Build Your Backpacking Loadout

Base weight is the total weight of your backpack and all your gear, excluding consumables like food, water, and fuel. It's the standard metric used to compare pack weights and determine if your setup is ultralight (under 10 lbs), light (10-20 lbs), moderate (20-30 lbs), or heavy (over 30 lbs).

Our calculator uses realistic weights based on actual gear specifications. All weights are stored in ounces and converted accurately to pounds, grams, and kilograms. For the most accurate results, weigh your actual gear on a kitchen scale and add it as custom items.

Yes! You can export your complete gear list in three formats: CSV (for Excel/Google Sheets), JSON (for data storage), or copy to clipboard as formatted text. All exports include weights in all units (oz, lbs, g, kg) and your total base weight.

For beginners, aim for under 30 lbs. Experienced backpackers target 20 lbs or less. Ultralight hikers achieve under 10 lbs. Your ideal base weight depends on your trip type, season, and personal comfort needs. The "Big Three" (shelter, sleep system, and backpack) make up ~60% of base weight, so start optimizing there.

Yes! The calculator is fully responsive and works on all devices. The 3D backpack visualization adapts to your screen size, and all features including adding custom items and exporting work seamlessly on mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Completely free! No signup, no hidden fees, no paywalls. We include affiliate links to recommended gear to keep the tool free. All core features including the calculator, 3D visualization, custom items, and export functionality are 100% free forever.