[pct-l] Weigh Your Own Stuff

[AsABat]

When it comes to the weight of backpacking equipment, trust no one. I
have brought my own scale to the store with me on occasion. Some of my
local outfitters have scales, some don't.

I recall weighing many tents at REI (before I went lighter and started
using Kurt's and Ron's tents). ALL I weighed were over their stated
weight, and that didn't even include stuff sacks and stakes. I recall
the salesperson telling me which manufacturers were known to be close
and which always understated, like in this review I did for a sleeping
bag for Backpack Gear Test (in 2004):

"The claimed weight of the sleeping bag is 3 pounds 3 ounces (1.45 kg)
according to the hang tag and 3 pounds 6 ounces (1.53 kg) according to
Sierra Designs' website, but mine weighed 4 pounds (1.81 kg), which is
13 ounces (369 g) or 25% more than that listed on the hang tag. I was
very disappointed, but not surprised, to find that the bag weighed so
much more than advertised. I do not understand how the manufacturer
weighed the bag. Slight variations in fabric weights do occur between
lots, but this seems excessive. Maybe they only weighed the down fill
and shell fabric and left out the weight of the zippers and webbing!"

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Sleep%20Gear/Sleeping%20Bags/Sie
rra%20Designs%20Van%20Winkle%2015%20degree/Bill%20Jeffrey/Initial%20Repo
rt/

AsABat