But the way you you hope for versus the weight you take

I often do it, mainly changing out for a warmer bag or clothing (or both)
Or adding more food.

I used to get caught up in that and since changed my approach. All of my base weights and pack weights on the spreadsheet are done with the highest possible number they can be. Warmest options, most food, etc. I then pare that down accordingly. Bring lighter insulation or a little less food, go stove less, etc.

It is less fun because my spreadsheet numbers are never as low as they could be to start, but the pared down spreadsheet numbers always match my pack weight as I head out the door.

Self honesty, really. Toys and redundancy are spreadsheet killers.

I've done many trunk of the car tweaks at the trailhead. Looking up the steep start of a trail and feeling the *reality* of your fully loaded pack as you lift it from the trunk wakes you up in a hurry. Do I **need** that second liter of water, etc, etc, etc?

There's nothing "wrong" with carrying whatever load you like, but it is *your* choice. A guy once asked me what my baseweight was and I replied, "whatever I want it to be" and that is the real core concept of UL hiking. It isn't that you have the absolute lightest kit possible, but rather that *you* have control over what you are hauling, versus a tyranny of "must haves" determined by someone in the marketing department or the opinions of a salesperson. UL technique is simply thinking outside the traditional hiking box.

That means taking the responsibility for the outcome too, like a cold night on hard ground, running out of water or food, and so on. Anybody can put together a sub 5 pound kit, but you may not like living that way! Of course the flip side is hauling a big load up the side of a mountain because you want pajamas and clean undies for every day, too many gadgets and toys, and packing for fear. The discomfort of a big load is as least as uncomfortable as an uber-Spartan kit and much more limiting in speed and range.

It's a teeter-totter of safety, comfort, weight and cost. Ain't no free lunch!

I weigh my pack at the trailhead with a luggage scale.

If I had weighed my pack in the "old" days, probably might as well stop at a truck scale on the way to the trailhead. Just carried it; didn't weigh it.

Nowadays, as I've become "old" now, I've entered "everything" on the Backpacking Gear Weight Calculator (see link below for info) & select what goes on a trip from all the gear that I've listed in the calculator.

http://www.backpacking.net/featured3.html

The BGW Calculator tells me the total weight of gear selected, and identifies sub-totals for each self-defined category — for example pack, sleeping, clothes, first aid, kitchen, shelter, food protection, fishing, etc.

With the Calculator, it's easy to pick & choose items for a particular trip, print that trip's gear list, and even save the list for future reference.

Plus, knowing total weight selected/packed for a trip helps "mitigate" guilty feelings if adding a last-minute item (or two) at the trailhead — so long as the extra stuff doesn't skew the total too bad, as in: "Hey, it's only half a pound more, and keeps the total under X pounds. So why not?"

BGW Calculator is also a great master inventory of nearly all my gear.

I try not to worry too much about what my sleep system weighs, I pick components I know will be comfortable at night well beyond my expected temps and conditions for any given trip. In my experience being well rested is worth a little extra weight, every time.

Beyond that I am willing to be pretty regimented in what I bring along, and save weight where I can.

The weight you carry is all that matters, the spreadsheet is just a tool to help you know what that is. The spreadsheet doesn't have to be 100% inclusive, as long as you have a grip on what is on it and what is not. If you take something that isn't on the spreadsheet just add it on in your head, it's weight is certainly added on to your back. If you hit the trail happy with the false number that's on the spreadsheet then you're only fooling yourself.

I want to get one of those hand-held airplane luggage scales. For me, more for training data.

For your intents: If you keep it the car, and give your pack a weigh right at the trail head, at least then you'll have an accurate take on how much total you're really carrying.

A workaround is to just get on the bathroom scales with your pack and deduct your weight. The handheld airline scales don't impress me.

> How do you mitigate that?
Just don't add things.
It is as simple as that.

Cheers

+1 if you did your sheet right then you shouldn't need much else.

The only thing i tend to change is my 45* quilt vs 20* quilt and synthetic puffy vs down puffy. and rain pants… i never want to bring them but chicken out sometimes. everything else is always in the bag.

"How do you mitigate that?"

Develop a process that will increase your confidence level.

The first few times out, take the "extra" items/weight, but also keep a daily log of what works, what is not needed, what would be nice to have, etc.

When you get back, summarize your notes and make adjustments to the spreadsheet.

After a few trips you will have the knowledge and confidence needed to leave stuff behind. Or, to take it.

Then if weight is an issue, questions here, framed around your experience, will either confirm or improve your gear list.

it's kind of funny – my gear spreadsheets are SO much like how I budget money, or calories….

I like that nice, low number! but the reality is all-too-frequently much more than I care to admit.

Perhaps I should talk to someone about that…..

Never computes…I pack all my gear, I'm happy. Add water…weigh…unpack gear, repack water, go hiking and sleep under a handkerchief, on rocks and eat cactus fruit for the duration. Water is heavy…..such is life in the desert.

I geargrams all my gear but at the trail head I may take/leave an item or two based upon conditions. Otherwise I don't worry about it that much.