Weight survey – What’s your pack weigh?

[Marcus]

I’m curious and don’t see a semi recent survey – what’s your total pack weight? (weight measured as you take your first steps away from the car at the trailhead)

My summer setup (70-100* highs, 50-70* lows) is about 21lb + water (1lb to 6lb depending on availability)

My california winter pack (45-60* highs, 25-40* lows) is about 26lb + water (typically less than 3lb as winter is our rainy season)

If high temps are below freezing I dont backpack camp and weight is no concern.

My goal for this year is to cut 4lbs from both the warm and cool setups without sacrificing much comfort. 4lb will be right at the limit of what I can achieve without starting to trim ‘nice to have’ items, though I’ve been trimming good weight just eliminating gear I didnt use. Learning to say No to borderline useful gear is a critical skill in UL backpacking im realizing.

[Michael B]

If I am below 25 lbs, my back is a happy camper. This is typically including my Flexlite Air chair. If I have to carry my BV450, weight goes up.

edit: My overnight trip last weekend in Big Sur, I was at 21.3lb with food, 1.7l of water, two shelters and extra warm clothes just in case for my BIL (gatewood cape, splash bivvy + my 1lb single wall MYOG-mid).

[Erik G]

Under 25 lbs total weight is my typical goal these days. I’ll mostly adjust comfort items and food luxuries to get there. For trips longer than 5 days this becomes a challenge, but up to 30 lbs isn’t too bad for a day or two. Just make sure to eat the heaviest stuff first :)

I’ve stopped chasing numbers when it comes to pack weight. I spent a long time getting my “quiver of one” really dialed in such that I can hike year-round with little variation on gear requirements. Now I just take what I feel I need on a given trip, and adjust food/water/booze to get to a weight I’m comfortable with. Totally different than what I thought I needed before I went through the whole “UL epiphany.”

[Link .]

For a trip I took at the end of July 4 days 3 nights up to maybe 70’s during the day and 40’s at night elevation to about 9,500ft at the highest, leaving the car with everything except a liter of water(there was water everywhere so I didn’t need to carry much)was 12.5lbs

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I think it’s around 17lbs for me for a three-day, two-night trip.

[John Vance]

9 days with temperatures during the day 50-60f and nights 20-40f is 21-22lbs and “skin out” at 25-26lbs including food. To this I add one liter of water typically.   This is for three season Rocky Mountains 12-13k elevation.   For trips of ten days or less, I am able get by on 16-18oz of food per day which is approximately 2,200 calories.  This mostly accounts for my low weights.

I am getting back into winter trips and putting together my winter kit.  I have traditionally used a pulk in winter and while pulling is easier than carrying, I am trying to keep my gear and food for a similar 9 day trip not including the sled, poles, and harness, below 35lbs.   Obviously my skin out weight will be another 10-15lbs including skis and/or snowshoes.

[Paul Wagner]

Food for how many days?  On a four day trip, I’m carrying about 27-28 pounds, plus water.  My wife is carrying about 18.  I have the food and the tent for both of us.  She has a few extra clothes.  And I have fishing gear.

[David Thomas]

4 days, 3 nights, Alaskan summer:
Base weight: 8.9 pounds.
Food: 5 to 5.5 pounds.
Total: 14-ish pounds.
I tend to eat a lot for breakfast on the drive before starting out and reverse that on the last day, stopping for pizza on the drive home.

[Mark Wetherington]

Short answer: including food and 1 liter of water, I’m usually around 15-17 lbs for a 2-night, three day trip in summer conditions in the Northern Rockies. That usually includes a flask of bourbon, but I often bring a pint or two of beer for the first night or two and that of course adds weight. And about 8 ounces of Tenkara fishing gear if I’m planning to spend time fishing.

