Alright, so when a transmutation spell of the Polymorph subschool turns you into...:
a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body.
Wonderful.
We know what happens to the armor bonuses... we know where the equipment goes, and we know that your ability scores aren't changed unless noted by the spell.
So, what happens if you're already carrying a medium or heavy load, and you're encumbered? Can a spell of the polymorph subschool really make that go away?
You pick up your new form's base speed. That's great; but should that speed be reduced to a certain amount because of a heavy load prior to the spell? Likewise, does equipment have any effect on your total weight After the spell?
Right now, I'm looking at the Kitsune's "Fox Shape" feat.
Is this feat really the By-the-RAW answer to gaining 40 base speed while carrying a heavy load?
Sadly, I can only quote this much from d20pfsrd :
Fox Shape (Kitsune)
You can change into a fox in addition to your other forms.Prerequisites: Cha 13, base attack bonus +3, kitsune.
Special: A kitsune may select this feat any time she would gain a feat.
Benefit: You can take the form of a fox whose appearance is static and cannot be changed each time you assume this form. Your bite attack’s damage is reduced to 1d3 points of damage on a hit, but you gain a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear as a fox. Changing from kitsune to fox shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as beast shape II, and your ability scores change accordingly.
PRD:
Anyone? One more go at this, or a link?
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Given that the gear melds with the character, it would no longer counts for encumbrance. The only advantage is to carry heavy items (up to max load) for the group without movement being affected by encumbrance. This advantage is balanced by the fact such gear cannot be accessed while polymorphed. There are additional complications which may occur in combat (such as having no access to most magic items or useful mundane gear, or having to revert to being affected by a heavy load to access them).