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How much does a shelter weigh?

Real numbers from 115 verified shelter weights in our database — not manufacturer claims.

The median shelter weighs 730 g (0.73 kg), based on 115 items. The average is 805 g — pulled up by a few heavy outliers, which is why the median is the better benchmark for your own pack.
70 g
Lightest
454 g
Ultralight threshold (P25)
730 g
Median
2,300 g
Heaviest

A quarter of all shelter items weigh 454 g or less — if yours is under that, it counts as genuinely ultralight. The middle half of the market sits between 454 g and 1,000 g. Anything above 1,000 g is heavier than three-quarters of what is available today.

Heaviest in the database

MSR Elixir 2 — 2,040 g

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Average weight in other categories

Backpack Clothing - Base Layer Clothing - Mid Layer Clothing - Outer Layer Cooking Electronics First Aid Footwear Hygiene Lighting Navigation Repair Kit Safety Sleep System Tools Trekking Poles