So what's ultra-light, what's heavy, and what's just light?

[JAK]

I think it makes sense to compare relative to body weight, but even more sense to compare to lean body weight. A slight improvement on this is to base everything on height, perhaps height squared to be more precise. So I would propose the following as a new standard. The great thing about standards, there are so many to choose from. Also, the following is for total weight on feet, skin out, not including body weight. Arguably you could include body weight, as a 2 pound pack with 100 pounds of excess body fat is hardly Super-Ultralight. Anyhow...

Super-Ultralight: skin out weight (pounds) = height (feet) x height (feet) x 50% = 12 pounds for 5 foot, 15 pounds for 5'6", 18 pounds for 6 foot tall.
Ultralight: skin out weight (pounds) = height (feet) x height (feet) x 60% = 15 pounds for 5 foot, 18 pounds for 5'6", 22 pounds for 6 foot tall.
Light: skin out weight (pounds) = height (feet) x height (feet) x 80% = 20 pounds for 5 foot, 24 pounds for 5'6", 28 pounds for 6 foot tall.
Norm: skin out weight (pounds) = height (feet) x height (feet) x 100% = 25 pounds for 5 foot, 30 pounds for 5'6", 36 pounds for 6 foot tall.
Heavy: skin out weight (pounds) = height (feet) x height (feet) x 120% = 30 pounds for 5 foot, 36 pounds for 5'6", 43 pounds for 6 foot tall.
SuperHeavy: skin out weight (pounds) = height (feet) x height (feet) x 150% = 37 pounds for 5 foot, 45 pounds for 5'6", 54 pounds for 6 foot tall.

[JAK]

Maybe 40% for SUL. Includes food and water though, so it depends on how far you need to go. Maybe it would include half of food and water. Whatever. You could also make it seasonally dependant but I think it makes more sense to go up a class or two for winter and down a class for mid summer. i.e. UL mid-summer, Light for Spring/Fall, Norm for Winter to 10F, Heavy for Winter to like -20F or lower.

[jdc5294]

I'm 6'0", usually between 160-170 but on the trail I think I hovered around 140-145. I never went above 25 fully loaded out of town with water too, more often then not I was 18-20.

[Bronk]

I once saw a tent at Cabelas that weighed 6 pounds and it had the label "Ultralight Backpacking Tent" on the box.

[RED-DOG]

For me 25 to 30 lbs is just right, any thing under 25lbs is UL and any thing over 30 lbs is heavy, but this is just my personnal oppinion

[Kerosene]

If you can lift the pack with one pinky, it's ultra light.

If it takes one hand to lift, it's light

It takes two hands and a knee, it's heavy.

If takes a rope over a tree limb and pullys, it's ultra heavy.

I like this!

[George]

heavy is any that is more than you carry - UL is less than you are willing to exist with, and of course just right is the same as you

[marti038]

Thank you all for your input. I'm not really planning on making any changes to anything I have, but this confirmed that weight is an obsession to some but isn't as critical as many make it out to be.

I recently sought input for a sleeping pad on another thread and it seemed that most of the responses I got indicated that weight was the primary factor in their decisions. Well, for me it was a good night's sleep, even if that meant carrying some extra weight. So, I have a 2" thick pad and I'm very happy with it.

Then I got to thinking about the other items I normally carry, and I've found that I tend to haul a lot of comforts that other folks would find blasphemous due to the "unecessary" weight. I wasn't sure just how out of the norm this was, but it doesn't appear to be as unique as some would make it out to be.

Happy Hiking.

[RED-DOG]

Thank you all for your input. I'm not really planning on making any changes to anything I have, but this confirmed that weight is an obsession to some but isn't as critical as many make it out to be.

I recently sought input for a sleeping pad on another thread and it seemed that most of the responses I got indicated that weight was the primary factor in their decisions. Well, for me it was a good night's sleep, even if that meant carrying some extra weight. So, I have a 2" thick pad and I'm very happy with it.

Then I got to thinking about the other items I normally carry, and I've found that I tend to haul a lot of comforts that other folks would find blasphemous due to the "unecessary" weight. I wasn't sure just how out of the norm this was, but it doesn't appear to be as unique as some would make it out to be.

Happy Hiking.

Bro you can ask any question you want on WB and get 20,000 different answers and some you might not want the fact is it's all up to you, you'r personnal preference, but for me if i don't use it every day i don't carry it except for my tent. Good Luck and Happy trails

[The Weasel]

"Ultra light" and similar terms are deceptive unless you're doing a true FSO start-of-hike weight, with water (1 liter when water supply is no issue), but for me, without food, which varies depending on days planned. I've always considered 15# FSO to be ultra light, since I always carry 2# of water and 20# to be light. It also depends on the season/climate/altitude since clothing needs vary.

The Weasel

[MDSection12]

Those carrying less than me are reckless and those carrying more than me are stupid.

(Once read that on here... Love it!)

[The Weasel]

"Ultra light" and similar terms are deceptive unless you're doing a true FSO start-of-hike weight, with water (1 liter when water supply is no issue), but for me, without food, which varies depending on days planned. I've always considered 15# FSO to be ultra light, since I always carry 2# of water and 20# to be light. It also depends on the season/climate/altitude since clothing needs vary.

The Weasel

[TEXMAN]

If it costs under $50 at WalMart it is Heavy\
If a similar item costs $100 then it is light
If you buy it online or at an outfitter for $300 then it is utralite

[jdc5294]

If it costs under $50 at WalMart it is Heavy\
If a similar item costs $100 then it is light
If you buy it online or at an outfitter for $300 then it is utralite

That's actually pretty accurate

[mak1277]

If it costs under $50 at WalMart it is Heavy\
If a similar item costs $100 then it is light
If you buy it online or at an outfitter for $300 then it is utralite

Yep, but not taking something you don't use/need is absolutely free.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Anything that can be found or seen in a hiker box between Springer and Neels Gap is "heavy".

[Malto]

Anything that can be found or seen in a hiker box between Springer and Neels Gap is "heavy".

Or along the approach trail.

[Namtrag]

Thank you all for your input. I'm not really planning on making any changes to anything I have, but this confirmed that weight is an obsession to some but isn't as critical as many make it out to be.

I recently sought input for a sleeping pad on another thread and it seemed that most of the responses I got indicated that weight was the primary factor in their decisions. Well, for me it was a good night's sleep, even if that meant carrying some extra weight. So, I have a 2" thick pad and I'm very happy with it.

Then I got to thinking about the other items I normally carry, and I've found that I tend to haul a lot of comforts that other folks would find blasphemous due to the "unecessary" weight. I wasn't sure just how out of the norm this was, but it doesn't appear to be as unique as some would make it out to be.

Happy Hiking.

I am with you on the pad. I started off backpacking with the folding z foam pad, and I felt like crap, hips sore, shoulders sore. I decided 1 lb for a self inflating pad was well worth it, and now I sleep great on the trail. I cut the z pad off, and use a piece of it as a kneeling, sitting pad now, so at least it wasn't a total waste of money! lol

[Mags]

Partially because of this and similar threads, wrote some half-@ss remarks...

http://www.pmags.com/backpacking-weight-mania

[Malto]

Partially because of this and similar threads, wrote some half-@ss remarks...

http://www.pmags.com/backpacking-weight-mania

that lake would only be cool to visit with an SUL pack. Anything heavier would suck.