This will be a culmination of basically everything I can think of and find when it comes to ultralight packing, some are ridiculous but not false. Please add anything additional in comments!

First, we are going to talk about both perceived and literal lightness.

"Perceived" Lightness Tips:

  1. Get stronger and practice. The stronger you are the lighter your pack will feel and the easier the hikes will be. Practicing with a pack heavier than your trip pack will make the trip itself seem ridiculously easy in comparison. Everything is relative.
  2. Keep moral up and in good spirits, nothing weights more on you than a heavy heart or a crap mood. Enjoy the wilderness, enjoy the rain, enjoy the cold, enjoy the fresh air and sounds. Enjoy yourself.
  3. Go solo, hiking with friends is great but if you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together. (general life tip)
  4. Avoid gravity, hike at higher altitudes. 'if something weighed 1000 lbs at sea level, it would weigh only 997.2 pounds at the top of Mount Everest'. Along with that, pack your pack high, don't let parts go below your waist. It is much easier to keep it over your center of mass
  5. Spread weight. The closer the sum of the forces to your center of mass, the lighter and more balanced the pack will feel. If you can attach something to your chest that isn't in the way: do it.
  6. Momentum to counter yours is BAD. Don't have much lose or hanging. Having a bladder for water that will compress as you drink can keep it from sloshing around
  7. Clear the ground of rocks and sticks under your sleeping area. A good sleep will make everything feel lighter
  8. Make sure your pack is well placed and balanced on your hips and shoulders. Again, center of mass

Actually Lightening the Load:

  1. You can wrap: Tape, Fishing Line, Rope, and floss around other items like a Nalgene. Packaging is almost always dead weight and takes space.
  2. Stuff everything: Sleeping bag, Tent, cloths. If you don't need the bags for them, ditch them.
  3. Get a mini sleeping pad, your legs can deal or you can extend it with your pack or clothing.
  4. These are ultralight gaiters, they can keep snow and dirt out of your shoe
  5. Forget the jacket. A water proof liner or wind breaker with layers is plenty
  6. Have only a few pairs of wool socks and plenty of sock liners
  7. Water is heavy, if it is easy to get, try to cary less
  8. Get light weight camp shoes or sandals. No need for sneakers
  9. Powder Toothpaste is lighter
  10. Shave off the handle of your tooth brush to the point that it is still usable
  11. Mini-Lighters
  12. Cut away foam on your foam mat, shape it to yourself if you want. You don't need it under your head or below your bum
  13. Stuff a shirt as a pillow, also allows for warmish cloths in the morning
  14. Forget the tent and go with a tarp and hammock
  15. Cooking is nice but if you can avoid fuel and burner weight, thats a huge win. There are plenty of cook-less meals. Though for long trips this might not make up for the savings in freeze dried food weight
  16. Make sure all parts of you meals are edible. You can eat and apple core but don't grab anything with a pit or peel.
  17. Don't bring unneeded electronic or batteries. A solar charger is light if you REALLY need something
  18. Get concentrate of everything you can. A few drops of soap concentrate can do dishes and wash yourself
  19. You don't need deodorant, you are backpacking. No one should care about your smell. Wash off in a stream
  20. You can use trek poles / Sticks as make shift tent poles if it works
  21. Rocks and sticks work in place of stakes for your tent
  22. Down or Synthetic super lighter sleeping bags can keep you plenty warm and are much lighter than their counter parts
  23. Cotton Balls or lint from clothing is a nice light fire starter
  24. Vaseline
    1. Rub between toes to help/avoid blisters
    2. Protect cuts with it and some duct tape
    3. Great slow burning fuel
    4. Use on lips instead of chap-stick
    5. unstick your zippers
  25. See my Bandanna post for all it's great uses
  26. Bags of Wine can help you pass out and be inflated back up for a pillow (college hack)
  27. Floss can be used to tie and stitch up tears in cloths/(maybe skin?)
  28. If your ankles are strong, trail runners are great in place of heavy boots for shorter light weight trips
  29. NO COTTON, water is heavy. Rain will weight you down like crazy
  30. Rain pants will make your life so much better and can be used for warmth and water protection
  31. You can probably avoid duplicates of anything but socks, wash you and yo' cloths if you have time to dry
  32. Drink as much as you need when you get to a water source, if it is in you, if doesn't feel as heavy
  33. Share the load with your: Dog, Buddy, Mule. Or even place your items in their pack when they are not looking (unethical)
  34. Trash compactor bags can be used instead of a water proof pack liner
  35. Ponchos are light and do the same job as a thicker rain coat
  36. Compact and light weight foods are a must, freeze dried, dried, bags of tuna/chicken, packets of peanut butter and powdered drink mixes
  37. Biodegradable plastic bags can save some weight of compost bags
  38. Eat your whole meal, you will most likely be very hungry but make sure you lick it clean. Bits of food in the garbage add up.
  39. Not sure if it is really ok but decomposable organic food products can probably be left for the animals, like apple cores and stems
  40. Cut down straps that are to long/not needed
  41. Getting a scale and weighting everything can really put things in perspective
  42. Think about all items: Do you really need it, can something else I need serve the same?
  43. No plates, bowl and spork are perfect
  44. You don't need a big knife, a razor blade does 99% of all things you might need it for. A small pocket knife can also be useful
  45. No bottle openers (you shouldn't have bottles). If you do, pop the cap off a rock or look at any of the 1000 other ways to take a cap off
  46. A mini sewing kit is typically very useful and light
  47. No wipes, thats extra trash. Use the soap concentre and bandanna
  48. Large First Aid kits are normally not needed but make sure to have at least a small one. Duct tape = Bandaid though. Some superglue = stitches/butterfly bandage.
  49. Thin strong rope: you don't need a massive rope for a bear bag
  50. Use sanitizer tablets for water, iodine might taste off but is lighter and small than a purifier
  51. Use a food sealer to melt down Ziplock bags to size. You can customize size for all items and the seal is stronger than the original bag seals. (Works well for board game pieces also)

Please share your ideas!