No items found.

Must-Have Gear for Hiking With Kids

Venture out into the wild with your littlest ones. We're walking you through the basics you need for a successful trip on the trail.

Hiking is one of my favorite ways to spend a day even though I completely understand comedian Jim Gaffigan's stance that "there's nothing at the end of this trail — not even a vending machine." It's true. But, there's just something about being surrounded by nature with only your footsteps to worry about.

Enter children. I want my kids to love hiking as much as I do, or, at least, to appreciate the world around them. However, hiking with kids is not quite as relaxing, mindful and quiet. (Is anything with kids?) Yet, it hasn't stopped me from encouraging (or dragging) them up many a trail. Over the years, my husband and I have fine-tuned our necessities for hiking with kids that make the trail as adventurous and stress-free as possible. Check out our must-haves, from backpacks to footwear, written by Chelsey Bowen.

LAST UPDATED

June 29, 2022

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

Chelsey Bowen

HGTV Lifestyle

MEDIA MENTIONS

Sawyer Permethrin Premium Insect Repellent is used on clothing, not skin, and it provides long-lasting protection against ticks.

Wirecutter
Media Mentions from Wirecutter

MEDIA MENTIONS

One of the most popular, and readily available, means of tick prevention these days is the use of permethrin. Sawyer Permethrin Fabric Treatment is easy to find at most any sporting goods store and applies quick and easy to your clothing, boots, gear, etc.

Brodie Swisher
Bowhunting.com

MEDIA MENTIONS

While not technically a filtered water bottle, Sawyer Products’ water filtration system can transform anything into a safe, clean drinking vessel. Simply fill up the included reusable pouch at any water source, screw the pouch onto the filter, and either drink directly from the filter or squeeze the now-filtered water into another vessel (like a water bottle or pot for cooking).

Alyssa Longobucco