“Water, food, and fuel.”
Because that’s not a constant. Think of it like payload versus actual weight—my truck weighs X pounds in freedom units, but more if I’m hauling cinder blocks.

Is it a perfect way to measure pack weight? No.
But I don’t carry the same amount of rum and chocolate (the essentials) on every trip either.

“Colin Fletcher’s Gear List” on sectionhiker.com.

Gear lists, old and new, never include the consumables: water, food and fuel. There should be a disclaimer: “Hikers who drink, eat and cook may not see similar results.”

Backpackers generally have healthy height to weight ratios so the not to exceed 25% of body weight rule means not much cargo hauling capacity to begin with.

re: Leftovers for day hikes

Joan and I do that very thing. In fact, one of our favorite pieces of gear is used often for that very purpose –
https://pmags.com/gear-review-uco-utility-spork-3-in-1-combo-spoon-fork-knife

* Old Gear lists *

I appreciate how Fletcher wrote about the “WHY” and the “HOW” timelessly so well. His gear? Well, I come back to this 1960s gear list for the Appalachian Trail…14 lbs!
https://pmags.com/new-fangled-ultralight-backpacking Heck, Earl Shaffer, to me gve the most timeless advice overall “Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.”

As for campfires, hopefully virtual ones. Bakckcountry campfires are often not allowwed and a big PITA in these modern times.

EDIT – PS – Do you have that Fletcher post URL by any chance? I’d sincerely love to read it.

On occasion I have hired mountaineering guides for day hikes and I have noticed that they snack on left overs and hydrate the old fashioned way (“drink”) rather than suck through a long tube.

On the other hand one of your on line peers posted an article comparing the weight of Colin Fletcher’s 1970s era packing list and what is would weigh today. There is something inarguable about a preference for a lighter weight item when one is carrying it versus sitting and talking and typing about it.

Finally I recall reading an old hand saying he gravitates to the campfire where they are not discussing gear.

Nick, after I wrote this article I had a feeling you’d like it. 🙂

–Skyline