Our Family Loves to Hike! It’s one of our favorite things to do! Hiking not only lets us discover spectacular scenery, but it also helps us spend precious time together as a family. And having the right hiking gear, for both the adults and kids hiking, can make or break what type of experience you have out on the trails.
Hiking is the perfect way to take a break from the work world and the world of electronics that seems to dominate so much of our lives today. For us, hiking really lets us take a moment to slow down, relax and appreciate all of the beautiful things in our world and in each other.
Hiking Gear
Over the years, our family has purchased a lot of different gear for our hiking adventures. Some of these items were wonderful and some were completely worthless. Here, I want to share with you what we feel is essential to carry with you when hiking. And of course, I will let you in on our absolute favorites!
When hiking, the goal ultimately is to carry as little as possible. So, you want to make every item count. Having the right items can really make a difference. The hiking gear listed below are items that have really made that difference for our own family hiking adventures. They are items, that we think, are extremely useful and that any hiker or hiking family would love!
Let’s Find Hiking Gear for Your “Traveling Feet!”
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THE BEST ESSENTIAL HIKING GEAR
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Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle (16oz or 32oz)
Impact Resistant, Easy to Clean, Leak Proof, BPA/BPS Free, Perfect for Hiking, Camping and Everyday Use (Available in 18 Colors!) – Great Hiking Gear for Kids too!
This is our family’s all time favorite water bottle! We have used it on every hike, every vacation and we even use it as our kid’s daily water bottle at home.
The Nalgene water bottle is easy to carry on hikes and I love how the bottle is clear so that I can quickly see how much my children are drinking. (This is so important, especially when hiking in hot environments.) It’s also so easy to clean! This water bottle doesn’t have extra parts to wash or take apart, which makes it so much easier to clean while traveling. (This is such a time saver!)
I also love that it comes in 16 colors. This way each member of our family can have their own color and we can quickly identify which water bottle is whose. For fun, let your kids pick out their very own color! Let’s make this essential hiking gear for kids even more special so they can stay better hydrated on the trails.
I can’t recommend these water bottles enough. My husband and I love them, our kids love them and we hope you do too!
(If you are looking for a larger size, this water bottle comes in a 32oz size too.)
Platypus Platy 2-Liter Ultralight Collapsible Water Bottle
We found that this Platypus water bottle was Absolutely Perfect for all of our hotter hikes throughout Utah, Arizona & New Mexico. And it was perfect for keeping our family hydrated on our longer hikes throughout Glacier and Yosemite. And we think you will love it while hiking too!
I, myself was so impressed by how much he loves this hat, that I went out and bought a navy blue one for myself! And it’s wonderful! It fits my head perfectly, keeps the sun off me, my head cool and it packs great! If you are looking for a new sun hat then definitely check out this hat from Tilley.
See More Color Options Here
PETZL, ACTIK CORE Headlamp
450 Lumens, Rechargeable, with CORE Battery, Black – Great Hiking Gear for Kids too!
I also love the red light/ night feature that allows you to have a little light without blinding everyone around you. Honestly, we’ve used this as a night light for the kids a couple of times and it worked great!
But the main reason that I love this headlamp is that it’s rechargeable, yes rechargeable! This headlamp uses AAA batteries but it also has a micro USB port so that you can make sure it is fully charged before you head out. Nobody wants to get stuck in the dark, whether it’s in a cave, going on a sunset hike, finding your way through a lava tube or simply just trying to find your way to the bathroom at a campsite at night. Knowing that we can fully charge our headlamps through a USB has made me feel safer when going on adventures in the dark.
Onwon Aluminum Carabiner
D-Ring Locking Key Security Camping Hiking Keychain ( 10 PCS)
Carabiner clips are great to have when out hiking and they can be used in so many ways. We use them to easily attach our sun hats to our hiking bag while out on a shady part of a trail. They are great for hooking all of our water bottles together when needed (like when we went white water rafting and we didn’t want our water bottles rolling around the raft.)
We also use them to clip our empty water bottles together when heading to a water fill station (this way only my husband or myself has to go and we don’t have to troop all 3 of our kids over and crowd up the fill station area.) And we even use carabiners to clip our camera safely to a strap or to our bag so we don’t have to worry about it falling. I can’t possibly count the number of times that we have used our carabiner clips and in so many different ways! This is definitely an item that we’ve found extremely useful when traveling and while out hiking on a trail.
LifeStraw Water Filter Products
for hiking, Camping, Travel and Emergency Preparedness. Removes Lead, Bacteria, Parasites and Chemicals to give Safe, Clean Drinking Water
LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottles
If you will be traveling/ hiking anywhere where you are not sure about the quality of the water (foreign countries or water from a stream) then this is the water bottle you’ll want.
The filter in this water bottle removes over 99.9% waterborne bacteria ,
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
LifeStraw Flex Advanced Water Filter with Gravity Bag
Each of these three devices really are incredible! These filters provide water that exceeds the US EPA water standards for the elimination of bacteria and parasites. It exceeds the US standards for reduction of lead and other heavy metals! And finally, for every LifeStraw product purchased, they will make sure that a school child in need receives safe drinking water for an entire school year! To me, that’s a really great cause!
