Hiking gear for kids - our recent favourites
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about hiking with kids, it’s that our own enjoyment of an outdoor adventure depends on their enjoyment. A sure fire way to have a bad time out in the hills is to struggle with poor quality equipment and bad packing decisions - this goes doubly when children are involved. However, kids dressed inappropriately for the conditions is a common sight when we are out walking in the UK. We get it, hiking gear is prohibitively expensive, especially when you factor in the rate at which kids grow out of clothing.
For us it comes down to prioritising having a good time outside above all else; whenever we have spare funds it goes on stuff that we know will pay us back in many years of service in the mountains. When times are tight (which is often) at least we will know we can head outside whatever the weather.
Ever since our son Benji was born, we made his comfort in the outdoors a priority. If we wanted him to come with us to the kinds of places we enjoy, then it made total sense that he should be equipped and kitted out in the same way that we would want to be.
In the early days, he didn’t require much, but it was vital he was warm and dry when being carried over long distances in our Osprey backpack and that he had good kit for sleeping while camping. Things changed as soon as he could hike with his own little legs, and now at age 9 (and a half) his requirements are exactly the same as ours.
With all this in mind, we thought it might be useful to share some of our favourite gear here. All of it has lasted years, performed well and can be bought second hand. Please feel free to ask us questions in the comments!
The Layering System
When dressing for hiking in the mountains, or anywhere outdoors really, you need a clothing system that’s adaptable to the changing weather, and the changing temperature of your body as you go from periods of intense physical excursion to periods of rest, from sheltered valleys to exposed summits. The layering system is very simple, consisting of a breathable base layer worn closest to the skin, followed by a warm mid layer (2 in winter) and then finally a lightweight windproof, waterproof outer layer.
This same system should be used for kids. We’ve noticed with Benji that his body temperature fluctuates even more than ours; this way of dressing means he can be comfortable, warm and dry whatever the weather and whatever we’re doing. Be prepared to stop frequently to adjust!
Favourite Brands
Patagonia: Right from the start, Patagonia was our favourite brand of kids outdoor gear; they really seem to understand that the needs of outdoorsy kids are no different from that of grown ups. Ultimately, good outdoor gear for kids enables adventurous grown ups to keep doing the things they love, which in turn will foster a new generation that loves the outdoors. We appreciate the way Patagonia includes kids and parents as part of their mission; having kids doesn’t have to mean the end of your adventures - they are only just beginning. The downside of Patagonia gear is that it it expensive. But, it holds its value really well second hand and we are often able to resell outgrown items for enough money to pay for the next size up. There’s plenty of used Patagonia gear on eBay or Vinted. Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability (if there can ever be such a thing) is something worth paying a little extra for too and their repair and reuse ethos is something we can definitely get behind.
Fjällräven: Now, I don’t think it’s any secret that we’re big fans of Fjällräven gear. Ever since we took part in the Swedish Fjällräven Classic (way back in 2011) we have coveted their durable, rugged outdoor clothing that is especially suited to the kind of outdoor adventures that we love. If it’s good enough for the Swedish wilderness, it’s good enough for us. These days, we are fortunate to count Fjällräven as supporters and collaborators, but even if that were not the case we would still choose to wear Fjällräven clothing for most things, including for Benji. Fjällräven kids clothing seems to fly a little under the radar here in the UK, which is a shame because it works amazingly well. The range of kids clothing is small, yet highly functional, especially the shorts and trousers which are miniature versions of the classic Fjällräven Vidda trousers (which feature again later on). Fjällräven kids clothing is also definitely expensive, yet durability and longevity make it worth the initial outlay. Second hand resale value is really good too.
Columbia: Columbia’s range of kids outdoor clothing definitely deserves a mention here. Although the fit and quality is not as good as our other two favourites, they make pretty good kit for kids. Columbia is a slighter cheaper option whilst still being good; we particularly like the base layer t-shirts and the trousers.
