[Noumenon]

People can make equipment and supply lists until they're blue in the face but until they get their asses out of their chairs and get into shape, they'll just die tired. :-)

Yep. It's all talk and speculation until you test it. Most don't. BTW, part of the design spec for my kit is that it is also usable on horseback. Currently it works out to 40-45 pounds not including rifle but including ammo.

[hiredhand]

Absolutely. When we rigged our gear for SAR, we took a hike which was a couple of miles. We found all the places where gear rubbed us in the wrong places for starters. :-) We've got an alternate kit that includes weapons, but we have to walk in a place that's a little less conspicuous when we do that. :-) I only weigh "about" 150. I'm not humping 90 lbs of gear. :-)