I pack everything into my Deuter AirContact 60 L. The final total weight of my pack is around 42 lbs, give or take. Our kids take a small backpack which includes their little blanket, stuffy, camera, and a few snacks. They cannot carry much weight, but we still encourage them to carry some so they can eventually work up to carrying their own gear some day.
Below you will find the list of everything we need to overnight camp in the backcountry.
- Double sleeping pad – Big Agnes Double Rapide
- Double down sleeping bag, rated to -7C – Big Agnes King Solomon double
- Tent – we have two to choose from – 3P Naturehike, 4P MSR elixir
- Lightweight foldable chair (optional) – folding chair
- Self inflating seat pads (can act as pillows as well) – MEC
Clothing
- Base layer – wicking layer – merino wool WeeWoollies – code RESTLESSCRUSADE for 10% discount
- Mid layer – insulating layer – fleece
- Outer layer – Protection from the elements – down jacket and waterproof/windproof rain jacket
- Undies/socks
- Mitts/beanie
Cooking gear essentials
- Stove – MSR Pocket Rocket
- Fuel
- Cooking pot/pan – MSR 1.3L
- Utensils, plates, bowls, mugs
- Lighter
- Biodegradable soap, scrubbie
- Fire starter
- Water filter – Platypus Gravity fed
Essentials
- Headlamp – Kids headlamp
- Satellite communicator – Zoleo
- Bear spray
- First aid kit
- Battery bank, charging cords
- Toothbrush, toothpaste
- Chapstick
- Leukotape
- Water bottles/bladder
- Thermacell backpacker mosquito repeller (not pictured) – This is season dependent
Footwear
- Hiking boots – kids wear Merrells, I wear Salewas
- Comfortable camp footwear – Crocs
Food
Food is always your own preference. Right now we do dehydrated for almost all our meals because it is super easy and convenient. All you need to do is quickly boil some water, pour it in and stir and wait the 10-20 mins for it to be done.
We usually do overpack on the snacks, so do come home with some, but it’s better to have more than not enough. Kids get very hungry while hiking and are always needing to refuel.
**We’ve upgraded our kids backpacks (not in picture) to the Osprey Talon Jr 11L. It also has a waist belt which is tough to find with such small packs.
What do our kids carry?
Young kids shouldn’t carry much weight. Our kids carry very little. They have their whole life to pack things. Key reminder here is the less they carry, the happier they will be for longer. So also make sure to bring an extra carabiner for if and when they need you to carry their pack so it can be easily clipped to yours.
- Small blanket
- Stuffies
- Snacks
- Baselayer, socks, undies, rain jacket
Here’s a good rule of thumb for safe pack weight on backpacking trips:
Ages 3-5: up to 5% of their body weight
Ages 5-7: up to 10% of their body weight
Ages 8-12: 10-15% of their body weight
Teens with experience: up to 20%, depends on terrain and fitness
Colibri reusable bags: We use a lot of these reusable bags for everything from camera cases to snacks to garbage storage until we get back home – Colibri Link here – Incredibly easy to clean; just throw in the washing machine and dryer when you get home. Use code Shannon10 for a discount.
Trail Magik: The perfect piece of gear to get you where you need to go when your little one’s legs tire out – Trail Magik Link here – Use code RESTLESSCRUSADE for a discount
Trail Magik kids carrier (attaches directly to your backpack) making life on the trails so much easier and more manageable. For use with kids age 1 and up, maximum weight of 42 lbs.
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