Backpacks for kids

**Rainman** · 05-17-2006, 10:50

My son is 8 1/2. He has expressed an interest in going hiking with me. I am curious about any advice concerning available backpacks and other gear for kids. I have found two Mountainsmith packs and one Kelty pack. I have also found various kids items at REI. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

**Just Jeff** · 05-17-2006, 10:59

We got an external frame pack for my son when he was about 8. It sits in the garage and he takes a small school pack that we got for free at some kids function. It's much lighter and the capacity is enough for him to carry his quilt, raingear, water, a bit of food, and a small toy or two.

Here's some stuff I had on my "hiking with kids" page:

Ron Bell of Mountain Laurel Designs posted on this BPL thread that he plans to have a kids line out by Spring 06. It should be "scaled down versions of the Prophet 30, Superlight Bivy and Devotion bag" that weigh a total of a pound or less. 'Bout time someone did it!

Outdoor Products Dragonfly (2780 ci, 3 lbs 10 oz)
Deuter Fox 30 (1800 ci, 2 lbs 7 oz)
Kelty Jr Tioga (2050 ci, 3 lbs 3 oz)

A few sources for kids' gear:

**Squeaky 2** · 05-17-2006, 11:21

Brian at ULA is you man for the job. his packs are custom made and he can easily make a smaller version of anything he makes. great guy, phone him or mail him and see what he can do!

www.ula-equipment.com

**Alligator** · 05-17-2006, 11:25

Have you measured the child's torso length?

Small kids aren't going to carry much weight. Mine's only 2, so he's not carrying anything, but I would guess that 10-15% of body weight is a good figure? Anyway, it'll be under 10 lbs for a while, which immediately suggests some kind of ultralight pack. If adults are carrying 20 lbs in sub 2 lb packs, then it stands to reason that a child's pack could come in under 2lbs easy. I'd aim for 1-2 lbs. Given the light load, heavy duty suspension is probably not necessary.

Just Jeff's pack list sounds well thought out. Those are the basics I'd want the child to have in case of getting lost. Warmth, raingear, some food, and water.

**sum41punk91** · 05-17-2006, 11:25

i woudl recomend a jansport technical pack, its about the size of a regular backpack but its got a plastic frame sheet hipbelts and chest belt with great padding enough room and hydration compatible check out jansport.com and then go to campmor.com to find whichever pack you like for cheaper

**Just Jeff** · 05-17-2006, 12:06

If ULA makes you a pack, be sure to post pics back here - I'd be interested in how it turns out.

My kids also carry a pad strapped to the outside. I just got a full-length CCF pad and cut it in half. 36"x24". Then I trimmed one to 19" wide for the younger one. And always a whistle hanging on a shoulder strap.

**cannonball** · 05-17-2006, 13:11

I bought my boy, 11, a kelty tioga jr. External frame so that the frame can be "scoped" in lenght so it can be used for a few years as he grows. Hopefully this will last him until he is mostly grown and ready to move into an adult pack. My thinking was try to avoid buying a new pack every year or 2 as he grows.
BTW< he will be using said pack as he and I head out this weekend to hike a section of the Fl. trail along the suwannee river.

**Seeker** · 05-17-2006, 13:15

Tatonka and Deuter make packs for kids.

http://www.sailgb.com/c/childrens_backpacks/

**Frolicking Dinosaurs** · 05-17-2006, 13:32

I suggest you get in touch with Anchor and Troll at TrailJournals. They can likely answer this question as they thru'ed with their 10 yo son in 2005.

**sum41punk91** · 05-17-2006, 13:48

i met anchor and trolls in shanendoah virginia last june they were very kool people including there sonbut they said in his pack he had 1 pair of shower shoes a sleeping bag a sleeping sheet of some kind that added about 5degrees and his clothes and pad and his pack weighed near 15 pounds or so?

**Pennsylvania Rose** · 05-17-2006, 15:45

I wouldn't buy a pack until you're sure he'll stick with backpacking. Borrow a pack or use a day pack. You want to carry most of the weight anyway. Just give him enough gear to carry on his first trip to feel that he is contributing.

If he wants to go again, then buy a pack. I'd check out the new ultralight packs, although my kids have used both REI's version of the Tioga Jr. (external), and Tough Traveller's internal frame packs. We've had luck with both, although I prefer TT's products. My baby carrier from them has been through FOUR kids.

**Frolicking Dinosaurs** · 05-17-2006, 15:55

My younger grandkids have gone with us a time or two. We let them use our mesh daypacks with a sleeping mat as a frame - similar to how some of the ultralighters do it. 10 - 15% of body weight is about right - and for your average 9 yo that is less than 15 lbs - so the mesh day pack would be adequate for the weight. Unless your son will be going with you frequently, he will outgrow a pack before it is even broken in good.

