My Pack

Pack Weight Calculator

Crew goal 20% · Crew standard 25% · Hard ceiling 30%

Estimated Pack Weight

32.9 lbs

(target base: 17.1 lbs)

Cut 0 lbs 14 oz to hit 20% target

20%25%30%

Base: 18.0

Base Pack Weight — 18.0 lbs

Trail Load — 14.9 lbs

Settings

Your body weight (lbs)

Your Base Pack Weight (lbs)

Your pack before food, water, crew gear, and worn clothes. Weigh it at home before you leave.

Your Shelter

Philmont tent added to Trail Load: 2.7 lbs.

Estimated Trail Load

Food, water, crew gear, and your half of a Philmont tent.

Food (per person, 1st carry segment)5.8 lbs
Water (2L standard)4.4 lbs
Crew gear (avg, varies 0–3 lbs)2 lbs
Philmont tent2.7 lbs
Total Trail Load14.9 lbs

Trail Load is added to your Base Pack Weight to estimate your heaviest pack.

Gear assignment may need to be uneven. Lighter crew members may need to carry less shared crew gear so their Estimated Max Pack Weight stays under their Absolute Max. Heavier crew members pick up the slack — they have margin. See Reference › Gear › Assignment guide for the body-weight tiers.

Participant guidelines

Strong, fit adult or older youth

Target: 25%Max: 30%

Average youth or adult

Target: 20–25%Max: 30%

Smaller youth

Target: 20–25%Max: 25% preferred

Participant	Recommended target	Do not exceed
Strong, fit adult or older youth	25% body weight	30% body weight
Average youth or adult	20–25% body weight	30% body weight
Smaller youth	20–25% body weight	25% preferred

Why 20% and not Philmont's 25–30%? The crew goal is 20% so we get an experience, not a survival march. 25% is the crew standard — above that you're carrying too much. 30% is Philmont's hard ceiling — no exceptions.

Planning rules

Planning rule	Recommendation
Crew standard	25% or less after Trail Load is added
Smaller or underweight youth	20–25% body weight
Absolute ceiling	30% body weight
Coaching note	Treat 30% as the maximum, not the goal

Body weight reference · 100–200 lbs

100 lb

20% Goal

20 lb

30% Max

30 lb

Target Base

≤5.3 lb

120 lb

20% Goal

24 lb

30% Max

36 lb

Target Base

≤9.3 lb

140 lb

20% Goal

28 lb

30% Max

42 lb

Target Base

≤13.3 lb

160 lb

20% Goal

32 lb

30% Max

48 lb

Target Base

≤17.3 lb

180 lb

20% Goal

36 lb

30% Max

54 lb

Target Base

≤21.3 lb

200 lb

20% Goal

40 lb

30% Max

60 lb

Target Base

≤25.3 lb

Body wt	20% Target	25% Standard	30% Hard Max	Target Base	Note
100 lb	20 lb	25.0 lb	30 lb	≤5.3 lb	UL setup needed · minimal trail load
120 lb	24 lb	30.0 lb	36 lb	≤9.3 lb	UL setup required · lighter trail load
140 lb	28 lb	35.0 lb	42 lb	≤13.3 lb	Achievable · disciplined gear selection
160 lb	32 lb	40.0 lb	48 lb	≤17.3 lb	Small margin · standard trail load
180 lb	36 lb	45.0 lb	54 lb	≤21.3 lb	Good margin
200 lb	40 lb	50.0 lb	60 lb	≤25.3 lb	Good margin

Reference Target Base values use a fixed 14.7 lb Trail Load estimate. The live calculator above adjusts Trail Load based on whether you are using a Philmont tent.