Backpack weight calculator

mttgilbert · Post by **mttgilbert** » Jun 08 2003 9:35 pm

I just found this neat program for calculating the weight of your pack. Check it out

http://members.tripod.com/ibbeson/Gear_ ... ulator.htm

even if you don't know (or care) what the weights of your equipment are this would make a great gear checklist.

ellehcim · Post by **ellehcim** » Jun 08 2003 9:42 pm

In response to matt gilbert's reply:

I am confused... How would any calculator predict your weight? I just weigh myself before packing and then after and determine exactly what the difference is... How would a program determine how many sticks of beef jerky you were carrying?

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Jun 08 2003 9:46 pm

You enter the weight yourself
At which point I thought... does this really help?

I mean you could use your own calculator or common sense for that matter.

What makes it work is you can check and uncheck items then quickly re-calculate
If you put the actual weight of each beef jerky stick you can then put in a quantity, so it does do some of the tedious math

I didn't think it was useful at first but I think it might be. It does help you plan your pack & the weight calc is nice.

MaryPhyl · Post by **MaryPhyl** » Jun 08 2003 10:43 pm

In response to matt gilbert's reply:

Matt--I tried using that one some time ago and found it cumbersome. I use a simple one somebody made that uses Excel. Give it a try--there may have been some improvements. I would give mine but I don't know how to send it. I have had it for so long I don't know who I would give credit to for making it. Mary

mttgilbert · Post by **mttgilbert** » Jun 08 2003 11:05 pm

ellehcim; its not a backpack weight predictor, its a backpack weight calculator. Of course it won't help tell you how many sticks of jerky you are carrying.

There are definately some drawbacks to this program, but its the first one I've come across. Thats why I threw it out there, to get some feedback.

I personally like being able to see all my gear options right in front of me (and I like not having to write the formulas for my own spreadsheet). I also find it helpful to determine the general base weight of my pack. I can have all my gear listed in front of me, choose the items I need and see instantly what the approximate weight will be.

Call me tedious, but I've always kept a gearlist and weighed my equipment individually anyway, this is a nice way to keep track of it all (and much less paper intensive). On a side note I have found that the nature of backpack weights are very Gestalt; that is, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. No matter how closely I weigh all the individual items, after all is said and done the end-weight is always a little heavier (funny that its never a little lighter)

ellehcim · Post by **ellehcim** » Jun 09 2003 4:42 am

In response to matt gilbert's reply:

Seems like alot of extra work to me, but if it makes ya happy then use it!!!!

Trailhead · Post by **Trailhead** » Jun 09 2003 6:41 am

I like using a pack calculator. It acts as my check list and I know what my pack weight is before heading off. I made it using Excel and obviously it's no good to you if you don't have Excel. Here is where it's located. http://members.cox.net/jorourke/ The Alt. column does nothing except to act as place to store the weight figures for alternate items I might take. I just plug the "Alt." numbers into the "Weight" column and change the original item to zero.

MaryPhyl · Post by **MaryPhyl** » Jun 09 2003 8:28 am

Mine allows me to check what I actually plan to take and the total changes. I don't see where you can check off gear.. Every piece of gear I own is listed and I use the thing frequently. For food and water I just put in some round number. I will be accurate to within about a half pound of my actual pack weight .

mttgilbert · Post by **mttgilbert** » Jun 09 2003 9:22 am

I am usually accurate within the pound as well, but I would like to get closer to acutal weight.

Trailheads program is nice but I really like the option of being able to check off a particular peice (or pieces) of equipment and see what their weight is independant of the rest of the list. This is, unfortunately impossible with excell (as best as I can figure anyway). I really liked the extra section for fuel consumtion though.

Trailhead, are the figures used in this program your own or are they just examples?

Trailhead · Post by **Trailhead** » Jun 09 2003 9:38 am

In response to matt gilbert's reply:
The figures are my own, I have weighed everything. What I do is print it and fold it in half then the column labeled "Check" is where I make a check mark as I load my equipment into my pack. If you change any of the weight numbers it automatically recalculates the "Total pack Weight". I could make this in Microsoft Access and have all my gear listed with a check-box next to each item and have a running total as each item is checked. Heck, maybe I'll do it.

mttgilbert · Post by **mttgilbert** » Jun 09 2003 9:48 am

The reason I ask about the weights is that you have a T-rest listed as 52 ounces, thats three times as heavy as your tent, is that a mistake?

If you get around to creating a program in access let us know, I for one would be interested in seeing it, especially after seeing the excell one.

MaryPhyl · Post by **MaryPhyl** » Jun 09 2003 11:13 am

OK--this is what I was able to copy from my Excel program. The true false column look like little green boxes (they don't say true and false)and I can check them . Notice the subtotals after each category and then the grand total is at the bottom. For things like food and water I just change the number for each trip. All of my gear is listed. I could do a skin out number if I want but usually I just check off what is in my pack. The "bathroom" is a quart sized zip baggie with all of my small things like first aid and flashlight and such.

