My daypack weight is usually around 20 pounds. I have done Mount Olomana with my normal pack plus about six liters of water and 100' of climbing rope. That was a pretty heavy pack and a pretty good workout of a hike. It was overkill, but was done because some people are just not prepared and it was for safety.

I was going to go on a hike with a colleague of mine. We met at my place in the morning. He changed out of his work clothes and had a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. I had my normal pack. I asked him where his pack was. He didn't bring one. I asked him about water. He didn't have any. I gave him a couple of water bottles.

We drove out to the trailhead. It started to rain. Hiking in the rain is slippery but fun. I canceled the hike. I just had a bad feeling about it. I probably would have gone if he had been a little more prepared (or at least had some semblance of preparedness).

Just added up a quick total of my pack and contents and came up with a little over 11 lbs. (including 2L of water).

That weight doesn't include a camera or GPS. Here's the contents and weight (in lbs.):

3.00 Maxpedition Condor Pack
0.24 AMK PSK
0.16 Benchmade Mini-Grip.
0.19 AMK Heatsheet
0.14 Disposable Poncho
0.12 Notepad
0.21 FAK
0.31 Moonstone Pullover
0.10 Gloves
0.04 NATO Matches
0.30 Clif Bars x 2
0.10 Mini Fishing Kit
0.28 Spare Wicking T-shirt
0.10 Bandanna
0.15 Spare Underwear
0.27 Spare Wicking Socks
0.12 Magfire
0.66 Nalgene 32oz. Bottles x 2
4.40 2L of Water
0.10 Waterproof Stuff Sack
0.06 Petzl e+LITE
0.16 Suunto Compass

I really gotta get a small scale so I can weigh things more acurately and satisfy my OCD tendancies.

The best I got now is the bathroom scale.

I have been known to pack a second pack -- one for the person I'm hiking with...

That's a great idea! How do you make them carry it?

shame them into it....

i will gently insist they carry it - it doesn't approach the contents or weight of mine, but it sure brings me peace of mind in that i don't have to worry as much about them if things go sideways.

and it's actually more backups for me - and they carry it!