The Naked Backpack - Ultralight and Minimalist Packs for Wilderness Travel

The Naked Backpack - A Minimalist's Dream

For those seeking to travel light and fast, the naked backpack is the ultimate minimalist gear. As the name suggests, these packs strip away all extras, leaving just a simple bag to carry only the bare essentials. Naked backpacks have become a popular choice among ultralight backpackers, thru-hikers, and survivalists who want their load as light as possible.

What is a Naked Backpack?

A naked backpack is a lightweight backpack usually made of durable, water-resistant materials like Dyneema composite fabric or X-Pac. They have minimal features - just shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and sometimes a removable waist belt. There are no outside pockets, hydration sleeves, attachment points, or internal organization. The focus is solely on creating a simple vessel to transport gear. With noexcess frills or features adding weight, naked packs tip the scales at around 8-16 oz, significantly lighter than traditional backpacks.

Because of their pared down design, naked packs have very little structure. The backpack conforms to the shape of the contents inside, rather than maintaining rigid sides. This makes the packs highly compressible when not full. Their low profile makes them easy to stow away when not needed on a trip.

Benefits of a Naked Backpack

Why would someone choose an exposed naked pack over a regular backpack? Here are some of the benefits:

• Ultralight - Without extra fabric, padding, or features, naked packs are incredibly lightweight. This makes them perfect for ultralight hikers or survivalists counting every ounce.
• Minimalist - The simple design embodies a minimalist aesthetic. For those seeking to trim their gear down to the bare minimum, a naked pack fits the approach.
• Compressible - Lack of internal structure allows the pack to be squished down small for storage when empty.
• Water resistant - Made with durable materials that shed moisture and abrasion.
• Affordable - Less material and a simple design means naked packs are very competitively priced.

Ideal Uses for a Naked Backpack

A naked backpack really shines for certain adventures where an ultralight and minimalist mentality rules. Here are some ideal use cases:

• Thru-hiking - When you are hiking over a thousand miles on trails like the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail, every ounce counts. Naked packs are perfect for these months-long treks.
• Ultralight backpacking - For weekend trips where you want to go fast and light, a naked backpack keeps your load minimal.
• Survival/bug-out bag - Many survivalists and preppers like keeping a naked backpack ready as a grab-and-go emergency bag.
• Day hiking - Stripped down just to the basics, these packs are great for short hikes.
• Travel - Their ability to compress and conform makes naked packs easy to stow in luggage.
• Summit pack - Use a naked pack on summit pushes where you need to go light and fast.

Capacity and Sizing

Naked packs are available in a range of capacities suitable for different trip lengths and purposes:

• 8-20L - Great for day hiking, summit packs, or minimalist overnight trips
• 20-35L - Light and fast 1-3 night backpacking
• 40-55L - More substantial capacity for 5-7 day thru-hiking

Make sure to get a pack with adequate volume and expansion capabilities for your intended trips. Unlike regular packs, naked packs don't include external lash points for attaching extra gear. Some key factors for sizing:

• Your base gear weight - account for your "big three" - shelter, sleep system, pack
• Consumable volume - food, water, fuel
• Group vs solo - more capacity needed if carrying group gear
• Conditions - cold weather or dry climate requires more gear
• Trip duration - weekend vs weeklong adventure

Naked packs ride close to your back, so ensure good torso fit. Consider adjustable length shoulder straps if sharing with someone.

How to Pack a Naked Backpack

Packing an naked backpack takes some finesse since you don't have the pockets and compartments of a traditional pack. Here are some tips:

• Use lightweight compressible stuff sacks to organize gear inside the pack.
• Wrap clothing around food to cushion it.
• Put heavy dense items close to your back to center the load.
• Fill all available space - cinch down roll top closures to compress contents.
• Attach bulky lightweight items like sleeping pads/tents to the outside.
• Use accessories like shoulder strap pockets to hold small essentials.

Avoid carrying unnecessary items just to fill space. It may seem counterintuitive, but a lightly loaded naked pack will carry better than an overstuffed one.

