Best Hiking Backpack For Kids in 2023: All The Options

Osprey Packs Jet 12 Kids' Hiking Backpack

Osprey is a champion of hiking backpacks, and that includes the kids’ option. The Jet is a premium pack made entirely from recycled materials, with features you usually see on Osprey’s backpacks for adults.

Like the AirScape backpanel – it features bump-foam ventilation as well as breathable mesh, ensuring your little one will always be comfortable while wearing the Jet. Plus, there’s a webbing sternum strap that keeps those shoulder straps in place, and which also doubles as an emergency whistle.

The Jet is a big backpack, so it’s best for older kids who can handle something this size. This also makes it an awesome option for longer and more demanding hikes, where you need to have a lot of gear handy.

There’s a spacious main compartment on this backpack, as well as three stretchy pockets on the front panel. The Jet is also equipped with an external hydration sleeve – it’s just behind the backpanel, so it doesn’t take away from the capacity of the main compartment at all. But you won’t get a hydration bladder with this pack, so bear that in mind.

In addition to that, this pack also has daisy chain webbing on the front panel. Meaning you can easily attach any bulky gear to the front of the pack if you use a carabiner, as long as it’s not too heavy for your little one.

Another thing you will love about the Jet hiking backpack is the DWR coating. It means that the entire pack is water repellant, so you don’t have to worry about the contents of the pack getting drenched in the rain.

However, the Jet backpack was redesigned not too long ago, so it’s still pretty brand new. This means a hefty price tag and not a lot of deals available.

CamelBak Mini MULLE Kids Hydration Backpack

If you want a backpack that’s proven to be excellent, go with the mini MULLE. It’s an awesome hydration pack, and even the kids’ version of it has some grown-up features!

The MULLE backpack is small and lightweight, so perfect for really young kids. Its back panel is heavily padded and covered with breathable mesh, so your little ones can stay comfortable even on hot days. And there’s the sternum strap that will ensure the pack stays put on them – great if your kids fidget around a lot, and you’re worried about the shoulder straps falling off.

This kid’s backpack doesn’t have a huge capacity. It has a hydration bladder compartment that fits the 1.5-liter Crux reservoir, and an extra zippered compartment on the front.

It features a stretchy front pocket, which is great for putting away a spare layer of clothing. This ensures that neither you nor they have to carry a jacket in their hands while you’re all hiking, so it’s pretty convenient.

CamelBak’s Crux reservoir is truly top of the line, so you are getting premium quality for the coin. It has a kid-friendly on/off lever that prevents any leaks, as well as an ergonomic handle for easy refilling. And it is able to keep water cold for hours, ensuring you will have a refreshing drink on your back during those hot and sweaty hikes.

The sternum strap doubles as a safety whistle. So, if your kids ever stray off while, they can draw attention to themselves with a whistle.

Osprey Daylite Kids' Backpack

The Daylite is one of Osprey’s all-time best-sellers. It’s definitely one of the most versatile backpacks you can get for your kids – the rugged exterior and comfortable back panel as perfect for hiking trails, while the spacious main compartment and extra pockets work great for school.

This is the pack to get your kids if you want to avoid buying them a different backpack for every occasion. They can use it for hiking, travel, school, football practice, and pretty much everything else.

The Daylite hiking backpack for kids features thick padding and breathable mesh on both the back panel and harness, for premium carrying comfort. The sternum strap ensures that the shoulder straps don’t move around during hikes, and it doubles as a safety whistle.

This pack is part of Osprey’s 2020 sustainable collection, and it is made entirely from recycled materials. That includes PFC free DWR coating, which keeps this pack dry during rainy weather.

The kids’ Daylite pack has a spacious main compartment with an internal hydration sleeve. But you don’t get a hydration bladder with this pack, so keep that in mind.

This sleeve is actually a great versatile feature – it works as an extra internal compartment where your kids could put their notebooks if they were to take the Daylite to school. On top of that, this backpack also has a small zippered pocket on the front panel.

Deuter Kids Fox 40 Hiking Backpack

If you’re serious about camping trips with your kids, they will need a big hiking backpack that can hold a lot of gear. It’s a durable, high-quality pack with a 40-liter capacity. Just keep in mind that this is a big pack, so it’s only suitable for bigger kids. Or really small adults!

