What Should Your Pack Weigh?
Every experienced hiker has watched someone stagger up a trail under a pack sized for a polar expedition — and most of us have been that person. The fix isn't discipline at the trailhead; it's a number decided at home: a weight budget, set before any gear goes in the bag.
Tell this calculator your body weight, trip length, pack style, and season. It returns a base-weight target, the consumables math, a suggested split across the big three, and a check against the 20% body-weight safety ceiling — with a concrete cut list when you're over.
Build your weight budget
- Base weight target (gear)
- 19.8 lb
- Food (3 days)
- 4.6 lb
- Stove fuel
- 0.4 lb
- Water carried
- 4.4 lb
Total pack weight at trailhead
29.3 lb
89% of your 33.1 lb safe ceiling (20% of body weight)
Suggested base-weight allocation
How this is calculated
The budget reconciles two independent limits. The first is astyle target using the community-standard base-weight definitions: ultralight under 4.5 kg (10 lb), lightweight under 9 kg (20 lb), traditional under 13.6 kg (30 lb) — scaled 0.9× for summer and 1.3× for winter conditions.
The second is a safety ceiling: total pack weight at or below 20% of body weight, the guideline used by REI, scout organisations, and most load-carriage research for sustained backpacking. Consumables are computed at 0.7 kg of food and 60 g of stove fuel per day plus the water you carry between sources.
When the two budgets conflict, the ceiling wins — the tool reports exactly how many kilograms of base weight must go. The allocation table (22% shelter, 28% sleep system, 15% pack, 35% everything else) mirrors typical published gear lists so you can see which category is over.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between base weight and total pack weight?
Base weight is everything in and on your pack except consumables — no food, water, or fuel. It is the number ultralighters compare because it is what your gear choices control. Total pack weight adds the consumables and is what your shoulders actually feel at the trailhead.
Is the 20% body-weight rule strict?
It's a well-supported guideline, not a law. Studies of load carriage consistently show injury risk and fatigue climbing sharply past that point for average hikers. Strong, conditioned hikers push past it on short carries; beginners and anyone with joint issues should stay under.
Where do I cut weight first?
The 'big three' — shelter, sleep system, and the pack itself — usually hold 60%+ of base weight and offer kilogram-scale wins for money spent. After that, audit duplicates: most overweight packs carry two of something (knife, battery, warm layer) 'just in case'.
Why does winter add 30% to the budget?
Cold demands a warmer (heavier) bag, an insulated pad, extra layers, and often a sturdier shelter. A 30% base-weight allowance matches the real-world difference between 3-season and winter kit lists — fighting it with summer gear is how people get hurt, so budget for it instead.
How does water figure into the budget?
At 1 kg per liter, water is usually the single heaviest item you carry. The calculator lets you set how much you carry between refills — plan routes around reliable sources and you can shift a kilogram or two from your back to the landscape.