Our (and Benji’s) Absolute Favourite Items
Kids Patagonia Torrentshell: Benji has worn one of these as his waterproof jacket since he was 2 and I honestly can’t think of a better investment. The kids Torrentshell is a just miniature version of the adult one - it’s lightweight, packs down really small (which is great, because when the outer layer comes off, it’s got to go somewhere) and is breathable and properly waterproof. We typically get one that’s slightly too big for him so they last a long time and so it’s big enough to go over his mid-layer. We use this all year round - it works great in summer rain showers or as an outer layer in the middle of winter when combined with warm mid and base layers.
Fjällräven Kids Vidda Trousers: When it comes to Fjällräven clothing, the thing they do better than anyone is trousers. Our legs have been clad in Fjällräven for many many years; I have a pair of Vidda trousers that I bought after our first trip to Sweden in 2011 that are still going strong. As soon as Benji was big enough to fit into the kids version of the Vidda we knew we had to get him a pair and they quickly became a firm favourite. Made of durable G-1000 fabric with double layered reinforcements on the seat and knees, they are built to withstand the kind of abuse that kids are going to put their clothing through - they work well in the woods where they are resistant to getting snagged on brambles and equally well in the mountains as Benji slides on his backside down steep rocky scrambles. Perhaps the best thing about these is that they are really windproof making them perfect for windy summits. They have lots of pockets which are perfect for stuffing with snacks, or for kids to stuff with acorns and interesting rocks they find. They also look really good…
Smartwool Socks: Footwear has always been something we’ve struggled to get right for Benji - it doesn’t seem to matter what boots he wears he always ends up with wet feet! With that in mind what he wears under his boots is super important - sometimes we’re walking up to 20km in a day so the last thing we want is for his feet to be cold and sore. We always wear wool socks ourselves when hiking; wool is breathable and most importantly stays warm when wet. Benji’s favourites are the Hike Full Cushion Crew Socks and he will not go hiking in anything else. We can’t say we blame him…
Vivobarefoot Tracker Kids: And whilst we’re on the subject of feet, let’s talk about boots. As mentioned above, Benji regularly ends up with wet feet; no matter how waterproof his boots are he only has to take one wrong step into a bog or slip in a beck and his boots are completely engulfed. That said, comfort is our main priority which is where Vivobarefoot shoes excel. Benji says they make him feel like a ninja and it’s certainly a joy to watch him climb and skip from rock to rock, light-footed and nimble in his Trackers. We all wore Vivobarefoot boots on our three-day hike across the Lake District this summer with no complaints!
Sealskinz Waterproof Socks: As mentioned above, it doesn’t seem to matter what shoes or boots Benji wears he always ends up with wet feet. When we were planning for our three day hike this summer, we knew we needed to come up with a way to keep Benji’s feet as dry as possible as walking with wet feet would not be great for moral! With this in mind, we invested in a pair of Sealskinz waterproof socks to pair with his aforementioned Vivos. This system worked really well. Benji’s boots were wet, but his feet were dry and he was able to wear fresh wool socks daily under the waterproof layer. If you are multi day hiking, we definitely recommend these!
Patagonia Fleece: Mid-layers for kids can be tough. We have found that Benji’s temperature fluctuates wildly when we’re hiking. Frequent stops to either take a layer off or put another one on are common. Whatever mid-layer you choose needs to be easily packable and to work well as part of the layering system. We have always opted for fleeces from Patagonia, like the Micro D Snap-T or Synchilla Snap-T which have done a great job of keeping Benji warm over the years.
Honourable Mentions
Keen Targhees - these are great, sturdy waterproof boots and super comfortable to wear. A good alternative if barefoot shoes are not your child’s thing. Benji has had a pair of KEEN boots in rotation since he was 2!
Helly Hanson Mittens - These mittens have a waterproof outer and a fleece inner. They are the only gloves that have ever worked for Benji. And you can still make snowballs whilst wearing them.
Tic Tacs - Benji’s go to trail snack. We always have a stock of them to take on adventures!
The one thing we are still searching for is the best outdoor back pack for Benji. Something around 20litres with a breathable back and waist/sternum straps to keep him comfortable. If you have any suggestions, please drop them below!
We hope you find this info useful, we’re always happy to answer questions, so please do give us a shout and we’ll get back to you. Happy hiking!