What does ultralight backpacking really mean, and why is reducing pack weight especially important for women? Solo backpacker Lee Warren shares practical ultralight backpacking tips for women over 40, including how to evaluate gear, reduce base weight and hike more comfortably.

In this episode of the Just Hyke Podcast, Melanie talks with Lee Warren, a 57-year-old solo backpacker, outdoor writer and creator of Gen X Outdoors. Lee began backpacking seriously in her 50s and has since taken on trails including the Cranberry Lake 50, Trans-Catalina Trail, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail and Colorado Trail.

Lee shares how a 28-pound backpack inspired her to start weighing every item, evaluating what she truly needed and gradually building a lighter backpacking setup. Her approach isn’t about chasing the lowest possi ...