8 Items Every Kid Should Carry When Hiking

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Hiking is a fantastic way to get some exercise and spend some time unplugged, enjoying all that nature has to offer. Before you can relax and focus your mind on the trail, you must prepare the necessary equipment and supplies.

These are the 8 things that every kid should have on a hike:

Lots of water and snacks
A first-aid kit
Extra clothing and a rain jacket
A water-resistant day pack
Protection from the sun
A knife or multi-tool
Matches, a flashlight, and a rope
A rubbish bag

Although hiking is a fun and healthy activity for kids, preparedness is everything when out in nature. Nature can be as dangerous as it is beautiful, and every hiker, especially younger explorers, should have everything on hand for any eventuality. Please continue reading to find a detailed explanation of each item kids need on a hiking trip, whether for a few hours or a few days.

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1. Lots of Water and Snacks

You should have about one liter per two hours of walking, so calculate how much water you will need according to the time you will be hiking.

Additionally, you will need to consider the temperature: hotter temperatures can quickly lead to dehydration with too little water. It would help if you had an extra half-liter of water per hour for hotter temperatures.

In addition to water, kids should bring a drink with many electrolytes, such as Powerade. Consider using Nuun tablets and other supplemental powders.

You can also get your child sachets of Rehidrat to add to a bottle of water: these sachets are small, take up barely any space, and can be added easily on a break or even while walking. Rehidrat is full of electrolytes and vitamins and is an ideal drink option for hiking, especially on hot days.

Kids should have at least two snacks for shorter hikes and three or more for longer ones to keep their energy levels. The best snack options include peanut butter and bananas, trail mix, fresh or dried fruit, granola, and jerky.

These tasty snacks are jam-packed with nutrients and protein to feed kids’ muscles and avoid fatigue with natural sugars and added hydration while exercising.

2. A First-Aid Kit

Although you may follow every rule on the trail, there’s always the risk of an accident, so best to be prepared for anything. A first-aid kit is one of the most vital elements in a hiking pack.

You should include the following items in your first aid kit:

Ointment and sterile dressing for burns
Plasters and athletic tape for blisters
Antihistamines and topical antibacterial cream for insect bites or stings
Saline solution, cotton wool, Savlon, and syringes for cleaning wounds
Rehidrat for loss of electrolytes and muscle pain
Splints and anti-inflammatories for sprains and fractures
A space blanket for hypothermia

Read these tips and recommendations by Regis Nursing College on how you may compile a first-aid kit for hiking yourself and what each kit should include.

In addition to having a first-aid kit on hand, it’s always handy to teach your child basic first-aid skills. These include cleaning a wound properly, wrapping a bandage, and performing the basics of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

These procedures might sound a little extreme; the outside world is not a death trap! Despite this, the number one priority you should have for your child is that they will keep a cool head and be prepared in an emergency no matter what happens.

If your child has specific medical needs, ensure that these are accounted for appropriately. These include an asthma pump, insulin, and oral or topical medication for eczema or rashes.

3. Extra Clothing and a Rain Jacket

Kids face all kinds of conditions while hiking, so it’s essential to check forecasts and pack accordingly before a hiking trip. In addition to good hiking shoes and thick (and preferably thermal) socks, you need to be prepared for the weather on your journey.

This preparedness means packing extra thick socks, breathable underwear, thermal clothes, and light but sturdy clothes that your child won’t mind getting dirty on the trail.

Be sure to send your child off with extra layers if they stay overnight: trails can be scorching during the day but freezing at night, and a sleeping bag won’t necessarily be enough for an outdoor evening.

Check the forecast before the trip to see what clothing you will need to take. For hot weather, bring something light that will protect your skin from the sun but will be adequately ventilated or breathable, such as a long-sleeve linen top.

If the weather is particularly chilly, be sure to take long, thicker clothes and underclothes (particularly if this is an overnight hike). Clothing kids can wear in hot or cold weather includes bandanas, buffs, hats or beanies, and thick breathable socks.

Always have at least one extra pair of socks handy – socks are essential, as they can mean the difference between a successful and comfortable hike with no blisters vs. a challenging and painful hike with blisters caused by chafing.

In addition to a light fleece for higher altitudes and generally cold weather, you should always have a rain jacket handy – you don’t want to get caught in the rain in the great outdoors and risk catching a cold and soaking all of your clothes.

4. A Water-Resistant Day Pack

Think about it: your kid’s daypack has everything they need for their trip. These items include All their food, clothes, torches, and batteries, that book that they will find any opportunity to read.

Just as you want to protect them against inclement weather, covering all of their equipment and supplies is essential.

You don’t have to go out and buy a water-resistant backpack; we know specialized equipment can cost an arm and a leg (unfortunately, one cannot fix this with even the best first-aid kit).

You could invest in a waterproof or water-resistant cover for your child’s bag, which can be used in several situations and kept for many hiking trips in the future.

