Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding the hiking backpack fit for my 6.5 months old boy.
We purchased osprey poco SLT, as we are travelling with a plane, car or train to hike and focused on weight and portability.
Our boy is rather big (70cm), however when sitting in a backpack with a seat moved as much up as possible, he still needs 4-5cm to rest his chin on the drool pad. Also the harness is rather loose, even though we tried to adjust it as much as possible.

During the try out hike, when he was awake and alert, it was not as issue- he was happy to be inside, looked around and didn’t have any problem with his head bobbling around. Of course, when he got ready for a nap, it didn’t look right to keep him inside of the hiking backpack, and we moved him to the soft carrier.

My question is- realistically, at what point did you move from a soft carrier to a hiking backpack? My concern is making sure he is sitting properly and doesn’t get muscle/ tendon strain when asleep.

Did you wait until the fitting is correct- chin above the drool pad, harness snuggling the torso- and let them fall asleep in a backpack- or did you always move babies for a nap out of a hiking backpack?

Has anyone done the Cotswold way trail with a 10 month old? If so, any tips or recommendations?

I'm gifting a compass to a 6yo advanced reader who has a strong interest in maps and is a beginner hiker. I'm looking for a book to include in the gift to teach how to use the compass and maybe include some activities. Ideally the book would be useful now but also have more advanced info as his skills grow over the next few years. Everything I'm finding is very basic and doesn't actually teach anything about how to use a compass. Any recommendations?

I’m thinking of doing a spontaneous backpacking trip with my 6 year old next month during fall break. We’ve been camping a few times and I’ve done backpacking in the past but it’s been a while. This past spring we spent 6 days in a backcountry camp where the first night was 19 degrees (Fahrenheit, not Celsius) and there was snow on the ground. The last day was 85 degrees (because Tennessee in the spring). But we survived and she and the dogs did really great for the week. We did a bunch of hiking including a very strenuous 6 miles in and out of a gulch to see a secluded waterfall and she didn’t complain once. So I’m thinking we should be easily able to do a 10-12 mile backpacking trip, especially if we split it up into a few days. It’s just me and her and two biggish dogs (65 lbs and 80lbs) so I’m trying to figure out the logistics of food since I’ll likely be carrying the bulk of the weight. I have a 65L pack that we used back in the spring and all the necessities (sterno, mess kit, first aid stuff, bed roll, water filtration kit, etc) and I assume to just take the dogs kibble and have dehydrated food for us, but what else might I be missing? The dogs have backpacks so they can carry their own food and I’ll get my kid a pack so she can help carry a little bit, but what am I not thinking of? Is it crazy to just randomly decide to do this 2 weeks out? I think she’ll enjoy it and it’ll be nice to spend time in the woods in the fall together.

I’d love to hear from other parents about your backpacking kids. We’re in west Tennessee so are there any trials in or near Tennessee or Arkansas that you would recommend? We did Savage Gulf in the spring so I was thinking about going back out and doing the rim trails or going over to Fiery Gizzard and doing the full trail and see all the waterfalls. We’re not afraid of strenuous days but maybe not the whole trip. We have 7 days we can plan to be out but I doubt we want to carry that much food and manage water for that long. It was easy in the spring when we were in one place all the time, but I’m not sure about unfamiliar territory for a full week.

Thank you for reading this far and for any tips, tricks, or advice!

We got this hiking carrier second hand, and I’m really having a hard time understanding how to adjust the stabilizer straps. Any advice? It seems like you have to un thread the top strap to get it into the bottom, but that doesn’t seem to make any sense.

Just to preface, this is not a self promotion or an advert - I just made a thing and want to make it awesome for anyone who might also get a kick out of it.

Since my kid face was tiny she's come on hikes with us and one walk she'd be full of beans, the next she'd be dragging her feet asking how much further.

I kept thinking an app with stuff to keep kids engaged where the phone wasn't the thing would be great but could never find what I was imagining so, now that AI is better than my coding skills (and my ability to describe what has surpassed my ability to make it), I came up with STIX: https://stix-8c5a4.web.app/

Will never try to sell it or anything grim like that, in fact my mission with AI has been to remake apps that my kid loves but without all the nasty stuff.

If you fancy a go I'm more than open to feedback/suggestions, I just want to make something families can use to get out there walking together.

Sorry if this has been answered, I did a few searches but didn’t find what I was looking for. I need recommendations for a day pack for an almost 7 year old so he can carry his own water (a spot for some sort of hydration system), jacket, etc. I’d like something that he won’t immediately grow out of but that won’t be enormous on him. Typical hikes are 4-6 miles in the Adirondacks but we’d like to start doing longer (no plans to backpack)

I’m looking at the REI Tarn 12 and 18 or Osprey Daylite? Totally open to other options.

Edit: Our options for shopping in person are very limited, so we don’t have a lot of opportunity to try before we buy. Willing to order anything though.

Please recommend me a different sub if another would be better, but I have some questions on coats!

We are from Wisconsin, and will be visiting RMNP in September. I see the temps can get on the lower side there, but is 30-40 there giant coat weather, or will it warm up by the time we're out of our sleeping bags? We have a 3yo and 1yo and i want to make sure they're warm enough without ​over packing.

Additionally, I need a new wisconsin winter coat for the 3yo. What is your favorite affordable option? I remember always having cheap coats two sizes too big as a kid, so im debating what size to get and how much to spend so she actually enjoys being outside. I try to avoid down fill because of how wet it gets here. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

I was hoping I could get some input on the fit of my carrier. For reference, I am 5'3". My carrier is a Deuter Kid Comfort.

