Scale choices; what TrailSavvy uses:
Cen-Tech digital scale: This scale works in either ounces or grams. It is cheap and accurate. I purchased mine for about $20 at Harbor Freight Tools in Springdale, AR. This scale is ideal for weighing individual items. Most can be placed on the deck easily. For larger items like a tent or sleeping bag, place a wastebasket on the deck, press "tare" then add item after display returns to 0.0. This item is a must for any hiker wanting to reduce pack weight. Most Americans think in ounces and pounds, but the gram unit of measurement is smaller than even 1/10th of an ounce. Therefore it is much more precise when compiling an entire list of gear.
Quarrow fishing scale: This scale measures in ounces or pounds. The pound feature uses decimal readout, so a pack weighing 20 lbs, 4 oz. would show as 20.25 lbs. I use this scale to weigh items like backpacks. This is the best item to have when doing your final pack shakedown. I always weigh any pack before hitting the trail. It should be very close to the estimated weight from my gear list spreadsheet. If not, there may be items missing from the pack. This scale is battery operated, has an L.E.D. flashlight, and a 3' tape measure. I purchased it for about $20 at Uncle Sam's Safari Outfitters in Fayetteville, AR. It is also available at Bass Pro Shops. Throw this in the car and let your buddies weigh their packs as well!Other options:
For the counter mounted scale there are too many to count. What you're looking for is a postage or cooking scale that has a wide deck and measures in both grams and ounces. Any cookware store will have these scales. Bed, Bath, and Beyond has this one: Oxo...
For the hand-held variety, any fishing scale measuring in pounds or ounces will work. Most have a KG feature as well for all the non-Americans. There are also luggage scales available, but seem more expensive than the fishing variety. Cent-Tech handheld scale available at Harbor Freight Tools.
Methods of Cataloguing Gear:
Spreadsheet Gear List:
It is advisable to create a list, with columns for gear type, description, weight, and quantity. Then you will have numerical record of all the important stats for each item, all in one place. You can use Excel to create your own, but I'd recommend Google Docs if you want to share this info with your hiking buddies or Scout Troop. This way, you can cut out a lot of redundant weighing and typing. Nearly all of the items in my pack are duplicated in one or another of my friends gear lists anyway. Or you can download a spreadsheet. Here's a good one; LytW8.com
My post on spreadsheets.
GearGrams.com:
This is a website that allows you to input the above information into your profile's "library" of gear. It even allows you to use links on the description line. This allows any friend you share the pack list with to find the source of any piece of gear. Which can be very nice when everyone asks you where you found them. After inputting all your gear info, then you are able to compile a pack list by checking off the items you plan to carry. There are also functions for multiple pack lists and linking a viewable pack list to another site or an email.
Gram Weenie: *PREFERRED*
This is an iPhone/iPad app that is available in the iTunes store for 99 cents. I stumbled upon it when browsing BPL. The app works wonderfully for compiling my packing list. The user enters in all of the items by category. You can enter weights by either grams or ounces and it will convert to grams. After your library has all the items in your closet, you create pack lists by "trips". Add the items to the trip and it creates the pack list. The totals section on bottom will give weights in both metric and standard, with weight by categories(such as base, FSI{from skin out}, and consumeable). The only downside is that the data input into your iPad doesn't move to the app on your iPhone. You can also email your list. This is my PREFERRED method of compiling a pack list.
