Do you want to take your family on a multi-day hiking adventure but have some questions about hiking gear for kids? Are you trying to foster a sense of inclusion and responsibility by letting your children carry some their own gear while hiking? But how do you avoid putting too much weight, and responsibility, on their backs?
Here at The Adventure Junkies, we understand your need to balance education, fun, and safety on your family backpacking trip. It’s fun playing hiking games and examining nature along the trail, but children also need to learn that backpacking is, sometimes, serious business, requiring skills learned over a lifetime.
Nothing teaches this better than encouraging a child to carry their own pack. Here’s a list of the essential gear to put in it.
HOW TO USE THIS PACKING LIST
Before we discover the essentials of packing for an overnight or day hike with your kids, here’s a run down on how to get the most out of this list. Next to each item, you will see a few categories. Here’s what they mean.
PURPOSE: What the gear is designed for.
ESSENTIAL ITEM: Is the item something your kids must have?
PRICE RANGE: How much does it usually cost?
LOOK FOR: Some quick tips on how to choose the best gear.
OUR PICK: Our choice based on the value and quality of the item.
LEARN MORE: A full article on how to choose that particular piece of gear and the best models of the year.
1. CARRYING
OVERNIGHT BACKPACK
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Amazon
PURPOSE: So Your Child Can Carry Essential Gear On A Backpacking Trip
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $80-$150
LOOK FOR: The Right Fit, Comfort, Lightweight, Plenty of Pockets
OUR PICK: Deuter Fox 40
BEST MODELS: Best Kids Hiking Backpacks of the Year >>
DAY HIKING BACKPACK
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Amazon
PURPOSE: So Your Child Can Carry Essential Gear On A Day Hike
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $40-$125
LOOK FOR: The Right Fit, Comfort, Lightweight, Water Reservoir
OUR PICK: CamelBak Scout
BEST MODELS: Best Day-Hiking Backpacks of the Year >>
RAIN COVER
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Rain Out Of Your Child’s Pack On Backpacking Trips
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Only If You Expect Rain
PRICE RANGE: $15-$50
LOOK FOR: Fits Your Kids’ Backpack, Waterproof
OUR PICK: Deuter Rain Cover II
BEST MODELS: Best Backpacks Rain Covers of the Year >>
2. SLEEPING
SLEEPING BAG
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Amazon
PURPOSE: So Your Child Can Sleep Comfortably On A Backpacking Trip
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $50-$150
LOOK FOR: Right Temperature For Your Region, Comfortable, Lightweight, Packs Down Small
OUR PICK: Big Agnes Little Red
BEST MODELS: Best Sleeping Bags of the Year >>
SLEEPING PAD
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Amazon
PURPOSE: So Your Child Can Sleep Comfortably On A Backpacking Trip
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $50-$150
LOOK FOR: Easy To Inflate, Comfortable, Lightweight
OUR PICK: Them-A-Rest Trail Scout
BEST MODELS: Best Sleeping Pads of the Year >>
3. EATING & DRINKING
SNACKS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child Fueled And Happy On The Trail
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $5-$15
LOOK FOR: Mix Of Salty And Sweet
OUR PICK: Trader Joe’s Trek Mix
LEARN MORE: Ideas For Camping Meals
BOWL
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Amazon
PURPOSE: For Your Child To Eat Out Of, Carry, And Clean
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $5-$20
LOOK FOR:Lightweight, Easy To Clean, Durable
OUR PICK: Sea To Summit Delta Bowl
CUP
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Drinking Hot And Cold Liquids
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10-$20
LOOK FOR: Spill-Proof Lid, Sleeve, Lightweight
OUR PICK: GSI Fairshare Mug
SPORK
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Utensil For Eating Meals
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10-$20
LOOK FOR: Right Size For A Kid, Durable, BPA-Free
OUR PICK: Light My Fire Spork
Photo by istockphoto.com/portfolio/nadezhda1906
4. CLOTHING FOR HOT WEATHER
QUICK DRY PANTS OR SHORTS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Allows Your Child To Hike In Comfort Even After Getting Wet
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $30-$70
LOOK FOR: Durable, Dual-Purpose, Quick-Dry, Fit, Lightweight, SPF 50
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Shorts of the Year >>
WICKING UNDERWEAR
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child Cool, Dry and Comfortable On The Trail And At Camp
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $15-$30
