Encumbrance (Skyrim)

Encumbrance affects the number of items a character can carry in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Maximum carrying capacity is a crucial element of all Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim included. The default carrying limit appears to be 300. The weight of an object is displayed within the Item Menu. Exceeding this limit causes the character to be over-encumbered, preventing them from Sprinting or running. Additionally, encumbered individuals cannot Fast Travel or Wait. As there is no Feather spell nor Strength attribute to upgrade, this limit can be increased by other means:


 * Steed Stone adds 100
 * Thieves Guild Outfit adds 20
 * Master Thieves Guild Armor adds 50
 * Leveling up Stamina increases carrying capacity
 * "Extra Pockets", a Pickpocket perk, increases carrying capacity by 100 increments.
 * Some ingredients, such as Giant's Toes, can be mixed to create potions with Fortify Carry Weight, which also increases this limit.

Tips

 * Walking forward and using a melee power attack (charge) while over-encumbered helps the player gain additional ground, making for easier travel while over-encumbered. Also using the Whirlwind Sprint Shout in combination with power attacks will work even faster.
 * Normally, fast-traveling is disabled while over-encumbered. However, on a horse, this does not apply, making for easier trips back to sell carried goods, especially in towns which allow horses inside the walls.
 * Another option is to dump all heavy equipment into a corpse and reanimate it using a spell or power, such as the resurrection power gained by The Ritual Stone. The player can then fast travel to any destination and the corpse follows. If the time it took is enough for the spell to run its course, the corpse will 'die' again upon reaching the destination, and the player can loot its body for all the equipment they gave it initially.
 * Engage in a Marriage a Companion and use them as a loot mule.