So, you've decided to climb a mountain with your kids. Firstly, congratulations – it’s a big step that will undoubtedly cause you a sleepless night or three in the build-up, but will also provide priceless memories and hopefully be the launchpad to many future summits together.
For now, I’m going to assume that if you’re planning to walk up something big and pointy with a child this year, you’ve already got a mountain in mind.
And that if you’ve thought of a peak, you probably know the route you’re likely to take and will be enthusiastically Googling things like ‘good family hotels in the Lake District.’ So I’ll leave all that alone and focus on the thing all of us hillwalkers love to obsess over: outdoor gear.
Figuring out what gear you need for a trip like this falls into two categories – the first is what you need to kit your child out in, and the second is what extra clothing and equipment you need for yourself to make sure you’re well covered in the event of an emergency.
Because let’s face it, there can be plenty of emergencies when you’re out in the hills with kids. And not just the kind where you have to get Mountain Rescue involved – they can range from tantrums and energy crashes to sudden toilet stops and running out of motivational snacks.
What's the best age to start hiking with kids?
The answer to that very much depends on your child. If they have bags of energy and are motivated by the idea of reaching a summit, then you should absolutely aim to get them started as early as possible (maybe 4 or 5 years old) on something small and achievable, then build up from there.
My eldest son is now eight years old and over the past three years we’ve climbed (in this order) Cat Bells, Helm Crag, Yr Wyddfa, Scafell Pike, Harter Fell and Ben Nevis together. I won’t pretend it’s always been easy, and I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I’ve finally hit the point where I almost feel confident passing on some learned advice about it.
I can honestly say that on our first big mountain ascent as a dad-son duo – Yr Wyddfa via the Pyg Track, a few years back – I spent more time agonising over what to take with me than I did when packing for my first backpacking trip.
So in this article, I’ll dish out some practical tips based on my own experiences with my boys Sonny and Dougie.
What should kids wear to go hiking?
Some key things to remember. Firstly, although children often seem less bothered by cold than adults, they’re actually more vulnerable to heat loss than grown-ups, so taking the right clothing is vital.
If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll set off fast, overheat, strip off layers, then start to feel cold the second they stop for a break. So they’ll constantly be taking layers off, then putting them back on.
It’s also important to note that temperature tends to drop the higher you climb, so although children may feel fine in the early stages of a mountain walk, weather conditions may change dramatically throughout the day. Make sure you’re very well planned for that.
The key thing I try to remember when kitting out either of my boys for a mountain walk is that if we’re climbing something that means I need good quality outdoor clothing for myself, then it’s even more important for them to do the same.
There’s no point in me setting off dripping in Gore-Tex and high-tech insulation with comfortable and protective boots on my feet, then dressing my kids in their school fleeces and wellies and expecting them to enjoy the day as much as me.
My basic approach is to make sure the boys have all the same clothing as I do – base layers, mid-layers, waterproof trousers and jackets, warmer insulating layers – plus maybe one or two spares just in case anything gets soaked.
The catch, of course, is that good outdoor gear doesn’t come cheap, and that becomes even more frustrating when you know the little person wearing it will grow out of your expensive purchase in less than a year.
There are some suggestions lower down for high-quality gear we’ve tested and can confidently recommend, but it’s also worth tapping up friends with older kids for the odd hand-me-down that could save you a few quid.
Another tip is to use the kind of long-sleeved ‘skins’ base layers that kids use for playing sport. My son wore them on Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis (see image above of him stuck in a bog), even in high summer, and they do a great job. They’re insulating and breathable while also being lightweight enough to cram into your pack easily if they want to take them off.
The two kit lists in this article are saved on my phone from our trip to Ben Nevis last year, which no doubt will have a few extras added to it by the time we (hopefully) head for Helvellyn this summer.
Essential hiking kit list for kids
- Full set of waterproofs
- Warm layer (gilet, fleece, insulated jacket)
- Grippy, protective footwear
- Good quality socks
- Kids’ backpack (for carrying their own snacks!)
- Warm hat and cap
- Warm, waterproof gloves
- Thinner pair of gloves
- Buff
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Walking poles
- Water bottle
- Spare socks and base layer
What else to bring for a stress-free day
If you usually like traveling fast and light, we have some bad news. You’re going to be carrying all of your usual hillwalking kit, plus a whole lot more.
Your No.1 priority on a walk like this is keeping your children safe, which means you need to carry everything you’d usually need to look after yourself in the mountains, then everything else you need to make sure the day is hassle-free and enjoyable for the whole group.
