What scale to buy?

[Many Moons]

Please give some advice for best scale to buy to weigh gear. Looked at food scales, but not sure how that works with packs and larger item like sleeping bags. Searched posts already, but did not see one dedicated to scales. I found one at Harbor Freight Tools for 17.99 that weighs up to 11 pounds. Thanks for any info you might have. Hike On!!!


Miller
ILMT

[QiWiz]

I like a postal scale that weighs up to 10 pounds with accuracy down to 0.05 ounces and can show grams as well as ounces. If you need to weigh something with a big volume like a sleeping bag, zero the scale with a large plastic bowl on it and the stuff sack, then stuff your bag in the sack, place in bowl, and reweigh. What will meet your needs depends on how carefully you want to weigh things. Going lighter can become obsessive. You've been warned!

[R1ma]

How accurate do you need? To the ounce? Eighth ounce? Gram?

Fish scales are nice and similar to luggage scales as you hang stuff from them, but they usually don't have the greatest resolution.
Something like this: http://www.basspro.com/Rapala-Compac...ct/1206250145/ will get you to the ounce, but not closer, nor closer than 10 grams (2 digit decimal KG), but it will weigh a 21lb bicycle quite well.

I haven't seen a hanging scale in my price range that has better resolution. I'm sure they exist though. I use a kitchen scale with a 5 kg max load and 1 gram resolution by OXO (I've bought Salter ones, but they all broke for me).

[Blissful]

I use our postal scale

[colorado_rob]

I use a 5 lb capacity digital postal scale I bought at Costco for about 20 bucks. Seems to be very accurate (I borrowed a couple of calibrated weights, and the scale was within a couple of grams for a 500 gram weight). I cut a piece of stiff cardboard about 12x12" and taped it to the top of the scale. It self-calibrates to zero when you turn it on, meaning it cancels out the weight of the cardboard (and I tested it like this with those weights I mentioned).

Anyway, that 12x12" surface is handy for accurately weighing most things, even sleeping bags. Just put the bag in a stuff sack, which sits nicely on the 12x12 cardboard, and weigh it. Then weigh the stuff sack separately and subtract. I have a log that has these accurate weights for all my gear AND clothing items. Call me anal, but I think this all is important for comfy hiking. I even weigh all my stuff sacks and label them with a sharpie. Amazing how the weights of stuff sacks vary. Same with articles of clothing.

This setup is also great for portioning out food items, powders, snack sizes, etc, into zip locks. Even zip-lock bags vary a lot depending on the brand. 7 days of food in 20 or so zip locks makes those zip-locks add up to a few ounces, not insignificant.

This scale doesn't work for packs though; I weigh my packs with a fish-scale, which isn't as accurate, but probably good to within an ounce or two. I also weigh my packed-pack this way for the real bottom line. this fish scale is a 50 lb capacity digital scale I bought at a sporting goods store.

[Many Moons]

Thanks for the info. I will look at postal scales and will use the bowl or cardboard tricks. Thanks. Hike On!!!


Miller

[Many Moons]

I use our postal scale

Thanks!!! Hike On!!!


Miller

[Slo-go'en]

In the fishing supply section of Walmart, you can find an analog or digital fish scale with a 50 pound capacity. The analog one is cheap, but has limited resolution. The digital one is only $20 and has 1 oz resolution. Either one is good for weighing a fully loaded pack. For small stuff, the digital postal or a food scale is best. It's nice to have both. It's difficult to get an accurate reading of the bulky stuff on a small postal scale.

[jimmyjam]

Just get the el cheap0 from Wally World that will weigh in grams/ozs/pounds. To weigh large stuff I get a cardboard box and center it on the scale, after it reads the weight hit the set button again and it will now read as "0". Then put your pack or quilt in the box and it will give you the true weight. I weigh each item individually so I can know what my total weight will be if I add something or decide not to take something. I think the Wally World scale I got was only like $12 or $15.

[MuddyWaters]

You can get a small scale from harbor freight that weighs up to 16 oz. , they go on sale for $5.99

The only items that should weigh more than that are your pack, and sleeping bag. Weigh them at the post office..once.

Or any larger scale from harbor freight or walmart will work. Just more money. Most of what you need to weigh and focus on will be small items.

[Many Moons]

You can get a small scale from harbor freight that weighs up to 16 oz. , they go on sale for $5.99

The only items that should weigh more than that are your pack, and sleeping bag. Weigh them at the post office..once.

Or any larger scale from harbor freight or walmart will work. Just more money. Most of what you need to weigh and focus on will be small items.

Yea, the little things added up for me on my first hike I think. Put to many little items in pack.

[Canada Goose]

http://sticksblog.com/clothes/americ...kitchen-scale/

[bigcranky]

I use a kitchen scale that weighs to 11 pounds in grams or half ounces. Easy.

[cabbagehead]

A fish or luggage scale would be cheaper, and have fewer parts. If it's for a professional fishing competition, it needs to be accurate.

[Dogwood]

I use a battery powered digital kitchen scale I bought at BED, BATH, AND BEYOND for $22 that weighs up to 8 lbs, has both kg/grams and lbs/oz measurements, is accurate to a 1/4 oz, and is made with a stainless steel casing. It's small though so when weighing something like a backpack I have to first place something like a laundry basket, etc on the scale, zero it out, and then place the backpack in the laundry basket.

[Dogwood]

Oops, just looked at my scale. It's accurate to 1/8 oz.

[Carl Calson]

wal mart digi, 10 lb

[Turk6177]

i used a food scale that you could tare to 0. I would just put my bulkier items in a box, hit the tare button, and then weigh my items. It was easier to do.

[fredmugs]

http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Preci...=kitchen+scale

I have this and recommend it.

[oldbear]

easier way
Use a digital bathroom scale
Weigh yourself
Note the number
Get off the scale
Pick up the item in question
Weigh yourself again
Note the new number
Subtract