1. What is Hiking Weight?

Hiking weight refers to the total weight of your backpack and gear when going on a hike. It's typically divided into base weight (all your gear excluding consumables) and consumables (food, water, fuel).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• \( base \) — Weight of all non-consumable gear (backpack, tent, sleeping bag, etc.)
• \( consumables \) — Weight of food, water, and fuel

Explanation: The equation simply adds your base gear weight to your consumable weight to get your total pack weight.

3. Importance of Pack Weight Calculation

Details: Knowing your total pack weight helps in trip planning, determining physical requirements, and ensuring you're not carrying more than necessary.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Weigh your gear separately to get accurate base weight. Estimate consumables based on trip duration and water availability.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's considered a lightweight pack weight?
A: Generally under 20 lb is lightweight, under 10 lb is ultralight, and over 30 lb is considered heavy.

Q2: How much water weight should I plan for?
A: Typically 2 lb per liter. Plan for 2-4 liters per day depending on climate and water availability.

Q3: What's included in base weight?
A: Everything except consumables - backpack, shelter, sleep system, clothing, cookware, etc.

Q4: How can I reduce my pack weight?
A: Choose lighter alternatives for your "big three" (backpack, shelter, sleep system) and eliminate non-essentials.

Q5: Does pack weight affect hiking speed?
A: Yes, generally each additional 10% of body weight reduces speed by about 1 mile per hour on flat terrain.