When I did my hitch in the military all those many years back, and they found I was such a genus that I was a made a grunt in a rifle company (infantry); and I toted everything I practically owned on my back. Since those days I have never considered "backpacking" ~ oh, I'll tote in some gear a mile off the road (maybe), but that's about it. My favorite thing by far is a canoe trip .... the canoe carries all that gear so much better.