Expert Answers
How much weight should a 12-year-old carry in his backpack?
Susan's Question:
How much weight should a 12-year-old who is five feet tall and weighs 90 lb. carry in his backpack? He has a good backpack for hiking, with good weight distribution. He will be hiking 5.5 miles a day for 11 days in the Smoky Mountains with his dad.
Susan Richter
Alice's Answer:
Susan,
The general rule is that adults should carry no more than one-quarter to one-third of their body weight, while kids should never carry more than one quarter of their weight. This guideline can typically be used once kids turn eight or older, since most younger kids should not generally be expected or able to carry one-quarter of their body weight for any extended time.
For your preteen, this means that he might be expected to carry about 22.5 pounds or less. The"or less" is important because his dad must be sure that your son is having a good time and not straining too much during this trip, or he might get turned off of backpacking. Better that he start off a little light and take on more load if he's able, or as he builds up strength and stamina during the trip. Some factors contributing to how much he may be able to handle include his general physique and stamina, the terrain of the trail, and how often and how long he and his father stop for breaks.
Your son should be able to pack his own clothes, sleeping bag and pad, trail food and water. With luck, he might have some strength left to carry some of the gear he and his dad will be sharing, such as tent poles, tent, food, or cooking gear.
Before your son and his dad embark upon such an extended backpacking trip, they're sure to have done some shorter warm-up trips. During these trips your son and his father should be able to get a pretty good idea of what your young man will be able to handle.
Sounds like a wonderful adventure—great luck to both of them.
Powered by Trip.com
