Why the number ultralight hikers quote isn't the number on your bathroom scale.
- 1
What base weight actually measures
Base weight is the weight of everything in your pack excluding consumables — food, water, and fuel — items that get used up and vary trip to trip. It's the standard way ultralight hikers compare gear kits apples-to-apples.
- 2
Why consumables are excluded
Food, water, and fuel weight changes daily as you eat, drink, and burn through supplies, and varies enormously based on trip length and resupply frequency — including them would make it impossible to meaningfully compare one hiker's gear choices to another's.
- 3
How to calculate your own base weight
Weigh every item that goes in or on your pack except food, water, and fuel, and add it up. Many ultralight hikers keep a running spreadsheet (a "gear list") that tracks each item's weight individually, making it easy to spot upgrade opportunities.
Quick method: Weigh your fully packed bag, then weigh just your food, water, and fuel separately, and subtract — the difference is your base weight. - 4
What total pack weight includes, and why it still matters
Total pack weight (or "skin-out weight" including worn items) is what you actually carry on a given day, and it's the number that matters for your body on trail — a very low base weight can still mean a heavy pack on a long, dry resupply stretch carrying six days of food.
Gear That Meaningfully Lowers Base Weight
| Product | Best For | Weight | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 | Lightest waterproof pack | 32 oz | $379 | 9.3/10 |
| Feathered Friends Vireo UL | Lightest sleeping bag | 16.4 oz | $429 | 9.1/10 |
| Tarptent Double Rainbow Li | Lightest 2P tent | 765g | $439 | 9.4/10 |