English french Vietnam
Mr Linh's Adventures
    • Home
    • Trekking Travel

Hiking Pack Weight


Preparing for a Hike is often a battle against the pounds or kilos. And we do not mean this in a weight loss kind of way. What we mean is that on your hike you will be the beast of burden and everything you take with you will have to be carried by you. Every time you lift your foot to make a new step you will be lifting the full weight of your body plus your pack load. Multiply this by many thousands of steps and you will realize how a few pounds extra will make a big difference on a large hike.

There are a few terms used for Hiking Weight:
•    From the Skin Out (FSO) Weight:
the weight of everything you carry outside of your skin so this includes your backpack but also your socks, boots, etc.
•    Pack weight:
the weight of your Backpack not including the Provisions (food/drink) you are bringing. 
So preparing for a trek always involves a great deal of contemplating on what you really need and how you can minimize your FSO weight. Often making this calculation boils down to choosing between comfort in walking (lighter loads) and comfort when not walking (better food, more and/or better equipment, books, entertainment, etc).

backpack

 

Here are some tips:
•    A well trained hiker might be able to carry up to one third of his own body weight as FSO weight. In general however one fourth will already be very cumbersome. From one fifth and down you should be able to hike comfortably.
•    Start by contemplating on what you will absolutely need in terms of provisions and gear. Note down these functions.
•    Try looking for ultra-light and multipurpose equipment that will fulfill the functions you listed down. The constant demand for lighter pack loads has sparked some very high tech solutions that are able to combine multiple hiking functions in light weight gear.
•    Pack lightweight but high nutritional value Dehydrated Foods. On the flip side of the equation: minimizing your pack weight will actually allow you to bring better food. Of course this choice is very personal but 4 straight days of dehydrated foods is no fun!

Upadated : Aug. 2023

Recommended For You

Adventure Tour to Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake 3 days 2 nights
159 reviews

This Vietnam adventure tour will take you from the vast lakes and chalky karsts of Ba Be National Park to the wild and rugged landscapes of Cao Bang to visit the spectacular Ban Gioc waterfall. You will be travelling through remote areas in Northern Vietnam, brushing along the Chinese border and staying with local families to learn about and experience the unique cultures and customs of rural Vietnam.

Theme: Multi-day & Extended tours
: Daily
Duration: 3 days 2 nights
Destination: Ba Be National Park - Cao Bang - Hanoi
Suitable: Small group
Trekking The Northern Trails of Vietnam 9 days 8 nights
8 reviews

An exceptional journey off the beaten track like no other to explore the most beautiful landscapes of North Vietnam and to meet the ethnic minorities such as the Dzao, black and flower Lo Lo, Hmong, Tay, Nung on the trails of Vietnam.

Theme: Hiking & Trekking Tours
: Daily
Duration: 9 days 8 nights
Destination: Ba Be National Park - Ha Giang Province - Hanoi
Suitable:
Vietnam Adventure 15 days 14 nights

Over 15 days of adventure tour Vietnam, you’ll have the opportunity to delve a little deeper into Vietnam, reaching parts of the country where very few people get to go. Some of the highlights include visiting endangered primates in the beautiful Trang An, exploring one of the largest caves in the world, a scenic drive along the Hai Van pass made famous by the show Top Gear, sampling some of the world’s best coffee, tackling rapids while white water rafting and a cruise through the canals of the Mekong Delta to name just a few. This trip certainly packs a punch!

Theme: Multi-day & Extended tours
: Daily
Duration: 15 days 14 nights
Destination: Buon Ma Thuot - Dalat & Around - Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) - Ho Chi Minh City - Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hoi An - Hue - Mui Ne - My Tho - Ninh Binh Province - Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Suitable: Small group
Bản in
Bản in
In Association With
adventure travel trade association
Travel Life
Pata
vietnamtourism
mekongtourism