Calculator
Pack weight builder, base weight, honestly.
List what goes in the pack and what it weighs; get the base weight, the skin-out weight and how it compares to your body weight. Saved in your browser, nowhere else.
What goes in
Weights in
TypeItemWeight
lb
Base weight
-
Consumables (food, water, fuel)-
Pack on your back-
Worn and carried-
Skin-out, everything-
Pack as a share of body weight-
The list is saved in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere. Clear it with the button on the left.
The three weights
- Base weight is everything in and on the pack that does not get used up: shelter, sleep system, the pack itself, clothing carried, cooking gear, electronics. It is the number backpackers compare, because it is the one you choose.
- Consumables are food, water and fuel. They are heaviest on the first day and vanish as you go. Count about 2 lb (0.9 kg) of food per day and 2.2 lb (1 kg) per liter of water carried.
- Worn is what is on your body at the trailhead: boots, the clothes you walk in, trekking poles in hand. It does not count toward the pack but it is weight you carry.
What the numbers mean
Under 10 lb (4.5 kg) base weight is called ultralight; under 20 lb (9 kg) lightweight; most beginners with ordinary gear start between 25 and 35 lb and shave it down over a few trips. The old guideline that a loaded pack should stay under 20 percent of body weight is a fair ceiling for a multi-day trip; above 25 percent, knees and shoulders complain by the second afternoon.
The fastest way down is the big three: pack, shelter and sleep system. Those are usually half the base weight, and replacing one of them does more than trimming the toothbrush.
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