I've never gotten the whole 'no backpack freedom' thing. For me it seems like the reverse. My bike is usually around 25lbs, I'm gonna immediately notice if there is some extra tacked on the back of it. I am about 150, and I am a lot less apt to notice the same weight on me.

I frame this comment in the context of not carrying all that much. If I had more than a few kilos of stuff with me, and again, was on a longer trip, I'd probably get the weight off my back.

But into a BOB trailer, not panniers (cue sound of new can of worms being opened)