I kinda cheat the weight thing now that I'm older,,, the trick for me is less distance with lighter pack-weight doing more trips back & forth,,, this works for me since I have all the time in the world to cover ground at my "choosing".
Lighter weight with 2 trips back & forth is easy on the body and old worn out parts.
Normally I live life with a mid quality tuff back-pack that can support my every day life style,,, it could carry 40 lbs of water jugs if it had to by volume,,, but normally it comes in at 18 to 22 lbs for doing my day-to-day... It goes to work with me,,, shopping,,, stuff,,, lots and lots of things.
My mid size back-pack goes with me all the time now at 50+ of age,,, the trick is to get use to utilizing a pack all the time,,, don't leave home with out it.
Now days I ask my self,,, what do I need,,, the more stuff I need means I need to make more trips back & forth.
Yuppers,,, my good shape friend can pack 78 to 86 lbs in one hual over X distance,,, I break my package into 2 trips,,, twice as many miles ,,, but a H@!! of at lot less wear on the body.
Did you know that humans can out walk """most""" furry critters on the planet,,, we could be classed as the Grizzly Bears that slowly and steadily walk down their pray,,, only thing is that "most" Grizzlies save enough energy for a fast follow up chase and a battle with what ever they in-count'er... Ha.
So now I double trip pack,,, cover less over all ground per-day 7 to 10 Miles X's by 2 is a big day,,, so now I cap it at """mostly""" the 7 ish miles... That's 28 miles of energy that is easy on body. That's a good hike per-day in the mountains.
I move when the body says move,,, rest when it's time to rest,,, critters are like this,,, they don't travel unless they have to be some where,,, water and food are the main things in life,,, staying away from humans is another reason to mozzy along.
I lone pack hunt now days,,, that way I travel my own pace,,, no need to slow down others since I pretty much do what works for me. Lots of time to look around, stop,,, move,,, rest,,, eat,,, and plan my own day (s). I don't care what others do since I'm not in their shoes,,, the only boots that matter to me are the ones I'm wearing... That's what counts in my books.
They tell me what day their leaving,,, then I start off 2 or 3 days ahead of them,,, and pull out before """or""" after their gone or staying... So long as I keep things in check of what works for me.
Don't get me right or wrong,,, its not that I don't like humans,,, I just think that we shouldn't spend to much time around them,,, that way we get to be us and do our own thing at our choosing.
Life is much simpler that way. And a whole lot less BS and conversations that doesn't have any barring in the way I plan on doing things.
That's what counts in life,,, ones self gets it done with one's own responsiblies and expectations for him or her,,, lifes to simple that way you know.
Good luck on your options since the ball is in your court,,, think wize today in hopes of being wizer tomorrow... What else can we ask of our selves.
From Frozen North Don where power equipment makes life that much simpler. LOL