The harness of this kid’s backpack is adjustable, and it’s best for torso lengths from 10 to 18 inches. This also means that this backpack for kids will grow along with them.

This pack has an adult-looking harness. It features really thick padding and soft breathable mesh, for premium carrying comfort. And it has both a sternum strap and a hipbelt, ensuring that your little ones don’t actually feel the entire weight of their 40-liter pack.

That huge capacity means that this pack is perfect for multi-day trips. Plus, with multiple compartments and pockets, organizing all that gear will be effortless.

The main compartment is very spacious, with internal pockets for separating items. Then, there are the two hip belt pockets that are great for stuff your kids need handy at all times.

In addition to that, the Deuter Fox is equipped with two stretchy side pockets and two sets of compression straps – over and above the pockets. This is great for storing trekking poles, and it guarantees that you won’t be the one that’ll end up carrying them for the better part of the hike.

Bseash Ultra Light Small Kids Hiking Backpack

If you’re just looking for a quick and cheap solution, the Bseash backpack is a good option. It’s not a premium bag, but it’s under $20 and it will do just fine on your next hiking trip. This is a small pack, suitable for kids that are shorter than 4 feet.

The backpack is made from both nylon and polyester with waterproof coating on the outside. It has a good tear and abrasion resistance, thanks to the durable materials. And it’s a small and lightweight bag – it weighs less than 8 ounces, making it the perfect hiking pack for your kids

This backpack does not have a harness for adjustable torso length, and your child will outgrow it eventually.  And honestly, it’s actually a really good backpack for the money – the entire back panel is padded and ventilated, so it is pretty comfortable to wear.

It’s also a very versatile backpack for kids, with two zippered compartments, stretchy side mesh pockets and bungee cord at the front panel.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, since this is such a small pack, you can’t really fit any bigger items in it. An A4 notebook won’t fit, and neither will a regular-sized tablet. You could fit an iPad mini inside – a good thing to know if you want to also use this for vacations.

Gregory Mountain Products Wander 50 Liter Kid's Multi Day Backpack

Gregory is a premium outdoor brand that makes some amazing backpacks. The good news is that they make hiking backpacks for kids; the bad news is that those are not cheap.

And if you’re willing to spend a little more for a premium backpack, the Wander 50 is an option worth considering. Yes, it is expensive, but it is a 50-liter backpack with an adjustable harness. This means that your child will be able to use it for several years.

The Wander pack comes with a detachable SideKick day pack. And there is enough space for a sleeping bag inside, if you need a bigger backpacking pack.

The back panel and harness of this kids’ hiking backpack are both heavily padded and covered with breathable mesh. The padded hip belt with pockets transfer the weight from their shoulder onto their hips.

The Wander backpack features a roomy main compartment with an internal hydration sleeve, water bottle pockets, hipbelt pockets, trekking pole attachment points, sleeping pad straps, multiple external pockets and compression straps – among other things. Honestly, it’s just a mini-version of an awesome multi-day backpack

CamelBak 2018 Kid's Scout Hydration Pack

The Scout is a children’s hydration pack with a large capacity. The hydration sleeve is behind the back panel, which gives you two roomy compartments for all the other necessary gear. This makes the pack a great versatile option – it’s perfect for longer hiking trips, but it could also work for school or travel, thanks to all the other pockets and compartments.

Your kid’s books and notebooks can easily fit into the main compartment of this pack, and so could a tablet. And they would still have that extra front compartment for any smaller items!

The back panel features thick padding and breathable mesh, so your little one won’t actually feel the bladder against their back. It’s a very comfortable pack to wear, especially since it also has a sternum strap that ensures those shoulder straps won’t move around.

This pack has daisy chain webbing at the front, which is perfect for attaching any bulkier items to the exterior of the pack. And the stretchy side mesh pockets are great for bottles.

One thing that makes this backpack awesome is its size. With a height of 15”, it can work for kids of various ages. Your 6-year-old could wear this, but so could a 10-year-old – the adjustability of the shoulder straps is everything with the Scout!

