Rating: 
Summary: Better said elsewhere
Review: I thought this was mostly a rehash of what has been said better elsewhere. It is not as complete as Ray Jardine's Beyond Backpacking. Not as well researched as Colin Fletchers Complete Walker. I thought Kestenbaum didn't have much to add and his opinions were just that, his opinions. Chris Townsend's book, The Advanced Backpacker, (oddly by the same publisher)is much better and seems to come from someone who benefited much more from his experiences. There were some nice pictures and descriptions of gear, but then I can find that in my REI catalog!
I also liked the picture on the cover. Save your money and purchase Jardine's book for ultralight, or Chris Townsend's book on long-distance hiking. If you are interested in Mountaineering get Mountaineering:Freedom of the Hills. I don't recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Ultralight is the way of the Future
Review: I've been experimenting with various ways of trimming down my backpack after finally getting sick of dragging around my regular 40 pound pack, but everyone I asked for advice seemed to suggest only things that had worked for them individually.The Ultralight Backpacker does a great job of providing a complete survey of ultralight backpacking so that just about anyone can start practicing the Ultralight way and incorporating the benefits into their outdoor experiences. There's info on clothing, packs, shelter, walking, breathing, food preparation and everything else you'd find on an ultralight backpacker. There's even a chapter on the ultralight backpacking philosophy and developing the ultralight state of mind. I like this book better than Ray Jardine's books, which always seemed to me filled with a lot of information I really didn't need to know... this book just gives you what you need to know so you can get out on the trail quickly. Lots of pictures and diagrams, well written, and thorough... I've gotten my packweight down to less than 20 pounds now, and could definitely get it to less than 15 with a little more scrutinizing. If you've ever thought about lightening your load and seeing what this ultralight business is all about, get this book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Best Intro to Ultralight Backpacking Available
Review: In my opinion, there's no other way to experience the outdoors than with ultralight backpacking... Using techniques spelled out by Kestenbaum in this book, you'll be able to actually experience the best of the backcountry in the best state of mind, without being burdened by a heavy load, or by having to think about setting up all the gear a traditional backpacker needs to be aware of. By going ultralight, your mind is free to be immersed in the beauty and peace of nature, and that's the point of this whole book: to give you the tools you need to just be yourself, without attachments, frills, etc... just you and nature, the way it's always been. Buy this book, read it thoroughly, digest its philosophy, and start realizing the greatest gifts you have.. you will not regret it.
Rating:
Summary: New thinking for old problems
Review: John Muir spent weeks at a time in the High Sierras with little more than an overcoat and a bag of bread, and thought it was a lot of fun. Most people today, even backpackers, want more comfort than that.
Backpacking is usually done by people who think a lot. It is an attempt to return to an older and simpler way of life. It is not done out of necessity. It is done for philosophical reasons.
People used to walk for long distances carrying heavy, uncomfortable loads by necessity. Then we all got automobiles, and some of us started walking for long distances carrying heavy, uncomfortable loads for fun. Ryel Kestenbaum's short, interesting book is about walking for long distances for fun carrying light, comfortable loads.
I have Colin Fletcher's Complete Walker III in front of me. It is 670 pages long and weighs 3lbs. Ryel Kestenbaum's is 139 pages long and weighs just under 12oz.
I love Colin Fletcher's book, started with his first, a long time ago. But I find the ultralight approach very interesting. Carry a light pack, and you don't need heavy shoes. If you don't wear heavy shoes, your legs don't get so tired, so you can go farther with less fatigue. It all fits together.
The gear recommendations are straightforward. Fortunately for us, the same technology that has made life in general easier for us is making it possible for us to walk more comfortably while carrying less weight. Kestenbaum's survey of gear, like the book, is brief, but to the point. His most important recommendation is to minimize the gear.
I was interested by his training recommendations for long-distance backpacking trips, and his rationale for them.
To end on a philosophical note, Thoreau said that the purpose of life is to contemplate. I think he was cribbing from Aristotle, who said that the goal of life is to have the leisure to think. Thoreau practiced the ultralight philosophy before his time, and would no doubt do so today. Aristotle would probably say make some objective observations, then judge for yourself. The Ultralight Backpacker is a good place to start.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Introduction, But Short on Technique
Review: This book was recently reviewed by Backpacking Light, the Journal of Lightweight Backcountry Travel. This is an excerpt from the review, reprinted with permission.
"The cover of The Ultralight Backpacker states: "The complete guide to simplicity and comfort on the trail." In our view this claim is overstated, as this slender book, 138 pages long, can be read in an afternoon and is far from complete and will likely disappoint the experienced lightweight backpacker yearning for new information about equipment and techniques not treated in other texts. However, for the newcomer to lightweight backpacking, The Ultralight Backpacker will not disappoint - it provides an introduction to lightweight backpacking that will certainly put you on the right track to shedding pounds from your pack."
| 
