Weight awareness among Green Ribbon hikers



Green Ribbon base weight

For the second year in a row, Backpackinglight, together with the association Vita Gröna Bandet, has collected structured data on equipment from hikers who have completed the Gröna Bandet.

Gröna Bandet is an unsupported hike of about 130 miles through the entire Swedish mountain range - from Grövelsjön to Treriksröset (or vice versa). The winter version, Vita Bandet, follows the same route on skis.

Last year we interviewed 62 hikers.
This year, we have received around 26 more responses so far.

This means that, over two seasons, we now have data from nearly 88 hikers - equivalent to over 11,400 miles of actual mountain experience.

The shift in emphasis continues

The clearest insight from this year's data?

5-7 kg is now the most common base weight on the Green Belt

Not 8-10 kg.
Not 10-12 kg.

What used to be seen as ultra-light is now more standard among Green Ribbon walkers.

Compared to last year, the center of gravity has shifted further downwards.

But it's not about extreme minimalism. It's about refinement.

• Less redundancy.
• More systems thinking.
• Greater reliance on simpler solutions.

And perhaps most importantly, satisfaction remains high.

Which leads to a natural question:

Are we heading towards 4-6 kg becoming the new normal?

What is included in the base weight?

The base weight usually consists of:

• Backpack
• Tent
• Sleeping system (sleeping bag/quilt + sleeping pad)
• Kitchen (without fuel)
• Clothing (what you are not wearing)
• Small items and safety equipment

Why is base weight important?

Base weight is the best measure of how optimized your equipment is.

It is:

• Easy to compare
• Easy to influence
• Crucial to how heavy your backpack feels

Lowering your base weight lowers the weight of every step you take - all the way.

What is a 'good' base weight?

It depends on experience and type of hiking, but generally:

• 10+ kg → traditional pack
• 7-9 kg → lightweight
• 5-7 kg → common level among long-distance hikers today
• <5 kg → ultralight

Important to understand

Base weight is not about pushing numbers.

It's about building a system that:

• Works in real life
• Feels safe
• Makes the journey easier