Lightweight hiking strategies apply to everyone, says master hiker Karen Berger: the less weight you have on your back, the more comfortable you'll be on the trail whether you're hiking five miles or five hundred. She's not talking about extreme strategies (such as cutting the handle off your toothbrush to save a few ounces). It's all about evaluating and analyzing what you carry, whether you truly need it and really use it.

• Written by a former contributing editor for Backpacker Magazine
• How to pick and choose light hiking strategies to fit your needs and hiking style
• Lightweight hiking is one of the biggest trends in backpacking today