We're a camping-and-hiking family of six, and we're slowly building the kit for our first family backpacking trips. These are the picks we're planning around: packs that fit the kids, light quilts in place of bulky sleeping bags, a couple of tents, s...
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This is the kids' pack we keep coming back to. The torso adjusts as they grow and a rain cover is built in, so one pack could last a few seasons of trails.
Osprey Ace 38L Kids' Backpack, Green OS
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A comfortable, mid-priced women's pack that has room for a mama's share of snacks and gear for the little ones.
Osprey Renn 50L Women's Backpack, Blue OS
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Our splurge pick for the grown-ups. It's light but still has space for the extra load that comes with hiking alongside kids. (Only a few were left in stock.)
Osprey Eja 58L Women's Ultralight Backpack
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A roomy unisex pack at a budget-friendly price, made for the parent who ends up carrying the tent and the stove.
Kelty Coyote 65L Internal Frame Backpack
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We're choosing quilts instead of sleeping bags to save weight. This 850-fill down quilt is the one we're dreaming about for the cooler nights.
Featherstone Moondance 25 Top Quilt Insulated Camping Sleeping Bag, Regular
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A budget-friendly 40° quilt that seems like a great fit for the kids on mild Southern nights.
Alabama summers get warm, so we're planning a light 50° synthetic quilt for the sticky nights.
Sea to Summit Glow 50° Synthetic Quilt
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A short pad sized for kids (about 50 x 23 in) that packs down small enough to fit in their own packs.
Klymit Static V Sleeping Pad
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A comfy, affordable inflatable pad for the grown-ups. It isn't insulated, so we'd save it for warmer trips.
KLYMIT STATIC V Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pad
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A foam pad that can't pop. It could go under a kid, or under an inflatable for extra warmth on cold ground.
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Camping Sleeping Pad
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A lightweight 2-person tent, which is perfect for splitting the family into smaller shelters or for a one-on-one trip with a kiddo.
Naturehike Cloud-Up 2 Person Lightweight Tent
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An affordable freestanding 4-person tent with two doors, so four of us can pile in. It's about 7.4 lb total, and the weight splits easily between two packs.
Clostnature Lightweight 4-Person Tent Green
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A tiny titanium canister stove at a budget price. It weighs next to nothing and can boil water for dinner.
BRS 3000T Titanium Ultralight Camping Stove
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The step-up stove pick. It's known for handling wind well, which matters when hungry kids are waiting.
