One way to determine the ideal optimum pack base weight for a hiker should closely be related to his/her body weight.( ideal body weight to be exact)
A 200 pounds muscular hiker needs to carry more than a 140 pound slim hiker. The 200 pounds hiker normally carries a bigger backpack,larger sleeping bag and sleeping pad , heavier clothing items ( an Xlarge jacket weighs more than a small one). Even a larger hiker needs a larger shelter so I think one way to determine a reasonable base weight could be( for the purpose of the example) 10% of the persons ideal weight.
Take me for example: I normally weigh around 175 pounds when I am not in shape but my 5 feet 8 inch stature should be around 155 pound or less when I am in shape and ready to hike. So if I can keep my base weight around 10% of my ideal wight it gives me the 15 pound limit as my optimum base weight . So comes the term modified base weight that is an individually defined base weight depending on Ideal body weight of a hiker.
So what do you think about this modified thing?
What is your modified base weight?
What do you think of the percentage of body weight to determine who is light, who is ultra light and who is uber light backpacker?