A scout’s backpack should not weigh more than 25% of his own body weight.
Since the weight of sleeping bag and mat, and clothing is roughly the same
for everyone, the smaller scout will have less “room” for extra
weight. This means that when troop equipment and food is divided up between
the scouts going on a backpacking trip, the bigger scouts should expect to
carry more items than the smaller ones. Of course, the bigger scouts should
not exceed 25% of their body weight either. If there is just too much stuff
for everyone to be comfortable, the group should reassess their needs for the
trip. Most likely, scouts have packed more than they need and some items can
be left behind.
(After 3 miles every ounce becomes a pound, every pound becomes a ton)
Two people squeezing into a small light-weight tent is far better than lugging a large tent, or single tenting.