Backpacking

(See Hiking page for general hiking tips - this should be reserved for items specifically related to backpacking)

Small kids

Backpacking with small children can try your patience, but keep getting out there because each year gets easier! We started with our kids when they were able to hike a mile or two. This meant that for us we had a “gap year” in our family backpacking journey, between when we couldn’t carry them any more and when they could walk on their own. Here are our tips to make it work:

What can your kid carry

(Note: these are rough suggestions, adapt them to your kid’s size and ability levels and consider starting with less stuff when they’re older if they’re less experienced)

  • 3-4 years old: snacks, small toy, maybe water (keep it very light at this age to encourage them to carry the pack)
  • 5 yo: add in more water, headlamp, mug, spoon, maybe playing cards
  • 6 yo: add in toiletries, something for group gear (we had our son carry the trowel and TP)
  • 7 yo: add in some clothes
  • 8-9 yo: add in sleeping bag/sleeping pad
Examples in the field:
Backpacking4yo7yo.jpeg Backpacking6yo.jpeg Backpacking9yo.jpeg
7 yo and 4 yo 6 yo 9 yo

Kids backpacking gear

  • Sleeping bag:
    • We like the Big Agnes Little Red 15 because the pad is attached, and small kids move around a lot Our son is still using it at 6 years old
    • We bought a women’s sleeping bag for our daughter at 7 years old, since she was able to stay on the pad and the adult sleeping bags are usually lighter (but more expensive). She hasn't had problems with getting cold.
    • Another option is this expandable bag (the Duster 15) from Big Agnes that grows with your kid.
  • Sleeping pad:
    • Go for a ¾ length since you don’t need the extra length

Key items for the parents to carry

  • First aid kid, and make sure to include any child-specific versions of medicines you might need and fun bandaids
  • Extra water (in case kids spill it, or if they aren't carrying it)
  • Lightweight sleeping bag, pad, stove etc - since you're still carrying other people's stuff it's really worth it to invest in a few key lightweight items
  • Tent
    • Stay small as long as you can - we only switched to two two person tents when our two kids were bigger (we used a three person tent for the four of us before that)
  • Platypus gravity filter - the water can be filtering while you're doing other things (or you can train the kids to do it)
  • Extra snacks or special treats - for tough spots on the trail

How to pick a good backpacking route for kids

  • Distance:
    • Many kids can “hike their age” starting at 3 or 4 up until 9 at least (one mile per year of age). It’s a fun challenge to give to them!
    • When backpacking, pick something shorter than what they usually do while on day hikes until you’re sure they can do it.
    • Some kids are motivated to hike all the four thousand footers in New Hampshire at only 5, some (like my son) can hike 11,000' mountain passes at 5 but take a lot of pushing, and some (like my daughter) are less excited about hiking but love the destination. You need to understand your kids, know when to push them and know when not to.
  • Other hike features to look for:
    • Water (always the #1 choice for my kids)
    • Interesting wildlife (banana slugs to count!) or flowers to identify
    • Rocks to scramble over (the domes in Tuolumne Meadows are a good example)

Other tips

  • Make the kids help out with chores (getting water, setting up tents) and adjust the expectations as they get bigger
  • Try not to carry the kid's backpack - once you give in it’s hard to give it back. Instead, you need to keep the pack light enough that they’ll carry it the whole time but ensure they are carrying something and that every year they carry a bit more.

The final thing is to find lots of creative ways to motivate your kid to keep moving down the trail. Check out the Tips section of the Hiking page for that info.

Babies

Taking your baby on a backpacking trip is a great introduction to outdoor parenting. We took our daughter on her first backpacking trip when she was about 9 months old. It was only one night and just a two mile hike but we loved being able to give her the experience of being in the backcountry with us from an early age. Here are some of our tips on how to make it happen:

Recommended age/weight for these trips

  • Your baby should be small/light enough that you can carry him/her in a baby backpack and ideally with an extra 5 lbs of stuff**
  • Minimum age depends on your baby, weather, destination, and the comfort of the parent

Key equipment for parents

  • Frame-pack style baby carrier with space under the baby to strap bulky but light stuff, such as one of the two below (we had an old REI carrier that is no longer made):
    • Deuter Kid Comfort 1 Child Carrier
    • Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Child Carrier
  • Lightweight backpacking gear (especially tent, sleeping bags, pads)
    • Tip: a generous two person tent can work for two + baby and a three person can work for two adults and two kids for a while
    • This is where it's so worth it to spend the extra money for lightweight gear, because you have to carry so much extra stuff!
  • Nursing camisole/bra if nursing

Packing tips

  • Have the person carrying the baby carry their water, snacks, and a diaper plus light but bulky stuff, such as sleeping pads, sleeping bags, or the tent
  • Strap these items under the baby.

Safety

  • Bring a first aid kid, and make sure to include any baby-specific versions of medicines you might need and fun bandaids
  • Consider getting Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder trained
    • I am WFR certified. Fortunately I haven't had to use the training on my family, but it is great peace of mind

Baby’s equipment

  • Something warm for the baby to sleep in, such as a fleece sleep sack (instead of a sleeping bag for small babies)
    • Sleeping bags only worked with our kids at about 3 years because our kids moved too much and came out of them, but might work for others sooner
    • Other options: have the baby sleep in the parent's sleeping bag, or bring a crib size quilt
  • Fleece top or jacket to wear over the sleep sack
  • Hat/mittens if it’s chilly
  • Layers and backup clothes in case of diaper explosion
  • Diapers
  • Something to spread out under the kid during feeding time to catch food spills

Time of year/weather

  • Not too cold
  • Not too rainy

Location

  • Plan a short first trip (just 1-3 miles)
  • Find a location near water because kids love water, and plan a camping spot with options for side hikes

Tips to find locations

  • Look for good day hikes that are only a few miles that allow backpacking

Hiking tips

  • Take it slow, stop as needed to play and let the baby out
  • Bring some small toys attached to the baby carrier

Sleeping tips

  • Be prepared that it might be hard to get your baby to sleep - it's a different bed and the parents are nearby (if they're not used to that)
  • Remember - it will get easier the more you do it, but it won't get easier if you don't do it! (more on this to come in another post)

How to handle multiple kids

  • Have the bigger kids carry something, depending on their age/abilities (more to come about this in a later post)

​* At this point it's even more important to have lightweight gear! (The photo below was a 3 night trip)

​**Take your baby backpacking before you hit the “gap year(s)”! This is the time when the baby is too heavy to carry and too young to hike 2 miles a day.

Gear Selection

Food

Trips

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