LifeStraw Water Bottle or Personal Water Filter or Water Filter with Gravity Bag
Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Pocket Knife
with Leather Pouch, Red
We have used this knife to cut up food while having picnics out on the trail. The tweezers were extremely useful when my husband fell into a cactus in Arizona. Ouch! The Phillip’s Head screw driver has been used more times than I can count. The magnifying glass was great at showing our children how tight the rings are on the oldest trees in the world. (The Bristlecone Pine Trees in California, they’re more than 4,000 years old and that’s a lot of rings to see!) And the bottle opener and corkscrew have been extremely useful in helping us enjoy an adult beverage in the evenings while we relax. This is definitely a fantastic item to have while hiking and while traveling in general.
SwissQlip Deep Carry Pocket Clip
Compatible with 91mm Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Models (Chrome)
Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cube Set (XS, S, M)
I use a large packing cube to keep a long sleeved shirt for each person in our family if I think the trail may get a little cool. I use a small packing cube to stash all my kids sunglasses when they’re not in use. And I use the medium size cube for our Miscellaneous Hiking Stuff. This includes all that stuff you want to have, just in case something goes wrong (like some paracord, a fire starter, a compass, neck gaiters, a quick dry towel, sunscreen, bug spray, first aid items, etc) These packing cubes make everything so accessible while hiking. We love them!
Solar Power Bank, Qi Portable Charger
10,000mAh External Battery Pack Type C Input Port Dual Flashlight, Compass, Solar Panel Charging (Orange)
ENERGIZER LED Tactical Flashlight
IPX4 Water Resistant, Super Bright, Heavy Duty Metal Body, Built For Camping, Outdoors, Emergency, Batteries Included – Hiking Gear for Kids too!
Outlander Lightweight Compact Hiking Bags
Daypack Handy Foldable Camping Outdoor Backpack
These are My Two Favorite Sizes
(Please note that these are Daypacks meant for shorter hikes, lighter items or for when you simply want to have a spare bag easily available.)
Outlander Ultra Lightweight Packable Water Resistant Travel Hiking Backpack
And aside from hiking, this is my go-to bag that I use for all my kids school field trips! I can’t speak highly enough about this great little, lightweight, compact bag and I think every hiker should have one!
Outlander Packable Lightweight Travel Hiking Backpack Daypack
On road trips, we’ve even used this as our kids’ lovie/toy bag in the back seat because it’s so easy and lightweight for them to carry and it can hold a lot of stuffed animals (that we could never leave home without!) Overall, this is a great bag to take with you on any trip, empty and folded up, so that you can easily have a spare bag for whatever reason (hiking or travel) comes your way.
FUN PICNIC HIKING GEAR FOR FAMILIES
Make Your Next Hike Even More Memorable!
Who doesn’t like to dream about having a picnic among breathtaking scenery. But then it can seem like a lot of work right? And it may seem even more stressful if you are trying to picnic with kids. That’s what I used to think before I discovered the gear listed below. Now, when our family goes on hikes, we can easily carry food, keep it cold and have a comfortable meal out on the trail. With kids, this means that our family can now hike a little farther, a little more remote and see even more spectacular scenery than ever before.
BEARZ Outdoor, Compact, Waterproof Picnic Blanket 55″x60″
Lightweight, Sand Proof Mat: Perfect for Picnics while Hiking on a Trail, for Camping or on the Beach – Packable w/Bag
And if your kids are anything like mine, this blanket is great at saving the occasional sandwich or food item that accidentally drops right when you hand it to them… It’s also great for picnics at the beach! Overall, having this easy to carry, compact picnic blanket allows you to enjoy your surroundings more comfortably while dining out in spectacular places in nature.
TOURIT Cooler Backpack
30 Cans, Lightweight, Insulated & Leak-Proof
Available in 6 colors, this is a great cooler backpack that’s perfect for picnics on the go. There are multiple pockets to keep everything organized
I really like this stylish backpack and it is so useful to keep drinks cold or have picnic lunches on the go.
If you are looking for a collapsible cooler backpack, then check out the one below.
IceMule 1006 Classic Large
Collapsible Portable Soft Sided Roll Top 20 Liter 18 Can Lightweight Insulated Waterproof Leak Proof Backpack Cooler Sling Bag, for Hiking, Camping, Fishing, Picnic
There have been many times where we stop at a grocery store (for a block of cheese, grapes, drinks, etc) or a sandwich shop like Subway and pick up a meal before heading out on a trail. Just add some ice and this bag is great at keeping everything nice and cold for a long time.
When you’re not using it for picnic food, it’s also great for keeping drinks and water bottles ice cold in your car. This is especially useful when traveling/hiking in hot climates.