Perhaps the most obvious essentials are food and water – you’re going to need A LOT of this. Plenty for yourself to keep energy levels up, then even more for your little companions. They’ll burn a lot of energy throughout the day so, as well as having a big breakfast before setting out, go for foods with a good mix of carbs, fat and protein to keep them fueled up.
Things like trail mix, granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches, fruit, cheese butties, Soreen and Peperamis all work well for us, plus the obvious essentials of sweet treats to keep morale up on the move.
And don’t scrimp on water. There’s a good chance you won’t find any safe water sources to fill up from throughout the day, so carry more than you think you’ll need. I usually use a 2.5L hydration reservoir in my backpack, so it’s quick and simple for my son to sip from whenever he’s thirsty. Then I also carry an extra 1-litre bottle for myself.
Some compact binoculars are great for keeping morale up, spotting wildlife and picking out distant peaks. An emergency group shelter sounds dramatic, but if nothing else, it gives you somewhere dry and wind-free to stop for lunch. And I’d really recommend some compact lightweight hiking poles, both to save your knees if needed and to pass on to your kids if they want to feel like mini mountaineers.
A well-stocked first aid kit that can deal with everything from scrapes and blisters to more serious issues is an absolute must, as is some toilet paper and ziplock/doggy bags. I’m yet to go on a family mountain trip without some kind of toilet story developing along the way, so be ready for it!
One thing that isn’t on either list, though, is patience. This is a skill I’m still learning but is probably the number one tip I’d pass on to anyone crazy enough to plan a walk like this. Set off early, take it slow and steady, and remember the descent will take as long and possibly be even more tiring than the ascent. There’s a lot to think about, but believe me, it’s worth it.
Essential hiking kit list for parents:
- All your usual hillwalking kit
- Snacks (lots)
- Water (I use a 2.5L reservoir)
- Printed map and compass
- Fully charged phone
- Back-up charger
- First aid kit
- Headtorch
- Compact binoculars
- Bug spray
- Emergency shelter
- Hand sanitiser
- Toilet paper
- Ziplock/dog poo bags
The best kids' hiking gear we've tested
Below is a list of the best gear we've tested and reviewed over the past few years. It's fair to say there isn't a lot of bad kit out there from the products we've tried, and you can pick up some excellent deals in places like Decathlon and Mountain Warehouse.
But we do also have a few standout brands to recommend, who effectively make shrunken versions of high-quality adult gear for kids. We've consistently found Jack Wolfskin clothing to be excellent for mountain trips, the same with Scarpa footwear, and the junior packs from Osprey and Deuter really stand out from the crowd.
None of those brands are particularly cheap for kitting out your kids, but their products are high quality, durable and should last for many years. Which is a bonus if, like me, you have a second younger child who can inherit them, stretching the value for money.
Scarpa Rush GTX-Y hiking shoes
What we like about it: Fully waterproof, comfortable, supportive and flexible enough to use everywhere from mountains to school playgrounds, this is a multi-activity shoe suitable for a wide range of activities. We love the Scarpa Rush GTX-Y so much that we're on our third pair!
Where to get it: Sportsshoes.com, £39.99
Osprey Talon Junior backpack
What we like about it: We've been using this 11-litre pack since Sonny climbed Cat Bells (above) aged five years old and he's used it on multiple hikes since, plus as his regular school bag. Designed for 6-14 year olds, the Talon Jr has a superb AirScape back panel to keep the back ventilated, loads of useful pockets, and even an attachment for a hydration bladder. A really outstanding bit of gear.
Where to get it: Osprey, £66.50
Jack Wolfskin Actamic 2l Jkt K
What we like about it: We really love Jack Wolfskin clothing for kids, and the jacket pictured above is actually the predecessor to the Actamicx 2l JKT K. We used it on a wet and wild ascent of Harter Fell in the Lakes last summer and it kept Sonny perfectly protected – and the new one is even better. The 2-layer fabric is waterproof and windproof, with a good hood, adjustable cuffs and waist, and three pockets.
Where to get it: Jack Wolfskin, £60
About the author
Oli Reed is editor of Trail magazine and a lifelong hillwalker who has climbed mountains all over the world. Over the last few years, Oli's introduced his two young sons to hiking, picking off some of the most famous peaks in Britain and picking up useful tips and nuggets of advice for other parents along the way.