Published vs Actual Gear Weights?

I was doing this out of curiosity the other day. The 1 person Kelty crestone that i used to frequently use is listed at 4 lbs packed weight, but when i weighted everything i was very suprised that it actually weighs only 3lb 6oz. Unless they were including the box that it cam in, i don't see how this could have happened.

Sorry this is a tent, not a sleeping bag or quilt.

This exercise could be enlightening to us all, regardless of the product cited. Thanks for the reply.

A sampling:

Nunatak Arc Specialist(Med. Quantum)- 16oz(actual-16.72)
MLD Duomid (Silnylon) – 16 (16.93)
Gossamer Gear Gorilla(Med) 0 23.2 (24.27)
GG LT4 (Reg, Nordic Strap version) 8.2 (8.2)
BPL Nano Tarp – 4.95oz (5.4)
Trappers Mug – 1.65(1.3)
NeoAir Small – 9 (8.99)
WM Summerlite 19 (19)
BPL Cocoon Pro Parka(L) 11 (10.97)

The only one I'm somewhat disappointed with (as far as published weights go) is the BPL Nano tarp, as I don't believe I've seen one come in near the published 4.95oz weight, and .5oz over is right at the limit of 10% +/- manufacturing tolerances that I think is acceptable for UL gear.

I have found both items under and over published weight. My recent purchases have been at the listed weight or slightly under.

My experience has been that with items from websites touting their merits of light weight, that they tend to be at or just under, primarily the cottage industries. More mainstream items have been a bit over but in the past they have been much higher than the published weight.

Katabatic Sawatch Listed 23.5oz Right on the money at 23.5oz

Custom Kookabay Pad estimated before purchase at 21-22oz came in at 21.5oz

SMD Swift listed at 18oz weighed in at 17.5oz

WM Highlite listed at 16oz weighed in at 16oz

Golite UL Poncho listed at 7.5oz weighs 7.5oz

Montbell UL Wind Jacket listed 2.5oz weighs 2.4oz

In the past all Marmot, TNF, and Sierra Designs products (along with others I can't remember) have been more or much more, than the listed weights.

My WM bags:

Antelope DL/WS: spec 2# 13oz, actual 2# 13oz
MityLite: spec 1# 10oz, actual 1# 10oz
SummerLite: spec 19oz, actual 19oz

If a down product (sleeping bag or jacket) is stored in humid air, it tends to increase its weight slightly. The excess weight is water. If it is stored in dry air, it tends to be closer to the manufactured weight. I've seen some items fluctuate by 5-10%.

–B.G.–

Very interesting, if indeed cottage-industry products tend to weigh exactly what is claimed (or a bit less); whereas mainstream products tend to weigh more.

I bought a new product, a Golite Half Dome Travel Umbrella, this spring, partly because of the very enticing stated weight of 4.0 ounces. I ordered it, only to find it weighs 6.5 ounces on my postal scale. I contacted both Golite and the online seller I bought the umbrella from. Golite explained that the stated weight of 4.0 ounces was a mistake, and that it would be fixed on the website.

Now I see that both websites list the umbrella as 6.0 ounces – still understating the actual weight by nearly 10%.

– Elizabeth

On a french hiking forum wiki people are posting measured weights

http://www.randonner-leger.org/wiki/poids/index.php

categorie means type
marque means brand

My Duomid was nearer 19 0z than 16 0z, but the superlight bivy was the exact weight stated.

Bob Wrote
If a down product (sleeping bag or jacket) is stored in humid air, it tends to increase its weight slightly. The excess weight is water. If it is stored in dry air, it tends to be closer to the manufactured weight. I've seen some items fluctuate by 5-10%.

–B.G.–

I weighed my WM MegaLite at a little over two ounces more than the published weight. The bag has been in a room open to outside air, and we've had a long stretch of rainy days and humid nights. We're starting a dry spell, and I'll reweigh it again to see if I can tell a difference.

Maybe that's why I seemed to have a spring in my steps when hiking in the desert. :-)