My hiking kit packing is like a heart beat, contracting down to fanny pack sized and expanding up to a full pack. The full pack is currently around 25 pounds, with 4 quarts of water, (dropped 10 pounds this week with your help. Thanks!) The fanny pack is about 4 pounds without water. I switch between them depending on the route, the company and the probability of an impromptu overnight. I'll also add more clothing outside of summer.

I haven't used a list until now and find myself constantly adding things. I'm trying to be more disiplined and realistic about what I carry but I'm prone to getting sucked into adding more, thinking something is light or small and it won't add much. One thing leads to two, leads to three...

Oddly, I find packing for camp much easier to limit to the necessities. By simply adding a few things to my hiking gear I'm ready to go for a few days to a week. Tent, thermarest, sleeping bag, pillow case, campfire blanket, kettle, cook pot, mess kit, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodarant, change of clothes, socks, unders, a book and food, and I'm off. (Maybe my tiny stool or regular camp chair depending on the type of camping.) More clothes and an axe get added outside these few warm summer months.