# PackLight for Backpacking vs Shamokin Stories

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shamokin Stories at none against PackLight for Backpacking's 1. Shamokin Stories also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PackLight for Backpacking sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shamokin Stories asks for nothing beyond the download.

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, Shamokin Stories daily. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PackLight for Backpacking | Shamokin Stories |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packlight-for-backpacking/id1054845207/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Oliveira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054845206) | [Go Shamokin](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789010029) |

## What reviewers say

### PackLight for Backpacking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packlight-for-backpacking/id1054845207)

This app helps backpackers create lightweight packing lists by organizing gear, tracking weights, and visualizing their impact. It allows users to build custom lists, share them, and even import from other services. An optional supporter edition unlocks advanced features for a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Organize gear by name, weight, and category, Build weight-aware packing lists, Visualize pack weight impact, Packing checklist functionality, Share packing lists via link or CSV, Import lists from LighterPack, Offline access to data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter Edition | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for planning and organizing gear
- 👍 Useful for tracking gear weights
- 👍 Great for creating custom packing lists
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of custom categories
- 🔍 No ability to add notes or details to gear items
- 🔍 No option to track purchase price or date
- 🔍 Inability to easily share lists with others
- 🔍 No cloud sync or backup functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional issues with alphabetical sorting of lists
- Reported bug with displaying the correct list when selected

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track purchase price and date for gear items
- Implement custom category creation
- Include option to add notes and details to gear items
- Implement cloud sync and backup functionality
- Add sharing capabilities to easily collaborate with others


### Shamokin Stories

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shamokin-stories/id6789010027)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PackLight for Backpacking free?

PackLight for Backpacking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shamokin Stories free?

Shamokin Stories is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do PackLight for Backpacking or Shamokin Stories have ads?

Neither PackLight for Backpacking nor Shamokin Stories shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PackLight for Backpacking or Shamokin Stories?

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, and Shamokin Stories daily. Most recently, PackLight for Backpacking was updated on October 29, 2026 and Shamokin Stories on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*