Pack weight + sleeping bag weight + tent weight Is it not reasonable to say this formula is just as good for the cost? At 3.5 lbs each you will spend about $150 to $200 for each or lets say $450 to $600 total. Now for the 3lb each you will spend about $250 for each item and when you get down to the 2lb each item you will spend $300-$500 for each item of total of $900 to $1500 to get to a 6 lb 3 item weight. Of course there are are some sweet deals that can be had and they can surly save you. So you are sitting home figuring out all this stuff and you think would I spend an extra $900 dollars to save 4.5 lbs? Sitting home in front of the computer you say heck no! Now ask the question when it is to late and you are going up Sassafras Mtn. your mind thinks, OMG what was I thinking I could be 4.5 lbs lighter! By the way you carry these 3 items the whole way if thru hiking, up every mtn. across every river. My numbers may be a little bit off in terms of packs, but for sleeping bags they may be off the other way, a good sleeping bag is an easy 6 to 800 dollars!! new.