Backpack Weight Limit Calculator

Work out backpack weight limit instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Backpack Weight Limit Calculator

The usual guidance is 20% of body weight for a fit hiker, less for beginners and up to 25% for experienced walkers. Consumables are the variable: about 800 g of food per day plus water, so a long trip needs a much lighter base weight.

Formula

Pack weight

maximum = body weight x fitness percentage; total = base weight + food and water

Worked example

With the default values below, Backpack Weight Limit Calculator returns Recommended maximum pack weight of 15.54. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Body weight: 74 kg
Fitness levelone of Beginner, Moderate, Experienced: Moderate
Trip length: 4 days
Base pack weight: 7.5 kg

Results

Recommended maximum pack weight: 15.54 kg
Weight of food and water: 5.20 kg
Total pack weight: 12.70 kg
Assessment: Within the recommended limit

Step by step

1Values used
2Pack weight
3Recommended maximum pack weight= 15.54 kg
4Weight of food and water= 5.20 kg
5Total pack weight= 12.70 kg
6Assessment= Within the recommended limit

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is base weight?

Everything except food, water and fuel — the part you can genuinely reduce through equipment choice. Ultralight hikers target under 5 kg.

How much water should I carry?

1-1.5 litres between reliable sources in temperate weather, more in heat. Water is 1 kg per litre, so carrying less and refilling more often is the lightest strategy.