Backpacks For Kids
It's especially important to have a properly fitted backpack for your child if they are going on a backpacking trip with you.
Backpacks for kids are not just a smaller version of an adult hiking backpack. They are narrower at the shoulders and hips, come with extra padding on the back and should have adjustable straps.
It's especially important to have a properly fitted backpack for your child if they are going on a backpacking trip with you. Just like with adults you need to measure your child's torso length. To do this, start at the top of their neckline where you can feel the top of their spine. Measure straight down to their waistline, or right about where they're hipbone lies.
An older or taller child may be able to fit into a smaller adult sized pack but make sure to check out the shoulder and hip sizing too. This is one of the things I love about Osprey backpacks. They make their hiking backpacks with adjustable torsos, have a good range of sizes and make youth sizes as well.
Make sure that when you child is wearing their backpack that the bottom of it doesn't fall below their hipbone area. Many kids wear their packs too low. I see this at their school a lot and it isn't doing their backs any favours.
The hipbelt should sit slightly above the hipbone and both the shoulder straps and the hipbelt need to be adjustable.
The backpack should also fit snugly against their body.
When packing for a backpacking adventure most adults can and will carry approximately 25% of their body weight in their hiking backpacks. Kids shouldn't carry this much. Make sure their packs only weight about 10-12% of their body weight. This is a guide of course, an older fitter child can probably carry a little more whereas a younger and less experienced hiker should carry less or stay at about the 10% mark.
When packing a kids backpack for hiking the same rules apply as for adults. Keep the heaviest items closest to the centre of their backs and make sure you use the compression straps to fasten their gear and keep it from shifting too much. Also, the more pockets in their pack the easier it will be to more evenly distribute and organize their gear.
Our young children are starting to enjoy overnight backpacking trips and fitting them with a proper kids backpack is essential to keeping their young growing bodies healthy, avoid back and neck pain and keep them asking for more trips into the back country!
Happy Hiking!
About The Author:Leanne Arnott invites you to read more articles about taking your family camping or going on a family hiking trip at http://www.family-camping-and-hiking.com. You can add your submissions on many topics and subscribe to our monthly ezine.
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