The Best Family Hiking gear for Summer Outdoor Adventures 2022

Heavy-duty Hiking Poles - Kelty Range 2.0 Trekking Poles

These are some of the most durable hiking poles we’ve ever tested, and that included a 40 kilometer trail run (so yes, almost a marathon) through the Swiss and French Alps. Light enough to be strapped to a running pack but sturdy enough for mountaineering use on rock, snow, and ice, the Range 2.0s are a great choice when you’re not sure what the terrain will throw at you, but you are sure you want to be able to lean into it. Blended cork and foam grips provide comfort and traction even when you’re sweaty or it’s raining, and the large adjustment range makes them suitable trekking poles for a man of just about any height.

Light weight Hiking Poles - Leki Makalu Lite AS Trekking Poles

These trekking poles are so lightweight you may at first be hesitant to jam down on them as you cruise up rough mountain trails or crash down a rocky scree field. Don’t be. They can take it. And what’s more, thanks to a “DSS damping system,” they even absorb a bit of each impact as you stab a pole down into the rocks or roots or ice, so your hands, arms, and shoulders won’t be quite so jarred and shaken. Your ankles and spine will thank you for getting them every time they take a bit of the pressure off as you trek along.

Best Hiking Bandana - Columbia River Chill

The first time you bring a bandana for hiking along for a warm weather trek will be the last time you ever wonder if a bandana is a must-have or not. Lightweight, quick-drying, and wicking, this square of fabric will change the game whether it’s wrapped around your head to block the sun and stop sweat from running down your brow, tied around a wrist for quick dabs of the forehead, wrapped around your neck for sun protection, or used as a makeshift mini towel, to wrap up some wild fruit you just found, or as a quick mask to cover your face as you encounter dusty conditions or potential airborne pathogens.

Best Hiking Gaiter - Columbia Terminal Tackle PFG Neck Gaiter II

This gaiter was designed with fishing in mind, so you can count on it being a great way to keep your neck (and, if needed, your face and the top of your head) protected from unrelenting sunshine while also drying fast. We use it for hikes and trail runs, though (and neighborhood jogs in hot weather, for that matter) because it blocks the sun no matter your activity, it wicks and dries fast, and it works just as well double-wrapped around a wrist for wiping sweat as it does wrapped around a neck or pulled up higher.

Best Packable Hiking Towel - Matador NanoDry Trek Towel

South Park was onto something all those many years ago when they had a character say: “Don’t forget to bring a towel!” A compact, packable towel like this one can dry you off after an impromptu dip, an unexpected rain shower, or a very much planned camp shower, too. This thin but highly-absorbent, quick-drying, and durable towel can also serve as a bandana, a seat cover (or rock or log cover, that is), or as a makeshift pouch for gathering wild berries, should you be lucky enough to find some wild berries. And when you’re not using the towel, it packs into a silicone case that’s about the size of a pack of cards.

Best Hiking Headlamp for Adults - Ledlenser MH5 Rechargeable

This is a great headlamp for night hikes because of how quickly and effectively you can adjust the beam’s shape and throw length. With a twist of a dial, you can focus up to 400 lumens of light out an impressive 180-plus yards in low light conditions, and even on a lower output setting a focused beam will throw light out more than 40 yards ahead of you. The light can be aimed up at a horizontal angle or pivoted down to fall on the trail, the headband has reflective elements so those coming up behind you will see you more easily (if the beam of light didn’t do the trick), and with an IP54 sealed rating, this headlamp will do just fine on dusty or drizzly trails. And as per standard, it has a red light for use when night vision must be preserved.

Best Affordable Hiking Headlamp for Adults - Black Diamond 350

Not quite as bright, not packing as long a throw of the beam, and using AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable, the Black Diamond 350 is nonetheless a great hiking headlamp, and not the least because it is very affordable. This is also a great choice thanks to its impressive 40-hour runtime on high output and amazing 120-hou output on its lower setting. At less than four ounces, it won’t weigh you down even when you’re hiking all night, and it won’t stop working even if you drop it in a puddle and, for whatever reason, leave it there for a while, too. (And yes, it has a red light mode.)

Best Hiking Headlamp for Kids - Ledlenser KIDLED4R

Small, lightweight, and easy to use, these compact kids’ headlamps are nonetheless real pieces of gear that can serve a little hiker well out on the trail, not to mention back at the campsite or in the basement during playtime. Their primary output is a 40 lumen white beam that shines out about 30 feet, plenty for brightening the way ahead but not so blinding that the kids will ruin your night vision every time they turn their head your way. The KIDLED4R can be set to a soft red light output much like mom or dad’s light, and it can also be set to a blue light that’s not entirely practical but is entirely fun.

Best First Aid Kit for Hiking - Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Kit

Sure, the word “Hiker” is right there in the name of this first aid kit, but honest to goodness it was the one we always stuffed into our packs when headed out for a trek of any meaningful distance before even noticing that coincidence. And by coincidence we mean the fact that the Mountain Series Hiker first aid kit is our best first aid kit for hikes because it weighs less than half a pound yet it has enough supplies to cover four (very accident prone!) people for a long day hike or two people on a weekend trek. From multiple options for wound cleaning, sterilization, and closure to blister treatment to bite and sting mitigation to basic medications needed for pain, fevers, or common abdominal issues, this kit has got your back, so stick one in your backpack.

Best Multi-Tool for Hiking - Gerber Suspension NXT Multi-Tool

Smaller than many of the classic multi-tools out there and with a few less tools than many have, the compact, 6.7-ounce Suspension NXT from Gerber is a great hiking multi-tool precisely because it’s a bit smaller and simpler. Granted, you might have limited wire stripping capabilities and only one size of phillips head screwdriver on hand, but those tend not to be issues in the woods and mountains. What you will have is a sharp knife, good scissors, a can and bottle opener, solid pliers, and much more.

Best Monocular for Hiking - Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube Monocular Telescope

Not only is this monocular smaller and lighter weight than most pairs of binoculars, but it’s also a lot easier to use. With a monocular, you can quickly get an eye lined up and the lenses focused, saving time compared to binoculars that require dual focus adjustments. That ease of use is great for adults when time is of the essence as well as for kids for whom binocular use can be tricky in the first place. This Zoom Tube is perfect for the outdoor family that wants to get an up close look at birds, bears, elk, or whatever else is out there, and without having to get up close.

Proven picaridin insect repellent

This is our go-to bug spray for family hikes for three reasons: First, it is completely kid-safe. Second, it is odorless which sensitive noses appreciate. Third, it can be reapplied multiple times a day, a benefit when you and the gang will be sweating on hot and humid trails.