So I thought I would take up lightweight backpacking. My last trip was a killer.

How many people did you get in that thing?

Are there hookups for the washer/dryer?

Hip belt is way too low...

An external frame would transfer the load to your hips better.

Can you adjust the torso length? Load lifters might help snug it in toward your back; I notice there's a gap in the wrap of the shoulder straps.

It appears to be a military-style pack. I'd sure hate to fight those guys...

You are going to need an awfully big pack cover!

I wish all my friends carried a pack that size! I could sneak all my gear into it without anyone recognizing it!

Whenever we'd take a crop of Scouts newly crossed over from Webelos on their first backpacking trip, I swear their packs looked and sat just like that.
One poor wee Scout who must've weighed only eighty pounds was struggling uphill, so I parked my pack under a tree at the top of the hill, and swung back down to carry his pack up for him. It had to be about sixty pounds worth of gear. Poor kid.

What amazed me was that we'd demo how to pack for their first trips out, and even do a mandatory pack inspection the meeting before every trip but their parents always managed to undo all that progress the night before the trip.

I used to tell my new Scouts to bring one change of underwear and a spare T-shirt for the weekend (you face the fact that they'll be wearing cotton because the folks won't spring for tech fabrics - kids grow too fast.) I also told them that, when Mom or Dad made them put in 3 or 4 changes, plus spare shorts, plus jeans, etc., to do as they were told - then, after the folks went to bed, take all the extra clothes and put them under the kid's bed. Then make sure they put the extra stuff in the wash when they got home.

The biggest problem with packs that I saw was that parents either didn't want to buy a decent pack because Johnny might not stick with camping, or that they didn't want to have to buy a new pack if Johnny grew. So, Johnny either ended up with a large, glorified book bag, a cheap pack that broke a frame or lost a zipper by noon Saturday, or a 6,000 cubic inch, size large (22-28" torso) 6-pound behemoth that didn't even fit me, let alone this 3"9" kid ("we figure he'll grow into it in a couple of years.")

We tried that trick too, and it got a little hard to explain when one Scout's parents looked under his bed while he was away. We also got into the habit of dropping all our tailgates at the trailhead and encouraging the Scouts to leave extra stuff in the trucks. That worked out pretty well, too.

In all honesty, the best system was to get the parents involved in the backpacking gear demos the older Scouts would show the younger Scouts. We tried to keep it simple so budgets were respected, and often loaned out gear as-needed. By involving the parents in the educational process, they became more aware of what their sons needed and how overpacking could be harmful.
That's one of the greatest things about Scouting: you treat the adults like sentient beings and you treat the Scouts like adults. Everybody wins.

We eventually did incorporate the adults into the preparation process, and that took care of many of the problems with too much clothing. Over time, from garage sales, donations, and smaller kids outgrowing their packs, we also assembled a pretty good set of small-size packs that we could loan out as needed.

Eventually, I also learned to explain to the parents (especially mothers, who tend to worry more than fathers) that the purpose of letting Johnny pack for himself was to teach responsibility and consequences. If Johnny didn't follow the checklist, or didn't want to bring something along, he did without for the weekend. (We didn't compromise his safety, but would let him be uncomfortable.) The next time, he was a lot more thorough in his preparation. It worked with most, but not all, parents.

I like the idea of having a stash of Wee Scout sized packs on-hand so the parents of growing youths don't need to deal with the headache of outfitting a growing son. I appreciate that suggestion.

When we had a group that might get into backpacking, might not, I'd always send them down to Goodwill to find old Hawaiian shirts for them to use. Most of those shirts were polyester and loose enough to breathe nicely. Part of the fun of backpacking has been learning not to buy what the outdoors store sells per se, but to know what makes them tick, and see where it can be replicated on the cheap.

Just don't tell any outfitters that, or they'll hang an effigy of me...

I assume the effigy will be clad in a Hawaiian shirt...

The cotton clothing issue is not as bad now as it once was, thanks to the advent of Under Armour - for some reason, all the kids seem to have UA T-shirts and long-johns, probably because they can be used for "real" sports like football and baseball - or else because they're sold at WalMart.

You're right, everyone and their uncle has UA gear these days.

Lately it's been tired old silk dress shirts, but Hawaiian shirts are usually easier to find at Goodwill.

That's why you hold onto their packs between inspection and trip. Or weigh them when they arrive for the trip.

We don't backpack yet (just did first trip 2 weeks ago), but I bought several smaller packs and a couple bags to loan as part of my Wood Badge ticket.

You may find my paper useful.

That's a great idea for a ticket, and practical to boot!

How close are you to getting back to Gilwell?

I finished my ticket 2 years ago.

Rick Moranis is aiming that shrinking machine at backpackers now!

Topshot, that's an excellent paper (I read it soon after you wrote it) and great for all beginners, not just for scouts!