Pack Weight

The weight of your gear can be broken down into several categories. These categories can help you better understand what you are carrying, and help you compare your gear to that of others.

Base Pack Weight - This is the weight of your backpack and the gear carried in your backpack or strapped onto it. This does not include the weight of consumables like food. This is a good number for use when comparing with other backpackers because it will not vary based on the length of the trip.

Consumables Weight - This is the weight of your food, water, and anything else you consume like stove fuel.

Worn Weight - This is the weight of the clothing and footwear you are wearing. This does not include your backpack and the gear carried in it.

Total Weight - This is the weight of everything put together. Its the base pack weight + consumables weight + worn weight.

You can estimate the total weight using the formula:

Total weight = Base pack weight + 2 lbs of water + (2 lbs of food x number of days)

This formula assumes you will carry on average two pounds (or 32 ounces) of water. So if you start carrying 64 ounces of water and drink it all, it will average out to 32 ounces. This formula also assumes that you will consume, on average, two pounds of food per day. You may choose to carry more or less food or water. Just be prepared for your surroundings.

It's a good idea to weigh your pack before you hit the trail. You can compare that weight to the calculated weight of your gear list and correct any inaccurate weight estimates.

After creating a gear list, registered users will be able to see the weight of their gear. The base pack, consumables, worn, and total weight will be automatically calculated. You can then use these numbers to help you trim down your pack weight.

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