how do you weigh stuff?

[PennyPincher]

I see a lot of people with their weights measured in grams and ounces. What do you use to weigh your equipment?

[10-K]

Digital postal scale.

[Mountain Wildman]

http://www.amazon.com/ULTRASHIP-55-DIGITAL-SHIPPING-KITCHEN/dp/B000FSWB9K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1281405496&sr=8-4

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41S1TfRBDpL._SL500_AA300_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000FSWB9K/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics)

[Kerosene]

I used to use an analog postage scale, but I bought an inexpensive digital scale on eBay that can display in grams, ounces, and fractional pounds. Of course, my wife uses it as a food scale most of the time.

[Rocket Jones]

I got a WalMart gift card for my birthday and used it to buy a digital kitchen scale at their online site. Weighs up to 4 lbs in ounces or grams. I had it delivered to my local store for pickup, that way there's no shipping cost.

[leaftye]

I personally don't weigh. This is because I buy equipment as light as I can afford and carry as little as possible. Knowing the weights won't change a thing except bragging rights until that time when (if ever) I own lots of interchangeable ultralight equipment. I do occasionally post weights though, but I use whatever weight the manufacturer provides.

[Egads]

I weigh myself with a pack and w/o a pack and calculate the difference = the weight of the pack

Single items on a digital weight watchers scale.

[Appalachian Tater]

Use the postal scale at work or the lobby scale at the post office.

[Spokes]

I weigh myself with a pack and w/o a pack and calculate the difference = the weight of the pack

Single items on a digital....... scale.

I do the same thing!

[Llama Legs]

http://www.myweigh.com/scales/medium-scales/3001p-and-7001dx-series

[Wrangler88]

I went to Staples and bought a postal scale. I went home and weighed my stuff and then I took it back the next day. I didn't plan on doing that when I bought it but when I was done I realized I then knew all of the weights of my gear and didn't need a scale anymore.

[bigcranky]

This scale, in red (http://www.amazon.com/Escali-P115C-Digital-Multifunctional-Chrome/dp/B0007GAWRS). Weighs in grams to 5 kilos, or tenths of an ounce to 11 pounds. Great little scale, and we use it in the kitchen every day for regular food prep.

[Big Dawg]

I see a lot of people with their weights measured in grams and ounces. What do you use to weigh your equipment?

Digital kitchen scale for $25 at Walmart. One of the best purchases I've ever made.

[Hooch]

I'm a big proponent of not weighing your gear at all. I never have and I never will. Who cares about the acutal number associated with the weight? In the end, it's just a number. All that matters is if the pack feels comfortable riding on your back or not. Mine is comfortable, even with cold weather gear in it, so the weight really doesn't matter to me at all. As always, HYOH and WYOP (weight your own pack).

[Big Dawg]

Before I started weighing my hiking gear, I had all kinds of crap in my pack. I had always thought... "who cares about the weight, it's just a number". My 7# pack & 50 more lbs of gear seemed comfy. Then I was introduced to the idea of weighing EVERYTHING in my pack,,, and the POUNDS of crap I really didn't need kept adding up.

Now that my base weight hovers around 15#'s, I'm more comfy while hiking than I ever thought I could be. I laugh when I think back to the HEAVY days!! Thanks to my digital kitchen scale and my excel spreadsheet, I'm one happy hiker!!! :D

[bigcranky]

While I completely understand Hooch's point of view, I'm with Big Dawg on this one.

[Franco]

Whatever works for you...
However
"but I use whatever weight the manufacturer provides."
The problem with that is that real weight and given weight often differs. 10-20% extra is not unusual.
Obviously that is only relevant if you do have a choice, as in two tents,two mats ....
There are areas where most can benefit from knowing the exact weight. Clothing for example.
Most have a choice here , particularly when taking "layers" into consideration.
You maybe surprised how much heavier some tops/jackets are compared to others.
food is another area.
Safety/emergency/optional extras can also push the weight up . So do we really need that machete/saw/fire starter/ surgical grade first aid kit (that we do not know how to use....) ?
Here is a very small example.
1 L Nalgene (the Lexan type) bottle 6oz.
4 L Nalgene Canteen (soft collapsible ) 2 1/4 oz.
1.25 L "soft drink" plastic bottle 1 1/2 oz.
Franco

[Wise Old Owl]

http://theweightinggame.ivillage.com/dietfitness/scale_002%5b1%5d.JPG:D

[leaftye]

I don't wish to disagree, rather to agree and clarify. In short, common sense and constantly reevaluating gear and improving skills is more than enough right now.


