Doug Kreutz / Arizona daily Star

Other articles by Doug Kreutz:

Beautiful bywayDakota offers satisfying fare, modern flairVault Mine Trail: If you climb it, there's a rewardHike: Madera Canyon's Vault Mine Trail is steep, rewarding Reid Park's rose garden proves its sweet scent Streamside trail is aflutter with birdsButterfly Trail: Beauty and the Butterfly The wonder of wood Biking: Old Spanish Trail round trip ideal for cyclistsBirding: Get early start on Birding Trail

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Mountaineers have a tried and true code: Go with a light load.

If you want to succeed on a multi-day ascent over steep rock, snow and ice, it's critical to pare camping gear to a bare minimum weight.

The go-light philosophy has spawned a flyweight array of products than can benefit everyday backpackers as well as mountaineers.

Here are a few gear choices that could ease the burden on your next overnight outing or extended backpack trip. The key is to choose the lightest possible items without sacrificing safety or basic comforts.

One way to take the load off your back is to choose a tent made of lightweight materials with a minimalist design.

The tent in the accompanying photo — a model called the MontBell Crescent 1 ($229) — is a single-person shelter that weighs just over 2 pounds and packs to the size of a wine bottle. You can find other tents in the range of 2 to 3 1/2 pounds with an Internet search on "ultra-lightweight backpacking tents." Most are designed to sleep one or two people.

Outdoor-gear shops and online sites offer down-filled bags suitable for use in moderate weather that weigh from just over a pound to 2 pounds.

Go-light mountaineers and backpackers often forgo thick-skinned inflatable sleeping pads and make do with a trimmed-down, but still comfortable, surplus-store foam pad weighing 6 ounces or less.

One example: The Pocket Rocket stove by Mountain Safety Research ($40) weighs a mere 3 ounces, plus a few additional ounces for fuel.