Base weight is the weight of your pack and non-consumable gear inside it. Add food, water and fuel to get your starting pack weight. Items you are wearing stay separate; if you move them into the pack, count them there.
The three numbers to keep separate
- Base weight
- Your backpack and carried gear that will not be used up: shelter, pad, clothing carried in the pack, and the like.
- Consumables
- Food, water, and the fuel you expect to use. Count their empty containers as base gear if the container is staying with you.
- Worn weight
- Items currently worn or carried on your body, entered separately so the list reflects where the weight is at the start.
A worked example
Suppose your pack and non-consumables weigh 13 lb 8 oz. You add 5 lb 4 oz of food, water and fuel. Your starting pack weight is 18 lb 12 oz. Clothing and footwear already on your body are not in that total.
These numbers illustrate the arithmetic. They are not a target or a recommendation. In the pack weight calculator, add an item to the person actually carrying it and choose whether it belongs to base, consumable, or worn weight.
How to get a total you can use
- Weigh gear as packed, including sacks and accessories. Use a manufacturer number as a provisional value only when it matches the model and configuration.
- For consumables, use the amount you will actually carry when you start.
- Leave missing weights blank. Zero means zero; a blank means the total is incomplete.
- Weigh the loaded pack as a cross-check if you have a scale. Compare it with your list, and look for forgotten containers, clothing or shared gear.
Weight is one part of the plan
A lighter total does not answer whether your route, timing, conditions, and equipment are appropriate. Avoid dropping required or safety-related items to hit a number. Cross-check the pack with the NPS Ten Essentials and overnight checklist.
Common questions
Does water count toward base weight?
The water itself is a consumable. The bottle or reservoir is base gear if you carry it even when empty.
Do shoes count toward base weight?
Shoes you are wearing are tracked separately. Spare shoes in your pack are base weight.
Can I calculate the load for two people?
Yes. Assign every shared item to one pack, or enter its components on separate lines with the correct assignees.
