As many parents know, there comes a time when a toddler suddenly insists they can do everything by themselves. Well, this has become my son’s entire personality–he’s a big kid now. Naturally, that meant he needed his own pack, real gear to be responsible for, and binoculars that actually work (no more toy ones).
It’s turned out to be an amazing decision: he can carry some snacks, store his treasures–read: rocks and acorns–and feel like a proper adventurer. If you’re looking to upgrade the gear of your explorer, here’s what we’re loving!
The Pack
This Deuter Junior fanny pack has seen it all. From day hikes to mountain miles, kiddo wears this thing everywhere.
Why we love it:
- It’s sturdy. From our regular about town hikes to the Green Mountains this pack has been beaten against rocks, fully submerged in lakes, and run through the washing machine. Zero issues.
- There’s 2 separate zipped pouches, plus an internal divider within the larger pouch.
- We like to keep his gear and treasures in the big pouch, and empty a bunch of snacks in to the front pouch. He just unzips it, grabs a few goldfish, and carries on.
The Gear
- Obuby binoculars were our post-toy-binocular upgrade. The enthusiasm when kiddo realized they really work like Mama’s was unmatched. They’re 8×21 binoculars, so they’re perfectly serviceable and small enough to fit in his hands (and pack). They also have rubber protecting the lenses from falls because, well, toddlers 👀
- Sunglasses are a must have any time of year–don’t underestimate winter sun! If we’re really honest we go through an obscene amount of sunglasses per year. I’ll let you know if I find a pair that holds up for a while, but until then…at least they’re cheap.
- Chapstick is something I was hesitant about letting little guy control on his own, but he’s surprisingly responsible with it. I’d call this kid-dependent, but if they’re able to handle chapstick with care it’s a fun thing to carry.
- Microspikes are a seasonal must once it’s cold. You never know when you’ll hit an icy area and you’ll be so glad to have these. My husband and I use Kahtoolas but for a kid the generic ones work just fine. I’m less worried about gear longevity for kiddo because his feet grow so dang fast anyway. So far, so good!
By the by, if you’re curious about those microspikes fitting in the fanny pack I made a quick clip to show you it’s snug but totally fine 😊
And there you have it! Quick, simple, but oh-so effective. I will say that if he’s carrying both binoculars and microspikes there isn’t much room left for treasures. However, if he’s carrying microspikes, he’s almost certainly wearing a coat that has pockets, so it all works out fine.
What are your little kid hiking essentials? Anything your kiddo absolutely has to bring?
Also, feel free to hop over here to see what I keep in my backpack on our adventures!
Happy big kid adventure trails 🥾💚