Finding a Kids Hiking Backpack

When parents are hiking and camping enthusiasts and have all the gear that they need, such as women's hiking backpacks and camping supplies, such as tents and cooking gear, then they will usually want to get the same sorts of gear for their children once they are old enough to start to go on the trips too. There are not always kids hiking backpacks and other gear in every outdoor supply store, although there are major stores like REI that carry great children's hiking gear. Since children are constantly growing and changing, parents do not usually want to pay a lot of money for the gear since it will quickly be outgrown, however, they also want their children to be comfortable and safe with the gear that they use.

A Pack to Grow on

For toddlers and elementary school children, there usually is not much need for a kids hiking backpack since parents usually carry all that is needed on the trip in order to conserve the child's energy for the hike. In addition, these children usually only go on day hikes or short overnight camping trips so there is not much need for supplies beyond what the parents would need to pack for themselves.

Although this is true, there are some small kids hiking backpacks that are appropriate for this age of child. One idea is to use a camel pack, which is usually smaller in the first place and can be used as a kids hiking backpack, especially for an elementary school child. These packs allow the child to pack some smaller supplies and also allow them to carry a small amount of water that they can drink while hiking. These packs have a 'straw' that comes through the shoulder strap or top of the pack so that it is convenient for the child to drink out of.

Older children, such as in middle school or high school, can start to move out of the kids hiking backpacks and move into small adult packs that they can carry. There are some great day packs on the market that can be used by a teen to help his parents by carrying his own camping supplies without reverting to a kid's backpack which cannot hold as much in way of supplies.

When parents take their children, whatever the age, to get a kid's backpack, they should make sure that the backpack fits the child's body appropriately. Backpacks should rest solidly on the hips through the weight distribution properties of the hip belt. The shoulder straps should fit comfortably, holding the pack snugly to the curve of the back. These precautions will help to protect the child from damage to his back.