Midweight Backpacking Gear List

16 lb Base Weight

Midweight backpacking gear is a good choice for shorter multi-day trips (under 100 miles) where you don’t mind carrying a few extra pounds in exchange for a few luxuries. It’s also good for new hikers who aren’t comfortable going ultralight yet. This midweight backpacking gear list is intended for typical three-season hiking conditions (late Spring through early Fall.)

The Big Three (Backpack, Shelter, Sleep System)

Weight: 8.4 lbs

These “big three” items make up the foundation of your lightweight backpacking system. They get used more than anything else, make up the bulk of your pack weight and will take the biggest chunk out of your budget.

Midweight Backpacking Gear List - The Big Three

The Big Three:

Alternatives:

Clothing Worn

Weight: 3.9 lbs

This is the clothing you will wear every day on the trail. Since these items spend more time on your body than in your pack, they are excluded from the “base weight” calculation. But they are included in your “skin-out weight.”

Midweight Backpacking Gear List - Clothing Worn

Clothing Worn:

Alternatives:

Clothing Packed

Weight: 3.5 lbs

This is clothing that is usually packed and gets worn during cold and wet weather, at camp in the evenings and on laundry day. Because these items spend as much time in your pack as on your body, they are included in the “base weight” calculation.

Midweight Backpacking Gear List - Clothing Packed

Clothing Packed:

Alternatives:

Cooking & Hydration

Weight: 1.8 lbs

These items are used for cooking and eating, cleaning dishes and storing and treating drinking water. This example will allow you to pack up to 4 liters of water. You may need to carry more or less water, depending on the conditions where you plan to hike.

Midweight Backpacking Gear List - Cooking & Hydration

Cooking & Hydration:

Survival & Miscellaneous

Weight: 2.1 lbs

These items are used for navigation, fire starting, first aid, gear repairs, personal hygiene, organization and other various tasks. Some of these things may not get used very often, but it’s still wise to carry them, because they are important to have in an emergency.

Midweight Backpacking Gear List - Survival & Miscellaneous

Survival & Miscellaneous:

Items Worn or Carried

Weight: 1.6 lbs

These are non-clothing items which are typically carried in your hands or on your body. They are excluded from the “base pack weight” calculation, but are included in your “skin-out weight.”

Midweight Backpacking Gear List - Worn or Carried

Worn or Carried:

Consumables

Weight: 20 lbs

These items get used up as you hike and have to be replenished occasionally. Since the weight of consumables fluctuates, they are excluded from the “base pack weight” calculation. But they are included in your “full pack weight” and “skin-out weight.”

Midweight Backpacking Gear List - Consumables

Consumables:

Midweight Backpacking Gear List Summary

Base Pack Weight: 12.5 lbs

There are a few different methods for calculating pack weight. “Base weight” includes all of your packed gear, but does not include clothing worn, consumables and other items worn or carried. “Full pack weight” includes all of your packed gear and consumables like food, water and fuel. “Skin-out weight” includes everything packed, worn and carried.

Here is how our example midweight backpacking gear list stacks up:

Midweight Backpacking Gear List

Midweight Backpacking Gear List

The Big Three: 8.4 lbs
Clothing Packed: 3.5 lbs
Cooking & Hydration: 1.8 lbs
Survival & Miscellaneous: 2.1 lbs
Base Pack Weight: 15.8 lbs
+ Consumables: 20 lbs
Full Pack Weight: 35.8 lbs
+ Clothing Worn: 3.9 lbs
+ Items Worn or Carried: 1.6 lbs
Skin-Out Weight: 41.3 lbs

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