I'm a "programmer" - does an Excel based pack weight calculator exist?

[SKYNET KC]

Hey gang,

New here, figured I would try and make a contribution if I can.

I'm a mountain newbie, in the more raw sense of the word. Literally only been a few times when I lived in Colorado and never had the opportunity to hunt anywhere but my home state of Missouri.

So with my limited knowledge I'm always trying to grasp onto information. Something that I've been struggling with as I'm trying to "put my pack" together for next year, is the weight of said pack. I started an excel spreadsheet to keep track of possible gear, what it weighs, how this would impact my total pack weight, etc.

I've seen guys make spreadsheets with their items and then how much they weigh, and have a running total - but has anyone made a spreadsheet with large amounts of selectable items for each item you will carry and have the running weight total dynamically change?

If so, I won't go any further and would love access to it so I can utilize it. If not, I'll build it to share with the world to download as an excel file they can access at anytime, or if I feel frisky enough build a cloud based solution where people could go and "build" their pack to see where they would end up.

I AM seeing a few of these "calculators" online, but they're missing a lot of gear that I would suspect hunters want, they require a membership, or some kind of registration. I don't want that. I want something local that a person can jump on, use quickly and be able to save and share their results to help others.

So I'd love some feedback from you guys. Does this exist? If not, will you use it if I build it or am I just wasting my time?

Regards,
Matt

 

[Owenst7]

I had one that I found on backpackinglight. I had adapted it to work with hunting gear before I accidentally deleted it trying to make room on Google drive haha.

 

[Downeaster]

Not sure if i need it, but good on you for trying to help. Big thumbs up!

 

[mireland62887]

I have the spreadsheet with the weights (most of it at least), but it's not selectable. That would be a great tool. I'd certainly use it.

 

[valtteri]

Have you tried LighterPack already?

 

[FlyGuy]

I built a selectable tool just like you are talking about. It lists just about all of my gear (but I buy shit like crazy so it's never up to date, haha!) Each piece is under a catagory, like "sleep system", or "optics" with the weight listed for each item and a total weight for each catagory. There is a checkbox next to each item so it only counts the weight if the box is checked. This goes into the total catagory weight, and all the categories roll up into a high-level view of total pack weight, with a pie chart of each catagory. It also shows the Non-pack weight, for all the things like weapons and bino harness, etc; so that I can see just how much I'll be lugging up and down. For my sheet, the weights are just manually entered based off of my scale. I don't have any hyperlinks to any gear pages or images.

I use it to really tweak the gear list for each individual hunting trip and it really helps to dial things in. Allows me to easily see total weight if I'm splitting the shelter/optics between 2 guys or if going solo. So I can choose between various shelters and optics combos (big spotter, small spotter, bring the 15s or leave them...). It helps a lot when it's time to pack for a trip, otherwise I end up bringing everything.

It works extremely well on the surface when just selecting/deselcting existing gear for a trip. The downside is the sheet is VERY slow when modifying. I've pretty much reached the outer limits of my excel knowledge with it so there could be a better way to build it than mine? It's not extremely easy to add in a new line for a new piece of kit, especially with the slow speed. It's not terrible, but not a simple copy/paste either as Each checkbox's formula has to be manually entered.

Send me a PM and I'll share it with you if you are interested. Maybe you can improve it.


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[TJ]

Have you looked at geargrams.com

 

[SKYNET KC]

Have you tried LighterPack already?

Have you looked at geargrams.com

I had seen both of these already with the little searching that I did. The thing I don't really care for is the need to create a login/ profile just to use it. Not like there's anything WRONG with that - I even talked about possibly a cloud based solution later on. I was just wanting something local where I can change things around on my own machine and not necessarily have to worry about access to the interwebz.

 

[MTarrowflinger]

I had seen both of these already with the little searching that I did. The thing I don't really care for is the need to create a login/ profile just to use it. Not like there's anything WRONG with that - I even talked about possibly a cloud based solution later on. I was just wanting something local where I can change things around on my own machine and not necessarily have to worry about access to the interwebz.

