Worn Weight
Overview
Worn weight refers to the clothing, footwear, and accessories a hiker wears on their body rather than carries in their backpack. It influences comfort, mobility, and overall energy expenditure.
Key points
- Includes shoes, clothing layers, hats, and trekking poles.
- Affects perceived load but not pack base weight.
- Varies with climate, season, and hiking style.
- Heavier worn items increase fatigue over long distances.
- Tracked by some hikers for ultralight weight calculations.
Details
Worn weight plays a significant role in overall hiking efficiency. While base weight refers only to pack contents, worn weight influences stride mechanics, heat retention, and daily comfort. Footwear is especially important, as heavier shoes can substantially increase energy expenditure.
Many long-distance hikers track worn weight alongside base, consumable, and total weight to optimize overall load. Adjustments may include lighter clothing systems or more breathable fabrics suitable for expected conditions.
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Illustrative hiking footage
The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.