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If you’ve ever felt like a pack mule on your hikes, you know how crucial it is to get your hiking backpack weight just right.
Introducing this “Backpacking Weight Calculator” that I’ve personally coded to make your hiking prep easier!
When planning my Te Araroa thru-hike, I painstakingly pored over a backpacking weight tracker spreadsheet for weeks, and whilst it meant I could get rid of unnecessary gear before I hit the trail, I lost two weeks of planning & prep time in the process.
But you’re in luck! The backpacking base weight calculator in this post is your shortcut to the same smart planning & prep for your next hiking trip, meaning you can make time for the more important things.
Later in the post we’ll talk more about how much your pack should weigh and why it’s important to know your hiking base weight.
The Best Backpacking Weight Calculator.
Why You Need a Backpacking Weight Calculator
When it comes to preparing for outdoor adventures, using the best backpacking weight calculator is an absolute game-changer. It gives you valuable insights into where your gear weight is concentrated, empowering you to make strategic decisions on reducing weight without sacrificing the essentials.
For instance, if your shelter system is adding significant weight to your overall load, it might be worth exploring lighter alternatives. Similarly, having excessive clothing can unknowingly contribute to extra weight and bulk in your pack, which becomes apparent when you see it in black and white.
By knowing the exact specifics of your backpacking base weight list, you can easily identify areas where you can potentially shave off some grams from your pack. And the lighter your pack, the more efficiently you can hike, opening up opportunities for longer trips and an overall enhanced experience.
What is Backpacking Base Weight?
Hiking base weight refers to the total weight of all the gear and equipment you’re carrying, excluding consumables like food, water, and fuel.
The reason consumables aren’t included in the backpack weight calculator is simple—they’re not constant. As you hike, you’re consuming these items, which naturally decreases how much they weigh. Your pack becomes lighter, but your base weight stays the same.
Think of your base weight as the skeleton of your hiking pack—it should encompass all your essential hiking gear and nothing more. This includes your sleeping system, cooking gear, clothing, and other non-consumable essentials.
Knowing your base weight helps you strike the balance between necessities and luxuries, making your backpacking trips more efficient and enjoyable.
How to Use the Hiking Base Weight Calculator
- Lay out all of your base weight gear items. Include all the backpacking gear you’ll bring with you on your hike, but not consumables like food, water, and fuel.
- Weigh each item individually and input the weight in the appropriate fields in the hiking pack weight calculator.
- Look for categories in the calculator such as ‘First Aid Kit’ or ‘Toiletries’ and enter the total weight of all the items in these categories.
- If you have items that don’t fit into the predefined categories, include them in the ‘Other’ categories.
- Once you’ve finished entering data, hit the ‘Calculate’ button.
Et voila, your total base weight! Now you can use the result to help you identify areas where you might be able to reduce weight
Backpacking Base Weight Calculator
Big 3
Clothes (Not Worn)
Kitchen & Water
First Aid & Hygiene
Electronics
Your Total Hiking Base Weight:
Why is backpacking Base Weight Different from Total Pack Weight?
Your hiking base weight excludes the weight of consumables like food, water, and fuel.
While total pack weight includes everything you’re carrying at the start of your hike, base weight remains constant, regardless of how much food, water & fuel you use during the journey.
So essentially, it’s a measure of the non-consumable essentials you’re carrying, and a consistent measure of the total minimum weight you’ll carry for the duration of your hike.
Why is it Important to Know Your backpacking Base Weight?
Knowing your backpacking pack weight is crucial for planning a hiking trip for several reasons.
Hiking Speed
Firstly, it directly impacts your hiking speed— a lighter backpack generally allows for faster and easier movement over terrain.
Fatigue
Secondly, it helps manage fatigue. A heavy pack can increase exhaustion, reducing the distance you can cover in a day. It also increases the risk of muscle strain or injury.
Informed Decisions
Knowing your hiking base weight allows you to make informed decisions about what to pack, helping you strike a balance between comfort, necessity, and weight.
Enhances Your Hike
Lastly, understanding your base weight enhances your overall hiking experience. It reduces unnecessary burdens, enabling you to more fully enjoy the natural scenery and tranquility of the trail.
My Experience with hiking Base Weight on Te Araroa.
One thing I noticed very early on in my Te Araroa thru hike was how well my extensive planning had prepared me for the trail.
I spent two to three weeks before I left for the start of the trail, packing and re-packing my pack with the aim of getting my base weight down as low as possible.
This was a really difficult task, because I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget to pack anything really important. But I also didn’t want to discover I’d forgotten to pack something I really needed either.
