I've learned over time how to head out into the woods and survive for days without carrying too much weight. My pack used to weigh around 90lbs when I first got into backpacking. Now I just take basic nessesities. I also stopped lugging alot of water weight by using small water filters for drinking water while hiking and boiling water for camp use.Also I used to take canned foods which hold alot of water weight,now it's freeze dried foods,jerky (which can be rehydrated) and I find edible plants while camped. I also stopped using a typical tent for shelter,now I use a small bivy shelter and a fleece sleeping bag. For inclement weather I use a rainproof poncho and a fleece jacket and cap when it gets cold. My main focus is keeping weight down, it just slows me down.
