As parents, we all want to make sure we provide the very best for our kids, and having the best kids hiking gear is no exception.
The great thing about having the best kids hiking gear is that it also provides them with comfort and safety on the trail- two very important factors.
Why Having The Best Hiking Gear For Kids Matters
Having the right hiking gear benefits children as much as it does adults.
The better prepared and more comfortable your kids are, the more they will be able to pay attention and really enjoy hiking with you.
Considering that there’s so many options of hiking gear for children out there, we put this guide together to help you find what’s best before your family hits the trail.
Read on for our favorite picks of hiking gear for children.
Best Hiking Gear For Kids
We’ll break down what gear we found to be the best in each area below, along with additional resources to learn more.
Best Kids Hiking Boots
If you’re looking to go on adventures with your little ones, having the best kids hiking boots and shoes is critical to having successful outings and making long-lasting outdoor memories.
Timberland Kids Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots
Classic styling and lots of functionality were what placed the Timberland Kids Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof Hiking boots in our top picks for the best kids hiking boots.
These boots offer anti-fatigue technology to provide your kid with all-day comfort and support, while the high-traction outsole and internal shank offer plenty of grip and sturdiness on any type of surface.
There’s a waterproof membrane to offer an excellent level of moisture-resistance, and full grain leather allows these boots to be extremely durable.
Curious for more recommendations? Check out our full guide to the best kids hiking boots.
Best Kids Hiking Shoes
If you’re not planning on hiking in cold weather or are looking for a more versatile option for your child’s hiking footwear, trail runners and hiking shoes are an excellent option.
Keen Targhee Sport Vented Hiking Shoe
Keen snagged two of our top 5 picks for best kids hiking shoes, and for good reason: the Keen Targhee Sport Vented Hiking Shoe is a powerhouse.
This hiking shoe offers a hook-and-loop closure with a velcro strap for an extra secure fit, and packs in great safety features like an oversized toe cap and extremely grippy soles with a heel brake.
They offer a vented membrane that will keep their feet cool, and are odor and moisture-resistant, which is a huge plus.
We covered even more suggestions in our guide to the best kids hiking shoes, so take a look there as well!
Best Kids Hiking Hats
Any children’s hiking hat should shade their neck and ears from the sun, and should be comfortable enough that they actually keep it on their head.
Look for kids hiking hats that have adjustable sizing bands and a breakaway chin strap.
Sunday Afternoons Kids Sun And Play Hat
The Sunday Afternoons Kids Sun And Play Hat came out on top of our list for best kids hiking hats due to its back-of-neck protection, adjustable sizing band to fit different head sizes, and the breakaway chin strap.
This hat offers UPF 50+ sun protection, is water repellent, and the breathable mesh panels help keep your child’s head cool.
Best Hiking Child Carrier
If you’re planning on hitting the trail as a family and have babies or toddlers, you’ll definitely want the best baby and toddler carrier for hiking that you can find.
Child backpack carriers offer safety and comfort for both you and your child, ensuring a better quality of hike for everyone involved.
Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier
The Deuter Kid Comfort child carrier is the ultimate combination of safety, durability, storage, and comfort – all at a reasonable price.
Deuter packs are well-known for their excellent suspension systems, and this carrier features a robust metal frame that handles kids of different ages, sizes, and activity levels with ease.
The mesh back panel ensures comfort for you, and the baby seat design is one of the best we’ve seen.
There’s a five-point harness that’s easily adjustable, and the supportive materials throughout are also washable, enabling you to keep the carrier in great shape over many hikes to come.
Check out all our recommendations for the best hiking child carrier.
Best Kids Hiking Backpacks
Letting your child carry their own backpack helps to lighten your load while getting them excited about having responsibility at the same time.
Look for small backpacks and be sure not to overload them with weight, and bring along a carabiner clip or two in case you need to attach their pack to yours if they tire out.
Deuter Schmusebar Childrens Hiking Backpack
This kid’s hiking backpack offers a clip and drawstring closure on the main compartment, making it easy for little ones to get in and out of.
The reflective prints help keep them visible and safe, and there’s elasticated side pockets for easy storage of snacks, toys, and water bottles.
The chest strap is height-adjustable, and offers a padded back cushion and padded shoulder straps for extra comfort.
Best Kids Hiking Shirts
Having hiking clothes that are breathable and helps protect kids from the sun should absolutely be a priority.
Look for kids hiking shirts that are long-sleeved but can either detach or roll up, and offer some UPF protection.
You’ll want materials that are quick to dry and offer moisture-resistance too.
Columbia Kids PFG Bahama Hiking Shirt
The Columbia Kids PFG Bahama Hiking Shirt is an excellent option due to its long sleeves that also button up to short sleeves, breathable lightweight nylon that dries quickly, and mesh venting.
