Backpacking is an incredibly popular and versatile activity, allowing individuals to explore the outdoors and experience nature. However, one of the most important considerations for any backpacking trip is how much weight you should be carrying in your bag.
The Right Weight – The weight of your backpack depends on a variety of factors, including the type of terrain you will be navigating, your physical fitness level, and the amount of gear and supplies you need to bring. Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is to keep your total backpack weight between 15-20% of your own body weight. A lighter load will allow you to move more quickly and efficiently over trails with steep inclines or long distances.
Breaking Down the Weight – It’s helpful to break down the weight of your bag into two categories: base weight and consumables. Base weight is the total weight of everything in your pack excluding food, water, and fuel; ideally, it should not exceed 10% of your bodyweight. Consumables are items that are used up or discarded during the course of a trip; these items can include food, water, fuel for camp stoves or lanterns, toiletries like sunscreen or bug spray, and other items that may need to be replaced during longer trips.
What to Pack? – It’s important to remember that every item you bring along adds extra weight to your pack. So before packing anything extra into your bag think about whether it’s really necessary for this particular trip. Start by bringing only essential gear like a good sleeping system (sleeping bag + pad), shelter (tent or tarp) clothing layers appropriate for changing conditions (insulating layers + rain gear) cooking gear (stove + cookware), first aid kit, map & compass/GPS device and other tools like a knife or multi-tool.
Minimizing Weight – Once you have all the basics covered there are some simple ways to reduce the overall weight of your pack such as choosing lightweight gear whenever possible (i.e: synthetic insulation over down), consolidating items whenever possible (i.e.: using compression sacks for clothing) and packing efficiently so as not to carry more than necessary (i.: only bringing enough food for what you need).
Conclusion – Ultimately how much a backpacking bag should weigh depends on individual factors such as terrain difficulty, fitness level and gear needs; however it is recommended that backpackers try and keep their total load between 15-20% of their own bodyweight with base weights staying below 10%. By carefully considering what pieces of essential gear they must bring along while minimizing extra items they don’t really need they can help make sure they stay within this recommended range while still having all they need for a successful backpacking adventure!