. This isn’t to say it’s for everyone. Some hiker’s bad ankles may require heavy hiking boots, and some bad habits require a big pack to satisfy them. Still, even a backpacker who needs a pillow and big rectangular sleeping bag, can find these in lighter forms.

Try it. You’ll experience more freedom, more comfort, more safety, more enjoyment and less suffering. The first time you are fifteen miles into the day, and you realize that you can easily run up that hill - just to see what is there, you’ll know you made the right decision. You’ll love lightweight backpacking.

A great way for backpackers to get a taste of the real New Zealand is to seek out local events and festivals in smaller towns and communities. Take your time to chill out in one place for a while and you will be surprised how much more you can deepen your experience by getting amongst the local scene.

One festival not to be missed is the legendary Wild Foods festival held annually in a small town on the West Coast of the South Island called Hokitika.

Due to the isolated location of the West Coast the ‘Coasters’ have always done things their own way, paying little attention to how the rest of the world lives. The festival is a prime example of this, as it show cases the rather random delicacies of the coast and the local characters that live there. You name it, it’s on offer and both locals and tourists come from afar to challenge themselves to eat the huge selection of wild foods.

Some of the more memorable dishes at this years festival included Mountain Oysters (goat testicles); huhu grubs that were very much alive; eel spine, marinated duck tongue; semen sauce; cow tit; seagull turd; rotten fish eyes and possum pie. MMMMMM Yuk! Funnily enough there was such a high demand for the live huhu grubs that they sold out. The atmosphere is awesome as everywhere you look people are egging their friends on encouraging them to try the most vulgar of the vulgar wild foods on offer.

A few of the more tame - or should we say edible foods - included “Bambi” burgers, white bait fritters, homemade fudge, pickled punga (native fern), mussels and wild pork.

Let’s not forget that there is also plenty of booze and live music (hillbilly style) at the festival for those who like a drink or three and a bit of a boogie. The locally brewed Monteiths Ale was flowing from mid day along with a selection of New Zealand wines.

Hokitika has a population of about 6,000 and with more than 10,000 people attending the Wild Foods Festival accommodation options get rather interesting. So where does everyone sleep? The local fire brigade set up a couple of large camp sites right by the beach which over flows with tents and campervans. The setting is to die for… right at your doorstep is a rugged west coast beach dotted with bonfires as far as one can see which makes for the perfect place to chill out on return from the Hillbilly dance.

On waking early to enjoy watching the sun rise take a stroll and you will discover that the less organised have set up home on the railway track, footpath, under the town clock or in some less fortunate cases in amongst the abundance of porta-loos…

There are many fantastic festivals in New Zealand, so be sure to enquire about what is on and where during your backpacking through our beautiful country, Aotearoa - the Land of the Long White Cloud.

A bed and breakfast in Provence. Traveling the Chunnel to England on a Europass. Backpacking the Alpine trails of Switzerland. You and your partner have had all these romantic ideas for your excursion across Europe, when suddenly, you have a cuddly baby between the two of you! Is it time to give up the dream? Not at all. Take baby with you!

Carrying your baby is becoming more common and acceptable, and comfortable backpacks exist to place baby inside. Designed for your active lifestyle as well as baby’s safety, you can hike in the wilderness, go camping, and of course, trek across Europe. Traveling as a family builds great bonds and memories, and you’ll find the little tyke in the back to be a great icebreaker when meeting new people, no matter which country you go to. There’s not a culture in the world who doesn’t love babies!

Plan Your Travel

Granted, that three-month travel fling without a plan in the world won’t work with baby. Planning is essential. You will need to think of what to do in emergencies, illness, or just plain crying. You will need to be self-sufficient. A good plan is to make a list of everything baby will need, and pack it in easily-reachable zip-lock bags in a fanny pack. Test any over-the-counter medications with your baby first to see how he’ll react - it won’t be a good experience if it has the opposite effect! A lot of supplies that you will need, such as disposable diapers and children’s Tylenol, are widely available in European cities.

Airflight and Jetlag

When booking a plane, ask in advance for certain conveniences, such as the roomier part of the plane. Some airlines offer cribs or bassinets, and even baby meals. Also, the price of a ticket is vastly discounted, though baby won’t get her own seat. Ear pressure can be relieved by nursing, a pacifier, or candy - anything that can be sucked.

