LNT Pack-out Planner
Leave No Trace means packing out everything you carry in. Estimate the weight of packaging and food waste your group must haul back to the trailhead.
Estimate your pack-out load
Lightweight food generates roughly 0.2–0.35 kg of pack-out waste per person per day (packaging, scraps, filter residue). Bring a dedicated waste bag.
Results
Backcountry waste checklist
How is this calculated?
Total pack-out waste scales with person-days: waste (kg) = hikers × days × rate. The low and high band uses the Leave No Trace reference range of 0.20–0.35 kg per person per day. Bag count assumes one durable zip-tied waste bag handles roughly 2 people's waste.
person-days = hikers × days
Sources: Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics principles; USDA / NPS backcountry waste guidance. Cat holes (15–20 cm deep) for human waste where allowed; pack out toilet paper, hygiene and all food scraps everywhere.