Review on 🏕️ Maximizing your Camping Experience: 153 Ultralight Backpacking Tips for Affordable & Lightweight Adventures by Andrea Dickerson

When I was middle-aged, my knees were killing me on long climbs (and my back was suffering too). So within a few years I became an Ultralight enthusiast. Always looking for new ideas, I picked up this handy little book (Kindle version) and am very glad I did. The author is a recognized expert in ultralight tours and a NOLS instructor. So I was expecting to get a dry sermon book, but was pleasantly surprised by the light-hearted and humorous style of writing. It is easy to read and the illustrations are very well done, serving as a detailed visual explanation of what would otherwise be difficult to visualize if concepts were explained only through text. There are real gems here that I haven't found anywhere else. Toothpaste dots and tips for modifying an existing backpack, just two examples. What really makes this book worth the price is that the tips given really get you thinking about how to shave more ounces from your own device and I've since modified most of my existing gear which has saved me a few pounds and saved a lot of money. As shown in the picture, I modified an existing backpack to save another 6 ounces (and it's certainly cheaper than buying a new backpack). The tips aren't just limited to gear, they also get you thinking about your hiking/camping style and ways to save time and work more efficiently. The only thing I'd like to see is more tips on modding gear and 'make your own gear', take a sleeping bag and turn it into a blanket. Overall, this is a great book for even the most experienced ultralight enthusiasts will find useful and entertaining.