Estimate total backpack weight, base weight, consumables, worn weight, pack weight percentage, and backpacking load category. This calculator is useful for hiking, backpacking, camping, ultralight gear planning, food planning, water carry planning, and pack shakedowns.
Base weight:
Base weight includes your backpack, shelter, sleep system, packed clothing, cook kit, electronics, first aid, and other non-consumable gear.
Consumables:
Food, water, and fuel are added to estimate total starting pack weight. These usually get lighter as the trip goes on.
Worn weight:
Worn clothing, shoes, trekking poles, and carried items can be tracked separately because they are not inside the pack.
A backpack weight calculator helps you plan a lighter, safer, and more comfortable hiking or backpacking setup. It can show where most of your pack weight is coming from and whether your total load is reasonable for your body weight and trip type.
Actual comfort depends on pack fit, terrain, elevation gain, weather, water availability, fitness, footwear, and how well your gear is distributed.
This calculator uses the common backpacking weight breakdown:
Total Pack Weight = base weight + food + water + fuel
Base weight is the weight of your backpack and non-consumable gear, excluding food, water, and fuel.
A comfortable backpack weight depends on fitness, trip length, terrain, and experience. Many hikers try to keep total pack weight around 20% or less of body weight, but this is only a rough planning guide.
Water weighs about 2.2 pounds per liter, or about 1 kilogram per liter. Carrying several liters can add a lot of weight quickly.
Ultralight backpacking usually means a base weight under 10 pounds, not including food, water, or fuel.