My wife and I pack more for comfort and ability. She uses a smaller pack and it carries our sleeping gear and clothes. I carry tent, food and bear cannister, extra water, cookset . We each carry our own rain gear and snacks and enough liquid for the trail for that day. For a 3-4 day trip, on average I carry about 25-26 lbs. + extra water if needed, she carries about 14-15. I outweigh her by 70 lbs, and have about 5 inches in height. There's been a number of occasions on big uphills I've carried a considerably greater ratio. I've sized my pack accordingly.