"but I use whatever weight the manufacturer provides."
The problem with that is that real weight and given weight often differs. 10-20% extra is not unusual.
Obviously that is only relevant if you do have a choice, as in two tents,two mats ....

Having multiple pieces of lightweight gear with weights that can only be separated with a scale is a luxury I'm mostly without. In most cases I have reduced weights by significant fractions. No need for a scale to know my featherweight down jacket is lighter than my heavy fleece jacket, or that my ULA pack weighs less than my Dana Designs expedition pack.

Now I do have a selection between a 1.5 oz/yd cuben ground sheet and a GG polycro sheet. Again, no need for a scale. I only need to evaluate the conditions I expect to encounter.

Same goes with items I can eliminate. I have a lightweight cook systems, but I don't cook, so I don't carry it. I don't need the optional door to my Hexamid if it'll be warm and dry, so I'll leave the Hexamid at home. I may even forgo the tarp and its stakes and use my Tigoat bivy instead, and even though the bivy and tarp may weigh about the same, I get substantial weight savings by leaving the stakes at home.

There's also one change in my sleeping system that I'm going to make with weight being a smaller factor. I want to replace my foam inflatable pad with a down air mattress. This change will allow me to stuff my pad inside my pack and hopefully sleep more comfortably. I'll get the lightest pad I can afford, but I won't compare it to the old pad because it's definitely going to be used.


There are areas where most can benefit from knowing the exact weight. Clothing for example.
Most have a choice here , particularly when taking "layers" into consideration.
You maybe surprised how much heavier some tops/jackets are compared to others.

Right now the only clothing where I would cut significant amounts of weight is in my rain/wind gear. For this, I'm anxiously awaiting breathable cuben fiber. That'll be another big fraction of weight to eliminate if the material is everything I'm hoping for.

Again, there are areas where weight isn't the primary factor. I would rather wear my Ecomesh clothing than anything else, even if there were big weight savings. I'm not going to bother weighing it when I don't have an acceptable alternative.

Some items will be carried no matter what, so weighing those items are pointless. My cell phone immediately comes to mind.



food is another area.
Safety/emergency/optional extras can also push the weight up . So do we really need that machete/saw/fire starter/ surgical grade first aid kit (that we do not know how to use....) ?
Here is a very small example.
1 L Nalgene (the Lexan type) bottle 6oz.
4 L Nalgene Canteen (soft collapsible ) 2 1/4 oz.
1.25 L "soft drink" plastic bottle 1 1/2 oz.

This is an area that I think is only safe to cut back on based on intimate knowledge of how the gear is used and experience on the trail. As you said, there's little point in carrying first aid gear I don't know how to use. Really knowing this gear can result in weight savings. Like if I carry flagyl pills, I can save weight by figuring how much I need for treatment and only carrying that amount. Becoming more proficient with fire starting skills results in being able to carry fewer and smaller items, or eliminate items entirely. But with both the flagyl and fire starting kit, it'd be wreckless to eliminate them based solely on their weight. I'll carry as little as I safely think I can.

Same with water. When I first started training, I knew I was out of shape, and water reports weren't available yet, so I made sure I had plenty of capacity. Better fitness and knowledge of the land and myself has allowed me to gradually my water needs and transition to smaller/lighter water containers.

Somewhat related to water is my shaker bottle. I use it to consume 1/2 to 2/3rd's of my trail diet. My bottle feels heavy, but I have not found suitable substitute. I've had friends and fellow hikers try their shaker bottles or other types of bottles, but this has only led to messy and often tedious results. I'm stuck with my shaker bottle unless I completely change my diet, but I'll continue to keep an eye out for alternatives.





...

These methodology has allowed me to save a lot of weight. I can think of about 15 pounds right off the bat.

3+ pounds saved by switching a Dana Designs Astralplane for a ULA Catalyst.
~1 pound saved by switching Leki trekking poles for GG LT4's.
5 pounds saved by switching Asolo leather goretex boots for Inov-8 370 trail running shoes.
1/2+ pound more saved by getting rid of camp/water shoes at the same time.
1.5 pounds saved by realizing I only used my mini computer in town, leading me to put it in a bounce box.
1/2 pound saved by getting rid of my only leg insulation because I never used it.
1+ pound saved by getting rid of a cooking system I never wanted to use.
1/2 pound saved by getting rid of umbrella that I wasn't using anymore.
1 more pound by getting rid of vapor barrier suit, compass and mitten shells.

