Nice to see these world collide here on HN! Hope you don't mind me sharing the truly dirtiest trick of them all: when you realize you didn't hit that sub 10 lbs base weight, start marking them items as worn weight. What, surely that soaking jar can make a fine hat!

Seriously though, 40 liter backpack is palatial for front-country travel once I'm in the mindset of taking only the minimum necessary items and taking advantage of multiple use items.