Little Boots, Big Views

I remember a life before kids when my now husband and I would head out hiking with a battery pack, a protein bar, and a water bottle. We’d hope for the best and it was always fine, but those days are no more. Becoming a parent meant my contingency plans have contingency plans. I quickly learned what was important to have to prevent meltdowns, first aid stuff I should have because you just never know with kids, and ways to address safety concerns and plan for weather that didn’t seem as big of a deal before.

Let me be very clear in saying this is not an ultralight pack. It all fits in my 13 L backpack, so it’s not mountains of gear, but I’m 1000% sure you could trim stuff. However, this is what works best for my family, covers all of our needs, and ensures everyone is out there having fun safely. This is also not a through hiking pack, and does not cover what you’d need for camping, although you can totally get an overnight setup out of this gear if you absolutely had to. It just wouldn’t be plan A, B, or C.

Because my pack is only 13 L there are some items that I swap seasonally. You’ll find those bits in their own section rather than with the all-season, all-the-time gear. Also be sure to download your free checklist if you’re ready to develop your own prepared for anything hike bag!

Backpack and Guidelines

Backpacks

I am currently using the Osprey Daylite. Coming in at only 13L it is quite small, but I love the darn thing. It’s deceptively roomy, super comfy, and doesn’t feel like a burden when I’m out for hours. Here’s some quick notes on backpacks:

1. My Osprey fits everything I need when it’s just me and little guy (he’s currently almost 4 years old at time of posting). If our whole family is hiking, it is not enough to hold food/snacks/gear for everyone (family total of 5 people). In those instances I carry all of the normal gear that lives in my pack, and my husband is carrying the food/snacks/extras. If you are hiking with more than one small human that you’re carrying gear for, you may want to consider larger options like the Camelbak Fourteener at 26L or the Osprey Sportlite at 25L. I plan to pick up a larger bag myself as kiddo starts adventuring further/longer.
2. I would not recommend a school backpack for hiking–they are built differently and will not offer the same support, comfort, or functionality.
3. Regardless of what backpack you pick, make sure to check measurements before buying! You want it to feel comfortable, and pinching straps are not it.

Gear Guidelines

If you’re new to hiking there are also some guidelines informing what sort of things you may want to carry. The big two are the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace, and the 10 Essentials for Hiking and Camping. Leave No Trace involves leaving the area as you found it, quite literally trying to leave no trace that you were there. The 10 Essentials for Hiking were first noted by mountaineers in the 1930s, then formalized in Mountaineering Magazine in 1974. In the modern world we look at it more as 10 necessary categories to have on you, not necessarily 10 specific items. For example, you should absolutely have a means of navigating but that may not necessarily mean a paper map.

My Baseline Gear

These are my baseline items that I generally carry. I don’t need all of these every time, and will sometimes leave things behind for extra space. For example, if we’re spending the day at a nature center with trails and visitor centers I won’t bring water filtration and bathroom trowels. That being said, sometimes I just leave everything in if I have the room so I don’t need to remember to add it back later. If we’re planning to be on the trail more than a few hours I absolutely do bring all of this with me out of an abundance of caution and preparedness.

Consider this your best-case-scenario-all-bases-covered list, but tailor it to fit the needs of you, your family, your plans, and your environment.

Medical Supplies

I suppose it goes without saying that you’ll want some medical gear. I started with a very basic medical kit like this one and then added what we needed to it. Here’s what I’ve added to ours:

• Bandaids–I just keep a few in here at a time, no need to bring the whole box.
• Chewable diphenhydramine (Benadryl) that I found at my local pharmacy–great to have on hand for allergic reactions or insect stings.
• Chewable Motrin for the kiddos and a tube of Tylenol for the adults
• Foldable scissors are your friend for anything from opening medication to cutting a loose thread that’s annoying a toddler.
• Tweezers for splinters
• Tick Key (tick removal tool)

Other medical adjacent items in my bag that don’t fit in the tiny first aid box:

• Leukotape P is gold for blisters, stabilizing minor trail injuries or sprains, and even impromptu gear repairs.
• Moleskin padding is also wonderful for blisters, and is softer for smaller kids that are more texture sensitive.

