Having only been back to hiking just over a year. The lessons I learned
30 years ago, are still true today. My approach is usually to inform them that are
options for some of that heavy gear. The rest is like teach by example,
this is what works for me and it might work for them. Many of them get all there
information from Backpacker mag., Wally world, other inexperienced friends, ect.
I read somewhere, maybe WB, maybe somewhere else, that you can tell someone’s
fears by the excess weight they carry in there pack. I think this especially true for people just starting.
We as experienced hikers can do a lot to dispel many of those fears and therefore lightening there load.
I do my very best not to embarrass or ridicule them in anyway.
We were all newb’s once and most of us have carried less than optimal gear
(optimal being relative to person carrying it).