Before you start thinking about what to pack for your backpacking trip, let's look at how to measure the weight of a backpack.

All this while, we have been given a long list of individual things to carry on a trek or hike, and we would sit and tick each of them. Once we stuffed everything inside the pack, we would go and measure the total weight of the pack.

While there is nothing wrong with this, there is a much easier and more efficient way to do it. The right way.

Let's forget the old way of looking at our gear individually. No piece of gear should be used independently. Everything is a part of a system.

For example, we do not have cooking gear; we have a cooking system. We do not have a sleeping bag; we have a sleeping system.

So how do you measure the weight of the backpack?

Base weight of a backpack = Packing system + Shelter system + Sleeping system.

When you add consumables to it, we get the final pack weight, i.e., Base weight + Consumables = Pack Weight.

The reason we don't count consumables is:

a. It will be used up during the trip.
b. The weight will change over the duration of the trip.
c. They will be eaten, drunk, or burned during the trip.

Everything else that goes inside the backpack like your sleeping bag, tent, clothes, stove, will not change much.

Knowing your base weight gives you a number that you can work on reducing in the future.

Backpackers usually define themselves based on the base weight of the backpack.

As a backpacker, you're considered ultralight if the base weight is under 5 kg and lightweight if the base weight is under 10 kg. Most traditional backpackers have a base weight under 15 kg.

Understanding how to measure the weight of your backpack is not only about numbers; it's about adopting a systematic approach to packing that enhances your overall backpacking experience.

As you prepare for the upcoming backpacking trip, remember to consider the base weight of your backpack and strive to pack smarter, lighter, and more intentionally.