How to Import Your LighterPack Gear List to MyPacks (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you've been on LighterPack for any length of time, you probably have years of gear lists sitting there — your PCT kit, your weekend setup, your winter system. Switching to a new tool sounds like a lot of work. It isn't.

MyPacks supports direct LighterPack CSV import. The whole process takes about three minutes if your LighterPack list is organized. Here's exactly how to do it.

Why People Switch from LighterPack

LighterPack works. That's not in question. But the most common frustrations I hear from hikers:

• No mobile app. Checking your gear list at the trailhead on a phone browser is fine. Having a real app is better.
• No gear library. Every time you plan a new trip, you re-enter the same Big Agnes tent, same Thermarest pad, same Sawyer Squeeze. It's busywork.
• No gear history. You can't see what you brought on your last three trips and compare. LighterPack lists are islands.
• No community. You can share a link, but you can't follow other hikers or browse public setups for inspiration.

If any of those frustrations sound familiar, the switch is worth five minutes of your time.

What Transfers in the Import

When you import from LighterPack, MyPacks pulls:

Photos don't transfer (LighterPack doesn't store them), but you can add those after import.

Step 1: Export Your LighterPack List

1. Go to lighterpack.com and open the list you want to move
2. Click the gear icon (settings) in the top-right of the list
3. Click "Export CSV"
4. Your browser will download a .csv file — save it somewhere you can find it

If you have multiple lists, you'll need to do this once per list.

Tip: LighterPack also lets you export all lists at once from your account settings. Look for "Export All" in account preferences if you have many lists to move.

Step 2: Create a MyPacks Account

If you haven't already:

1. Go to mypacks.co and click Sign Up
2. You can sign up with Google, Apple, or email
3. No credit card required — the import feature is available on the free plan

Step 3: Import the CSV

1. From your MyPacks dashboard, click New List
2. Name the list (match what you had in LighterPack, or rename it)
3. Look for the Import button in the top-right of the new list editor
4. Select "Import from LighterPack (CSV)"
5. Choose the .csv file you downloaded
6. Click Import

MyPacks will parse the file and populate your list. Categories are preserved, weights are converted to your preferred unit, and worn/consumable items are tagged correctly.

Step 4: Review and Clean Up

After import, a quick review catches anything unexpected:

Check weights: LighterPack stores weights as entered. If you mixed oz and grams in LighterPack, a couple items might need manual correction. Look for anything that seems off.

Check categories: LighterPack uses free-text categories. MyPacks maps these to its category system. If you had unusual category names, a few items might land in "Other" — drag them to the right category.

Add photos: This is optional but takes your list from a spreadsheet feel to something you'll actually want to share. Add a photo to your most-used items first.

Add purchase links: If you want to link to gear on REI, Backcountry, or wherever — this is the time. Not required.

Step 5: Add Items to Your Gear Library

This is where MyPacks starts pulling ahead of LighterPack. Once your items are in a list, you can mark any of them as library items — meaning they'll be available to add to future lists with one click.

1. Click any item in your list
2. Click "Save to Library"
3. That item is now in your personal gear library

Next time you build a list for a different trip, your tent, sleeping pad, and pack are already in the library. Select them, click add, done.

For most hikers, building out the library from your first imported list takes 10-15 minutes and pays off on every subsequent trip plan.

Step 6: Set Your Preferred Units

LighterPack lets you mix ounces and grams freely. MyPacks lets you set a default unit for display. Go to Settings → Units and choose oz, g, lbs, or kg. You can still enter items in any unit — MyPacks converts automatically.

Importing Multiple Lists

If you had multiple LighterPack lists (summer kit, winter kit, weekend setup, etc.), repeat the import for each one. They'll all live in your MyPacks account as separate lists.

Tip: After importing, use the "Duplicate List" feature to quickly create variations. Your winter list → duplicate → remove the summer-only items → winter 2026 list. Much faster than starting from scratch.

What You Can Do in MyPacks That You Couldn't in LighterPack

Once you're moved over, a few things become possible that weren't before:

Make your list public. Share it as a profile link. Other hikers can browse your setup, see total weights, and get inspired. Great if you're a trip report writer or active on trail communities.

View weight history across trips. See how your base weight has changed over time. Did switching to a quilt actually drop 12 oz? The history view confirms it.

Follow other hikers. Browse public gear lists from hikers who've done the trails you're planning. There's no better research than seeing what an experienced PCT hiker actually brought.

Mobile access. Your list is in the app. At the trailhead, check off gear as you pack. On trail, reference your item list without hunting for a browser bookmark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my LighterPack share links still work?
Yes. LighterPack is separate. Your old links still work. You can keep using LighterPack to share links while using MyPacks for planning — or update your links once you're moved over.

Can I import from a LighterPack link that someone else shared?
Not directly — you need the CSV from your own account. But you can manually recreate a list from any public LighterPack URL, or use it as a reference while building in MyPacks.

What if my CSV has errors?
MyPacks will import what it can and flag rows it couldn't parse. Most common issue is malformed weight fields (something like "3 oz" instead of just "3"). Fix those in the CSV before importing or edit them in MyPacks after.

Can I go back to LighterPack?
Yes. MyPacks has its own CSV export. Your data is never trapped.