Is 28lb (13kg) heavy for a 2 day, 25 mile hiking trip?

I would really look at your gear and decide what you really need to take with you. Also what your bringing just to bring and don't need. 28lbs isn't going to be to heavy if your used to the weight but being that you are a newbie =) it might get to you. but I'm guessing that you are bringing enough water for the whole trip so the weight will be dropping as you go you will probably lose 2lbs in the first day just from food and water. As for the 25 miles in 2 days being to far who ever wrote that its only 12.5 a day and the average person walks about 3.5--4 miles an hour so its only about 4hours of walking a day that plenty of time to stop and rest and look around. so back to you =) you should be just fine as long as your in shape and its only a weekend so you can push yourself through it it you have to and be able to cut the weight down next time you go knowing what you don't need to bring.

It depends who you talk to. Some might say that is a normal load...and if you are willing to carry it, that is fine, as it wont be that difficult. Others pride themselves on being as ultralight as possible, and would freak out if they heard you were carrying a 28-lb load. If you are new to backpacking, that really isn't that heavy of a pack. As you get more into it and spend more money on lighter, more high-tech, and pricier gear, your pack weight could probably be cut in half. As for now though, without the luxury of being able to see what you are taking, that is probably a reasonable pack weight for a beginner. As for it being a 2-day trip, that doesn't actually make that much difference (even though some on here may so it does), because if you are sleeping one night or 300 nights, the only difference in your load is extra food. Since food for a day is typically 1-2 lbs, that isn't that significant of a difference for a 2-day trip vs a 7-day trip.

If you want really good answers, you should probably update your question by listing all of the items you are taking, and if you can, the weight of each.

EDIT: Wow "Mountain Man" we are all really impressed (rolls eyes)...

28 lbs for a 2 day trip sounds like a "heavy" load. If you're in decent shape, the weight isn't really an issue, but for such a short trip my guess is that you're bringing more stuff than you need. I would recommend taking everything out and looking at it and thinking about what it is for. Try to get yourself down to the barest essentials possible: shelter, food and navigation. Leave creature comforts at home.

If you still want to take everything with, you'll survive. Worst case scenario from carrying that much weight is you get a little more sore than you might have otherwise.

Lastly, I recommend making a list of everything you take with you. After the trip, go through the list and think about what you used and didn't use. That way you can refine your backpacking gear list to what you want and need.

If I am correct that this is a one night trip, you are carrying about double what I would carry. My summer sleeping blanket{20 degrees}, ground pad, tarp shelter, cooking pot and stove, and my backpack combined weigh about eight pounds. Add on a nights food, extra long sleeved shirt, fleece jacket, a few luxuries and it's pretty easy to come in under12 or 13 pounds.

I've have been doing this for a few years more than I like to admit sometimes and I have made quite an investment in equipment over the years. When purchasing equipment always shop and quibble over every ounce, they really add up once you put it on your back. Backpacks are the best example, I've seen very nice name brand packs{Kelty} in the $300 price range that weigh eight and 1/4 pounds empty. The pack I carry, made by GO-LITE, has the same capacity, cost less than half and weighs about three pounds. That choice saves me more than five pounds every step I take! Just because something says it is made for backpacking or that it is ultra-light doesn't mean that it is compared to other products being offered.

25 miles over 2 days is a weekend spent hiking all day each day, so to me 28lbs is heavy in that circumstance. Try to keep the weight down to no more then15% of your body weight. You do that by acquiring the lightest gear in each category of what you absolutely need to bring. It's spring/summer so start with a lite weight sleeping bag 3lbs is tops. The pack itself should be less then 5lbs don't bring a 10lb flashlight when the key-chain light will suffice for 2 days. bring foods that are light and dehydrated. use light weight cooking gear, a titanium pot, plastic utensils etc. any way here is a link with recommendations for ultralight packing

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/lightweig...

oh yeah Mountain man well I can go twice as far up hill in the snow bare foot! ;P

If it were body weight , your Dr would say you're 2 stone (28lb) over weight .

Seriously if you're comfortable carrying it . That includes tent , bag , mat , stove , food , water , dry clothing etc .

Or are you not sleeping ,is it a continuous hike in which case all you need is minimal food , water Mars bars , and Good boots.

Good luck & enjoy

That sounds pretty good. If you want to lighten your load, take everything out and really look at it critcally. Usually we overpack for these things.

Be sure you have really supportive boots on because the extra weight is going to be tough on your body, even on a flat surface. If your boots haven't been broken in, come prepared with lots of bandaids. You will get blisters. Be sure your pack has a waist strap, too or else your shoulders will take too much of the load.

Follow the 80/20 rule, which means eating clean 80 percent almost daily and indulging a little 20 percent of the time.

Measure away that bowl of cereal or maybe oatmeal, including the fruit, loco, maple syrup, milk, and yogurt you help to increase it. Have a set of measuring cups and spoons around instead of eyeballing.

Make pancakes even healthier by building mashed baked sweet potato, a number of pureed spinach and blueberries, as well as cooked quinoa.