Less is definitely more. It seems to be human nature that if you have the room, it will be filled. And, of course, the weight of the pack goes to the max.
I admit it. I did it to myself. I started packing the night before leaving. Big Mistake Number ONE. Fully packed, I had 32 lb. Not Happening. I had created a MONSTER.
Twenty minutes later, changed out cameras and laptop for an iPad, and supporting gear and it was down to 20 lb. It was still not enough but that was what I had in my mind that I needed.
Long story short, even though I really should have pared it down by half, if possible, there was a much greater problem that got right past me. My pack is modern with an inner fram, carrying 20 lb., less than 10% of my body weight. However, the fram I was born with was carrying about 80 lb more than it should be carrying and there was no way that I was going to be able to lose more than a couple of ounces in a few hours.
So, after three days, barely making it to Zubiri and damaging my left leg, I finally realized I was a 243 lb 64 year old woman carrying a 20 lb pack. Sure, the pack could lose a few pounds. But I finally did the math this way.
243 - 80 = 163 lb. (me)
20 - 10 = 10 lb (pack)
163 (Nominal body weight) + 10 (Nominal pack weight) = 173 lb.
Instead, I left SJPdP with;
163 + 80 (excess body weight) + 20 lb (actual pack weight) = 263 lb.
So, even if I dropped 10 lb from the pack, I was going to eventually still injure my leg, which, after 13 months, feels like it has not healed at all.
To sum up, if you are overweight and going on the Camino, check your body weight to fitness ability......and take the lightest pack weight you can absolutely get away with for 5 or 6 weeks.
Hope this provides a new perspective. To YOUR Success.