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lightweight snow camping in Oz 14-May-2009 At 9:49:42 PM Take!

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What J-qui said.

I go lightweight both summer and winter.
You don't have to 'go without' or be in 'survival mode'.
Sure you will need to look at changing your gear out, but a lot of it (most) can be made. Think of your gear as a 'system' not just pieces of gear, learn and change-out items slowly as you perfect your system(s).
Make everything have a use, or two, or three. If no use, then don't take it.
Plan, plan, plan.
You will travel faster, not because of a marathon mentality, but because you are carrying half the weight and have better planned your trip.
Lightweight is very liberating in that you learn to do more with less and enjoy more of what the wilderness hands you - it also seeps into other aspects of life.
It is important to remember that when loading our backacks, for the most part, we pack our insecurities and we pack our ignorances. Knowledge, skills and new thoughts weigh nothing. You grow and your pack shrinks.
Lightweight is not unsafe, but its important to grow into knowing what YOU do and don't need for different places, seasons etc. Learn and lighten.
Some people just want to go lighter and lighter, so going light becomes a hobby in itself, thats fine. Others, like me, just want to get down to a sweetspot weight where they can move efficiently all day, and finish the day fresh and ache free. That feeling adds enjoyment to my time in nature. My lightweight journey started due to a bad knee which is now stronger than ever, but the pack still gets lighter.

www.backpackinglight.com will give you most of the info you need. It's mainly a yank website but there are a few keen Oz members.
Those names that J-Qui mentioned are all on the internet and will give you a start. Montbell Japan and Golite also do a host of more consumer lightweight goodies. However, there is a wonderful cottage industry for lightweight gear, the people are very honourable, have a passion for the things they make and a love for the nature they spend their time in. I have a Sixmoons summer tent and recommend them (bought at a better exchange rate).

Yes its addictive and you may well end up sitting in your loungeroom with yards of cuban fibre laminate attempting to make the lightest 4 season shelter in Oz.

I second that Roger's site is fantastic, a wealth of info from a local perspective.
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Ultralightweight.htm

Good luck with it. Have fun, be safe.