I'm almost 60. Sure I'm pretty fit and strong. But I'm not some 5'8" twig that fits a small or medium. At 6', 180lbs, 42" shoulders, I need a bag that accomodates a wider girth, such as a Hydrogen or Megalite. I also have come to the point that the Exped DownMat 7 is worth the extra ounces. I might be able to shift to the NeoAir and save a pound.

Trouble is, with my current big three tending towards 8lbs and my base weight around 16lbs it is tough to downsize to that ULA Ohm from a 2lb plus pack that takes 35lbs such as my current Mountainsmith Ghost or even if I buy a ULA Circuit.

For the non-buggy areas I'm considering, I can lose a pound with a tarp and groundsheet instead of a Tarptent Rainbow. I may also save some with a NeoAir to get me closer to 13 or 14lbs. However, the issue really is the extra 4-6l of water I may have to carry over some stretches of the Arizona Trail or Continental Divide Trail.

Has anyone else confronted this issue?