{"id":6203,"date":"2021-08-24T21:11:36","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T02:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/?p=6203"},"modified":"2023-11-19T04:33:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T10:33:41","slug":"how-heavy-is-too-heavy-for-backpacking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/how-heavy-is-too-heavy-for-backpacking\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Should Your Hiking Pack Weigh? (From 80 Results)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When gearing up for a backpacking adventure, the weight of your pack is a critical factor. But how can you tell if your pack is just right or overladen? Since one person’s experience is hardly a benchmark I decided to ask 80 other backpackers how much they were willing to carry to answer the pressing question: “How much should your pack weigh?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the survey, you should stick to between 16% and 25% of your entire body weight while backpacking. Any pack over 35 pounds was generally deemed too heavy for both men and women who backpack long distances.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you may decide to carry more or less depending on how long your daily hikes will be as well as where and when you were hiking. Further, your physical fitness, age, and health also play a factor in determining how much you want to backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a table showing the calculation of different body weights and the corresponding maximum backpack weights, using the 16% to 25% body weight recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Body Weight (lbs)<\/th>Min Backpack Weight (16%, lbs)<\/th>Max Backpack Weight (25%, lbs)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
100<\/td>16.0<\/td>25.0<\/td><\/tr>
120<\/td>19.2<\/td>30.0<\/td><\/tr>
140<\/td>22.4<\/td>35.0<\/td><\/tr>
160<\/td>25.6<\/td>40.0<\/td><\/tr>
180<\/td>28.8<\/td>45.0<\/td><\/tr>
200<\/td>32.0<\/td>50.0<\/td><\/tr>
220<\/td>35.2<\/td>55.0<\/td><\/tr>
240<\/td>38.4<\/td>60.0<\/td><\/tr>
260<\/td>41.6<\/td>65.0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Backpack weight range for different body weights<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you want to figure out exactly how heavy is too heavy for backpacking, read the responses to our survey below and see what the most current research is saying about this maximum amount of weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, not everyone knows what a heavy backpack can actually do to your body. We found an awesome article that goes into detail about the downfalls of a heavy backpack. In the sections below, we summarize these potential injuries as well as what seasoned hikers say you can do if your backpack is too heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n