Thankfully, turning my mind to my base weight and essential items of thru hiking gear early on was a huge turning point, and meant that (unlike lots of other hikers) I didn’t end up having to send heaps of really heavy and bulky items of gear home within my first week or two on trail.
I used a backpacking weight tracker spreadsheet (which I made myself) to easily see where I could shave weight, and it worked!
How Much Should My Hiking Backpack Weigh?
Determining exactly how much your backpacking pack weight should be depends on lots of individual factors, including the type of hike you’re planning, the terrain and weather conditions you can expect, and your personal fitness and comfort levels.
The 20% Rule
A common rule of thumb used in the hiking community is the 20% body weight rule.
This suggests that your pack should weigh no more than 20% of your body weight.
- For a 60 kilogram / 130 lb woman, this equates to a 12 kilo / 26 lb total pack weight.
- For an 80 kilogram / 175 lb man, this equates to a 16 kilo / 35 lb pack weight.
The 20% rule, however, is more of a myth than a hard and fast rule to live by.
Each hiker’s comfort with pack weight can vary significantly based on their strength and endurance. For some, carrying 20% of their body weight could be overly burdensome and lead to fatigue or injury.
Others, especially those with higher fitness levels or those accustomed to heavy loads, might find this guideline too conservative and be comfortable with a bit more weight.
Plus, the 20% rule doesn’t take into account difficult terrain or extreme weather conditions which may necessitate carrying additional gear (increasing the weight of your pack).
Alternatively, if you’re a fast hiker or planning a shorter day hike in moderate conditions, you may be able to streamline your pack to the bare essentials, resulting in a lighter load.
The key is to balance the need for safety and preparedness with the desire for comfort and ease of movement on the trail.
It’s always vital to remember that the weight you carry should never compromise your enjoyment of the hiking experience or your physical wellbeing.
How Heavy is Too Heavy for a Hiking Pack?
More often than not, the way to determine how much your pack should way, is by trial and error.
So, how do you know if your hiking pack is too heavy? It often comes down to physical signs and how you’re feeling during your trek.
Telltale signs your pack is too heavy
Some obvious signs that your pack might be too heavy include:
- persistent discomfort or strain in your shoulders, back, or legs
- hiking at a slower pace than usual
- frequent need for rest, or excessive fatigue
- balance issues
- pain, particularly in the lower back or knees
Listen to your body and make necessary adjustments on the trail. Shifting the pack’s weight from your shoulders to your hips (i.e. using load lifter straps) can sometimes provide temporary relief.
Also, reassessing the necessity of the items in your pack and possibly discarding non-essential ones can lighten the load.
How to Reduce Your Base Weight (If You Want To).
There are multiple strategies you can employ to reduce your pack’s base weight (apart from using a backpack weight calculator!).
Here are some of the things I’ve done over the time I’ve been hiking to lessen the load:
Consider Multi-Use Gear
One of the most hike-changing things I did when planning for Te Araroa was to really think about if I could get multiple uses out of a single item of gear.
For example, do you really need a dishcloth if you’re already carrying a bandana or buff that you could use for the same purpose? Single-use items add unnecessary weight.
Invest in Lightweight Gear
While it may be costly initially, investing in lightweight gear from the start, such as titanium cookware, and a lightweight tent and backpack, can drastically reduce your pack weight.
Minimise Your Water Carry
Water is heavy. If you are hiking in an area that you know for certain has frequent and plentiful water sources, consider carrying less and refilling more often. Don’t forget your water treatment though!
Repackage & Consolidate
Do you really need a full tube of toothpaste for a weekend trip? Try repackaging toiletries and other consumables like food into smaller, lighter containers and packaging.
Ditch Unnecessary Items
Another helpful exercises I undertook when preparing for Te Araroa was to evaluate each item in my pack very critically. If it wasn’t essential for survival (like a good shelter, sleeping bag or first aid kit) or didn’t significantly increase my comfort (like an inflatable pillow which gave me a good night’s sleep), I left it behind.
The key to reducing pack weight is mindfulness about what you truly need versus what you merely want to bring along. Remember, every gram counts when you’re out on the trail!
More Ideas to Reduce your Base Weight
For more ideas on how to reduce your hiking base weight, check out these videos:
Final Thoughts: Backpacking Weight Calculator.
Using a backpacking weight calculator can truly revolutionise your hiking experience. It simplifies the process of planning, ensuring that you’re carrying just what you need – nothing more, nothing less.
My hiking base weight calculator takes into consideration everything from essential survival items, to your food, clothing, and miscellaneous items. It calculates your base weight and helps you make informed decisions about what to bring, eliminating the guesswork and the burden of overpacking.
Once you’ve used my backpacking weight calculator, feel free to get in touch and share your experience, any tips you may have or suggestions for how to make it better.
