Best Hiking Gear for Families: What You Actually Need on the Trail

Hiking with kids can be one of the best family adventures — but let’s be honest, it also comes with its challenges. The right gear can make the difference between a meltdown on mile two and a memory you’ll cherish forever. After years of hitting the trails with little ones in tow, here’s the family hiking gear we recommend most.

1. Comfortable, Supportive Shoes

This is the number one most important item for keeping all of us happy on the trail. Forget the cheap sneakers — little feet need traction, too. Look for lightweight hiking shoes or boots with a solid grip.

Kids love to go down every path and climb everything they can and having the right shoes can make that easier and safer for them. And as the parent, you may find yourself chasing them on whatever they climb, so you’ll want the right shoes, too.

Here’s a list of some of our favorites. Keep in mind that we only share items we actually have, use, and love, so our lists aren’t going to be extensive. They’re only items we know well and would recommend.

For Mom

Salomon Women’s XA PRO 3D Gore-Tex Waterproof Trail Running Shoes I started wearing Salomon about 10 years ago and have always been happy with them.

KEEN Women’s Zionic Low Height Waterproof All Terrain Hiking Shoes I just started wearing these this year and they’ve been great.

Chaco Women’s ZX/2 Classic Sandal I’ve been wearing these or a variation of these for the last 20+ years and I wear them often on the trail.

For Dad

Salomon Men’s Speedcross Trail Running Shoes My husband prefers hiking in trail runners. These are lightweight and have excellent grip, perfect for chasing kids along the trails and up anything they decide to climb.

Chaco Men’s Zcloud 2 Sandal My husband also wears these, especially when it is super hot out or we are hiking in wet areas.

For the Kids

Merrell Unisex-Child Trail Chaser 2 Jr Hiking Shoe My daughter wears this pair and my son wears these. They both comment on how comfortable they are and they love the traction they provide.

KEEN Unisex-Child Targhee Sport Breathable Easy on Lightweight Hiking Shoes My youngest never wants to take these off. He says they’re super comfy and they give him awesome traction.

2 . Hydration Systems

Staying hydrated on the trail is critical. Hydration packs are a game-changer, especially when kids can sip without stopping. I’ve personally been using CamelBak hydration backpacks for about 20 years and love them.

This has been my favorite: CamelBak Women’s M.U.L.E. 12 Mountain Biking Hydration Pack 100oz.

We have one of these for each kid: CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack 50oz.

Bonus: they can fit small snacks in the backpack potion, making the kids very self sufficient on the trail. Just be careful not to let kids add too much or they’ll be taking it off before you know it and you’ll be the one carrying it.

3. Clothes You Don’t Mind Getting Dirty or Wet

It only takes about 5 minutes on the trail for our kids to get dirty or wet and we are okay with that. Our motto is that kids are washable, so let them be kids. The messier they are the more fun they had. We let (and even encourage) them splash in puddles, climb rocks, or go swimming in waterfalls or lakes.

Hiking is not the time for kids to wear expensive outfits or worry about picture perfect Instagram photos. For that, you can hire a photographer and do family photos on the trail, which we personally love doing. But when we are going on an actual hike, we let them get messy.

4. A Change of Clothes

We encourage our kids to play on the trail, which often results in dirt or mud on their clothes, bodies, and shoes. And sometimes, they get soaking wet if we are playing on a trail that has water. We stay prepared by keeping a clean dry pair of clothes in the car. That way we don’t care about having wet carseats or booster seats because they can be changed before they get in the car. We also usually bring a towel and some water to help wash them off with. They still take baths when they get home, but sometimes that can be awhile, so having them clean and comfortable after the hike makes everyone happier.

5. Trail Snacks

Okay, maybe not gear — but essential! High-protein snacks like trail mix, jerky, and granola bars keep energy levels steady. We also bring some sort of fruit or something refreshing. Our kids keep theirs in their backpack and we carry ours in our backpacks. We usually load up on trail ready snacks at Costco. Here are our go tos:

Country Archer Grass-Fed Beef Stick Minis Original, 0.5 oz, 28-Count

Chomps Original Beef Sticks, Mild, 12 Individually Wrapped Sticks

Clif Kid ZBar Organic Granola Bar, Variety Pack, 1.27 oz, 36-count

That’s it Mini Fruit Bars, 24-count

Kirkland Signature, Organic Applesauce, 3.17 oz, 24-Count

Nature’s Garden Organic Trail Mix Snack Packs, Variety Pack, 1.2 oz, 24-count

6. Safety + Navigation

Even on short trails, it’s smart to carry:

A small first-aid kit. We often have scraped knees and it’s great to be able to clean it up and put a bandaid on it right then and there.
Trail maps. We always grab a map from the park we are visiting and keep it handy just in case. Not all trails are marked well and you may need to refer back to it. You can also take a picture of the trail map at the trailhead on your phone to have a digital version.

7. Comfort Extras

While not mandatory, there are a few extras we typically bring along.

Hiking stick or trekking polls. We usually find hiking sticks on the trails. It’s part of the fun. Some folks prefer trekking poles and while we’ve had these before, nothing quite compares to the trail search for the perfect stick. It adds to the adventure.
Insect repellent. Depending when or where you go the mosquitoes or other biting bugs may be out and can make for an uncomfortable hike. I carry a small container of natural bug repellent to put on on the trail in case we run into a bug situation.
A compact camera for capturing the memories. We use this GoPro on all of our adventures. We also bring our phones, but love the footage the GoPro provides.

Final Thoughts

The best hiking gear for families doesn’t have to be fancy or overcomplicated — it just has to keep everyone comfortable, safe, and fueled up. Start small, add to your gear collection over time, and most importantly: focus on enjoying the adventure together.