Originally Posted by
superslomo
If you're planning with a sleeping bag, though, I can't really picture how you'd make this all happen with just 8 pounds... seems hard to conceive of.
Sorry if this is a little off topic here, but since you asked...
Here is a packing list that meets that criteria. I have not used this exact list, but have used all of the choices in it on long tours, I have used of these most items on a coast to coast trip. It comes in right about 8 pounds, but doesn't include any food or fuel. It is not the lightest possible list, but you start to have to either throw a lot of money at the problem or do without things that I consider worth carrying.
Truth be told I am more likely to be in the 11-14 pound range on most tours these days, but even at 8 pounds there are still plenty of places to trim. For example you could skip the pillow, the cooking gear, and the first aid stuff. As mentioned there are much lighter options than the panniers and I have successfully used some of them on long trips. Also the shelter and clothing on this list was fine for a trip with an overall low of 18 F and a bunch of nights with frost. For a summer trip in temperate and low altitude more could be trimmed there. I have no doubt that camping and cooking with 5 pounds is possible. The thing is that once I get into the 11-14 pounds of gear range I get less excited about cutting every ounce. There just isn't that much advantage to go less than 10 pounds, but it is certainly possible.
Toiletries - 5.8 oz
Shelter - 2 lb. 6.6 oz.
Ti Goat Ptramigan Bug Bivy - 5.3 oz.
Integral Designs Siltarp - 1.7 oz.
Cords for tarp - 0.6 oz.
5 MSR Needle stakes - 1.7 oz.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom +45 sleeping bag - 1 lb. 1 oz.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (size R) sleeping pad - 12 oz.
Exped Air Pillow (size M) - 3 oz.
Luggage
Panniers 2 lb. 4 oz. or just waterproof stuff sacks and straps at much less
Kitchen 6.5 oz.
Pot/cup and lid - 3.4 oz.
Pop can stove, pot stand, and wind screen - 1.4 oz.
Bic lighter - 0.6 oz.
Light my Fire Ti - 0.5 oz.
Clothes (not counting what I wear all the time on bike) - 1 lb. 13.8 oz
Tights - 5.5 oz.
Puffy shirt - 7.3 oz.
Cap - 1.5 oz.
Wind jacket - 2.5 oz.
Poncho - 3.5 oz.
Wind pants - 2.8 oz.
Running shorts - 3.9 oz.
Socks (2
pr) - 1.8 oz.
Misc. 10.2 oz.
Key chain lamp Pico Light (wear on chain) - 0.2 oz.
Phone - 6.30 oz.
Phone battery charger - 1.8 oz.
Water bottle - 1.0 oz.
Clothesline bear bag line - 0.6 oz.
First aid stuff 2 oz.