Packing light for a backpacking trip

I have backpacked with my two daughters for 11 years, taking them from the diaper years up into their pre-teen years. The early years were definitely the hardest, when they couldn't carry their own gear. At around age 4, they were able to carry a lightweight pack containing a sleeping bag and foam pad (kept around 4 pounds). Ivy (11 years old) and Elly (9 years old) are currently carrying around 7 pounds of gear.

The gear selection presented in this article focuses on gear suited for ages 6 to 13 or so, but the rationale behind our gear selection might apply to other ages as well... Read the full article.