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You are here: Home / Health / Hiking Essentials for Family Day Hikes

Hiking Essentials for Family Day Hikes

July 3, 2015 by Nicole

My family does a lot of hiking together. We enjoy exploring new trails with our kids. Sometimes we go on short day hikes and other times, the hikes may take all day long. It just depends on where we go.

You don’t need to take along a ton of hiking gear for simple day hikes with children. I have learned from experience that mom and dad usually wind up carrying everybody else’s stuff! So we now plan out exactly what we need to take and leave the rest behind. Every family member has a small backpack of hiking essentials to carry.

The latest tweak to our family’s hiking gear are the hydration backpacks. We recently went on a hike and I ended up carrying multiple water bottles for the kids and myself. It isn’t much fun to hike with your hands full of water bottles. I decided there had to be a better way for us to bring water on hiking trips. And hydration backpacks are the answer! This kind of backpack holds water plus has enough room for smaller items.

hiking essentials family day hikes

Water is our #1 hiking essential. It is important to stay hydrated. Other hiking essentials we bring on the trail include:

  • Snacks and energy bars
  • insect repellent
  • Travel Sized First Aid Kit Kit
  • Sunscreen

Other Helpful Tips:

*Don’t forget to wear the right kind of shoes for your hike. Flip flops and sandals may work on easy trails, but they are not always the best choice. Lightweight hiking shoes are good for shorter day hikes.

*Check the weather forecast on the day of your hike. If rain is in the forecast, you will need to be prepared with rain gear. Remember to check temperatures and dress appropriately.

banana boat sunscreen

For my kids’ faces and ears, I love to use the Kids Stick Sunscreen. The sticks are an easy-to-carry size and don’t take up much room in our backpacks. We have to remember to re-apply our sunscreen every 1-2 hours as recommended while we are out hiking. It is so important to me to protect my children’s skin from sunburn, long-term sun damage and skin cancer. I am also a fan of Sunscreen Spray because it is so quick and easy to apply. I use that a lot for myself and the kids, too.

Do you like to go for day hikes with your family? What hiking essentials would you add to this list?

See our hike to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park.

Check out our day trip to see the Great Salt Lake, Utah at Antelope Island State Park. We also had a fun summer trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.


Filed Under: Health, Reviews Tagged With: hiking, Hiking Essentials, Hydration Backpack, Sunscreen, What to take hiking

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:31 am

    Going hiking for the day is fun, but you really need to have your bases covered. Whenever we go on any sort of extended walk, I bring sunscreen and a mini-first aid kit. You just never know!

    • Nicole says

      July 6, 2015 at 8:35 am

      For sure! We always bring sunscreen (Banana Boat spray is so convenient to use) and our mini “survival” kit includes band-aids, which are great for scrapes and blisters.

  2. Jennifer says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:35 am

    You’ve got to have sunscreen, water, and snacks! It’s hard to enjoy any outdoor activity when you’re fried to a crisp, parched, and starving.

    • Nicole says

      July 6, 2015 at 8:56 am

      #Truth!

  3. Jeannette says

    July 6, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    This is a great list of essentials! Living in the mountains we do a ton of hiking and the two things we never go without are water and sunscreen. With those two things you can really make it work!

  4. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    July 6, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    I love hiking! Sunscreen and bug repellent are definite must haves!

  5. Mama to 5 BLessings says

    July 6, 2015 at 6:49 pm

    Those are a great bunch of items for hikes! I think you checked off all the boxes for a safe and fun hike!

  6. Krista says

    July 6, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    My family loves going for day hikes! Our packing list is pretty much the same except I add bug spray 🙂

  7. Autumn @Mamachallenge says

    July 6, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    These are great tips! Sunscreen, snacks, and plenty of water are must haves for any hiking trip!

  8. Liz Mays says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    I’ve never tried a stick sunscreen, but I would like that in the under eye zone/cheekbone area where I always burn. I’ll look for this.

    • Nicole says

      July 7, 2015 at 8:18 am

      Hi Liz, Yes, the stick sunscreen makes those small, hard to reach areas possible. I started using the stick sunscreen last year, and it is a must-have for us now. –Nicole

  9. Sarah @ Must Have Mom says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    This is great info to know. I’ve never been that into hiking but I think it’d make a fun activity for the hwole family this summer.

    • Nicole says

      July 7, 2015 at 8:16 am

      Hi Sarah! My family enjoys going on hikes, it is a great way to get active together. Since you are just starting out, I would suggest looking for a short (less than half mile) hike that ends somewhere fun – like a nice view, a waterfalls, etc. if possible. My kids like having a “reward” at the end of the trail and it keeps them going. Have a great summer! -Nicole

  10. Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says

    July 6, 2015 at 9:58 pm

    You’ve got to protect your and your family’s skin from the sun! It can really cause long-lasting damage!

  11. Tammy Roy says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    I love going on hikes with my family. I always remember to pack Insect Repellent and Sunscreen. Staying hydrated is so important when you are getting exercising.

  12. Aubrey says

    July 7, 2015 at 1:01 am

    Great hiking ideas. Really need to load up on the sunscreen here in AZ.

    • Nicole says

      July 7, 2015 at 8:13 am

      I bet you go through lots of sunscreen in AZ! Hope you aren’t melting this summer. I hear it has been super hot there!

  13. dawn says

    July 7, 2015 at 6:32 am

    i love doing day trips like this. it is great exercise and really fun. Thanks for sharing.

  14. Becca Wilson says

    July 7, 2015 at 8:33 am

    Sunscreen is definitely an essential for outside play! We always have some on hand.

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