Jetlag is harder on babies than on adults. They may be cranky for a few days with the sudden interruption of sleep patterns that they may not have even fully developed. It is probably a good idea to stay in a hotel room upon arrival to recover before beginning your backpacking trip. If you are breastfeeding, the airline flight could dehydrate you.

Accommodations

When planning your route, it is best to think of staying at a few base cities and backpacking out from there. That way you can keep a lot of the supplies back in your room. Childproof the room upon arrival, such as placing masking tape across electrical outlets and placing breakable items out of reach. If you are thinking of hostels or bed and breakfasts, make sure you call ahead, as many do not allow children (not because they’re heartless, but because they don’t have the supplies.) A hotel room is best, though many hostels do have family rooms. The Internet is great to research for specific accommodations. Also, if just the two of you wish to spend a night on the town, most hotels offer a babysitting service or have information for one.

Crib standards in Europe are not as stringent as in North America, so check the crib supplied by the hotel. If in doubt, have baby sleep in bed with you. If your room has a portable cot, stick chairs underneath to form a makeshift crib. Another option is to bring a portable crib like the Graco Pack’n'Go with you. Babies like security, and though you will love the constant change in scenery, your infant may not. The familiarity of sleeping in the same crib will go a long way towards a peaceful night’s sleep.

Food

If baby is still nursing, all is well. Breastfeeding in public is acceptable in most European countries, especially the more south you go, but check to see what is acceptable and what is not in your locale. For older infants, high chairs are not common, and a crying baby in a restaurant is not a good idea (just like in North America). If baby is fussy you can eat outside or order some food and take it back to your hotel room. Make sure the food is not too exotic, or baby could have a bad reaction.

Transportation

Well, this is a backpacking trip, right? You will likely get a rail pass between cities. Infants under 3 ride free, and older children get deep discounts. Eurail goes to every capital city in Europe, and usually to the downtown area. Trains are fast, smooth and clean, and baby will likely sleep, or older kids will look transfixed out the window. Having a baby with you is always an invitation for smiles, and it is likely you will end up socializing with other passengers.

If you plan the “home base” method, it should be fairly easy to hop on a train with all your supplies, get off near your hotel, and store a lot of baby gear in your room. Then you can go gallivanting, baby style, around town.

The Baby Carrier

Now that you have some idea of how to travel with baby, you need a baby backpack! It can’t be stressed enough to buy a carrier well in advance, and to take it for test hikes. This is not only to make sure you are comfortable with it, but also that baby likes it. Remember that baby strives for security, and the more she is taken for a ride in the same backpack, the more familiar and comfortable it will become.

Look for a backpack with a hip belt so a lot of the strain is off your shoulders. Look for good storage compartments for diapers and other baby gear. Don’t store any valuables in the pack, as thieves could see you as an opportunity. Better for them to discover a few disposables than your passport!

There are many different kinds of backpack carriers, most designed for particular uses. A frame backpack is bulkier but is also more stable and can hold more storage. Some packs have baby positioned right against your back, which gives you better balance but reduces airflow on your back. Look for models from Kelty, Ergo and Sherpani. A detachable sun visor to protect baby is also a good idea.

When you buy the backpack, make sure it fits both partners. There will often be times that you will want to switch: one person carries the baby, the other carries your own supplies.

A good tip is to bring two carriers with you; a bulkier one for longer excursions between hotels, and a smaller, less bulky day pack while in the city. (It can be folded and stored in the larger carrier when not in use). A lot of people will list the benefits of a stroller over a backpack, but if you’ve been to Europe, you will know that there are a lot of narrow-lanes, winding streets, numerous steps, uneven cobblestone and roads that suddenly go uphill or downhill - great for a romantic stroll, not so great if you have a stroller! With a light day carrier, both your hands will remain free while you view the sites.

Share Your Baby and Enjoy Your Trip

Taking baby with you can be the most bonding and rewarding time of your life. You and your partner will be even closer as you each care for your child while traveling. If your child is old enough, he may even remember this exciting time in her life - traveling with mom and dad in Paris!