More sincere answer, told via anecdote:

When I was contracted by Wilderness Press to serve as co-author of “Backpacking Washington” for its third edition I went over to meet with Doug Lorain, the original author, to discuss what the project entailed (fortunately and coincidentally, we both lived in the same town in western Montana). As a way of making conversation, I asked Doug — who’s hiked 30,000 plus miles all over the West and authored more than a dozen backpacking/hiking guidebooks — how much his pack weighs on a summer trip of 4 nights, five days. His reply:

”Don’t know, don’t want to know. Because if I did I probably wouldn’t want pick it up and carry it around in the mountains for five days.”

Honest and amusing answer. And  based on going on several trips with Doug, he does pack light. Not ultralight, but he doesn’t really care to. He just wants to have a good time hiking. I’ve adopted a similar mindset and don’t know to the ounce, much less the pound, how much my pack weighs. I don’t know how much even weigh most of the time. I just kinda go by feel and try to focus on the experiences and not so much the equipment (although I do love throughly testing gear, so I’m a bit of a contradiction).

I heard a quote recently, “Comparison is the thief of joy”, and I think it’s a good thing to keep in mind when looking at pack weights, miles hiked per day, locations visited, etc. As long as you can carry your pack comfortably and you’re hiking places you enjoy with people you appreciate spending time with (or enjoying solitude), that’s really all that matters.

[Paul Wagner]

Just curious…Am I the only one who carries a bear can?  It’s required in the national parks in the Sierra…and useful in the rest of the range.  But it sounds like the rest of the folks answering this question do not carry one?

[AK Granola]

I live in Alaska and have usually carried an Ursack, but I sleep better when my food is in a bear canister. The last few trips I have used a canister, especially now that I’ve lightened other parts of my load. Worth knowing I’ll have food to eat.

[Michael B]

Just curious…Am I the only one who carries a bear can?  It’s required in the national parks in the Sierra…and useful in the rest of the range.  But it sounds like the rest of the folks answering this question do not carry one?

I carry one when required. Otherwise I PCT hang. It’s not rocket science, but does require good trees. It’s not that big a deal though. BV450 is not that heavy.

[Geoff Caplan]

On a 3-season long weekend camping high in the UK mountains I’d average 10-11 lbs base weight depending on luxuries, plus 1.5 to 2 lbs food per night.

So a range of 13 – 15 lbs.

This includes a shelter that can take very nasty weather (we can get big winds at any time) and a luxurious sleeping setup that I seem to need nowadays as I get older. It also includes a highly ergonomic Aarn bodypack which isn’t the lightest but more than compensates by its efficiency.

If the weather is clement and I’m feeling minimalist I can drop a couple of pounds by taking a lighter sleeping mat, ditching luxuries like a Kindle and skimping a bit on the food.

[dirtbag]

Winter temperatures with snow and ice everywhere. 2 days, 1 night.. About 15 lbs, with food, my chair and micro spikes ( which I ended up wearing). I only added 1 liter of water to that weight after I weighed my pack.

[Nick Gatel]

Do people still do 7-14 day trips without re-supply (other than Tipi Walter)?

My base is normally just under 10 lb. Not unusual for me to carry 2-3 gallons of water on desert trips. When I go past day 4, my daily food needs increase. So, the weight depends on the trip. 30-35 lb. isn’t unusual for me. At 70 years young I still do an occasional 7+ day trip.

[HkNewman]

Base weight at a little over 7 lbs for 3-season solo (DCF shelter, XLite, small stove, 1 Ti pot doubles as bowl, etc..).  I’m good with the weight but am now looking at adding capabilities while not increasing the underlying weight.  This does not include bear canisters, microspikes, and other special gear.

Food is almost 1.75 lbs per day for most days.  My water capacity can go up to 6L plus (4 x 1L bottles, plus pressing a 2L “dirty water” CNOC into storage).

[Mark Wetherington]

Do people still do 7-14 day trips without re-supply (other than Tipi Walter)?

