Sweet Spot of Weight, Performance, and Cost
Table of Contents
Trade-off between Weight, Performance (Including Durability), and Cost
The most common mistake of beginners is to underestimate the importance of weight. They try to save money by buying heavy gear but end up wasting money because they later must upgrade to lighter gear.
Through-hikers say, “Ounces make pounds.” They go to great lengths to shave off a few ounces–drilling holes in toothbrush handles, cutting straps off packs, and spending thousands of dollars on ultralight gear. That’s overkill for casual backpackers, but you might find that weight is more important than you expected. A 35-lb pack might not feel heavy when you carry it around your yard, but after lugging it up and down hills for 15 miles, you’ll wish you had bought lighter gear.
Your loaded pack should weigh less than 20% of your body weight. The maximum is 35 lbs for the average, 180-lb American, but the lighter, the better. Long-distance and fast-paced backpackers carry less than 20 lbs.
Another common mistake is to spend too much on ultralight gear that isn’t necessary for your hiking conditions. It’s always good to carry the lightest weight possible, but is it necessary to spend an extra $2,000 on ultralight gear if you are only hiking 5 miles per day on level terrain?
Three Rules of Weight, Durability, and Cost
- Cheap durable gear isn’t light
- Cheap lightweight gear isn’t durable
- Lightweight durable gear isn’t cheap
Sweet Spot
Low-end, High-end, and Sweet-spot Conditions
| Low-end | Sweet Spot | High-end |
|---|---|---|
| • Heavy gear • Less than 5 miles/day • Low elevation gain • Uncomfortable • Warm temperatures • Excellent physical shape • Not far from car | • Moderate to light-weight gear • Less than 15 miles/day • Moderate elevation gain • Comfortable • Temperatures down to freezing • Average physical shape | • Ultralight gear • Up to 30 miles/day • High elevation gain • Very comfortable while hiking • Separate gear for each temperature range |
Example Costs and Weights of Low-end, High-end, and Sweet-spot Gear
| Low-end Product | Weight (oz) | Cost ($) | Sweet-spot Product | Weight (oz) | Cost ($) | High-end Product | Weight (oz) | Cost ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpack (55 L) | Bseash 60L | 64 | $40 | REI Flash 55 | 45 | $199 | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 | 32.5 | $379 |
| Tent | Coleman Sundome | 109 | $70 | Lanshan Ultralight 3-Season Backpacking Tent | 45 | $160 | ZPacks Duplex Flex | 28 | $818 |
| Sleeping bag (20°) | SAEROVIE 20° Mummy Sleeping Bag | 64 | $37 | Kelty Cosmic 20 Down | 39 | $120 | Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 | 21 | $550 |
| Total | 237 oz | $147 | 129 oz | $479 | 81.5 oz | $1747 |
Be sure to read Five Steps to Save Money on Backpacking Gear