NEMO Classroom Lessons #932: Minimum Weight vs. Packed Weight

We get asked all the time what the difference is between minimum weight and packed weight. When choosing a tent, it's important to know both.

Generally, minimum weight is the absolute lightest a tent can weigh to still be a liveable and weatherproof shelter. For a double wall tent, this usually refers to the inner tent, fly, and poles; for a single wall tent, this includes the tent shell and poles/airbeams. Packed weight is the weight of a tent with all it's bells and whistles (stuff sack, stakes, gear lofts, guy-out cords, repair kit, etc).

For instance, Gogo's minimum weight is 1.9 lbs, and its packed weight is 2.5 lbs.


Tent companies usually quote the minimum weight first when referring to a tent because, well, it sounds more impressive. Be careful of what people are referring to when they say their tent weighs 4 lbs... it could be more like 6 lbs with all of its goodies in the end. Then again, those goodies may help transform your shelter into a comfortable home.

-Connie