I weigh my crap so I know what I weigh before I start moving. You can romanticize the idea of just being out there with what you have and not giving a damn but I want to be part of the successful 10% and to me that means planning and preparing. I have a scale at home, and there are plenty of great websites to help you keep track of everything your carrying. Why wouldn't I take advantage of these two things? Every pound counts and things add up quickly. I constantly play with what I need compared to what I want, I look for deals on equipment I need but don't own and compare them based on weight vs. reviews to try and determine whats worth the extra ounces. The hike boils down to mental toughness, but a 20lb pack vs a 35lb pack makes a substantial difference on the impact your body endures with every step and at this point I have 11 months to find alternatives to the gear I have. I can't work on mental toughness over the next 11 months, but I can improve my physical strength and try and polish up my equipment situation. That might mean buying new, waiting for sales on items I want, it might mean scouring the swap sites for used gear or it may just mean leaving something at home or replacing it with another piece of gear I have. This may be my only just to attempt a thru hike before I'm of retirement age and I'm sure many people have completed their hikes with 30-40lb packs, not even batting an eye at the weight they carried but that's not me.