Backpacking light - what is good weight?

The most impactful items are your sleeping gear(tent, bag and pad) and your pack. Better choices in these can easily save multiple pounds. Most other items you will be looking to save ounces.

• Sleeping Bag Winter

  • Rating of 20-30 degrees

  • weight

    • poor > 4lbs, packs to 12" diameter x 20" long = 720cu inches(12 L)

    • good < 4 lbs

    • better < 3 lbs

    • best < 2 lbs, packs to 8" diameter by 15" long or smaller = 240cu(4L) inches or 3x smaller than poor choice

• Backpack

  • 60L - 70L volume

  • weight

    • poor > 6 lbs

    • good < 6 lbs

    • better 3-4.5 lbs

    • best < 3 lbs

• Sleeping pad

  • weight

    • poor > 3 lbs

    • good < 2-3 lbs

    • better 1-2 lbs; < 4L packed

    • best < 1 lbs; < 2 L packed size

• Tent

  • Best option is splitting a tent, much easier and cheaper to get a 6lb or less 2-3 man and split than a <3lb 1 man

  • weight

    • poor > 4 lbs

    • good 3-4 lbs

    • better 2-3 lbs

    • best < 2 lbs