Backpack weight

[paloma]

How much is too heavy? Is there a ratio between body weight and backpack weight? I feel a constant strain on my shoulders and back whenever I carry a backpack around.

[Refrigerator]

paloma/ Constant strain on your shoulder is a sign that the pack is not adjusted correctly or the wrong size pack, maybe carrying too much of a load, possibly packing your pack you have the weight distributed incorrectly throughout the pack. Try and go to an outfitter store and discuss your problem with them, and if you have more than one outfitter resource talk to a second. Mainly go to a Backpacking outfitter, especially one that sales the brand pack you are carrying.

[outdoormarc]

too heavy is when it takes more than 1 hand to pick up your pack

I'd say anything heavier than 12 to 20 lbs with food and water for a 3 day trek.

[IndianaHiker]

The model is that a person in good health should be able to carry 25% of their body weight. For some in better than average shape 30%. However sounds to me that your pack wither is the wrong size for needs to be adjusted to fit you better.

[outdoormarc]

Fitness to pack weight ratio has nothing to do with each other. The more weight the worse off you are! You can carry 40-50lbs all day for 3-5 days, not me!

[Peesalot]

Originally Posted by Refrigerator

paloma/ Constant strain on your shoulder is a sign that the pack is not adjusted correctly or the wrong size pack, maybe carrying too much of a load, possibly packing your pack you have the weight distributed incorrectly throughout the pack. Try and go to an outfitter store and discuss your problem with them, and if you have more than one outfitter resource talk to a second. Mainly go to a Backpacking outfitter, especially one that sales the brand pack you are carrying.

Excellent answer!

Outdoormarc, most people who only carry 12 lbs on a 3 day trek would most definitely be considered an ultra light backpacker! Either they are going without comforts of a sleeping pad, tent, and sleeping bag, or they have the money to spend on the super expensive ultra light gear. My husband and I split our gear and have invested in the light weight Big Agnes sleeping pads and light weight sleeping bags and our Sierra Designs Alpha 3 Convertible All Season Tent is only about 5 lbs which we also split up, but I still can't manage getting my pack to weigh any less than about 35 to 40 lbs. Which includes the 3 liters of water that I carry in the bladder. I would definitely be more inclined to think it is more of what refrigerator has mentioned above. My pack is generally heavy when we first start out and especially so as we climb upward, but my pack carries it well and the hip belt does the job it's supposed to. A good fitting pack is definitely key! Skimping out on some items to lighten the load may be doable, but not worth being without in my opinion.

[IndianaHiker]

I typically carry 30 to 40 lbs and still cover 12 to 15 miles a day in an area with lots of elevation changes. I could go lighter but they are limiting factors. First one must carry water and for the most of the year where I tend to go there are not water sources you can depend on. I normally need to carry 3 to 4 liters of water which weighs about 1lb per liter. You cant go without food. This leaves me to the biggest limiting factor for me. The cost of ultra light weight gear. While my gear is not the bottom of the line to reduce my weight to much more than 30 lbs for a three day hike I would have to spend a large sum of money. There are lighter weight choices for gear but I have had to settle for the middle ground in order to be able to enjoy this hobby. Sounds like someone must have a good deal more money invested in their kit than I to do 3 days on 20 lbs.

[dinosaur]

I agree. Unless you are in the military where they carry a 90lb. pack, 40lbs. is about right. The only advice I can give are the three things most important about your gear assuming it is quality stuff. These three things are miniaturize, miniaturize, and miniaturize. That's why I always try to check out new products that someone has made smaller, lighter, or more efficient.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by IndianaHiker

I normally need to carry 3 to 4 liters of water which weighs about 1lb per liter.

1L of water is about 1kg, which is about 2.2lbs. So 3-4L of water should come in at roughly 6.6-8.8lbs. (Conversions are approximate and ignore the temperature of the water.)

[/nitpick]

I tend to pack pretty light, with an ultra-light tent, pad, and sleeping bag. I carry a light knife (Mora), a small saw, and a small shovel. I bring extra clothing, a first aid kit, and a few small odds and ends (small thing of bug spray, small flashlight, etc).

With all this stuff plus food and about 3L of water for a night, my pack comes in at maybe 20 pounds, tops. I'd obviously need some more food for more than an overnight. I can save weight on water by bringing only one bottle and using water purification.

In warmer weather, I travel a little lighter. In cold weather, I travel a little heavier. The stuff above is a kind of average that assumes I need to bring long pants, extra socks, a light fleece, and such. If it's the dead of summer I can cut a lot of that weight by bringing fewer clothes and a light blanket. If it's down near freezing, I add a few more pounds for extra warmth.

As long as I'm not sprinting on the uphills (which I do when I'm bored), I can carry my kit for a while without getting tired. I got used to carrying an unbalanced bag with about 10 pounds of books, netbook, and water to class all day. 20 pounds spread out well in a balanced and adjusted pack isn't much harder to carry.

I suppose I could hike for a bit with 30-40lbs, but I don't think I'd want to. (:

[IndianaHiker]

Michael you are right about the weight of water. Must of fat fingered and hit the 1 and not the 2. Sounds like you have some nice gear. Here is the big 4 that I carry

Pack Terra 65 (4lbs 11oz)
Buy The North Face Terra 65 Pack

Sleeping Pad Big Agnes Insulated Air Core (1lb. 5oz.)
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Mummy Pad

Sleeping Bag
Mont-Bell Super Spiral Burrow Bag (2Lbs 8Oz)
mont-bell :: Super Spiral Burrow Bag #3

Tent one rare occasions I bring one Coleman Inyo2 (4Lbs 14oz)
http://www.elitedeals.com/coexinsote.htm

Big 4 12Lbs 4oz
Water 6Lbs 6oz
First Aid 1Lbs 6oz
Total 20 LBS

Never looked at it this way before I am at 20 Lbs before I even add food cloths, and whatever else I bring. Most additional weight is food as calories are burned when backpacking. Other item is pot for cooking but not much weight there as it is a MSR titanium pot. Problem now is reducing weight without spending way to much money. Looks like tent, pack are biggest hogs. That and could invest in better clothing for layering in winter as there are lighter materials that are as warm but they are costly. Dang for a cheap hobby you sure can spend fast doing this.