This hiking shirt may look like it’s just for boys, but has plenty of gender-neutral color options.
This kid’s hiking shirt also offers UPF-30 protection and is highly durable.
Best Kids Hiking Pants
The ideal pair of hiking pants for kids is going to offer moisture resistance and be breathable while still offering protection from falls or from brush on the trail.
As an added bonus, look for pants that offer adjustable waists, zip-off bottoms to convert into hiking shorts, or ones that can be easily rolled up or down.
Lastly, your child’s hiking pants should be durable and easy to clean.
CQR Youth Hiking Cargo Quick Dry Convertible Pants
These CQR Convertible Hiking Pants For Kids are excellent because they offer everything you’ll need in a pair of kid’s hiking bottoms.
They easily zip off from pants into shorts, have cargo pockets for snacks or “treasures” your kids will find on the trail, and are fade and shrink-resistant.
The quick-dry, stretch-performance material ensures comfort on your entire hike, and the gender-neutral colors means everyone has a great palette to choose from.
Best Kids Explorer Vests For Hiking
Having extra storage and getting kids excited about hiking is always a plus, and having a hiking vest gets the job done well on both fronts.
Look for durable construction that offers plenty of pockets, breathable materials, and D-rings to clip toys or other items onto the vest.
Eagle Eye Kids Cargo Hiking Vest
The Eagle Eye Kids Cargo Hiking Vest made our list due to its lightweight cotton construction, reflective materials, and a total of six pockets for tons of storage.
There’s also 4 D-rings for attaching anything you or your kids would like to attach, which is an added plus.
Best Kids Rain Gear For Hiking
Hiking in the rain can be very fun and memorable for all- as long as everyone can stay relatively dry.
Look for rain gear that is lightweight, quick-drying, good for layering, and can roll up to a very small size to keep in a pack when not in use.
Columbia Kids Glennaker Hiking Rain Jacket
This rain jacket is made from a waterproof nylon shell that can handle drizzles to downpours and anything in between.
It has two zippered side pockets, elastic cuffs and hem, and a hood to keep your child fully dry in the rain.
Additional Kids Hiking Gear Options
Depending on your child’s age, you may want to consider the following items to bring along when you hit the trail:
- Hydration backpack for kids (CamelBak or other brand)
- Hiking poles for kids
- Kids binoculars
- Walkie-talkies (kids love these while hiking!)
- Lifestraw
- Compressed wipes or towelettes
- Kids travel potty for hiking
- Healthy and mess-free snacks
- First aid kit for hiking
- Kids hiking socks
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Kids Headlamp
- Plastic Bag for Trash
Note that these are optional and you can mix and match as you see fit based on your child’s needs.
Kids Hiking Gear FAQs
The earlier, the better! The sooner you start hiking with your child, the more used to it they will be.
Start by building up the length of the hikes you go on over a period of time to build up their familiarity and enjoyment of hiking.
This entirely depends on the age, interest level, and physical capabilities of your child.
For kids 0-3, we recommend that parents carry kids for the majority of the hike in a baby or toddler carrier for hiking, and aim for hikes 2 miles or less.
For ages 4-7, hikes 4 miles or less are appropriate.
For ages 8-10, 6-10 miles is fine.
Beyond the age of 10, you can decide how long to hike with your child based on their endurance and physical fitness level.
At a minimum, kids should wear hiking boots or hiking shoes, a sun hat, and hiking socks when on the trail.
Just like any outing with little ones, layering clothing is key.
Depending on how cool the weather is, you may consider a lightweight warm top and layering fleece on it.
Snacks, toys, a water bottle, first aid kid, sunglasses, and hand sanitizer are all good items to put in your child’s hiking pack.
A baby or toddler hiking carrier is not required, but it will make your hikes much more enjoyable.
If you are planning on only going for a few short, simple hikes each year, you can opt for a soft pack that can be worn front or back.
However, if you plan on hiking or backpacking often or on longer trips and different terrains, we highly recommend a proper carrier.
Check out our reviews of the best hiking child carriers to get started.
If you plan on hiking on trails or non-paved surfaces, your kids probably need hiking boots.
All of the kids hiking boots and kids hiking shoes we reviewed in our guide to the best kids hiking boots are great options.
Make sure there is no pinching around the top of the feet, ankle, or tongue area of the boot.
To check toe room, make sure you can fit your pinky finger between your child’s heel and the back of the boot.
If you’ll be hiking on inclines, declines, or in wet or muddy conditions, hiking boots are the best choice for kids.
If you’ll be hitting simpler trails or primarily hiking in dry conditions, a hiking shoe or sandal will work just fine.
Yes, you should buy kids hiking boots one size larger than their shoe size.
This allows them a little room to grow into them and extend the use you’ll get out of your child’s hiking boots.