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Pack Weight Calculator

Formulas

The formulas to calculate the pack weight for hiking are:

$\text{DHPW} = 0.10 \times \text{BW}$

$\text{LHPW} = 0.20 \times \text{BW}$

Where:

$\text{DHPW}$ is the pack weight for a day hike (lbs)
$\text{LHPW}$ is the pack weight for a backpacking hike (lbs)
$\text{BW}$ is the person's body weight (lbs)

What is the Correct Pack Weight for Hiking?

In order to preserve energy and avoid injury, a day hiking pack should not exceed more than 10% of your body weight, and a longer backpacking hike should not exceed 20% of your body weight. Higher weights than recommended above could lead to injury or burnout.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following value:

Body Weight (BW) = 150 lbs

Using the formulas to calculate the pack weights:

$\text{DHPW} = 0.10 \times 150 = 15 \text{ lbs}$

$\text{LHPW} = 0.20 \times 150 = 30 \text{ lbs}$

The pack weight for a day hike (DHPW) is 15 lbs, and for a long hike (LHPW) is 30 lbs.