BrianLe, I couldn't agree more about geography and conditions affecting your base weight. As I'm your neighbor to the north here in British Columbia, we share a fair amount of northwest style conditions. My base weight is always going to be a little meatier than someone from California's as I'm factoring in raingear and warmer weather clothing.

What I have found is that one jacket, the Marmot Windshirt, has been pretty much all I needed for most of the conditions I run across outside of a lot of time at higher elevations. Due to snow and cold at the passes, I also take a down vest and it can be a little cool sometimes, but doable.

Your mileage may vary, but a 6lb big 4 and a 12lb base weight gets me to roughly the right place of comfort and carrying ability of the current pack.

Kent, I have more research to do with hammocks...first I need to find someone local to let me try and set theirs up!