From the title of this thread, I was under the impression that you're looking to lighten your MTB, for commuting purposes. For commuting or short tours with a light load, a hybrid would suit your needs.
If you're interested in an all out touring model, you should visit the touring forums to get some good advice on prices/weights.
Last edited by City_Smasher; 04-19-08 at 01:16 PM.