Compare the cost of carrying it.
This is gross walking energy, including the resting component during the walk. It does not estimate your full day or hydration needs. Downhill, running, snow and heat effects are excluded. The ±25% band is a sensitivity illustration, not a validated confidence interval; error may be larger.
Model details & unit conventions ↗The Pandolf equation estimates walking energy with a pack. A 75 kg walker with 12 kg at 4 km/h on a 3% grade uses about 327 kcal in one hour.
Base weight is pack gear without food, water or fuel. Learn what counts, how skin-out weight differs, and a worked ledger reaching 5,700 g.
Work out backpacking food weight from calories and energy density. 2,800 kcal per day at 450 kcal per 100 g is 653 g per day with 5% packaging.
Convert percent grade to degrees and back with the formulas, a conversion table, a worked 8% example and the error in the small-angle shortcut.
Related toolsTrail timePack ledgerFood carry