Hiking paves the way for travelers to explore the wonders in the woods. But the experience can become a bit frustrating when you are going with your kids. As parents, you need to remain extra cautious and protective, which does not let you enjoy the joys of an adventure. If you want to enjoy hassle-free hiking with kids, prepare the essential hiking apparel checklist with our ultimate hiking outfit guide.
What are Essential kid’s hiking clothes and gears?
Clothing, food, and water are the necessity of life. A person can not survive without these essentials. And their need is multiplied when a person is far away from their home. Exposure to nature and survival in the wilderness is problematic for people nurtured in a well-protected environment throughout their lives. But if we talk about kids, the possibilities of risks are more than they are for adults. So if you are going on an adventurous journey, make sure that you have kept the following gear.
Basics
The best way to keep a toddler happy on the trail and avoid tantrums is by keeping their basic food supplies. A healthy kid needs to remain well-fed and hydrated, so do not forget to keep meals, snacks, and water. Keep trash bags in your day packs to avoid littering in the hiking spot. Also, bring along portable folding chairs to have meals while enjoying nature.
Sleeping Items
You can expect a meltdown anytime on your trip. The best way to avoid them is by packing some essential accessories that can keep them calm and grounded. But if that does not work, then put your child to sleep. Keep a Picnic blanket and an insect repellant so that they can enjoy uninterrupted sleep.
Accessories
Some basic accessories should not be forgotten at home, especially when traveling with your kids. For instance, Walkie-talkies, tracker watches, and Binoculars are important to know the whereabouts of your kids. They let you stay connected with your kid, and you can keep an eye on them when you are away. A compass and a paper map, Hiking poles, an Outdoor adventure kit, An insect viewer, and a Camera are also necessary for safe and sound hiking. Last, do not forget to keep your Sunscreen and sunglasses as they are beneficial against harsh sunlight. There is a good quality Camelback for kids available in the market that provides enough storage to place your accessories.
Basic Hiking Apparel
Once you’ve chosen your toddler-friendly hiking outfit, you need not worry during your entire trip. Suitable hiking apparel is necessary to keep them secure from the weather or some expected injury at the hiking spot. Make a checklist of apparel like gloves, buffs, and hats. Also, add Kids’ hiking shoes or boots in your gear to avoid injuries while hiking. Keep Kids hiking hats and caps to protect their skin against sunlight damage.
Protective Gear
One thing is of supreme importance, along with food and water, which is the essential protective gear. Hiking is not easy. You may fall and get injured. So it is better to keep a First Aid Kit, some bandages, and antiseptic liquids for quick healing. Also, keep a Swiss Army Knife or a pocket knife for self-defense if you confront a wild animal. Keep towels or change your outfit if there is rain.
hiking clothes for kids: Choose Clothing Fabric According to the Weather
The clothing needs can differ and vary according to the changing seasons. This is why there is a different set of clothing for each season that can provide comfort for the human body. Similarly, if you are planning a hiking trip, find out the current season and temperature of the place you have chosen for your hiking adventure. After this step, you need to arrange clothing fabric according to the environmental needs of the area you are visiting. Below we have categorized different seasons to make fabric choice easier for you.
Summer hiking clothes for kids
Each season has its perks. You can equally enjoy your trip no matter what the season is. But if you have not kept the required clothing, then there is a chance that you will not be able to enjoy it. Although the summer season does not require unique clothing and layerings, even the basic clothes are sufficient. But if there is rain predicted, you need to keep a rain jacket, plastic slicker, or rain poncho. Besides this, the basic summer essentials are:
● Basic shirts
● Basic pants
● Socks
● Shoes
● Hats
● Bottoms
● Boots, etc
Spring and Autumn hiking clothes for kids
These seasons are moderate, neither too cold nor too hot. So the choice of fabric is flexible. But still, you need to keep enough apparel to avoid any unexpected weather conditions. Below are some apparel essential for hiking regardless of whatever the season is. For instance,
● Hiking shoes
● Hiking boots
● Socks
● Underwears
● Shirts
● Pants
● Coats
● Sneakers
Also, keep the following clothes for unexpected weather conditions like rain, thunder, or snow:
● Coats
● Waterproof Jackets
● Rain poncho
● Sweaters
● Beanie hats
● Socks
● Gloves
● Base layer shirts
● Boots
● leggings
Winter hiking clothes for kids
Hiking in winter is as amusing as it is during summer. But the case is different if we talk about the weather. The weather during winter is chilly and requires a human body to remain protected and shielded. Wearing extra clothes not only helps us stay warm and comfy but also lets us stay protected against cold-related diseases like cough, flu, fever, or sore throat. To survive the cold chilly breezes, you need to pack the following items:
● Base shirts
● Base leggings
● Warm underwear
● Lightweight sweaters
● Rain pants and shirts
● Rain jackets
● Snow jackets
● Insulator jackets
● Fleece jackets
● Beanie hat
● Warm gloves
● Warm socks
● Waterproof fabrics
The Types of Fabrics You Can Go For
The types of outfits can vary for different occasions and environmental conditions. Be it a casual outing or an active adventure, you need to keep the following vital fabrics as a go-to option for every instance.
Wool:
Wool is a go-to fabric for protection against cold weather. It keeps your body warm and protected against flu. Choose wool-based materials that are ultra-fine merino wool that’s breathable, itch-free, soft, moisture-free, odor-resistant, and fast-drying.
