When it comes to backpacking, weight is a major consideration. Whether you’re hiking for a day or for weeks on end, you’ll have to carry everything you need on your back.
That means the lighter your pack is, the more enjoyable and comfortable your trip will be. But how much should you carry?
Your Base Weight – Your base weight is the amount of gear that’s essential for staying warm and safe in the outdoors. This includes items such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove and fuel, water bottles/bladder, clothing, first aid kit and snacks.
Generally speaking, it should aim to be around 15-30% of your body weight. So if you weigh 150 lbs., then your base weight should be between 22.5-45 lbs.
Consumables – Consumables are items that are used up while backpacking (e.g., food, fuel etc.) and need to be replaced during longer trips or when making extended trips into the wilderness where re-supply isn’t an option.
Food is usually the heaviest consumable item that needs to be accounted for since it can weigh anywhere from 0.5-3 lbs per day depending on the type of food being consumed. Fuel can also add significant weight depending on its form (i.e., liquid fuel vs gas canisters).
Extras – The extras are items that aren’t essential but may provide comfort or convenience while out in the wilderness such as a camp chair, luxury items (e., book/journal), electronics (e., camera) etc.. These items should only add up to around 5-10% of your body weight so if you weigh 150 lbs., then your extra gear should weigh no more than 15 lbs.
Conclusion: Knowing how much weight to carry backpacking depends on several factors including base weight (15-30% of bodyweight), consumables (food & fuel) and extra gear (5-10% of bodyweight). By limiting yourself to these guidelines and packing only what’s necessary for the trip at hand you should have a much more enjoyable experience out in the wild!