**bigcranky** · 05-17-2006, 16:07

Our daughter started with a tiny frameless daypack, in which she carried a fleece pullover, a water bottle, and a stuffed animal. She was four years old. Byt the time she was eight, she had an REI Long Trail Jr., which was an external frame pack similar to the Kelty mentioned above. She could carry her sleeping bag, some clothing, snacks, and a Ridgerest 3/4 pad. I think the total weight was maybe 12 pounds. The nice thing about the kid's external was that the torso length could be adjusted over a very wide range as she grew.

If it were me, I wouldn't spend a huge amount of money on a custom internal-frame pack for an eight-year-old. He shouldn't be carrying much more than 10-12 pounds total at this point, so almost any frameless ruck will do. You might be able to borrow something from a friend, or rent from a store that caters to Scouts. If he really loves it, Kelty makes several internal-frame packs aimed at kids and very small adults. Our daughter (trailname Lilac) uses a Kelty Coyote, and loves it. Yes, it's 5 pounds empty, but she has used a lighter pack and still wants the Kelty.

Have fun, and be prepared to carry lots of stuff and not hike very far. With kids, the journey IS the destination, mileage is irrelevant, and food is crucial.

--Ken

**Just Jeff** · 05-17-2006, 17:15

Gummies travel well and work wonders with cranky kids.

**cannonball** · 05-17-2006, 17:37

Originally Posted by Just Jeff

Gummies travel well and work wonders with cranky kids.

gummies, one of lifes biggest cure alls

The kelty has a bladder sleeve. My boy loves sucking the bladder tube while hiking. Its all about the "way cool" factor right now.

**Just Jeff** · 05-17-2006, 19:27

Haha - mine, too. They don't have a bladder, but when I'm carrying mine we have to stop every so often for them to ignore their water bottle and drink from my Platypus. Kinda defeats the purpose of having a bladder, no?

**StarLyte** · 05-17-2006, 19:49

Originally Posted by Rainman

My son is 8 1/2. He has expressed an interest in going hiking with me. I am curious about any advice concerning available backpacks and other gear for kids. I have found two Mountainsmith packs and one Kelty pack. I have also found various kids items at REI. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Rainman-
I purchased the following backpack for my 8 year old granddaughter-NOTE that it ONLY weighs 1.2 lbs. and it's pretty cheap. I have adjusted the belts and she fits it perfectly. She'll be trying it out Memorial Day weekend on an AT hike so I'll let you know for sure how it goes.
SOLOMON RAID RACE 200 BACKPACK, 1200 CU IN
Marsha

**verber** · 05-18-2006, 02:02

Originally Posted by Rainman

My son is 8 1/2. He has expressed an interest in going hiking with me. I am curious about any advice concerning available backpacks and other gear for kids.

Most of my suggestion will be repeating what others have suggested. I would suggest having your son use a basic daypack for your first outing. Focus on making it fun and giving him a sense of accomplishment. An easy way to do this is have him carry all his stuff (except the high volume items - sleeping bag and pad) in a daypack, and you carry the sleeping bag and pad for him.

If it looks like this is going to be an ongoing activity, then thing about a "real" pack. My daughter really loved her Dueter Fox 30. For a variety of suggestions (maybe already listed in this thread):

http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/pack.html#Kids

**Rainman** · 05-18-2006, 09:14

Thank you everybody for the great input. My son has been a Cub Scout now for 2 years and loves it. I believe his hiking interest will be long term, but it is hard to say. I plan to start out easy with some overnight trips in the Ocala National Forest. He keeps insisting that he can't understand why he can't go back to Vermont with me this summer. Some day I hope he will hike the LT with me. Then he'll understand why he didn't go when he was 8.

I'll check out all of the suggested sources and let you know what we get. I have suggested he use his daypack/bookbag from school. He definitely is not interested in that. He has a kids hydration pack from JanSport but there is no volume for even clothes after filling the bladder and adding some snacks. I think the key for him is that he wants a pack that looks more like mine (currently a Mountainsmith Auspex). I do want to keep the weight down to 12-15 lbs.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted.

**cannonball** · 05-18-2006, 10:29

Rainman, Ocala is a great "kids" hiking area. The Fl. trail runs through it. In Fact the Fl. trail is ,IMO, the best kept secret in Fl. Lots of sects and even thru hike capabilities. I use it to hike with my kids as they are not old/phys. able, to do AT secs.
I agree that keeping your boys weight down is crucial. If they carry to much it turns into being too much like work.
I generally stuff my boys sleeping bag in his main compartment with out a stuff sack. Fills the whole compartment with about 3 lbs. and gives the illusion of having a whole pack.
Lastly, of course your boy wants a pack like yours. You are his compass of what a male should be.

FWIW, done cub scouts 5 years with my boy, was even Cub Master for 2 years. MY Boy graduated into boy scouts this spring, thats when it really gets fun.

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