My method to reduce weight is:

1) familiarity with ultra light backpacking trends where the gear can be reduced to under 10 pounds for everything you need other than food and water. Some people are competitive about this stuff and have outfits that weight a few pounds. To me, I only care about the low hanging fruit. I don`t want to look like the guy who is wearing tin foil to protect himself from cosmic rays.

2) leave everything behind. I did one two week tour with zero electronics, stove, etc... in `05. If one is doing a lot of tours, why not, where is the downside. All my tools fit into the palm of my hand.

3) I select based on multiple use. So I don`t carry a multi-noneofthisstufffitsmybike tool. My ideal would be to carry one allen wrench that fit everything on the bike, etc... I don't carry a smart phone, but really, there is something that replaces camera, map, guidebook, phone, technical manuals, to state the obvious.

Though I do a lot to lighten the load, by going after the big ticket items and cutting huge weight, I don't have to sweat a lot of other stuff. I'm not out to prove anything, I need lighter weight for me, and everything that goes on the bike, or not, is because of what I want.