Originally Posted by
ksisler
All said, it would be a better ride if some of that pack weight were moved down to a set of panniers.
perhaps, but 'better' to what degree? This is very, very light equipment. This rig is an ultralite bikepacking setup without a rack. My shelter and bivy for this rig, combined, weigh all of 13 ounces.
I've ridden tours both with racks and without. I am a proponent of racks for traditionally weighted tours. I consistently suggest racks are the way to go for typical, slightly ultralite touring.
Trust me, it's not a lot of weight to affect the bike's handling. When it gets this ultralite, you could tour with your gear in plastic shopping bags hanging from the handlebars and it wouldn't affect the handling or ride significantly!