Check out these fantastic 10L Waterproof Kids’ Sports Backpacks (available on Amazon.com). They’re polyester with a nylon lining, and despite their hardiness and 10L capacity, they’re incredibly lightweight.

5. Protection From the Sun

Protecting your child from the ever-strengthening UV rays can be tricky: kids are wilful and not always rushing to reapply sunblock when you ask them to.

However, on a hike – especially during the summer months – your child is exposed to the sun all day. If not adequately hydrated and protected against the sun, you could suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Every child should take SPF50 sunblock on a trip, preferably one made for sports – i.e., long-lasting and water-resistant sunblock. They should also have a hat with the proper coverage for their faces and the back of their necks, which are especially susceptible to sunburn.

There are loads of different types and brands of sunscreen, but just as many reasons why your child must wear sunscreen. Please take a look at KidsHealth.org‘s explanation of the different kinds of sunscreen, and it’s vital to use the right sunscreen for your child’s needs.

The primary considerations when buying sunscreen are:

SPF: the sun protection factor should be around 50, especially for fairer-skinned children. SPF30 is fine for kids with darker skin, although all kids need to wear sunscreen and reapply it regularly.
Spectrum: sunscreen protects against UV rays, but the best kind of sunscreen you want protects against UVA and UVB rays. These sunscreens are referred to as broad-spectrum sunscreens. Some sunscreens even include minerals and extra elements like zinc that are thicker and less absorbent but can be helpful for sensitive areas like cheeks and noses.
Waterproofing: sunscreen should be waterproof to avoid it wearing off quickly due to sweat and if your child goes swimming. Reapplication is always necessary; when swimming, the standard reapplication period is every hour, but sports sunscreens typically last longer.

In addition, your child should have a hat that shields their face from the sun, as sunscreen isn’t always 100% effective in curbing the harmful effects of UV rays.

If your child forgets to reapply sunblock to either their face or neck, a baseball cap can be worn to protect both the face and the neck, depending on which needs more shade.

6. A Knife or Multi-Tool

It’s improbable that your child will be enacting any hardcore survivalist scenarios. Still, pocket knives and multi-tools are some of the most versatile pieces of equipment everyone should have on a hiking trip.

A pocket knife or multi-tool enables your child to cut rope or bandages, cut and gather wood for a fire, and eat food and snacks they take along (for example, an orange or other fresh fruit that needs peeling).

Some considerations to take when choosing a multi-tool for your child are the following:

Functionality: what exactly do you want your child to be able to do with this item? The more complex the requirements, the more complex the tools and capabilities you want them to have.
Sizing and weight: younger children will likely not be able to use large or complex tools, so mini versions of multi-tools are available. Older kids, however, will manage fine with regular-sized ones. Always ensure that the multi-tool you choose is lightweight and easy to store in your child’s daypack.
Safety: some multi-tools have safety features that are more suitable for kids – for example, some are bladeless or have blunt blades attached.

For hikes on school trips, it’s doubtful that survival knives will be necessary, and they probably won’t be allowed either. Older children may want to experiment with hunting on family trips, so using hunting knives with adult supervision is fine. The right multi-tool is appropriate and safe for general outdoor needs of all ages.

7. Matches, a Flashlight, and Rope

Matches, especially waterproof matches, are an underrated asset in hiking. You’ll have to have faith in your kid for this one; we know fire is a touchy subject.

The reason to carry waterproof matches is simple: to be able to make a fire to keep warm and cook food on, even at higher altitudes. Even if you aren’t cooking for an entire group, having an extra box is always helpful.

You don’t always need the matches to be waterproof, but we know how kids are: spills are likely. In the event of a spill or leakage, your matches might be at risk, so waterproof matches are always a good option.

Flashlights are essential for hiking nights to avoid running into animals or falling into a pointy bush while wandering under the stars.

Consider these BLITZU Led Headlamps (available on Amazon.com). Specifically built with children in mind, these headlamps will allow kids the benefits of a torch while still using their total bodily capacity.

Ropes can help with many things. These range from rock climbing, to building a shelter, to learning some handy knots as a pastime during a break.

Take a look at these Balit 550 Paracord/Parachute Cords (available on Amazon.com). They’re easy to carry but have a sturdy nylon and polyester build. This 31-meter (101.71 ft) rope is perfect for any hiking expedition.

8. A Rubbish Bag

One of the most important rules of hiking is to leave your environment the same as you found it, meaning that leaving litter around is

not an option.

Ensure that your child has a rubbish bag to contain any empty containers, bottles, wrappers, or discarded medical equipment (such as used plasters).

These rubbish bags can also double as a waterproof covering or lining for a daypack; it’s always good to be prepared, although this is a more DIY route to waterproofing. Going out and getting special rubbish bags isn’t necessary; a regular black plastic bag will do, or even an everyday plastic shopping bag lying around the house.