Pack recommendations for youth

“Hoping someone can share a bit of wisdom for the first packing trip with my 8 year old daughter....specifically pack, weight (if any) etc. It will be short trip in the Echo Lake are (CA), less than 5 miles a day for 2 days. Many Thanks!”

“For my daughter, I just put one of my daypacks on her, and let her carry about 5-6 pounds, basically her clothes and toilet kit and a little food. I sherpa'd everything else.”

“Good thread. I was just wondering about this too. We saw some people heading in for a longer trip to Island and Silver Lakes in the Beartooths the other day, and their boys had on some kind of kid backpack-backpacks. I wonder where they got them and how they knew how to fit them, etc.”

“Here's a link to a fellow who took his wife and two daughters (the youngest being 9) on a hot weather/summer hike in the Grand Canyon. It lists packs carried plus the basic gear inside of them along with their water capacity. Hope this helps: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/hot_weather_hiking.html”

“My 8 year old boy packs a Kelty Long Trail Jr. Great little external frame pack for littluns like that. About 3 1/2 lbs, you can prolly get it on sale for around $50.
last edited: 6/21/05 11:16:56 AM”

“BowlderSon has carried about his age in pounds from age 3 to now (age 9.7). But he can carry a bit more now. He has always just used whatever daypack we have that is comfortable. I think sarbar's son has a regular backpack and carries more weight....


PS: Hi, newgie!”

“In case sarbar doesn't show up on this thread for some reason, this place is where she goes to buy her son's hiking and backpacking stuff.”

“Thanks Bit....
Yeah, Ford loves his Deuter Fox 30 (which REI is now carrying btw). Granted it isn't a big pack-but that is fien for kids under 10 or 11 years old. Ford is 7 and carries about 9-13 lbs.
All of his gear excpet for his sandals and umbrella fit inside.
(He has a North Face Tigger, the 3D version, an Insul Mat women's short pad, and a Thermarest pillow. Toss in an extra set of clothes, his SD jacket, gloves, headlmap, down jacket, toys, cup and spoon and he is pretty much ready to go ;-)
What I like about the Deuter is it is VERY easy to fit to a kid, has a great torso range, and is lighter than any of the externals on the market. That and it is an internal so he is better balanced on bridges.”

“Thanks to everyone for your suggestions on this!”