Pack contents laid out on a groundsheet with a small hanging scale

Guide · Planning

What backpacking base weight means

Updated October 5, 2026

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Base weight is the pack and everything in it except consumables: no food, no water, no fuel. It tells you whether the shelter and sleep system are the problem. It does not include what you wear.

Count it once

Put the pack on a scale at home with the kit you will actually carry, then remove food, water, and fuel. Write the number down. Repeating the weigh-in every time you add a gadget is the point.

Worn clothes and the shoes on your feet stay out of the number. A spare jacket in the pack stays in.

Look at the big three

Shelter, sleep system, and pack are where pounds hide. A cheaper tent and a bulky bag will dominate the number long before your spoon does.

Cutting a toothbrush in half before you have a sane tent is a hobby, not a plan.

Use the number

A first overnight can be heavier than a long trail. The number is there so you notice the chair, the second shoes, and the pot that is too big. Comfort you use is not waste. Comfort you carry and never use is.

Gear for this guide

A solo trekking-pole tent pitched at a forest campsite

SheltersDurston X-Mid 1Solo hikers with poles and stakeable ground1 · About 1 lb 12 oz · Mid

An open-back down quilt lofted on a pad inside a tent

SleepEnlightened Equipment RevelationWarm sleepers and side sleepers who hate mummiesQuilt · Lighter than a comparable bag · Mid to upper

PadsTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXTThree-season backpackingInsulated air · Low · Upper midOn Amazon

FAQ

What is a good base weight?

Light enough that you enjoy the miles you planned. Under about 20 pounds is a common comfortable target. Under 10 is a project.

Does it include water?

No. Water is a consumable and it changes by the mile.

Should I chase someone else's number?

No. Chase the trips you take.