Hi
I don't know whether this is of interest, or how to use this so it has value - but here goes,

When I read about the heavy packs people carry I start to wonder what all is in there that simply won't be used. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I'm betting its mostly Hardware - geeky stuff that seemed cool while at home but just seems stupid after you carry it somewhere and don't use it. Just for reference I pulled up my gear list for COLD winter BPing in snow and sorted the groups for percentage of total. The total weight of the pack with fuel but less water and food was 26 pounds with my Bibler tent, shovel etc.

cooking gear including fuel 9%
pack 10%
Bibler 16%
clothes 33%
all other gear 41%
of all other gear only 2.5% is in the category of Hardware, 11.5% including cook gear, that is anything hard or purely used as a "tool" and includes, flashlight, towel,lighters, cord, garbage bag, first aid stuff and my comb, yes I know the comb is extra weight but ya never now when ya might run into BigFoot and ya wanna look yer best... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Anyway your philosophy of how you approach the wilderness will determine what you carry. If you feel in harmony you will carry mostly warm dry clothes. If you feel like you may get into trouble and should be prepared for anything then you will carry a bunch of stuff that you will never use. You do not know what the next emergency will be and we mostly prepare for the last emergency. I'm not saying "be prepared" is a bad idea, I'm saying that toting along a bunch of hardware won't neccesarily "prepare" you and it sort of burdens you.

I wonder what the percentage weights are of your gear. I'll have to check out my UL summer gear. I'd mostly have the same identical hardware but less other stuff [uninsulated canteen] so it might go 13%. with cook gear and fuel for a weekend trip.
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />