What to Bring When Solo Backpacking with Kids (the Ultimate Check List)

I recently came across a story about a woman who hiked 33 miles through Alaska bear country carrying not only a 50-pound backpack but also her 20-pound, 10-month-old baby. More power to her. I’m the first one to admit that I was NOT quite that brave (or strong!) when my girls were little, but since then I’ve figured out that solo backpacking with kids doesn’t have to be very difficult. In some ways it’s even easier than car camping, because you’re only able to bring the necessities.

So why go solo backpacking with kids? You know you’ll end up carrying most of the weight, you’re on your own to handle potential meltdowns and once you’ve set up camp there’s usually no going back. While I can only speak for myself, I have yet to find a better way to spend one-on-one time with each of my daughters. Backpacking together gets us away from our respective screens and brings life down to its bare nuts and bolts in a way that helps us form a deeper bond. Plus, you can’t really beat sleeping in a tent under the stars. (Although both my kids would probably argue that pumping and filtering dirty creek water is even more exciting than star gazing.)

My oldest daughter was seven the first time we went backpacking together and at that time I was a little rusty. It had been years since I went backpacking and I’d never done it with a child in tow before. We had a great time, but I also made some mistakes that easily could’ve been avoided had I been better prepared. (Read more about that adventure in The Truth About Backpacking Solo with Kids.)

Last weekend, it was my youngest daughter’s turn to hit the trails for an overnight trip in the woods for the first time. Although I don’t consider myself a backpacking expert by any means, I at least feel like I have it down to a system at this point. I was also helped by a new book by fellow outdoor blogger Heather Rochfort, a.k.a. Just a Colorado Gal, called Backpacking 101. Unlike me, Heather IS a true backpacking expert and her book covers all the basics, as well as some clever hacks. (Keep reading, because you’ll have a chance to win a copy of the book at the end of this post!)

The book isn’t geared specifically to parents, but the tips can be applied when you’re backpacking with kids as well. Combining Heather’s advice and my own experience I’ve compiled a list of necessities that I typically bring for a one-night trip on a backpacking trail in Indiana with one of my school-age daughters. Keep in mind that depending on your unique circumstances – say for example that you’re planning to hike with a baby through the Alaska wilderness – you may need to add or deduct some things!

Packing List (My Backpack)

General

• 1 Osprey Aura AG 65 l. backpack with 3 l. Camelbak water bladder

Tools/Survival

• 1 Morakniv Scout
• 2 head lamps
• 1 small can pepper spray
• 2 lighters
• 1 REI Weekend First-Aid Kit
• 1 Compass

Sleeping

• 1 REI Half Dome 2-person tent
• 2 Exped SynMat 7 sleeping pads
• 2 Lightweight LaFuma sleeping bags

Drinking/Eating (dinner, breakfast and snacks)

• 1 Trangia Ultralight Alcohol Stove Kit
• Fuel
• 1 Katadyn Vario Water Filter
• 2 Light My Fire Meal Kits
• 1 water bottle
• 1 Mountain House freeze-dried Pasta Primavera (2.5 servings)
• 2 Luna Protein Bars
• 2 This Is Nuts trail mixes
• Mixed dried fruit
• 1 cup oats
• 16 oz almond milk

Clothing

• 1 fleece jacket
• 1 set Terramar long underwear
• 1 pair wool socks
• Change of clothes

Hygiene

• 1 trowel
• 1 roll TP
• 1 packet baby wipes
• Toothbrush + toothpaste
• 1 small container dish soap
• 1 small towel

Packing List (My Daughter’s Backpack)

• 1 CamelBak Kids 2016 Scout Hydration Pack
• 1 set of Polarn o Pyret wool sweater and wool long johns
• 1 fleece jacket
• Change of clothes
• 1 pair wool socks
• 1 swimsuit
• 1 book
• 1 deck of cards
• 1 Morakniv Scout
• 1 Swiss Army Huntsman Pocket Knife
• Binoculars
• 2 granola bars
• Bug spray
• Toothbrush

That’s it! Enjoy your backpacking adventures with kids, wherever they may take you.

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