FinallyME, have you weighed your old Tioga Jr? If I remember correct (a big IF, I grant ya!) ours weighed close to 1.5 pounds weighed on a kitchen scale. That's a weight worth looking for to put on a little kid. That's why you might have to settle on a daypack; to keep the weight down and not have the pack be too bulky.

Repeating stuff I know, but just have the little one carry as little as possible. Maybe a light pad too, so he looks like his dad when you go out .