I'd be interested in this, as well. And, being pretty proficient in Excel, I'd be willing to help you compile all of the data if you wanted to start it as a Google Sheet and then export for the intricate stuff.

I've built out something like this; but, nowhere near as complete as I'd like it to be. I've always thought a document that had various companies listed along with all of their offerings and weights/prices would be super helpful not only to someone who had a ton of stuff; but, to someone who was looking at making a few upgrades each season and wanted a tool that would help them dial in the best use of funds.

I'll be following this along and can help, if you'd like.

 

[SHTF]

I have one I will share tonight when I get home. It’s exactly what you guys are looking for.

Stay tuned....


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[RockChucker30]

This link contains my pack weight calculator, as well as an article I wrote on going lighter.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/backpacks/98788-cut-pack-weight.html?highlight=RockChucker30

 

[SKYNET KC]

I'd be interested in this, as well. And, being pretty proficient in Excel, I'd be willing to help you compile all of the data if you wanted to start it as a Google Sheet and then export for the intricate stuff.

I've built out something like this; but, nowhere near as complete as I'd like it to be. I've always thought a document that had various companies listed along with all of their offerings and weights/prices would be super helpful not only to someone who had a ton of stuff; but, to someone who was looking at making a few upgrades each season and wanted a tool that would help them dial in the best use of funds.

I'll be following this along and can help, if you'd like.

Figuring out what gear to put in the sheet is the hard part for me. lol.

I can definitely use the help.

I have one I will share tonight when I get home. It’s exactly what you guys are looking for.

Stay tuned....


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Woo woo!

 

[SKYNET KC]

I'd be interested in this, as well. And, being pretty proficient in Excel, I'd be willing to help you compile all of the data if you wanted to start it as a Google Sheet and then export for the intricate stuff.

I've built out something like this; but, nowhere near as complete as I'd like it to be. I've always thought a document that had various companies listed along with all of their offerings and weights/prices would be super helpful not only to someone who had a ton of stuff; but, to someone who was looking at making a few upgrades each season and wanted a tool that would help them dial in the best use of funds.

I'll be following this along and can help, if you'd like.

This link contains my pack weight calculator, as well as an article I wrote on going lighter.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/backpacks/98788-cut-pack-weight.html?highlight=RockChucker30

This is pretty close to what I was thinking. It's a little more fleshed out than what I had in my head, but it gives me some ideas. Thanks!

 

[MTarrowflinger]

Let me know when you get the ball rolling. We're heading into the mountains and won't be back until Sunday morning. I'll check in when I get back.

 

[Trogon]

This link contains my pack weight calculator, as well as an article I wrote on going lighter.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/backpacks/98788-cut-pack-weight.html?highlight=RockChucker30

I hadnt run across this post before. Thanks for reposting, some good stuff there.

 

[mvmnts]

This was posted to reddit recently. It's pretty much what you're looking for. Click file > make a copy to see the full system in action, it's a good starting point for you.

Backpack Manager Template - Google Sheets

I far prefer an actual application like lighterpack. I don't really see how the minor free registration is worse than having to use an excel spreadsheet. How would you even share gear lists with people? Besides lighterpack, there's a new site in development that looks like it'll be even better, called CrestLite, but it's in a closed beta.

Having to manage a database of product information and weights sounds bordering on insane, especially if you can't find a way to get people to pay you for it. And even if you did have a database, how exactly would you distribute it to people, or send updates as things change over time. The only real answer is a software as a service I think.

 

[netman]

You ever wonder how Lewis and Clark got by without all of this?

 

[SHTF]

As promised here is the one I use. Fill in your items and weight per item and it will calculate total weight.

ScoutingHikingChecklist.xlsx - Google Drive

 

[JWP58]

I use a scale.

 

[CorbLand]

You ever wonder how Lewis and Clark got by without all of this?

It didnt exist.

You think that if it did they wouldnt have taken a GPS or high end boots?