Of course there have been many other small refinements along the way. Many more changes are coming. I'll be happy to share if I haven't already been overly tedious.

Eventually I'll refine my gear and skills enough that eliminating ounces will be done in very small amounts. At that point I may get a scale so I can determine if I'm moving in the right direction. Or maybe if I get into a gram counting pissing contest, although that's unlikely...mostly because I carry luxury items. Like maybe I'll carry a book to enjoy some leisure time in solitude, or maybe a set of shears so I can do some trail maintenance. These luxuries are a big part of what it's all about to me.

Anyway, I think you see that I can do a lot without a scale.

[leaftye]

Oops, switching packs saved over 4 pounds, not 3.

[STICK]

http://stick13.wordpress.com/clothes/american-weigh-amw-13-digital-postalkitchen-scale/

[flemdawg1]

http://www.amazon.com/ULTRASHIP-55-DIGITAL-SHIPPING-KITCHEN/dp/B000FSWB9K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1281405496&sr=8-4

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41S1TfRBDpL._SL500_AA300_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000FSWB9K/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics)

I have this same scale. I think I got it @ Sam's Club.

[Mountain Wildman]

I have this same scale. I think I got it @ Sam's Club.

Ordered mine from Amazon.com, Got it for $16.83, Now they want $20.58 for it. I ordered the AC adapter, Should get here tomorrow.
http://www.amazon.com/ULTRASHIP-55-DIGITAL-SHIPPING-KITCHEN/dp/B000FSWB9K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1281563523&sr=8-2

$6.19 for the AC adapter.
http://www.amazon.com/ULTRASHIP-SUPPLY-MYWEIGH-DIGITAL-POSTAL/dp/B001CI1BP2/ref=pd_sbs_op_3

[Rocketman]

I am gadget oriented.

I have a Walmart kitchen scale good to 11 pounds which also weighs is grams.

I have a handheld fishing scale that weighs up to 35 pounds to get fully loaded weights. I also regularly catch giant fish :-)

I have a small handheld 5 pound scale that weighs in grams (5 gram incriments) which I often carry with me when shopping to weigh various proposed purchases. I am surprised at how poorly I "estimate" weight differences in two items I hold in my hands. I know better, now, than to trust "which seems heavier" as a selector. I just weigh the darned things. Carry a small plastic sack to hang on the hook of the scale and hold the objects.

[Franco]

"I have a small handheld 5 pound scale that weighs in grams (5 gram increments) which I often carry with me when shopping to weigh various proposed purchases. I am surprised at how poorly I "estimate" weight differences in two items I hold in my hands. I know better, now, than to trust "which seems heavier" as a selector."

That is the same for most people.
One of the reasons is that we perceive a denser (same weight but smaller) item to be heavier .
Experiment : hold in one hand a 1L bottle (full of water) and on the other a sleeping bag of equivalent weight (just over 1 KG) or something like that.
could be a pillow in one hand and the equivalent weight in a water bottle in the other.
Another : hold two slightly different weights on each hand , then swap...

As already mentioned, many of the manufacturers specs are not correct*. Again once you have purchased the item that is not relevant to you, but it is if you are comparing two items that you think will do the same job for you.
Once you are familiar with weights, then you can estimate and make better choices. Not at the start.
So for example , I have been cooking Italian food for almost 50 years, so I do not need scales nor books to do so.
However if I were to suggest how to cook lasagna to a first timer, I would recommend using scales and a good recipe book...
In other words the advice is not about me or how I do it...
BTW, not everybody posting the weight (or lack of) of their gear is doing so to gloat. Some do it just to inform others, like the OP in most threads...
Franco
*If you want to check the "measured weight" against "manufacturer's weight" bit , have a look at some of the reviews here :
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/ (http://www.backpackgeartest.org/)

[SMSP]

I use a small kitchen type digital scale for weighing individual things. I also use a game hanging scale in my garage for weighing the whole pack. Just the other day, I bought a digital fish scale with a hook for weighing my packs as well. I have to get up on a ladder to read the hanging game scale. The digital fish scale allows me to just hook the packs top handle, then pick it up and read the display.

SMSP

[Wolf - 23000]

Prior to leaving town or hitting the trail I ask the post office to weight my pack to include all my gear with food. This way when I say I'm leaving with 10 - 13 pounds, I'm really leaving with 10 - 13 pounds total on the trail.

Wolf