LOOK FOR: Wicking, Fit, Comfortable, Durable
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Under Armour Boxerjock
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Under Armour HeatGear Shorty
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Underwear of the Year >>
SUN BLOCKING SHIRT
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Blocks Sun And Keeps Your Child Cool And Dry On The Trail
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10-$40
LOOK FOR: SPF 50, Wicking, Comfortable, Fit
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Columbia Silver Ridge Tee
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Columbia Silver Ridge Tee
LEARN MORE: How To Choose A Hot-Weather Shirt
5. CLOTHING FOR COLD WEATHER
BASE LAYER TOP
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child’s Upper Body Warm On The Trail And At Camp
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $15-50
LOOK FOR: Warm, Comfortable, Wicking, Durable
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Lucky Bums Kids
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Ice Breaker Merino Oasis
BEST MODELS: Best Base Layers of the Year >>
BASE LAYER BOTTOM
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child’s Lower Body Warm On The Trail And At Camp
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $15-50
LOOK FOR: Warm, Comfortable, Wicking, Durable
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Lucky Bums Kids
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Ice Breaker Merino Oasis
BEST MODELS: Best Long Johns of the Year >>
FLEECE JACKET
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child Warm On The Trail And At Camp
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $45-$150
LOOK FOR: Warm, Comfortable, Durable
OUR BOYS’ PICK: The North Face Denali
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: The North Face Denali
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Fleeces of the Year >>
BEANIE
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child’s Head And Ears Warm
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10-$20
LOOK FOR: Warm, Fit, Durable
OUR BOYS’ PICK: The North Face Bones Beanie
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: The North Face Bones Beanie
GLOVES
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child’s Hands Warm
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10-$20
LOOK FOR: Warm, Comfortable, Durable, Fit, Not Bulky And Constricting
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Columbia Thermarator
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Columbia Fast Trek
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Gloves of the Year >>
6. RAIN GEAR
WATERPROOF RAIN JACKET
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child Dry While Hiking In Rain
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $30-70
LOOK FOR: Waterproof, Durable, Packs Down Small
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Columbia Glennaker
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Columbia Switchback
BEST MODELS: Best Rain Jackets of the Year >>
WATERPROOF RAIN PANTS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child’s Legs Dry While Hiking In Rain
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $15-$50
LOOK FOR: Waterproof, Durable, Packs Down Small
OUR BOYS’ PICK: Columbia Cypress Brook
OUR GIRLS’ PICK: Columbia Cypress Brook
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Rain Pants of the Year >>
Photo by istockphoto.com/portfolio/nataliaderiabina
7. FOOTWEAR
HIKING SHOES
PURPOSE: Protects Your Child’s Feet On The Trail
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $30-$80
LOOK FOR: Comfort, Fit, Durable, Lightweight, No Shoelaces
OUR PICK: Merrell Trail Chaser
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Shoes of the Year >>
HIKING SOCKS
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child’s Feet Comfortable And Dry On The Trail
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10-$15
LOOK FOR: Fit, Comfort
OUR PICK: Smartwool Ultralight Crew
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Socks of the Year >>
GAITERS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeps Your Child Dry And Protected While Hiking Through Snow, Water, and Rough Country
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $15-$50
LOOK FOR: Durable, Fit With Your Child’s Shoes, Lightweight, Packable
OUR PICK: Lucky Bums Youth
BEST MODELS: Best Hiking Gaiters of the Year >>
8. PERSONAL ITEMS & ACCESSORIES
READ MORE
For more of our top hiking & backpacking gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides:
Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads