​​Every ounce of gear weight adds up for any age of hiker, but gravity seems to pull especially hard on those little legs once they have a pack on their back. Which is why it’s best to limit a kids’ pack to the basic necessities, and nothing is more needed on a hike than water. This compact, slim, and lightweight kids’ hydration pack puts up to 1.5 liters of H2O on your kid’s back, evenly distributing that water weight across his or her shoulders and chest, so the child can stay hydrated without losing steam. The drip-free mouthpiece is easy to use, providing a steady flow of water that’s well-regulated, and the pack also has just enough storage area for some snacks, a pair of sunglasses, a tube of bug spray, and so on.

​​This is a great example of a full-sized piece of gear that is nonetheless lightweight, ergonomic, and designed to keep you moving, not slow you down. It can carry more than enough water for a vigorous day hike (1.6 liters, to be precise) and, more to the point when you’re hiking with kids, it offers 12 liters of storage capacity, so you can carry most of what they’ll need to keep moving, AKA food. The Pinnacle can also accommodate other choice pieces of family hiking gear, like a first aid kit, bug spray, and sunblock, and those latter two start to be more and more important in spring.

Where hydration packs meet daypacks is where you’ll find the M.U.L.E. from CamelBak. Able to handle a three-liter water reservoir that will keep you hydrated even on all-day adventures, this pack also has a nine-liter gear capacity, meaning you can pack along plenty of trail snack, a first aid kit and multitool, and even some garments for layering and a camera and such. The flexible and vented straps keep the pack snug and comfortable, and you can stow your gear in myriad ways thanks to the packs’ several pockets.

Large enough to accommodate enough gear, apparel, and food for an overnight if you pack with great care, the Hikelite 26 is at its best as an all-day pack for those glorious multi-mile, multi-hour hikes that end back at the campsite, the hotel, or a drive home. The pack’s “Airspeed Suspension” system puts a mesh panel at your back which allows for amazing ventilation and comfortable weight distribution, while the straps are flexible and contour well to your shoulders. A hip belt can be added or removed based on your preference. The Hikelite has tall side mesh pockets for water bottles, trekking pole loops, an easy-access top pocket, and an included rain cover. Oh, and as you probably guessed, with that main compartment filled, you’ll enjoy 26 liters of gear capacity.

For a shorter day hike where you’ll only need the basics like snacks, a first aid kit, water, and more snacks, this 14-liter pack from Patagonia is a perfect choice. The slim pack features a rip-resistant and water-repellent nylon exterior and stretchy side pockets for water bottles or any gear you want stashed close at hand. Soft yet sturdy shoulder straps and a sternum strap keep the pack in place, and an included rain cover keeps things dry if it really starts to pour. A mesh back panel releases extra heat and provides some airflow, an inner pocket can accommodate a hydration reservoir, and exterior straps can secure hiking poles, a puffer, and so on.

Super lightweight on its own at just 14.3 ounces, this ergonomic kids hiking backpack distributes weight well over smaller torsos so your little hiker will be able to log plenty of miles in comfort even when they have a good deal of gear packed. The Junior 18L has dual side water bottle pockets, a generous main compartment, and a small easy access top pocket, and a stretch-top front pouch. The “airstrips” padding along the back prevent the buildup of excess heat and sweat while the straps themselves are padded and highly adjustable.

A DGR trusted pack for many years now, a Journey PerfectFit Elite can carry kids weighing as little as 16 pounds or as much as 40 pounds. And this pack is equally impressive for how well it can be adjusted to fit various adult bodies, safely and stably distributing the load across hips, shoulders, chest, and core, letting the family log as many miles as mom or dad has in them. The pack features a retractable sun shade for the little one, two large zippered gear compartments that can carry more than enough supplies for an all-day hike, easy access pouches on the hip belt, and a fold out stand that lets the pack sit upright when it’s off your back, whether for loading or unloading your kid or for taking that well-deserved mid-trail break.

If you’re hitting the trail with a baby or young toddler, the best place to have them isn’t on your back, but on your chest. A Hatcher Pack can safely hold babies weighing just seven pounds, securing them face-in or face-out with comfortable mesh panels and adjustable straps. The backpack itself — which can accommodate a water bladder — has a huge 40-liter capacity spread across multiple pockets, so you can bring everything from wipes and diapers to a change of clothes to toys and more. It’s effectively a tactical diaper bag crossed with a kid carrier.

This pack from Osprey can accommodate kids almost as well as the Kelty, yet it weighs two pounds less than the Journey PerfectFit. And what’s more, it folds down when not in use for easy storage or travel. Deployed, as it were, the POCO LT can secure a child in comfort with features like an integrated sun cover and a drool pad. Mom or dad will be comfortable thanks to easily adjusted straps and a hearty waistband, and because the strap height can be adjusted to easily fit torsos of varied length. You can tuck a hydration reservoir into the POCO LT, load its pockets with gear, apparel, and eats, and get out there for a fine dad-and-me or mom-and-me adventure.