Cotton:
Although Cotton is lightweight, comfortable, and easy to wear, it can take hours to dry if they get wet because they are not good at insulating.
Synthetics (polyester and nylon):
Clothing composed of synthetic polyester and nylon is fast-drying and moisture-wicking. They are an excellent option to wear during rain or snow.
How Dressing Kids in Layers Keeps Them Protected?
Hiking is a fun-filled adventure that lets you enjoy the wonders of nature more closely. You can either sit by the river, throw rocks in the lake, find insects, capture wild animals, track endangered animals, or chase butterflies. Each experience has an unspeakable and unmatchable worth that only can be enjoyed with the naked eye.
However, there are some risks and possibilities we must be aware of. To remain protected against them, it is essential to pack some layering outfits to lessen their impact. Below are the following possibilities that our layering outfits can keep us protected from.
Injury
There is no adventure that is short of injuries. Hence, you must be equipped with some base outfits to lessen the chance of getting severe injuries.
Weather
The weather is unpredictable in the open fields. During the day, the weather could be warm or moderate. At night it may become colder than a person can expect. So if we keep warm and cold outfits together, we can survive the weather quickly.
Rain
Rain is good unless it does not make you sick. Shivering in cold nights for long hours can make you catch flu or fever. So it is necessary to keep clothes that are quick to dry.
Snow
If you are heading off on a hiking trip during winter, you must pack essential layering for shelter against the snow—for instance, snow pants, jackets, or insulators.
The Types Of Layering For Kids While Hiking
Keeping essential layering apparel speeds up adapting to the outdoor environment. It is also beneficial for our child’s well-being. If the weather is harsh, keep extra layering outfits, mix and match them, or remove them if the weather turns warm. However, there are types of layers that we are going to discuss below:
Inner (Base) Layer
Base outfits are those that are worn next to the skin. They keep a body warm and protected from the outer environment. Be it cold, rain, or snow; you can stay protected from their health consequences and enjoy your trip more efficiently. The inner layer outfit includes base shirts, leggings, underwear, or socks.
Middle Layer
The middle layer of clothing occupies the space between your base and the outer layer outfit. It again acts as a shield against cold, rain, or snow and lets your body stay dry and untouched. You can wear shirts, pants, and lightweight sweaters as middle-layer apparel.
Outer Layer
Outer-layer outfits face the external environment directly, so they need to be made of strong fabrics that can resist them and protect the human body against environmental effects. It acts as a barrier and helps a body remain unaffected by the outer environment. The fabrics, however, must be made waterproof, breathable, and easy to dry. The outer layer outfit mainly includes shoes, boots, jackets, and insulators. You can also opt for non-breathable items such as a plastic slicker or rain poncho.
Types Of Layering Outfits According to the Environment
Outfits for Cold Temperature
Cold-weather layers for kids include outfits like a base layer shirt, midweight polyester or wool long pants, midweight fleece pants, underwear top and bottom, breathable rain jacket or pants, snow jacket or snow pants, a midweight fleece jacket, or insulated (synthetic or down) jacket.
Outfits for Rain or Snow
Rainy-weather layers for kids include synthetic hiking pants, lightweight fleece jackets, polyester or wool long underwear top and bottom, waterproof rain jackets, shoes, boots, and pants.
Outfits for Warm Weather
Hot-weather layers for kids include clothing like synthetic or merino wool regular underwear, convertible quick-dry nylon hiking pants, lightweight wind jacket, long-sleeve quick-dry sun shirt, and a short-sleeve T-shirt.
The Importance Of Easy-to-Put-On Clothes
Clothes that are easy to put on and easy to carry make the adventure much more accessible and convenient for parents. Apparel like base layer long sleeve shirts, fleece hoodies, or rain jackets are essential for harsh environmental conditions. But if they are challenging to put on, they can be nothing more than a mess. So it is necessary to choose outfits that are easy to carry and easy to wear. Avoid clothes that have buttons. Pick apparel with zips since they are more accessible and consume less time while put on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does layering keep kids protected?
Layering outfits tend to shield the body from the chilled breeze that can make them sick. They can also protect them against trail injuries. Or at least they can lessen the level of damage caused by an injury.
What are the layering outfits that we can keep for our kid hiking?
You can pack rain or snow jackets, base shirts or pants, insulator jackets, leggings, warm underwear, or sweaters.
How far can a toddler hike?
Toddler can hike according to their body strengths. No toddler is the same. Every kid has their strength limits. So we cannot suggest an exact figure.
How far can a 6-year-old hike?
A 6-year-old can hike as long as their body strength allows them to.
How far can a 10-year-old hike?
A 10-year-old can hike as long as 2 km or as short as half a kilometer.
Why is keeping essential hiking attire necessary?
A hiking outfit protects you against weather temperature, rain, snow, or injuries. You must pack your kid’s hiking apparel according to the temperature conditions. They should be comfy, layered, and warm to protect you against environmental damage.
How do you take a toddler hiking?
The soft structured carrier or structured kids’ hiking backpack can make hiking easier with toddlers. Go for a lightweight option that tends to offer better support and storage.
Who does not love a fun-filled, carefree, and hassle-free adventure? Of course, everyone does. But it can become a bit daunting if your kids are accompanying you on your trip. So, if you have decided to hit the trails with your kids, you need to pack the necessary stuff to keep them protected and let them enjoy their experience without bothering you. We are hopeful that our guide has helped you pack the essential apparel for your kids.