What's your pack weight?

“Just finished fiddling with my gear for the millionth time. My pack is now down to 20 lbs., less food, water & clothes, which I select based upon the specific trip. Packweight includes my "Top-Ten" basics bag, personal toiletries bag, a pretty comprehensive 1st aid kit, rain gear (jacket and pants), full fuel bottle, stove, pot, sleeping bag and water filter. Reducing my weight is one of my never-ending projects...what's your weight, & what tips do you usually offer?”

“We`ve been through this before.!!!!!”

“Wanderer.......
I'm not sure who windwalker2000 is?

I usually carry around 30 lbs for a three/ four day summer trip. Pack, bag, tent, filter, stove, food and all.”

“Windwalker2000, I don't know about you, but every year I manage to do a few things to reduce my weight. Sometimes it's new gear, sometimes it's eliminating gear I never or rarely use. As I mentioned, it's a never-ending project, but has benefits. Most BP'er's I know are always looking for another tip /trick, thought it might be interesting thread...”

“i got a hennessey hammock and reduced pack weght by over four pounds...less in warm weather...do not need pad, bag (fleece or silk bag should handle it)
:) --- i am happy now :) :)......but i have to admit..i have never weighed my pack... just try to learn from others by hiking with them and make efforts to throw something out before every trip that is a luxury item ....only the real essentials.
by the way........thank you SGTROCK....for putting crazy ideas in my head......I am in LOVE with that hammock...”

“Mine is too heavy. I my defense though, I still have most of my original heavy gear. I'm starting to pare down though. I'll have to reevaluate my list of things I bring this season. Bad thing is, I have always been a chronic overpacker when traveling, I have to learn how to not bring stuff. I'll be watching this thread closely for suggestions.”

“my lowest was 16 pounds, with everything (food, water, clothes, etc.) that was for a three day trip.”

“This past weekend, for a 22 mile trip (Manistee River Trail) was 14 lbs., including 1 l water, 1 dinner, 1 b'fast, 2 lunches. A new bivy & alky stove made it lighter than usual. Also wore new shoes, New Balance 803's. Comfortable, but I'm keeping my sundowners!

Next weekend I start a Superior Trail thruhike, est. wt 20# gear (w/ 1 man tent), 18# food (cut in half with 1 cache), 2# water and 1# esbit tabs.”

“Should have added the SHT hike is 12 days.”

“Jeez, with Lounge Lizard and Le Subtil posting weights like that, everyone else will be afraid to post.

I'm really proud that I've gotten down around 35# with a pack that weighs 6 3/4 pounds. Each time I go out, I look for things that I could do without and still be comfortable. I still pack too much food and need to work on that. On the Lost Cove ECT, I think I started with 4 pounds of food and came back with almost 3 pounds. I didn't wear all the clothing I had, but the weather was nicer than expected. I still would not go without my raingear.

One thing left my pack for that trip and it is going back in. My Therm-a-Rest chair kit (10 oz.) will be going back in if it will work with a Ridge Rest pad.

I think it is a constant battle to try and get your pack to a weight that makes the hike more enjoyable and still be copmfortable in camp. Whatever works for you...”

“the weight i posted was with my full length thermarest guidelight, too! i need that one luxury item.”

“Never weighed a pack in my life.

It's like monitoring your car's fuel economy - mpg.
What, exactly, is the point? I own the vehicle that I want, and keep it pretty well maintained, so what else is there to do?

I have some pretty old bp'ing gear, and do plan to upgrade. But in the meantime, I bring what I have. I do have a tendency to over pack food and clothes, tho.”

“that's me, now. like i said, "my LOWEST was 16 pounds". that was the last time i weighed a pack. my packweight went UP the next trip and i didn't see any point in weighing it. now it is probably double that. it was cool, but it restricts you. just take less stuff, and go.

i sometimes overpack food. i love eating my last bite of food, an hour before i get back to the trailhead!”

“My current pack weight is 33 to 35 pounds for a three day trip.

The good new is that it is down from 40 pounds since I found this website - I never hear of lightweight BPing before.

Thanks for the advise guys ....”