Safety Gear

It is always a good idea to be prepared for anything! That’s why I keep these in my bag at all times:

• Emergency whistle is super basic, almost no weight, but it’s important to have a way to draw attention if you ever need help.
• Mylar blankets are another item that is small, flat, and very light but you’re glad to have it. From unexpected temperature drops, to unexpected water exposure, to unplanned camping, you’ll at least have something for shelter and extra warmth.
• Swiss Army knife or multi-tool because you should always have some sort of tools on you. You would be amazed the amount of times you could really use a knife or screwdriver. I carry a tiny little Swiss Army knife personally, and it takes up very little space.
• Headlamps with extra batteries are a fabulous way to have a lightweight source of light on you without using up your phone battery.
• A battery pack is a safety must-have in my books so you have access to maps and communication should you be out longer than intended. Don’t forget the cords!
• Lifestraw is a water filtration device that is small enough to be thrown in a backpack but gives you a backup water source just in case. I consider it a better to have and not need than need and not have kind of situation.

Everything Else

The last few odds and ends that round out my standard gear:

• Microfiber towels are a great way to quickly dry off little hands and faces. I like this one in particular because you can attach it to your backpack to dry. Neat!
• Lighter or matches for making a quick fire if ever needed.
• Wet wipes are a standard carry all of the time everywhere in all circumstances item with small children. But don’t forget to bring some hiking too! The ones I linked come in tiny little packs that won’t weigh you down.
• Hand sanitizer is another must have, especially if you plan to eat on the trail.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and SPF lip balm should always be on hand to ensure everyone is protected. Remember you can still get sun burns in the winter! And sun reflecting off of snow is bright.
• Bathroom trowel is a handy tool if you’re planning on being out all day. Bring some toilet paper and a large ziplock bag to carry the toilet paper back out in. This is not an item I normally carry unless we’re doing a full day, middle of nowhere hike. For normal day trail use bathroom stops before heading out are typically sufficient. But you know your kiddos best, so plan accordingly!
• Random hygiene stuff that you may need or want. Some of our favorites are blistex, a cleaning cloth for eyeglasses, and extra hair ties.
• Extra socks and underwear. Just. Trust me on that one.
• Plenty of water and snacks! Bring more than you think you’ll need, and try to pack a variety if you can. Kids love having a choice and that distraction is a pretty reliable meltdown deterrent.
• Optional: Any other gear useful to you! I personally can’t live without trekking poles, and we love to bring binoculars for wildlife viewing.

Seasonal Gear

These last few items will change out with the seasons. In Upstate New York that typically means the spring/summer/fall stuff, then the winter specific stuff.

Regular Hiking Season (Spring through Fall)

• Full size sunscreen because you’ll be applying it a lot more and having it sweat or rinse off more consistently.
• Bug spray to keep the insects away. Pro-tip: We swear by this Sawyer lotion that you can apply before heading out and it lasts all day. On super sweaty days we’ll still top off with the spray, but this lotion has worked great for us.
• Bug Bite Treatment for the unavoidable bites that happen anyway. This particular analgesic stick works for mosquitoes and wasps so main bases are covered.
• Rain ponchos just in case you don’t have a raincoat layer that day. Weather can turn on a dime even with the best of planning, so it helps to not be soaked.
• Electrolyte chews for summer hiking in particular. These are kid safe, but please always consult your pediatrician first. We personally rely on snacks as our primary salt source, but will add a chew if it’s really hot, we’re sweating a bunch, or just starting to feel gross.

Winter Hiking Season

• Vaseline jelly is the secret behind all of our winter outings. Put a thin layer on cheeks, noses, and chins to prevent windburn. It also keeps skin hydrated and comfy no matter how dry it is. Love it.
• Hand warmers are an easy way to make things more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone. Save them for the inevitable “my hands are cold!”
• Microspikes are absolutely necessary if there’s a possibility of ice on your trail. Please don’t try to walk on ice without proper traction–it’s miserable and dangerous. Those Kahtoolas are what my husband and I use, but the kids have these until their feet stop growing. They’ve been working just fine too, definitely recommended.
• Extra gloves and/or glove liners for everyone. There is nothing worse than cold, wet hands. Make sure you have some extra socks too!

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned you do not need all of this stuff for every hike. Heck, you don’t need any of it to just get outside. Please don’t take this as a deterrent to enjoying nature and getting outside with your family. But if you’re starting to venture further or hit trails without a visitor center it starts becoming a good idea to carry what you may need with you. The goal is always to have a fabulous time, and this list is what keeps my family safe and comfortable as we explore.

If you’re curious about what little guy keeps in his mini-pack, you can read more about that here.

You can download a PDF version of this checklist below to save, print out, or reference.

I hope you’re able to take this list and make your next adventure an epic one!

Is there any must-have gear you love that I missed? Let me know!

Happy trails 🥾💚