Importing data
How to import gear lists and trips into Trailkeep from LighterPack (URL or CSV) or from a previously exported Trailkeep CSV.
Trailkeep supports two import paths: paste a LighterPack share URL for a one-click import, or upload a CSV file exported from LighterPack or Trailkeep.
Import requires a Trailkeep account and an internet connection. The same limits as creating or cloning apply: list/trip counts and itinerary length for your plan, plus size caps on every import (25 categories, 30 items per category, 250 items per list, 50 waypoints per day).
Opening the Import menu
Click your user avatar (top right of the dashboard) to open the user menu, then expand Import:
- CSV file — upload a LighterPack or Trailkeep CSV export
- LighterPack URL — paste any public LighterPack share link
Supported formats
| Method | What it creates |
|---|---|
| LighterPack URL | A new gear list in the Pack Planner |
| LighterPack CSV | A new gear list in the Pack Planner |
| Trailkeep Pack CSV | A new gear list in the Pack Planner |
| Trailkeep Trip CSV | A new trip in the Trip Planner |
Importing a Trailkeep CSV
If you have a CSV file previously exported from Trailkeep (a pack export or trip export), drop it into the dialog. The format is detected from the metadata header — Trailkeep Pack CSVs start with # Pack:, trip CSVs start with # Trip:.
Click Import. A new list or trip is created — the import never merges into an existing one. Name, currency, and units come from the CSV metadata (the same values that were exported).
Round-trip integrity: All fields are preserved exactly, including original weight and distance units.
Trip status on re-import: A re-imported trip always starts as Planning regardless of the status in the exported file.
The GPX route is not included in Trailkeep's CSV export. If you re-import a trip, the map will be empty until you re-upload the GPX file from your original source.
Trip CSV rows include these waypoint columns (all round-trip on re-import):
| Column | Notes |
|---|---|
| Day | Day name |
| Waypoint Name | |
| Notes | |
| Distance | Original value, no conversion |
| Unit | km or mi |
| URL | |
| Price | |
| Water Source | "true" / "false" |
| Resupply Point | "true" / "false" |
| Travel | "true" / "false" — legacy transit-leg flag; preserved on import but not settable in the Trip Planner UI |
| Star | Colour name or "none" |
See Exporting data for the full export format.
Importing from LighterPack
Two options are available. The URL method is faster and imports more data automatically.
Option A — Paste a URL (recommended)
- Open your list on lighterpack.com and copy the share URL (e.g.
https://lighterpack.com/r/abc123) - In Trailkeep, open the user menu → expand Import → LighterPack URL
- Paste the URL and click Import
The list name comes from the LighterPack page title. List-total weight unit comes from the LighterPack page when present; otherwise Trailkeep uses your profile defaults (or your currently selected list's settings). Currency uses your profile / current-list defaults. Individual item weights stay in their original units. Star colors (yellow, red, green), affiliate URLs, worn and consumable flags are all imported automatically. If the LighterPack list has a description, it is imported as-is (often markdown) and renders with Trailkeep's Markdown Lite when Show description is on.
Option B — Upload a CSV
- Open your list on lighterpack.com
- Scroll to the bottom and click CSV to download the file
- In Trailkeep, open the user menu → expand Import → CSV file
- Drop or select the file — the format is auto-detected
- Click Import
The list name comes from the filename. Currency and list-total weight unit use your profile defaults (same as Option A). Change display settings later in the Pack Planner if needed.
What gets imported
| LighterPack field | Imported as | URL method | CSV method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item name | Name | ✅ | ✅ |
| Category | Category | ✅ | ✅ |
| Description | Notes | ✅ | ✅ |
| Quantity | Quantity | ✅ | ✅ |
| Weight + unit | Weight (original preserved) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Product URL | URL | ✅ | ✅ |
| Price | Price | ✅ | ✅ |
| Worn flag | Worn | ✅ | ✅ |
| Consumable flag | Consumable | ✅ | ✅ |
| Star color (yellow/red/green) | Star color | ✅ | ❌ |
| Item images | — | ❌ not supported | ❌ not supported |
Item weights are imported with their original units — they are not converted. The list-total weight unit (from your profile or the LighterPack page for URL imports) only affects how summary totals are displayed.
After importing
The new list is created and automatically selected in the Pack Planner. A success toast confirms how many items were imported.
Items without a category in LighterPack are grouped under an Uncategorized category. You can rename or reorganise categories once the import is complete.
Compatibility
Trailkeep's own CSV format is designed for round-tripping within Trailkeep. It is not compatible with LighterPack (different column names), Caltopo, Gaia GPS, or other GPS tools.
LighterPack import is one-way — you cannot export a Trailkeep list back to LighterPack format.
The URL import fetches the live LighterPack page server-side to avoid browser CORS restrictions. The list must be publicly accessible (not set to private in LighterPack). You must be signed in; repeated URL imports are rate-limited per account.