“Gojo I'm with you! I know I've had my pack weight down to 25lbs. That was only because I couldn't carry more per Dr's orders while carrying Abigail. That just meant that Hyper's pack weighed more and that's not fair. I've carried what I need and too much of what I want so mine is usually 35 or so for up to 7 days. My gear isn't the lightest though.”

“45-50# in winter...25-30# in summer, both including food and water.

I've done alot to try to reduce my packweight, and have leveled out at these numbers. Can't seem to get them any lower (without purchasing new gear)...and don't plan on making anymore effort to do so!

This summer I plan on trying running shoes that I purchased this winter, and maybe a set of lightweight trailshoes if-n-when I buy them. Where I dayhike I'd never consider wearing anything but my mid-weight boots as a bushwack hike through the area definitly demands a stiff sole with good traction, ankle support and abrasion resistent outer material. However, most "established" hiking trails seem to only necessitate comfortable shoes. I think taking weight off my feet should help...somewhat, I hope.

But then again...I've never "bonked" or been too pooped to do anything at camp after carrying my former heavier loads!”

“I certainly didn't mean to sound superior (cheesy !$%& pun intended) by posting a low packweight. Perhaps I should qualify:

1) This past weekend there was no threat of bad weather, so I took very few clothes and minimal shelter. We camped near a spot where another hiker who was slackpacking had a car. I was testing gear; the bivy and shoes. It was also my first trip of the season and I have heel spurs which I want to baby before next weeks trip.

2)Both trips are in familier territory and all on trail and not very remote, so I can leave behind some things I might othwerwise bring.

I've carried plenty of 50 lb packs, especially in winter or when I brought my young kids, and I'm sure I will again. I'm not a "gram counter" but I do like to experiment.

FWIW there is a guy I know doing the AT with a 7.5 lb pack.”

“I was in the canyon for a week last week. When we got back to the store the boyfriend weighed our packs on the meat scale. Mine was 10+ and his was 15+. I still had a quart of water and he had maybe a pound of food.

It has become a hobby seeing how much I can get the weight down and still be comfy and safe.

If you all are interested in the hike go to

http://www.oanoutdoors.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000075.html

There are two pages and some pictures.
Mary”

“average of about 30 pounds.”

“That's the way to do it Ms.MaryPhyl...split the load.

I'm jealous!”

“Using a 4 pound Mountainsmith pack for 3 season my total pack weight is usually between 23 and 31 pounds depending on the weather conditions. In the winter, using a Gregory Shasta, it's usually between 37 and 45 pounds. These weights are for 3 day 2 night trips. I don't really pay all that much attention to weight, but don't bring things I won't use. The weight issue can be like a dog chasing his tail. It never ends. There is no substitute for being in shape to carry a pack. Train hard to carry the weight you want to carry on the trail and a few pounds more won't matter and might make your trip more enjoyable and safer. I like to flyfish sometimes on trips so I'm not going to leave my gear home just to save a few pounds. I just make sure I'm in good shape to carry it and it doesn't really matter. Backpacking is like cycling in a lot of ways. The better shape your in the more you'll enjoy the activity.”

“I agree with being in shape but I'm usually not. A woman on our hike last week kicked our butts. She is tiny--maybe 5 ft tall and 100 pounds. Her pack was at least 45 pounds to start. She hiked doubletime the rest of us. Mary”

“My heaviest (outside of the Army) was 75 lbs for 8 days, YUCK! My lightest was 14lbs or so, my average is now 30-35lbs. As we buy new gear we spend the xtra $$$$ for lightweight stuff.”

“Sheesh, maryphyl! I hope they washed off the meat scale after your week old pack was on it! I actually weighed mine on the local postmaster's scale & have no idea if he washed it off afterward.

My "base" packweight (minus food, water & fuel) is just under 22 lbs. right now. I will top out just over 25 lbs. with the water & fuel, and my wife carries the food. I carry a heavy tent & sleeping bag, which I will upgrade next year. I can't see getting lighter on "the big three" (pack, sleeping bag, tent) until then. My Gregory pack I will never give up, it's too comfortable.

My total weight I'm carrying now is very comfortable, even though I hike between 10,000 & 14,000 ft. elevation. It's just fun to get the weight down, when I can.”

