March 2015
Excel spreadsheet with detailed checklist list for New Zealand
Everything is weighed on my Soehnle Kitchen Scales
My usual aim is to get my backpack weight down to at least 7.5kg, preferably below 7kg, plus 2kg of gear/clothes I'm wearing. Ian is not so fussy as the extra load isn't a problem for him. But I work on the theory that the backpack weight should not be more than 15% of body weight, and me being 52kg, means about 7.5kg. Roughly that's 1.2kg for backpack, 1.2kg for computer and charger, 1.2kg for food, eating utensils and water, 1.2kg for maps and passports etc, 1.2kg for toiletries, rain gear and gloves etc and 1.2kg for one change of clothes and PJ's. That's about 7.2kg.
Whenever I go shopping for travel gear, I always bring along my Soehnle kitchen scales. It's amazing how you can strip 3kg off the weight just by being careful - such as squeezing out half the toothpaste, and taking only 2 merino wool T shirts that don't need washing every day, instead of 4 normal ones.
But this trip to New Zealand required us to carry a sleeping bag and food for 3-4 days so I have decided to forego my 1.3kg computer, as there was only one day in the middle with a power point and WiFi, in favour of a sleeping bag, bunny rug, pillow and some food. Even so, by the time extra things like more dehydrated potatoes, 10 packets of hand warmers etc were added, my final backpack weight was closer to 10kg. Ians weighed closer to 12kg and probably more after I loaded him up with cheeses and dried meats.