15 Things That Kids Should Pack for Backpacking

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Backpacking is a fun outdoor adventure that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. To ensure kids don’t leave any essentials behind, it’s important to list the things they should pack to guarantee a positive experience!

Here are 15 things that kids should pack for backpacking:

Snacks
A whistle
First-aid kit
Bug spray
Sunscreen
A cap or hat with a brim
Water
Warm clothing
Headlamp or flashlight
Plastic bags
Hand sanitizer
Binoculars
Notebook and pen/pencil
Extra hiking shoes
Extra batteries

The essentials mentioned above will guarantee that all parties involved in the backpacking trip are covered. All of the objects are lightweight, so the bag they’re packed in shouldn’t be too heavy. Keep reading to find out how to make the most out of your backpacking trip!

1. Snacks

It’s no secret that anyone (kids especially!) can get pretty whiny and cranky when they’re feeling hungry. To avoid any hunger-related anger, it’s always a great idea to pack plenty of snacks to keep you satiated until you reach your destination.

It would be best to pack snacks like fruits, nuts, and trail mixes because the natural sugar in them will keep the kids going and lessen their fatigue. However, a packet or two of chips and sweets shouldn’t hurt!

2. A Whistle

Worst case scenario: a kid wanders off and gets lost. A whistle will be their best friend in this situation! Having them keep a whistle on them will give them a sense of safety and comfort, knowing that they have a plan in case they get lost.

Keeping a whistle will also give bystanders a sense of comfort, as they’ll know that the kid isn’t wholly doomed if they happen to make a detour. You don’t just hear whistles going off randomly, so you’ll know it’s your kid if you hear one. If it’s not your kid, you could potentially be hearing someone else’s child and be able to help them.

3. First-Aid Kit

A first-aid kit is always great to have on you. Even if you don’t end up using it, it’s far better to have it with you in the case of an emergency. If you don’t own a first-aid kit, don’t worry! You can assemble one with a few household items. Your first-aid kit should include:

Bandages and band-aids
Any allergy treatments like an EpiPen
Antiseptic ointment or wipes
Tweezers (for things like splinters)
Burn gel or aloe vera gel
Gauze roller

These are just a few suggestions to include in your first-aid kit! Feel free to add any other essentials you might need in the case of an emergency.

4. Bug Spray

Exploring the great outdoors involves dealing with critters, so it’s good to carry some bug spray with you (especially if you’re not willing to swat something away every 2 seconds). Some bug repellants are also topical, so you can slather yourself in the ointment before starting your backpacking trip.

It would be best to take some mosquito repellant with you so you and your backpacking crew aren’t treated like a buffet by the bugs when nighttime comes around!

5. Sunscreen

If you’re starting your backpacking trip bright and early, the sun will likely be brutal (especially if you begin at sunrise). Sunscreen is essential for any outdoor adventure, and no one wants to be sunburnt by the end of the trip.

Opt for at least SPF 30 sunscreen, and don’t forget to reapply some every 2-3 hours.

6. A Cap or Hat With a Brim

Bring a hat or cap to protect your head and eyes from the sun. Hats are also handy for keeping hair out of your face and protecting your face and head from low-hanging twigs.

I wouldn’t recommend using a black hat, as it’ll absorb the heat. Opt for any color other than black to get the most out of the protection a cap brings.

Using a black cap isn’t entirely off the table, but keep in mind that although it’ll keep the sun out of your eyes, it may make the top of your head pretty hot, which can be uncomfortable.

7. Water

Being thirsty under the scalding sun during a hike or backpacking trip with no water is probably one of the worst things one can experience, and it can also be quite dangerous. Dehydration increases the risk of fatigue, light-headedness, and dizziness. As a result, it can make your trip miserable.

To prevent dehydration and discomfort, bring plenty of water with you. Although you could bring the water in plastic bottles, these will probably get quite warm, which isn’t ideal. Insulated water bottles are the best option for keeping your water nice and cold.

I recommend this Simple Modern Water Bottle from Amazon.com. It’s an insulated metal thermos bottle that’ll do wonders with keeping your water cold! This bottle is also BPA-free and leakproof, so you don’t need to worry about it spilling into your backpack.

8. Warm Clothing

During backpacking trips, the weather is often at extremes (whether it’s burning hot or freezing) due to changes in elevation. So, packing warm clothing for when the sun starts setting is crucial!

To prevent falling victim to extreme weather conditions, pack the following clothing items:

Rain jacket
Thick socks
Thick sweatpants or long johns
Warm sweater

Remember that you should only pack necessary clothing, as clothing you don’t need will add unnecessary weight to your bag.

9. Headlamp or Flashlight

If you’re still backpacking by the time the sun has set, it can be pretty dangerous to try to navigate your surroundings without some sort of illumination. Keep a flashlight or headlamp with you to prevent tripping over something.

Using a flashlight or wearing a headlamp while backpacking can also be pretty fun, and it will more than likely make your kid feel like a professional explorer!

10. Plastic Bags

Some trails don’t have trash cans available every few miles, so you’ll need to take the initiative and carry some plastic bags. Littering is unacceptable, and it seriously harms the environment and the life inhabiting it. The only exception is for the remains of fruit (skins and cores), as these can act as a natural fertilizer and food for some creatures.