I’ve done a few and would really like to do more. I feel like resupplies “interrupt” my trips more than they enhance it. I’d rather just hike shorter miles the first few days of a long trip or, better yet, just do dayhikes from camp and explore and relax before heading on to the next campsite.

Being able to find the time is my main limitation for not doing more of these types of trips.

[Nick Gatel]

Good feedback Mark.

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I did a 10 day trip in SEKI with a Bearikade Expedition and no leaving the trail for a resupply. It was really really great to be out so long. I was able to do a large loop with a couple days side trip to visit some lakes.

I think on that trip my pack was closer to 20lbs. I didn’t weigh it so can’t tell you for sure.

I don’t normally use a bear canister or hang my food. I just keep it with me. If hanging is required I bring a bear canister because I cannot throw a rock over a tree limb to save my life, and of course if a bear canister is required I bring one.

[DWR D]

Looking at those reported pack weights, I think some of y’all are packing some helium during the weigh-in … just sayin’

 

[Ben C]

For a 3 day trip in southern Appalachia, usually about 12-13 pounds.  This is my most frequent trip.

For a 10 day trip in the west with a bear can, it’s closer to 24-25 pounds.

I manage either just fine with a light frameless pack.

[Erica R]

12.5 lbs of gear. Includes a hang bag, but not a ursack or bearvault.

Food I sorta skimp on at 1 lb/day of food and drink; I go for 3-5 nights.  Freeze dried saves weight. I live at sea level, and the altitude makes me not hungry.

I tend to not carry water, there is usually no more than a few miles between filtering opportunities.

[Link .]

DWR D, whose pack weight are you questioning? Do you think people are lying? To answer Paul’s question, I only carry a bear canister if it is required and my trip in July did not require one.

 

[HkNewman]

Also part is long distance hiking in the summer months and wanting more simplicity when packing out pre-dawn, being efficient with food (see below), etc…  Get up, deflate XLite, roll up quilt (putting silk sleep sock liners inside), take down 0.5 DCF shelter (if needed), put stakes in stake bag along with polycro groundcloth and you’re .. oh wait a minute, forgot the part drinking cold coffee energy drink mix first thing in the morning (shaken not stirred in the plastic bottle I reserve for other mostly Mio drink mixes .. coffee caffeinated ->black cherry caffeinated -> water -> other flavors) .

I’m not competing for a barista award anytime soon.

Now when I get back to colder weather backpacking, I’ll likely add to baseweight. Thinking an insulated beverage cup, need to up my coffee game, and if in a group, more puffy insulation as many like to talk into the night.  Probably some more durable storm pants to double as camp pants, … better headlamp, better compass (long trails are pretty easy navigation), etc..

Food and water are variable, especially if dry camping which the trail associations always recommend.  All that’s going to add to packweight.  There’s the freeze dried and dehydrated at home routes, but many tire of the repetitive menu (heard a 2-week rotating menu is best).   Then there popping into town for a late lunch/early dinner … variety with fresh greens.

Just to add: like Paul below … V … I’m not really a calorie monster (usually) but I start craving a cold salad with greens, crisp fruit.  Looking at his menu in all honesty…

[John Vance]

Most of my trips are 8-10 days and I don’t resupply food.  I don’t carry a bear can and don’t hike where they are required.  I rarely carry more than 1 liter of water and typically just have 1/2 liter between sources.  I also mostly hike where water is clear and abundant either running or in the form of snow.

Additionally, one of the few benefits I have experienced of getting older is the ability to get by on very few calories per day. Combined with a food is fuel philosophy, I can eat the same thing for weeks and months, primarily lots of nuts, seeds, fats, and dark chocolate – I am big on bars.  Consequently, 16-18oz of calorie dense food per day works for up to 10 days.  I also lose 5-10lbs while out but slowly gain it back when I get home.

When solo, I don’t cook, cold soak, or bring a stove, making things light, compact, and easy on the trail.  It works for me but I know many are into the process of eating and couldn’t or wouldn’t do it this way but it does make for a light pack.

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