Pack/Shelter

North Face Slickrock 66 FALSE 0 ozs.
Painter's Dropcloth 4 TRUE 4 ozs.
Tadpole 64 FALSE 0 ozs.
Silnylon Tarp 13 FALSE 0 ozs.
Walrus 64 w/o fly 96 FALSE 0 ozs.
Sierra Designs 80 FALSE 0 ozs.
Silnylon poncho 8 FALSE 0 ozs.
Stakes 3 FALSE 0 ozs.
LLBean Summer 40 Degree 32 FALSE 0 ozs.
WM Highlite 16 TRUE 16 ozs.
WMUltralite 28 FALSE 0 ozs.
Silk Liner 5 FALSE 0 ozs.
mylar bivy 4 FALSE 0 ozs.
Thermarest Mary's 24 TRUE 24 ozs.
Vapor 45 18 oz w/o stays 27 TRUE 27 ozs.
GVP 16 FALSE 0 ozs.
Triptease 1 TRUE 1 ozs.
Shelter Total 72 ozs.
4.5 lbs.
Kitchen

Esbit Knock off 1.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
Esbit tabs 10 6 FALSE 0 ozs.
Hank Roberts 8 FALSE 0 ozs.
Hank Roberts cartridge 9 FALSE 0 ozs.
Inline Filter with hose 5 FALSE 0 ozs.
Iodine 0.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
Titanium cup 1 FALSE 0 ozs.
lexan spoon 0.5 TRUE 0.5 ozs.
platy 1 TRUE 1 ozs.
gatorade bottle 1.5 TRUE 1.5 ozs.
.9 ltr pot no lid 3.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
1.3 ltr pot no lid 4.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
paper towels 0.25 TRUE 0.25 ozs.
foil 0.25 FALSE 0 ozs.
Heavy skillet 8 FALSE 0 ozs.
Kitchen Total 3.25 ozs.
0.203125 lbs.

Clothes

coolmax longsleeve top 7 FALSE 0 ozs.
coolmax sleeveless shirt 4 FALSE 0 ozs.
Sequel white long sleeve mesh shirt 7 FALSE 0 ozs.
Polartec 100 shirt 9 FALSE 0 ozs.
LLBean down vest 10 FALSE 0 ozs.
Down Jacket WM 8 FALSE 0 ozs.
Frogg Toggs top and bottom 14.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
Powerstretch top and bottom 17.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
Robert's fuzzy black hat 3 FALSE 0 ozs.
Zip off pants 11.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
gloves# 1.5 FALSE 0 ozs.
Black silk top and bottom 6 FALSE 0 ozs.
Undies 1 TRUE 1 ozs.
bandana 1 TRUE 1 ozs.
Navy socks 2 FALSE 0 ozs.
White socks 1.5 TRUE 1.5 ozs.
Polartec200 pants 13 FALSE 0 ozs.
Polartec 200 jacket 14 FALSE 0 ozs.
Disposable poncho 4 FALSE 0 ozs.
Clothes total 3.5 ozs.
0.21875 lbs.

Miscellaneous

Camera 8 FALSE 0 ozs.
Bathroom 8 TRUE 8 ozs.
Disposable camera 3 FALSE 0 ozs.
2 section Z-rest 2 TRUE 2 ozs.
4 section Z-rest 4 FALSE 0 ozs.
water 24 FALSE 0 ozs.
food 8 FALSE 0 ozs.
FALSE 0 ozs.
FALSE 0 ozs.
FALSE 0 ozs.
FALSE 0 ozs.
FALSE 0 ozs.
Umbrella 6 FALSE 0 ozs.
Slinglight Chair 22 FALSE 0 ozs.
Book 8 TRUE 8 ozs.
Misc. total 18 ozs.
1.125 lbs.

Grand Total…………. 96.75 ozs.
6.046875 lbs.

Trailhead · Post by **Trailhead** » Jun 09 2003 12:17 pm

In response to matt gilbert's reply:
52.4 oz is correct, I use a Therm-a-Rest Discovery Base Camp which is 2" thick, 25" wide, and full length. I eat the weight for a really good night's sleep.

MtnGeek · Post by **MtnGeek** » Jun 09 2003 8:25 pm

seams like too much work for me. I just throw everything in my pack, weigh myself, then weigh myself with the pack and minus my weight. quick easy simple and if it wieghs too much see what i can do to reduce it. I've never had a problem. My heaviest pack was 35 pounds when i was going to Colorado for a 5 day trip hiking over four, 12,000 foot passes and a 14,000 foot mountain. It would of been lighter if I did not have to carry some of my little brothers stuff.

mttgilbert · Post by **mttgilbert** » Jun 09 2003 8:30 pm

I'm not overly concerned with my pack being super-lightweight or anything, even if I just throw stuff in the bag I rarely end up with more than 30 pounds (including food and water).

Your probably right, it probably is a waste of time, but hey, if I can't be out wearing the pack, I sure do enjoy tinkering with it. (It keeps my mind of the fact that Im stuck in the city).

Backpack weight calculator

Backpack weight calculator

Re: Backpack weight calculator

Re: Backpack weight calculator

Re: Backpack weight calculator