Choosing the Best Naked Backpack

When shopping for a naked backpack, you'll want to look for these key features:

• Weight - Ideally around 1 pound or less for smaller sizes
• Material - Durable waterproof fabric like Dyneema or X-Pac
• Closure - Roll top closures offer maximum expandability
• Shoulder straps - Minimal padding, removable hip belt for ultralight setup
• Quality - Reinforced stress points, quality fasteners and buckles
• Capacity - Ensure adequate volume and expandability for your trips

Some top naked backpack brands to look at include ZPacks, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, LiteAF, Superior Wilderness Designs, and Mountain Laurel Designs. Do your research to find the best balance of weight, durability, and features to match your needs.

Using a Naked Backpack for Survival and Bushcraft

In survival and bushcraft scenarios, being able to travel fast and light can be crucial. Naked backpacks are perfectly suited to these applications where you need to cover distance quickly with minimal gear. The bags offer several advantages for survivalists and wilderness skills practitioners.

Minimalist Gear Transport

When you need to carry just the essential survival/bushcraft equipment, a naked backpack provides an ultralight haul bag. With no excess, you can really pare down to just the core necessities:

• Knife
• Fire making kit
• Emergency shelter (tarp, bivvy)
• Water purification/container
• First aid supplies
• Signaling device
• Food rations

This creates an effective, bare bones survival kit under 10-15 lbs that you can travel longer distances with compared to bulkier packs.

Quick Access

Without multiple pockets and compartments, gear in a naked backpack is quickly accessible. You can just open the top and grab whatever you need. Being able to rapidly reach your knife, fire starter, or first aid kit can be critical.

Stash pack

Having an empty emergency pack stashed at a wilderness cache site or vehicle can be invaluable if you ever need to leave a location quickly. A lightweight naked pack takes up little space when empty but can pack 30-50L worth of gear if needed.

Water Crossings

If you need to safely cross a river or stream, a naked backpack will float much better than an internal frame pack full of padding and metal stays. Just make sure to use a waterproof dry bag inside.

Adaptable Load Carrying

Without a fixed internal frame, naked packs are highly adaptable to carrying odd-shaped loads. You can easily lash things like antlers, firewood, food, or an injured person to the pack.

Emergency Signaling

The ultrabright fabric of many naked packs makes them ideal for flashing as an emergency signal if you get lost or stranded. The bags are visible for miles if you can get to an exposed ridge or peak.

Compact Size

When empty, naked packs compress down very small to stash in an emergency kit, vehicle, or basecamp area. You have the pack taking up minimal room until you need to bug out and load it up.

Affordable Preparedness

Buying multiple naked backpacks costs much less than traditional packs. You can equip family members with quality grab-and-go survival bags at a reasonable price.

Naked Backpacking - An Exercise in Ultralight Freedom

For skilled wilderness travelers, naked backpacking can be the ultimate expression of going lightweight. It takes exceptional knowledge of gear, skills, and one's own abilities to thrive in the backcountry with just a naked pack. But for those seeking a purist minimalist adventure, it delivers an unparalleled sense of freedom and connection to the environment.

When you strip away the extras, what remains contains the essence of backpacking. The simple naked backpack enables you to enjoy the landscape unencumbered and unfettered. Your mind expands with the wide open vistas rather than shrinking under a burdensome load. You drink in the views and sounds of nature free from distraction. With each stream crossed and mountain climbed, you become one with the wild around you.

At day's end, the process of choosing a bare campsite and starting a basic fire becomes immensely rewarding. You commune with the stars overhead, needing nothing more than what fits in your naked backpack. Come morning, you continue your liberating journey, traversing the unknown supported only by the contents of your simple bag. No garish colors or plethora of pockets and pouches - just you and the wilderness in its purest form.

FAQs

Are naked backpacks waterproof?

Most naked backpacks are made with water-resistant materials like Dyneema or X-Pac, but they are generally not fully waterproof, especially under prolonged exposure. You'll want to line the inside with a waterproof pack liner or dry bag to keep gear dry in wet conditions.

How much weight can a naked backpack carry?

Naked backpacks are designed for ultralight loads under 25 lbs. Heavier loads will compromise their minimalist structure. Focus on reducing your base weight through careful gear selection to stay under their carrying capacity.

What is the best naked backpack brand?

Some top naked backpack manufacturers are ZPacks, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, LiteAF, Mountain Laurel Designs, and Superior Wilderness Designs. Each offers high quality lightweight packs with different design features and capacities.