PackLight for Backpacking

The app is easy to use. It has got two different sections. The first is a camping gear list, which allows you to put in all the information about a specific item or a specific group of items, by weight, make notes about that particular item, what you may to include with that item. The gear list section automatically categorizes the same type of items together, also allows you to add the total weight of that item (so you can specialize the load if need be). The second section is the plans section such as a day hike plan or a weekend camp out plan. There is an option to change the plan names to whatever you need to, also allowing you to import whatever gear you need for that particular plan. Many plans can be prepared as different situations dictate, or needs dictate. It a great app that every outdoorsman should have in their “tool kit.”

I’ve used this app for backpacking to car camping and found it super easy to use. You input all your gear into the app to create an inventory. You can choose to add the weight of the item, which helps me keep my pack weight in check. You also can categorize your gear, which helped me focus on, for instance, everything I needed for cooking. Once you’ve created the the gear list then you create a packing list for whatever your adventure is. Currently I have one for car camping, a weekend hike on the Florida Trail and a section hike on the AT. It also has a feature that allows me to check off items as I pack. I truly have enjoyed using and having the app!

I really like how you can make multiple lists for different load outs (like for different seasons etc) and you can have a big inventory of all your gear... my only complaint is that you have to manually enter EVERYTHING which is very time consuming. It would be nice if they kept a database online that you could search as you add gear with the weight and category already saved. Then if you are adding something not saved on the database, you would add it manually, but the next person would be able to search it. Overall it’s really a great tool to make sure I am bringing everything I need, and only what I need and be cognizant of my base weight. I recently had some back issues, and while I’ve never really cared how much my pack weighed, I am wanting to conserve my back as best I can so I can continue backpacking until I can’t walk anymore. Cheers to growing old!