How to choose a hiking backpack for kids

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How to pick a backpack for kids

Letting kids carry their own backpack on a hike can give them a sense of accomplishment, but it requires the right backpack. Here are some tips on what to look for when choosing a hiking backpack for kids.

Anyone who has carried a slightly heavy pack knows that having a proper backpack is crucial for a good experience. This is also the case with kids, and for a small body that is not used to carrying much, even a light backpack can feel heavy. A good hiking backpack will therefore be a great help for the child.

What to look for in a hiking backpack for children:

The backpack should sit as close to the back as possible. This helps distribute the weight evenly.
Adjustable straps that make it easy to fit the backpack to the body.
Shoulder straps should be well padded and ideally shaped to prevent chafing.
The backpack should have a chest strap that keeps the shoulder straps in place, and preferably also a hip belt.

For slightly bigger kids (height over 116 cm), we make backpacks with adjustable back length. This not only allows the backpack to be better adapted to the body, but also allows it to grow with the child.

See our backpacks with adjustable back length

Other things to look for:

Good opening of the backpack makes it easier for the child to pack and take things out of the backpack.
Buckles and zippers should be adapted to small hands so that the child can open and close the backpack.
Pockets in different sizes are always practical.

How heavy can a child carry?

A child's body is under development and should not carry heavy loads. A good rule of thumb is that a child's backpack should not be loaded to more than 10-15% of the child's own body weight.

All the tips in this article can also be applied to choosing a backpack for school.