I found this app called Packlight. It basically lets you weigh all your gear a piece at a time and make an inventory. Then you can make a packing list and not be shocked that it weights 75lb. It’s time consuming to weight everything, but it’s 100 degrees here now so I needed an indoor activity.

Really nice to play around with pack weights and make choices without actually having to put in and take things out of the pack. It’s also eye opening what some things I thought were of negligible weight actually weight.

Its the little "nice to haves" that add up

Awesome thanks for the tip. just FYI for everyone else you can can import lighter pack lists if you already have them. That is a huge bonus for me.

I have used the lighter pack website for backpacking mostly because I didn't like the options available with the apps. This year for our June trip I took the time put a list together for our BWCA trip and actually went through and weighed almost everything. Previously I had used excel spreadsheets but never entered the weights. Getting those weights in front of you really starts to make you question each item.

if this is helpful to anyone I'll include a link to my lighterpack.com for the BWCA. This was the first pass. I don't think I ever went back an removed items that we decided not to take. Either way it should give folks a good starting place if you have similar gear.


https://lighterpack.com/r/op8nyu

IndyCanoe: "Awesome thanks for the tip. just FYI for everyone else you can can import lighter pack lists if you already have them. That is a huge bonus for me.


I have used the lighter pack website for backpacking mostly because I didn't like the options available with the apps. This year for our June trip I took the time put a list together for our BWCA trip and actually went through and weighed almost everything. Previously I had used excel spreadsheets but never entered the weights. Getting those weights in front of you really starts to make you question each item.


if this is helpful to anyone I'll include a link to my lighterpack.com for the BWCA. This was the first pass. I don't think I ever went back an removed items that we decided not to take. Either way it should give folks a good starting place if you have similar gear.



https://lighterpack.com/r/op8nyu "

haha, not sure if I want to do this and find out how much $$$ I have in my gear... But really, great for planning though, thanks for sharing.

I’ve always thought ounce counting was annoying. But trying to get my pack weight down this year was impossible. I just couldn’t figure out where the weight was. I would take 3 things out and accomplish nothing! The weighting everything has been eye opening.

The ways I found to lose weight:

(1) Leave stuff behind. It's quick, cheap, and effective.

(2) Cutting food, fuel, and kitchen weight. Took a while to get it down to just the amount I need. Simplicity is an added bonus.

(3) Better, lighter gear.

Atrain: "

IndyCanoe: "Awesome thanks for the tip. just FYI for everyone else you can can import lighter pack lists if you already have them. That is a huge bonus for me.



I have used the lighter pack website for backpacking mostly because I didn't like the options available with the apps. This year for our June trip I took the time put a list together for our BWCA trip and actually went through and weighed almost everything. Previously I had used excel spreadsheets but never entered the weights. Getting those weights in front of you really starts to make you question each item.



if this is helpful to anyone I'll include a link to my lighterpack.com for the BWCA. This was the first pass. I don't think I ever went back an removed items that we decided not to take. Either way it should give folks a good starting place if you have similar gear.



https://lighterpack.com/r/op8nyu "

haha, not sure if I want to do this and find out how much $$$ I have in my gear... But really, great for planning though, thanks for sharing."

Yeah looking back I maybe should have left out the cost when I went through the efforts, it hurt to see. That said almost everything we have was purchased with some type of discount and accumulated over 10+ years. Upgrading a little at a time.

Looks like a handy app, thanks for posting. Since we are at the age (late 50's) that we are slowing down significantly, I have really become serious about what things weigh as well as pack weights and have made significant changes. I weigh EVERY item and have dropped about 20 pounds just through better gear and lighter food. What is crazy is we have added weight with pillows, chairs and a table as those things really help our aging bodies and still dropped over 20 lbs. Hard to believe what 20 lbs will do to lower pack weight. Our trips average from 12-15 days and around 60-70 miles, so not super long, but long enough that some creature comforts and lighter packs really help. You are so right about underestimating what stuff weighs. Small heavy items feel much heavier than larger items that weigh the same. An extra lightweight shirt weighs much more than a 10 pack of 1/4 ounce jig heads, but it doesn't feel that way. Listing weights of everything makes it so much easier to make decisions on what and how much to take.

I love this app. It has helped me get my solo gear down to a weight I can single portage. It was eye opening to see how the ounces added up quickly to pounds. Now I just need to get my husband to start weighing his gear...LOL.