Category: hiking

When parents are hiking and camping enthusiasts and have all the gear that they need, such as women’s hiking backpacks and camping supplies, such as tents and cooking gear, then they will usually want to get the same sorts of gear for their children once they are old enough to start to go on the trips too. There are not always kids hiking backpacks and other gear in every outdoor supply store, although there are major stores like REI that carry great children’s hiking gear. Since children are constantly growing and changing, parents do not usually want to pay a lot of money for the gear since it will quickly be outgrown, however, they also want their children to be comfortable and safe with the gear that they use.

A Pack to Grow on

For toddlers and elementary school children, there usually is not much need for a kids hiking backpack since parents usually carry all that is needed on the trip in order to conserve the child’s energy for the hike. In addition, these children usually only go on day hikes or short overnight camping trips so there is not much need for supplies beyond what the parents would need to pack for themselves.

Although this is true, there are some small kids hiking backpacks that are appropriate for this age of child. One idea is to use a camel pack, which is usually smaller in the first place and can be used as a kids hiking backpack, especially for an elementary school child. These packs allow the child to pack some smaller supplies and also allow them to carry a small amount of water that they can drink while hiking. These packs have a ‘straw’ that comes through the shoulder strap or top of the pack so that it is convenient for the child to drink out of.

Older children, such as in middle school or high school, can start to move out of the kids hiking backpacks and move into small adult packs that they can carry. There are some great day packs on the market that can be used by a teen to help his parents by carrying his own camping supplies without reverting to a kid’s backpack which cannot hold as much in way of supplies.

When parents take their children, whatever the age, to get a kid’s backpack, they should make sure that the backpack fits the child’s body appropriately. Backpacks should rest solidly on the hips through the weight distribution properties of the hip belt. The shoulder straps should fit comfortably, holding the pack snugly to the curve of the back. These precautions will help to protect the child from damage to his back.

In order to get the most out of a discount hiking backpack store, a hiker needs to know what types of backpacks are on the market and what type of backpacks he needs in order to decide what backpacks would be the best deal at a discount hiking backpack store. The more expensive backpacks are the camping backpacks which are mid-weight and also the expedition packs. In addition, waterproof packs are usually more expensive than regular packs, so finding these at a discount hiking backpack store would be a great find, although less expensive packs, like kids hiking backpacks can also be found there.

Waterproof Packs

The most common waterproof hiking backpacks that can be found at discount hiking backpack stores are class one packs which are actually only water resistant. Class one packs can withstand water as long as it is only sprinkles on the pack from a light rain or splashes from a river or other water source.

The next level of waterproof hiking backpacks that are usually more expensive as well are the class two packs, which would be a great find at a discount hiking backpack store. This type of pack is able to withstand a heavy flow of water to the top of the pack, like from heavy rain or a light waterfall. This type of pack cannot withstand submersion, however, although it can usually handle a brief dunk in the water.

Getting into the more expensive of the waterproof packs, but also the most useful for those who are the more adventurous backpackers, crossing rivers and streams with their packs, the class three waterproof hiking backpacks can float across these waters without allowing any water into the backpack. They can be quite pricey and finding one at a discount hiking backpack store during the off season, such as the wintertime, is one of the better times to look for one.

The next level of waterproof backpack is a class four, which is often used by hikers who also snorkel and by white water raft enthusiasts. These are costly because they can handle being submerged up to three feet under the water without damage, so they can be worn in the water and can also survive a white water raft tipping over, keeping all supplies dry inside of it. It is difficult to find these at a discount hiking backpack store because they are a more specialized pack that is not used by as many hikers and campers. Class five packs are even rarer, which can go up to twelve feet under the water, making them great packs for search and rescue teams.