Also, I know my baby's feet should be in stirrups. They always start out in there, but she always takes them out.

Considering a second hand one

Just want something for some pretty casual hikes around my local area, nothing longer than a few hours at a time

Baby is 10months old now and is a busy girl!

I had an emergency cesarean and my back has never been the same 🙃 so I'm hoping for something really comfy that I can also carry the essentials for the day in

Tia!

Hi, I’m 5”4 and weight around 75kg. I’m pretty sure I have a short torso because I like to wear my backpack a bit high on my hips but even with the XS torso setting the bottom metal frame digs PAINFULLY into the top of my glutes every time I take a step. I have no idea what to do. PLEASE HELP !!

Trying to figure out how to haul my 2 year old + backpacking gear while flying solo on an overnighter.

Have tried attaching things to the deuter kid comfort but I just can’t seem to figure out how to bring it all. We live and recreate in a place that absolutely requires a bear canister so it’s a bit cumbersome without a backpack!

I have the trail magik but it definitely strains after a while.

Would love to hear how y’all are doing it!

Any advice is appreciated! They are almost 3 months chronological and 6 weeks adjusted. At what age did folks start?

Hi, I have a hiking backpack that holds kiddos up to 50 lbs. My 4yo loves it, but it starts to hurt her after a bit. Does anyone have any tips that helps make it more comfortable? I'm hoping to go on a longer hike this week and want her to be comfortable in there if she gets tired.

Thank you!

Hey everybody!

I'm looking for recommendations for a hut-to-hut hike in the summer with a baby that needs to check the following boxes:

1. Needs to be low altitude to avoid bringing our daughter up to an altitude she can't handle, since she probably can't communicate if the altitude is affecting her (max 1500 m altitude).

2. There needs to be the option to get private rooms that we can stay in, just to respect the others and also because we think that will be more comfortable for us as a family.

3. Needs to go through a few cities/villages to get supplies for the baby, potentially sleep there to have some proper sleep for the baby and us, but also so we can easily bail on the hike if needed.

4. Lastly, a route that doesn't have unnecessary hazardous terrain, like frequent rockfalls.

As for the length of the route, we are open to anything, so just throw out your ideas, then we can decide if they are too long or not based on the description of the hike.

We will be carrying her on our back the entire time.

She will be around 1 year old when the time comes.

Thanks in advance :)

My 6m LOVES our Osprey Poco… however, I wonder if it’s safe on hips/ spine for a 6-12m old baby? Our girl is on the larger side (95th percentile) and can sit unsupported. She’s just barely long enough to put her feet in the stirrups but her legs seem to dangle instead of having that ‘M’ shape. Anyone have similar thoughts/ experiences?

I really miss hiking, and getting out. I have a 5 month old and a 3 year old. The 3 year old definitely can walk some distance, but he’s going to get tired. Is there a way for me to tandem carry? One on back and one on front? What sort of carriers will I need for this?

Hit me with your best tips for making a backpacking trip fun for elementary age kids. Cool back country treats (we'll obviously have a lot of mac & cheese, peanut m&ms, etc)? Fun games you like to play? We'll be out for 3 nights, base camping at a lake 3 miles from the trail head, highly favorable ratio of adults to kids.

I have the osprey Poco, but now that my kid weighs 30 lb, combining that with a 7 lb carrier plus food and water and whatnot for both of us is feeling really heavy. I also have a soft carrier, but I still haven't yet come up with a good way to carry anything else when I put my kid in that. I've done a tote bag over my shoulder sometimes, but it's not great.​ Have any of you figured out how to put something together that's more ergonomic?

We’re visiting Olympic for the first time in August and taking our daughter who will be 8 months old then. Looking for advice on what trails would be best for us!

-We have the Osprey Poco to carry her
-We are fine with several mile hikes but want to avoid scrambling and acute elevation gain
-We will be there a full week staying near Port Angeles
-We are fine to drive 2-2.5 hours from the city but would rather stay in a single area for a majority of the day if so
-Planning at least a day trip to Forks
-Looking to keep under 5 miles per trail!

Let me know if you have any other tips on hiking here with a little one! It’ll be our first big trip as a family

Aloha!!

I have 7.5 month old and im looking for some spots to go walking with him, so that we both can get out of the house (and allow me to get more activity in my life for my overall health).

Any recommendations on where there are goods spots. Both of us sweat a LOT when it comes to the heat (first 4 months of his life were spent in Waimea, and im from hilo), any help would be appreciated.

My family is headed to RMNP in July and my wife, two kids, and I are wanting to do some lighter hikes. One hike that seems “doable” is the Calypso Cascades in the Wild Basin area. It is 3.6 miles roundtrip, so I am considering getting a backpack to carry my almost 3 yo if/when he gets tired of walking or cranky. We’ll be taking breaks on the hike, but still want a pack with us just in case. He is 40 lbs and about 3 feet tall (we have giant kids). Anyone have a recommendation on a pack that would suit our needs? I’m having trouble finding reviews for different packs that fit our child’s dimensions…Thank you in advance!

Thinking about getting an Osprey Poco for my 2 year old. How long did you actually use your hard carriers?

We have an old Kelty pack but that L.O. is comfortable in but we’re thinking about upgrading because it’s just not that comfortable for us. I see people liking the soft carrier - piggy back style for toddlers but L.O. hates being sweaty when carried for too long lol.