“My base for a week or two is still 24 pounds. When I can afford a lighter backpack n(currently almost 7#) and a lighter bag (about 3#) and a few other lighter versions of things, I might get my base down to 20 or less. Like LizRad, I'm not gonna give up my full length guide lite anytime soon.”

“'LizRad'

hmm, i like that....”

“I'm over 40 and try to keep the weight under 40.”

“Damn! You must look like a toothpick then Tom!!! ROTFLMAO
I'm 42 and I'm not saying what my weight is!
However, my last backpacking trip I had just over 175 lbs., on me! Cause my hiking partner brought more stuff than he could carry in his pack!! grrrrrrrrrrrrr”

“One time while leading a trip i somehow got stuck with some other chick's pack. I dont remember why, but there was good reason. Any way here we are walking along and her pack is way to heavy so i just start chucking things out of it. And she is all chasing after me screaming. And all my girls are just laughing and it was great. i like light weight. i try to be under 20. with my new pack its doable”

“Usually I'm about 20 lbs or so I think, but I usually don't keep track of it obsessively. This summer at NOLS though, I got stuck as pisgahsherpa. I was the biggest by at least 3 inches and 30 lbs. We hung all our packs up - I left with 77 lbs. I'm sure it went up during parts of the trip as we ended up evacing some people. The scary thing was that the lightest pack was 58 lbs, and this was on a 105 lb chick. I felt bad knowing that I was on the heavy side of 1/3 of my own weight, while some of these girls (7 of 10 people in our group were female and smaller than us dudes) were carrying over a half of their weight!

When I got back, my resting heart rate was around 55 beats/minute, and I get nervous when people take my pulse.”

“pisgah, can you enlighten (pun?) me as to why NOLS buries you under such heavy packs? What the heck are they making you take into the backcountry?”

“My pack for the Grand Canyon (4 days) weighed about 39 lbs. that was with 3 liters of water, and 7 pounds of camera gear. And far too much food.”

“Depends. Base weight before food and group supplies: 20 lbs. The problem is that the members of my group know I can haul a lot of weight, so I usually get a ton. They claim it slows me down to a more acceptable pace, but they still end up bitching. Anyway, I don't mind carrying around 50. 65 is my known max, but I probably could do more.”

“It's very clear that I have some work to do here... I brought home the digital postal scale I have at the office, it weighs up to about 36 ounces total.

This was, really, the first time I actually used an efficient means of weighing nearly everything that COULD go into my pack. Like others have said here, it was a lot heavier BEFORE I started paying attention in here - and elsewhere - and as a result, my pack is about 15 pounds lighter than it used to be.

Still, after using Phil's pack weight page, my current weight comes in at 40.15 pounds - without food or water, but including everything else, plus what I'm wearing (boots, liner & hikier sox, convertible pants, Coolmax shirt, hat & glasses). I don't need the 2nd pair of those convertibles either...

I'm inspired to cut weight even more, in practical ways... like getting a lighter than 6# 8 oz. pack, and a 4# 12 oz SD tent, carrying 25 feet of parachute cord, instead of 50... things like that. I've begun to question the true necessity of some of the items in the list, functionality issues, and the like.

Considering the way I pack my food - for extended hikes in the backcountry - I'd weigh in about a pound per day, though that's up to half what some would recommend. If you've read my posts on packing my bearcan, you'll understand. Still, it's a heavy pack, too heavy, and I intend to work out a few bugs before I post again on this subject.

Thanks - to all of you - for the motivation.

ObiWan”

“Well I carried over 100lbs for Uncle Sam on occasion and for a fun four days in Holland carried 45lbs over 100 miles.... my partner is aiming for 25lbs on our wonderland trip in June but I aim at stuffing all i need in my bag....

An older gentleman that i meet on the trail told me that he started a list on all the gear that he took some years back. After every hike he would check off the items he never used and toss them in the closet... he was down to 15lbs at 73 years old”

“I was a consistant 35lbs for a 4 day trip, food and water included.

I've reduced a ton of weight, but then added weight when I realized I could spare some; got a full length Thermarest, usually bring some beer...

