I've done quite a bit of hitchhiking and travel by foot in the US, and I've also found that traveling with as little as possible is a plus. Focus on utility - n

I've done quite a bit of hitchhiking and travel by foot in the US, and I've also found that traveling with as little as possible is a plus. Focus on utility - not convenience - and you'll be better prepared for whatever situation you end up with. 15-20 pounds is what I average when I'm packing for "general" situations, and while it does start to feel more like 40 or 50 pounds after a while, you get used to it - and the security of knowing that every item in that 20 pounds is the opposite of frivolous far outweighs the inconvenience of the weight.