How To ENJOY Backpacking With Kids!

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What does it take to go backpacking with young kids? I recently took my whole family out on our first backpacking trip together. Here are some tips, tricks and the gear associated with taking a family backpacking.
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[holliegould]

i deeply appreciate the mindset of "it doesn't need to be perfect, just fun and happy memories"
reminds me of childhood hiking with mine own father <3

[dovelyden]

Some of the take always:
1. Patience
2. Take it as it comes
3. Don’t get eaten alive by bugs
4. Water filtration
5. Have the right sleeping gear to be together
6. Do what your kids are doing so that you create happier memories
😊

[markrico]

Great video! So many backpacking videos are aimed directly at singles or couples, but that's not many peoples' life situation. Solid choice and keep 'em coming!

[debbilermond]

Your kids are SO blessed to have loving parents who give them the opportunity to experience the back country while they are very young. Chances are, they will still love doing it when they grow up! Have a great time on your adventure in the mountains!

[platesweightspeaks]

Your baby snuggling you while you're talking is the cutest 💕 I want to take my sister and her kids camping and backpacking someday, this is helpful!!

[DetraDearmas]

We have special needs kids! Adhd, autism for 2 boys and one very active little girl. We've taken them camping for many years now from potty training to 13 for the oldest. We've graduated from a tent to tarps sometimes hammocks. We've had a ball and many memories. Having enough adults was key for us, that's how I got in (granny) for safety. It's amazing the confidence, positive influence, and creativity that comes from backwoods, downriver excursions for these children. Wouldn't change a thing. Did I say GREAT memories? Backpacking for families is awesome!

[playinginthewoods]

We've been watching for a few years and I take my 6 kids out on our adventures as much as possible. We love to see other families enjoying the outdoors!!!

[karenyoung]

Now that’s a workout! So fun :) When my kids were younger we’d play trail games like I-spy or ask This or That questions to distract them. It’s also all about the snacks. Let them each pick out their own favorite snack. Card games in the tent. And last tip I want to share is the Happy Hiker award. Whoever picks up the most trash or has the best attitude or was the best helper, whatever you decide on, gets to pick the treat place on the way home. Chick-fil-a cones tends to win. Wish we had that baby carrier. I made my own but it went on me before the pack did and so the straps under my backpack weren’t very comfortable. Cool someone thought of that new design!

[Lv_o]

Luv this video, outdoor family life is important. My hubby and I took our 3 critters tent camping 2-3 times, for 7-9 days at a time, every summer…they are all adults now, one has continued the luv for car camping/hiking/backpacking. So many memories for us all!

[BryAndJessIRL]

This place looks beautiful! We're trying to get outside more with our three kids (8, 6 and 4) and we're loving it. They've really taken to camping and trail walking. You're definitely right when you say patience is key! 😅

[LfomodDubstep]

That is awesome! I remember as a kid my parents took me and my sisters out in nature each weekend and vacation. That was all we needed to be happy basically, and still today I need nature to cope and balance my life. Hopefully your kids will appreciate this too and keep wanting to go out in nature in the future :)

[JourneyontheTrail]

Great suggestions when backpacking with the family! My family of 3 use the same Copper Spur when we go out. Patience and not setting high expectations has landed us some of the best family memories we could ask for.

[orangerider]

Thanks for sharing! Im starting to get my littles into hiking for prep for backpacking. It has been emotional and ups and downs lol! I really needed to hear this from you. Thank you!

[DebbieWolfeMusic]

The timing of this video is impeccable! We have done a lot of car camping as a family, but this weekend will be our first backpacking excursion as a family (we have 3 girls-9, 7, and 7). The tip about all sleeping together is the one thing I have been nervous about. The backpacking tent that fits our family doesn’t have a bug net and I know my girls will sleep much better with a bug net- we ordered one in April but unfortunately it hasn’t come yet. Regardless, we’ll figure something out and hopefully this trip will be the first of many as a family!

[BackpackingwithBuckley]

The Lifestraws look intriguing. Excellent video my friend. You're creating some incredible memories for the kiddos!

[tonybabcock]

With 7 kids it was always a challenge. It’s really easy to get focused on the destination and not the journey. This weekend I’m taking my youngest daughter (14) on her first backpacking trip. Thanks to @backpackingwithbuckley for the pointers on Black Elk Wilderness. Family hiked are always memorable. All of my adult children go without me now. Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Minnesota, Tennessee Papua New Guinea. Grandkids soon!!!

[nicolemyers]

We have six kids; ages 1 (in carrier), 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12. We do mostly day hiking, usually 4 to 5 miles at a time and front country camp. We do take big trips across the country (to Yellowstone, Badlands, Rocky Mountains, Smoky Mountains, Great Sand Dunes, etc). Our favorite tips are to take earplugs, seriously, everyone gets earplugs so they don’t hear dogs bark, siblings rolling over on mats, coyotes that scare them, etc and eye masks. We sleep in two 6 man tents to keep the chaos down. We cabin camp every few days too to reset. All my kids carry all their water or one of their waters depending on their age. We pack our clothes in dish tubs instead of backpacks, so we can easily see everything and rinse out sand and dirt. The phrase “everyone sleeps better the second night” is always encouraging when the first day is rougher.

[Packsalot]

Awesome adventure Devin. Great setup for a comfortable adventure. Well done on your suggestions to keeping it fun for the kids and about the kids. So cool. Looks like everyone was having a great time. How about your daughter, the teepee builder. Heck yeah. She will be teaching Bushcraft before you know it. Great trip. Have a wonderful day.

[LostAgainwithJim]

This is so great. I wish I’d had these kinds of experiences as kid. We did a lot of car camping, but not really hiking and certainly not backpacking.

[amandagroszkruger]

Inspiring. Just “backpacked” into our local county conservation area for an overnight trip with smashing success. Excited for more. What kind of table are you using in the video?