Nice because now I'm at 32lbs; lighter than before, and with more luxury items.”

“I try to hit 35 lbs, but always seem to start with 37. Come lunch time though, and I eat that hoagie and fruit, I get it back down to 35 fast. Still trying to get it down...”

“once i was hiking in the northern sierra with a friend who claimed to be an experienced backpacker, but he was having a hard time keeping up with me and was sweating like crazy even though he was youn and the day was cool....it became clear why that evening when it was time for supper he pulled out a large cast iron skillet and a five pound bag of potatoes....i about fell off the mountain i was laughing so hard....”

“Simplicity over weight is my credo. As long as I focus on staying minimal the weight takes care of it?s self. While I don't weigh my pack any more I am aware of the weights of the gear. if I go with others the weight is between 20-25. If I'm dirtbagin' by myself it closer to 8 lbs.”

“Big iron on his hip!

What is NOLS?”

“The offspring of a troll and a gnome.”

“After another review of my packing list and commensurate weights, I've determined I can drop enough to get down to 27.45 pounds, sans food/water. I removed from the equation those things I would be wearing, since the weight of these items would be dispersed, rather than focused on my back. The vast majority f items are simply removals or reductions (like 2 pr. sox, rather than 3). My assumptions here include reducing tent weight by a pound (currently 4# 12 oz.), ground cloth by .6# (currently .9#), and pack by 2# (currently 6# 8 oz.).

I'm open to suggestions... anyone?”

“With my food and watter and watter pumper and puncho and ropes and the nother things my pakpak ways prolly bout eleventy hunnerd inches. /o:3”

“I dunno, Obi. If it were me, I'd just take what I felt I would need for my trip and not sweat it too much. I won't leave things I consider essential home just to save a few ounces (or pounds). I used to weigh my pack but I found I was focusing on how heavy it was as I hiked. Seemed to me that had I not been freaking about the weight, I'd enjoy the trip more. And there's nothing worse than getting to the campsite and discovering you really should have brought that thing you discarded because it was a luxury and "too heavy".”

“obi wan,
I see your posts lately on backpacker.net Check out the Kelty Flight4500 if you have not already done so. If you are feeling rich then look at the Cloud 4500. Our son took his new Flight I bought him on our GC trip last week and he was most impressed and happy with it. I have been recommending it to everyone that will listen--it is priced pretty reasonably and you can get the weight down pretty low. I use the web belt and ditch the frame (I just use my thermarest folded and lay it against the back)for loads under 20 pounds. The whole thing is modular so you can configure it to the load and the season.
Download the current instructions from the Kelty site and you will get a bunch more info especially on the third page near the bottom where they have charts.

http://www.kelty.com/index.cfm?section=Packs”

“I hate to beat this to death but I really do think that excessively heavy packs ruin knees. I have watched a couple of young folks turn into fat middle aged people that can not hike because they messed up their knees.”

“so does running.”

“True, MP, especially when done infrequently. Even people who consider themselves avid probably only go out once a month.

However, if exercize is done consistently and regularly, all those muscles and ligaments help support the knee and add to a more fruitfull life”

“NOLS is the National Outdoor Leadership School. It's kinda like Outward Bound, except it's focused on wilderness skills more than personal growth through trust games or whatever. Very hard core stuff goes on during a NOLS trip.

www.nols.edu

Our packs got so heavy because of a few simple, very heavy things that I wouldn't take on a trip by myself in NC: first and foremost, a bear canister apiece. Ouch. 10 days of food at a time, appropriate gear for late summer in the high rockies, huge med kits, and notebooks and texts (they were teaching us stuff up there) all added to the gear. I ended up carrying a bit of the substantial group gear too.”

“Obi wan, you're doing great - already reduced some, and working on more. I find that the only real reasons I want to reduce weight are to increase my enjoyment of the backcountry, and to do it by packing smarter, not simply by doing without. You reduce the BIG 3, and you will get that down near 20-25 lbs.

I also agree with the part about not blowing your knees out ... the longer you stay healthy, the more opportunity you will have to exercise as you get older. I am considering quitting the ol' fourteener climbing just for that reason. I really just want to enjoy myself out there these days, and I have nothing left to prove.”