I've described my packing and backpacking kits a few times on this forum and others. No one really seems to be using my "system" much, but I'm still an advocate.
For day hikes (most of my photography) I wear a lumbar pack which contains a Wista DX, four lenses, two sets of six filters and a dark cloth strapped on the back. In pockets in my coat or in a fly-fishing vest (depending on the weather) is meter and accessories. six filmholders and another lens is in a pouch slung over my shoulder and I carry a lightweight tripod in my hand. Total - 24 pounds. Plus, my pack has a shoulder strap and never has to touch the ground. I can strap the tripod onto the back of the pack as well to free my hands for scrambling. I've been in some pretty rough terrain with all of this and it works superbly.
Details: Lumbar pack - Wista DX, 90mm SA f/8, 135mm plasmat (Nikkor or WF Ektar), 203mm Ektar f/7.7, 300mm Nikkor M and two sets of six filters in 52mm and 67mm size. (The "extra" lens, which I could do without, is a 240mm Fujinon A and lives with the filmholders.) Vest or coat pockets - Pentax spot meter, Voss filterholder with barn doors, lens cleaning brush, viewing filter, flashlight, cloth bucket, focusing glasses and loupe, etc. Film pouch - six filmholders, exposure record and the "extra" lens plus a few extra filters (Wratten 44, ND, etc.).
I could make this even lighter by leaving a lens and a filter set behind, but don't need to. I can hike in rough terrain all day with this (I do carry a bottle of water and often a sandwich with this kit as well).
Backpacking (which I do less of these days): Usually I'm packing with my wife, so we distribute the essentials between us. On top of that is my lumbar pack, strapped to my backpack, with camera, and small 90mm, 135mm and 240mm lenses. I take Mido holders on backpacking trips (they're a pain in the wazootie, leak light if you don't tape them, etc., but they're light). Also in the little pack are my Pentax meter and one set of filters. The tripod gets strapped to the main pack. I can take the lumbar pack out for day hikes from a base camp as well.
In Europe, where I do most of my "urban" work, I have a Woodman 4x5 and several lenses (90mm SA f/8, 134mm WF Ektar, 210 Fuji L, and 180mm and 240mm Fuji A lenses) plus a Pentax spot meter, two sets of six filters (52mm and 67mm), plus loupe, glasses, darkcloth and accessories. These live in a hybrid backpack/rolling carry-on pack that I can wear on my back when bicycling, but can roll when on the sidewalk. Lightweight tripod is strapped on the bike rack or in my hand. Again, this kit is pretty light (I'd guess 25 pounds tops).
My kits weigh a lot less than comparable MF kits simply because I choose to carry lightweight wooden cameras and small lenses along with a small tripod. The film is still 4x5 though and my lenses are all top quality, so the only compromises I'm really making are maximum apertures and movement limitations (which I can usually get around one way or the other). A small sacrifice for a lightweight kit.
My kit in action on the Oregon coast: http://doremusscudder.com/?m=9&s=40 Note that nothing ever touches the ground.
Best,
Doremus
Bookmarks