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Traditional backpacking: total pack weight (including food and water) should not exceed 20–25% of body weight. Ultralight target: 10–15%. Expedition with gear: up to 30% for short carries.
Max pack weight = Body weight × Percentage limitBase weight excludes consumables (food, water, fuel). Ultralight base weight under 4.5 kg (10 lb); lightweight under 9 kg (20 lb); traditional under 13.6 kg (30 lb).
Total weight = Base weight + Consumables + Worn gearAdd 0.5–0.7 kg (1–1.5 lb) food per day. Water: 1 kg per liter carried. Longer trips need more food but can resupply; weekend trips carry 2 days food max.
Food weight ≈ 0.6 kg × Days between resupplyUpdated: July 2026
At 20% rule: max 14 kg total pack. Base weight target 8 kg + 1.8 kg food + 1 L water (1 kg) = 10.8 kg — comfortable margin for traditional lightweight setup.
Target 10% body weight = 6.5 kg total. Base weight 4 kg + 0.5 kg/day × 5 days resupply = 6.5 kg without carrying extra water (filter on trail).
Winter gear increases base weight 3–5 kg (sleep system, layers, snow tools). At 25% limit: 20 kg total. Accept higher percentage for short approaches to base camp.
Water is often the heaviest consumable — 1 kg per liter. A '15 kg pack' with 3 liters water is 18 kg total. Always include planned maximum water carry in total weight calculations.
Audit gear on a scale at home. Replace duplicates, swap to multi-use items, and eliminate redundant clothing. Every 500g saved reduces knee impact significantly over a multi-day hike.
Carrying too much weight causes fatigue, blisters, and joint stress on long hikes. Conventional wisdom limits pack weight to a percentage of body weight, varying by trip duration and terrain. This calculator recommends total pack weight and base weight targets for different backpacking styles.