Crazy Folks with 14lbs Packs

[garlic08]

I thought it was understood that people say the weight of their pack minus food and water, since that is a variable. And that when people say the weight but are including food and water, they usually state that.

Spoken like a PCT hiker! I thought the same until I got exposed to the AT scene, where, it turns out, many hikers don't know or simply don't care what their packs weigh, saying "It is what it is. It works, so why mess with it?" There are also those who are proud of their heavy loads and think anyone different is "crazy", as in the title of this thread. I have also been trying, in vain, to get someone to define "a full load of food and water". The best definition I've heard so far is "fill up the empty space in the pack until no more fits." Water usually means three liters, no matter that your feet are wet from walking in pristine springs. Welcome to AT world!

[HumanBN]

I see alot of folks asking if this weight includes food and water. Well, I don't know. I started the thread after seeing a video on Youtube of some guy's trip and him talking about his pack averaging 14lbs for the whole trip. I'll have to try and find the video again sometime so I can post a link to it here.

[10-K]

Interesting categories!

However, I was implying that on threads like this one people state a weight (in pounds) for their pack--but they don't tell us what that is included (or excluded from that weight). Even when they do tell us, they are each comparing something different. Thus, it is difficult to really compare.

1. Get on the scale naked. Weigh yourself.
2. Still naked, put on your pack. Weigh yourself.
3. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number.
4. The difference is your pack weight.

That's the only way to know for sure.

(and make sure you don't pee or pooh between weigh ins...)

[Old Hiker]

10 pounds summer
20 pounds spring/fall
30 pounds winter

but what is included, and what is not, i'm not going to tell you.

bacon !!!!

[Rockhound]

1. Get on the scale naked. Weigh yourself.
2. Still naked, put on your pack. Weigh yourself.
3. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number.
4. The difference is your pack weight.

That's the only way to know for sure.

(and make sure you don't pee or pooh between weigh ins...)

Um......K. But why the naked part. Couldn't you just be wearing the same clothing during each weigh in? Or are you just practicing fof hike naked day?

[Mags]

My pack weighed over 50 lbs last year.

But that included 10 lbs of pork roast plus carrots, spinach and who knows what else while on skis...

There are also those who are proud of their heavy loads and think anyone different is "crazy", as in the title of this thread

AT scene in general:= It's OK to be out of shape, carry 50+ lbs. Advocating being in shape and carrying something lighter means crazy. Any mileage more than 12-15 MPD means you are not stopping to smell the roses (usually in a crowded, dark, shelter by 4PM)

[Skidsteer]

How much food are you carrying?

As much as I want to. And it's a lot easier to do that when the food bag for a three day trip weighs more than my big four combined.

[Happy]

Would you hike the AT at that weight in February? If so, please list the individual gear list weights.

[Skidsteer]

Would you hike the AT at that weight in February? If so, please list the individual gear list weights.

I would in Georgia.

-ULA Circuit 2 lbs
-Hilleberg Rajd 2 lbs
-JRB Katahdin quilt 2 lbs
-Neo-Air Regular 14 oz
-Optional CCF pad 5 oz

Total 7 lbs, 3 oz.

My food for three days would be around 6-7 lbs + about a lb of 80 proof ground softener.

[NorthCountryWoods]

I'd be willing to bet if there were a mandatory weigh station on the trail, you'd find the packs of those that endorse light weights would be heavier than claimed and those that endorse heavy weights would be lighter than claimed.

I've gone both routes....heavy (60-70lbs+) in the early years and on long expeditions.....lighter (<15lbs) in the mid years....and have finally settled somewhere in the middle. Base weight for everything minus boots, food and water is in the 20-30lbs range depending on time of year.

Hike your own hike and when it comes to "crazy folk" on the trail, the light-weighters are the least of your worries.

[Egads]

Any LD hiker can get their pack (with food & water) to 14 lbs or less for a weekend hike, on the other-hand, campers have trouble getting this light

[SGT Rock]

If I include my gun and ammo, the weight tends to go up.

[SGT Rock]

I see alot of folks asking if this weight includes food and water. Well, I don't know. I started the thread after seeing a video on Youtube of some guy's trip and him talking about his pack averaging 14lbs for the whole trip. I'll have to try and find the video again sometime so I can post a link to it here.

If you think about it, "averaging" 14 pounds isn't as hard as it sounds.

If I have an 8 pound base like old RJ, then add in 2 pounds of water, 1 pound of fuel, and 4.5 days of food at 2 pounds a day. Your pack weight at the start is 20 pounds. If you figure you roll into town at 8 pounds exactly because you used up all your expendables, then you take half of your water and food weight which is 2+1+9=12/2 = 6 + your 8 pound base, you now "average" 14 pounds.

[HumanBN]

If you think about it, "averaging" 14 pounds isn't as hard as it sounds.

If I have an 8 pound base like old RJ, then add in 2 pounds of water, 1 pound of fuel, and 4.5 days of food at 2 pounds a day. Your pack weight at the start is 20 pounds. If you figure you roll into town at 8 pounds exactly because you used up all your expendables, then you take half of your water and food weight which is 2+1+9=12/2 = 6 + your 8 pound base, you now "average" 14 pounds.

Seems logical. Food is always weighing less then it did yesterday. And if There are reliable water sources coming up then carrying less water for that day would make sense too. I need to weigh my pack. Haven't tried that yet. Did a 71 mile trip last Spring and started around 40lbs with 3 quarts of water and 10 lbs of food. I have since changed many of my pieces of gear to a lighter version. It should weigh less... hopefully.

[Spokes]

It's all part of the sub-culture..........

[mweinstone]

my chaco taco. we should four astrics. really. 29 with kite and 2mi string.

[Chillfactor]

1. Get on the scale naked. Weigh yourself.
2. Still naked, put on your pack. Weigh yourself.
3. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number.
4. The difference is your pack weight.

That's the only way to know for sure.

(and make sure you don't pee or pooh between weigh ins...)

Why naked? You can do the math with your clothes on. Weight in clothes with pack minus your weight in clothes still gives you the pack's weight.

[J-Rod]

i just weight my pack last night with 3 days of food and water i'm at 16lbs
i always say give or take a pound cause i might have more water then other times...or more food
but for an over night i'm around 13lbs

[Darwin again]

The problem with this sort of discussion is that there is no standardized consensus of WHAT is being weighed. So, it often boils down to comparing apples and oranges. ...

For discussion purposes, "base weight" means the weight of the pack and its contents, NOT including consumables (the weight of which changes while you hike) like food, water, stove fuel, and butt paste. This is a widely understood term within the hiking community.

[Darwin again]

bacon !!!!

Precooked, packaged. Yum. Been there, done that.
I wholeheartedly endorse bacon.