# Ultralight Monomania - alfred's Gemlog The problem with ultralight backpacking philosophy is its narrow focus on weight minimization. Certainly, for long-distance hikes, weight is an important consideration, since more weight means more wear and tear on the hiker's body (so does more distance - it's physics). But for the weekend hiker, pack weight isn't as critical. And for someone hiking to get exercise, going ultralight is actually counter-productive. Durability and cost matter to most hikers as well, and purchase decisions should balance all these factors. > durable, inexpensive, light: pick two. Don't judge others on their gear selection; they may have different priorities than you. Last edited: 2025-08-07 => gemlog.gmi Back to Gemlog contents