You’ll likely have some packets from the snacks eaten along the way, so instead of throwing them on the ground, be an ethical citizen and keep them in one of your plastic bags!

11. Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is crucial if you like exploring with your hands! The things you touch and pick up likely have quite a bit of bacteria on them. If you have cuts on your hands, you run the risk of contracting an infection. Although there’s no reason to avoid touching things because you’re worried about infection, hand sanitizer is always great to keep with you.

Sanitizing your hands now and then during the trip will kill any bacteria you may have picked up and acts as a disinfectant for any cuts you might’ve gotten during the adventure.

12. Binoculars

Having a pair of binoculars with you will make your kid feel like even more of a professional explorer! Binoculars are excellent for sightings and great for those who are curious and enjoy bird-watching.

You’ll probably see various species on your backpacking trip that you’ve never seen before, so having pair of binoculars will give you an even better view without scaring the animal away.

13. Notebook and Pen/Pencil

If your backpacking trip will be longer than overnight, bringing a pen and notebook with you is great for documenting your time there! You can also use your diary or notebook to keep track of the wildlife you don’t usually see. This can be especially fun for young children as they explore the world around them.

14. Extra Hiking Shoes

You can’t go wrong with an extra pair of shoes. Ensure that you aren’t wearing or bringing a pair of nice shoes with you because they’ll get filthy, and you might not be able to salvage them. A pair of shoes you don’t mind getting dirty should be worn and packed, and opt for boots instead of sneakers.

Sneakers aren’t suitable for trekking the great outdoors, as they’re not made of material built to withstand nature’s elements. They probably wouldn’t be comfortable at all after walking for a while, so be sure to bring shoes that are shock-absorbent or have thick soles.

15. Extra Batteries

If your flashlight or headlamp is battery-operated, bringing some extra batteries along is a great precaution to take. Although you probably won’t be doing that much trekking at night, having extra batteries is a good idea, especially if you’re not sure how much battery life is left in the current ones in your flashlight.

The contents of your backpack can either make or break your trip, as not having something you need can dampen your mood and make the trek unenjoyable for you. To ensure space for everything, use a spacious hiking/camping bag.

I’d advise trying out this WintMing 75L Hiking Backpack from Amazon.com. Its features are as follows:

Extremely spacious
Made with waterproof nylon material
Compression straps for keeping the bag compact and lightweight
Breathable back panel
Thick and wide shoulder straps with padding to alleviate the weight

What Kids Shouldn’t Pack for Backpacking

There are plenty of items you should make sure your kids pack for a backpacking trip, but there are also things they shouldn’t bring! Certain items they may want to bring with them could be unnecessary and add extra weight to your bag. I’ll share the items you should leave at home to prevent packing things you probably won’t need.

Here are a few things you don’t need to pack for backpacking:

Large electronics
Valuables
Cotton clothing
Tools
Thick towels

Although there can be exceptions for certain items, the things mentioned above will likely prove unnecessary and inconvenient if you take them. I’ll further explain why these items should be left at home.

1. Large Electronics

Devices like Kindles, iPads, and laptops are quite heavy and will add unnecessary weight to your bag. Backpacking trips are generally only overnight, so you might not even need to bring your electronics with you. A cellphone would be the best option if you must bring a device, but you may struggle to find reception.

2. Valuables

Something valuable doesn’t always have to be super expensive; it could also be something you hold near and dear to your heart. In that case, it would be best to leave it at home. Being out in nature with valuables risks losing them, and you don’t want that to happen.

While your child may want to bring their favorite toy, bringing valuable items isn’t worth the anxiety of knowing you could lose them. It’s better to keep them at home where you know they’ll be safe and sound (you also wouldn’t want your whole trip to be ruined because you lost that special thing).

3. Cotton Clothing

Even though we can’t control our clothes’ material, we can control how much of it we bring. It would be better to bring less cotton clothing because cotton generally takes far longer to dry, and nobody wants to wear damp clothing.

It would also be pretty annoying to pack away damp articles of clothing and have them make your dry clothes wet. I recommend packing more nylon and polyester clothing, as these materials dry faster than cotton. You don’t have to eliminate cotton clothing for your trip, but keep in mind that they can be a pain to dry.

4. Tools

Tools like hatchets and hacksaws are pretty unnecessary to bring with you. They’ll add a ton of extra weight to your bag, and you probably won’t even need to use them. If you want to make fires, instead use the branches and sticks lying loose on the ground.

Should you need to bring some tools with you, ensure they’re compact and that you will use them. You might get annoyed if you brought tools along that add a noticeable amount of weight to your bag, especially if you don’t end up using them.

5. Thick Towels

Big and thick towels take up a lot of room in a bag and likely take some time to dry. Stick to thinner towels that can easily be rolled up and stuffed into your bag without taking up too much space. Towels can be a pain to dry, so thinner towels will be the best option. They dry faster (and they won’t take up most of the room in your bag).

Even though there are plenty of guidelines for what to pack and what to leave at home, you know yourself best, so pack and leave what suits you. Just ensure that you have all the essentials!