And you will get CamelBak’s Crux reservoir along with this backpack. It has a capacity of 1.5 liters, and it’s probably one of the best hydration reservoirs on the market. It is entirely BPA-free , it’s able to keep water cool for hours and it comes with a handy hose and valve that are easy to use and don’t leak.

The North Face Youth Recon Squash Backpack

TNF Recon is an excellent backpack, and the kids’ version is as awesome as the full-sized one. It’s not primarily a hiking backpack, but it’s definitely a backpack your kids could take on a hiking trip. It is made from 600D polyester, which has excellent tear and abrasion resistance. But it is not fully waterproof, so I wouldn’t recommend this backpack for hikes on rainy days.

The thick padding in the back panel ensures your child will stay comfortable even on long hikes, while the easy-to-use sternum strap helps keep those shoulder straps in place. They can fit most of their important gear in the spacious main compartment, which has some internal pockets that are perfect for organizing necessities for class.

There’s also an extra compartment on the front panel, which is great for items your kid would need handy during hikes, or just a pencil case. And the stretchy pocket on the front panel is perfect for stashing a jacket or a hoodie when they get too hot during hikes.

This backpack also features reflective accents for improved visibility in the darkness. That’s great for overnight camping trips since it guarantees that they won’t lose the backpack somewhere in the forest. On top of that, the Recon Squash also features stretchy side pockets that are perfect for water bottles.

Keep in mind that this is a really small backpack, and it’s best for kids that are in elementary school. Sure, the shoulder straps are adjustable, but they will outgrow it eventually. It’s best to get it for younger kids, who can then use for it the next several years. But if your kid is already 7 or 8 years old, this is probably going to be too small for them.

Deuter Unisex Kikki

If you need to get a hiking backpack for a toddler, this is by far the best option for you. It is adorable, and your kid will almost definitely fall in love with it, meaning they will want to take it everywhere. That’s how easy it’ll be to get them to carry their own hiking gear!

But keep in mind that this is a tiny backpack, and it can’t fit a lot of gear. There’s one main compartment that is pretty roomy, and which should be able to hold a toddler’s hiking essentials. The pack also has two mesh pockets that are designed to hold water bottles, but they are pretty shallow and will fit only small bottles.

The thing that makes this an excellent backpack for your child is the back panel. It features thick padding and breathable mesh on both the harness and the back panel, guaranteeing that your little one is comfortable whenever the Kikki is on their back. There’s also a convenient sternum strap that will help keep those shoulder straps in place, and ensure that the pack doesn’t fall off.

Another cool thing about this backpack is that it has multiple accessory loops. These let you attach anything you want to the backpack, as long as you use a carabiner.

This isn’t a remarkably functional hiking backpack, but it is one your kids will want to wear without you having to beg them. It is adorable, well made, and very durable, so it should last them for a couple of years. But they will outgrow it pretty fast since the backpack only works for kids that are 5 or younger. So, if you have a 2-year-old, it’s a great backpack. But if you have a 4-year-old, you should probably get them something bigger, since they won’t get a lot of use out of the Kikki.

Osprey Packs HydraJet 15

The HydraJet 15 is a hiking backpack for kids, which comes with Osprey’s hydration bladder. The pack is made from mesh and nylon, and it has a very durable exterior. Nylon has pretty good water resistance even without any extra coating, so this pack is a great option for different weather conditions.

The hydration reservoir is external on the HydraJet, meaning that your kids will have plenty of space inside the bag for all the necessary hiking gear. This backpack features a roomy main compartment with an internal pocket, as well as an extra zippered pocket on the outside for any smaller items.

And there are also two stretch mesh side pockets, for kids who prefer water bottles to hydration bladders. On top of that, the HydraJet is also equipped with bungee cord on the front panel, which is great for stashing any bulky gear.

One reason why your kids will love this pack is that it is super comfortable to wear. It features the AirScape back panel with excellent ventilation and a waist belt made only from breathable mesh, making it a great choice for hot summer days. The back panel and the harness are both padded, for premium carrying comfort.

The HydraJet comes with Osprey’s trusty 1.5-liter Hydraulics reservoir and all the necessary accessories. It’s known for the Quick Connect feature, which allows you to detach the bladder from the hose, making refills easy and effortless. On top of that, the reservoir is made from BPA-free plastic, and it makes use of the bite valve that prevents any leaks.