Another great use for this bag is that now you can keep purchases on the road cold. For example, we were able to buy blocks of cheese from a cheese factory that we visited and snack on them later in our trip. We were able to purchase local beer from various brew pubs along the way, chill them as we drove and enjoy them later in the evening as the kids went to sleep.
And I love how easy it is to carry this bag into hotels at night. No more lugging heavy coolers for us! And even better, when you’re not using it at all, it collapses and rolls up compactly for travel. We love our IceMule Cooler bag!
Tapirus 5 Spork of Steel Utensils Set
Durable and Rust Proof Stainless Steel – Spoon, Fork and Knife Flatware Kit for Camping, Fishing, and Outdoor Activities with Bottle Opener and Carrying Case
Platypus PlatyPreserve Wine Bag
ME.FAN Silicone Collapsible Travel Cup
Silicone Folding Camping Cup with Lids – Expandable Drinking Cup Set – Portable, Graduated [9.22oz]
Another feature I love about this product is that each cup has a lid! This definitely helps contain any mess. When you’re finished drinking you can just collapse your cup and cap it until you are able to wash it. No liquid residue dripping and making your bag messy. I love this! This is the type of gear that really makes picnicking while hiking easier and even more enjoyable when you have kids.
Hiking in Bear Country
Staying Safe While Exploring.
If you will be hiking through known bear habitats like Yellowstone, Glacier or Yosemite National Park or you will be traveling through Alaska or Canada then I definitely recommend looking into getting a few items that will help keep you safe as you hike through these beautiful areas.
BearVault BV450 Bear Resistant Food Canister
440 Cubic Inch Capacity | for Weekend Hikers, Backpackers, and Campers
7.9 oz (Holster Options & Multi-Pack Options) Maximum Strength & Larger Protective Barrier!
GREAT HIKING GEAR FOR KIDS:
Little Explorers Making Big Discoveries.
Binoculars for Kids
Best Hiking Gear for Kids, Gifts for 3-12 Years, 8×21 High-Resolution Real Optics Mini Compact Binocular Toys Shockproof Folding Small Telescope for Bird Watching, Travel, Camping
Kids love to be involved while hiking and these binoculars are a great way to do this! Let them try and find the bird that they hear chirping nearby. Let them take a closer look at the deer grazing across the meadow. Just watch their excitement unfold as they discover things that “only they can see.” And these binoculars are made especially for kids! They’re lightweight, compact and shockproof. Kids will love to have their very own pair of binoculars in their hiking gear bag! Make you child’s next hiking adventure full of excitement and discovery with binoculars!
Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail: What Will You Find?
Help encourage your children’s excitement for their next hike with this wonderful take along field guide (made especially for kids 4-8 years). Discover great seek-n-find lists. Go on fun nature inspired activities like listening walks. Encourage them to look for items along the nature trail with creative nature sticker patches to mark when they “see it”. And even get a real pull out magnifying glass to help them take a closer look at plant leaves, tiny insects or even to try and count the rings on a tree. Although this isn’t exactly hiking gear, this book is a lot of fun for kids and it would be perfect for any adventurous young explorer!
CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack, 50 oz
First, I know my own kids will drink more if they have easy access to a water through a straw. Second, this pack carries 1.5 liters of water and has a little pocket in front which I think is great for snacks or for things like sunscreen or Chapstick. Third, this awesome hydration pack has a safety whistle on it. I love this feature!. It’s not one that I hope I’ll need but it definitely doesn’t hurt to be prepared. For us, there was one time when our family was climbing among the rocks in Joshua Tree, CA and for a couple of long minutes I couldn’t see my kids. It was kind of scary. At the time our bag didn’t have a whistle. After that I became much more aware of how important a whistle can be on a bag if your children somehow get separated from you.
To me this bag is perfect for kids hiking a long trail, taking a long bike ride or anytime you’re exploring a hot environment like in Florida, Utah or Arizona. Oh, and one of the best benefits of this bag for any parent is that it means that you don’t have to carry all of the water for each of your children on a longer hike (which is surprisingly heavy for three kids!) So in reality this would benefit any parent too!
Outdoor Exploration Set
Kids Adventure Pack – Perfect fun “hiking gear” for 3-12 year old kids – Good Birthday and Christmas Gift – Children Outdoor Educational
Our Favorite Hiking Clothes for Kids:
These are our kid’s favorite hiking clothes! And as our kids change sizes, these are the items that they’ve asked me to rebuy every time. (It’s the perfect gear that kids will love hiking in!) In fact, all three of my boys would wear these dri-fit shirts every day of the year if I would let them.
FANTASTIC BOOKS FOR HIKERS
Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks (Travel Guide)
America’s Great Hiking Trails:
Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, North Country, Ice Age, Potomac Heritage, Florida, Natchez Trace, Arizona, Pacific Northwest, New England
100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do
100 Hikes of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Scenic Trails
I hope this list of the best essential hiking gear has helped you in figuring out what you would like to pack for your next hike out on the trails.
Have a Great Hike with Your “Traveling Feet!”
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” John Muir
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