WHAT TO BRING ON A FAMILY HIKE

Backpacks and other Packs

The most fundamental component of a family hike is a backpack. Everyone who will be carrying items on the hike should have a backpack.

Features to Look for in a Backpack
Zippers
Aguably one of the most essential features of a good hiking backpack is a zipper that works easily. There are few greater annoyances when standing on a trail than a backpack than a stubborn zipper. Find a backpack with a quality zipper and you are well on your way to a worthwhile pack.

Just the Right Size
A hiking backpack can best be described as a medium-sized backpack. If you were to go to a sporting goods store, you could generally pick a pack between the largest and smallest and have a pack suited for hiking. Since family hikes are generally day hikes or just half-day hikes, it is not necessary to buy a backpack built for camping. Large backpacks are made to support sleeping bags, tents, stoves, and other equipment more suited for camping. As a general rule, stay away from the large and bulky packs.

Padding and Convenience
A good hiking backpack should have padding in the straps and in the lining on the back of the pack. Good packs have straps that are easily adjustable, but that stay put once adjusted. Additionally it is nice, but not essential to have a latching strap that latches around your waist (waist belt) to help secure the pack from moving around on your back (this is especially nice when the pack is full of heavy or hard items because it reduces annoying movement of the pack). Another nice, but not essential feature in a hiking backpack is "cinch straps" which are straps on the sides of the zippered compartments that can be tightened to keep the contents within the backpack from moving around inside. Most backpacks come with pockets for water bottles which is definitely recommended. Another thing to look for is a compartment that can fit a hydration system (a water bladder with a hose used for drinking).

Capacity
The final and most obvious necessary feature of a good hiking backpack is that it should have room to fit all of the supplies and equipment you will bring on your hike. If you like to take pictures or video, you may sometimes carry large items such as tri-pods, mono-pods, and other equipment to support your cameras. *If you keep electronic equipment of any kind in your backpack, you should always isolate the equipment as far as possible from the water in case of a leak and place it in a sealable plastic bag as an added precaution.* Other hobbies have similar capacity requirements that should be considered when purchasing a backpack. While you don't want a huge backpack, be sure that the one you get has enough space for the equipment you intend to carry.

Fanny Packs
In some cases it is practical to carry a fanny pack in addition to/or in place of a backpack. There are some items that you will always want at hands reach in case you need them (like a camera, animal repelling device, etc.). A fanny pack provides a hiker with faster access to equipment than a backpack and can be stowed away in a backpack when it is no longer needed. An advantage of using both a backpack and fanny pack with water bottle pockets is that the water and electronic devices can be stored in completely separate containers (and the water being in the fanny pack is lower than the electronics in the backpack). Fanny packs with water containers are also great for kids in that they provide easy access to water during the hike.

Here are some tips for finding a good hiking backpack:

Water and Food

Water

How Much Water Should I carry?
How much water do you need for your hike? This is the question to which there is no universal answer. Hydration is a balancing issue to which too much or too little can both be harmful. Too little water obviously results in dehydration. Too much water, even during exercise can result in a decrease of electrolytes in the blood which can lead to other complications. Although I would like to provide a better answer, the only one I can safely say is bring as much as you can reasonably carry.

How Much Water Should I Drink While Hiking?
Use good judgment about the amount of water you will require. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that in an emergency situation one should have at least one gallon of water per person per day. This amounts to approximately 8 pounds of water per person. If you are capable of carrying this amount of water for your entire family then you should do so. If you find it difficult to take one gallong per person per day, take as much water as you can carry without compromising the stability of your family. In any case remember that when you have used up half of your family's water on hand, it is time to terminate the hike and head back.

Utilize the designated spaces of your backpack for water bottles, while keeping in mind the FEMA target of one gallon per person per day. If you carry a fanny pack with bottle holders, fill them also with water bottles. If you have a hydration system with water, utilize it, and also carry water bottles in their respective holders on the backpack. If you are hiking in winter or may be subjected to freezing temperatures, be sure to keep your water in insulated containers to prevent the water from freezing.

Keep in mind that the sensation of thirst comes later than the body's demand for water. When you are exercising it is not wise to wait until you are thirsty to have a drink. When involved in exercise, the body uses water faster than normal. If fluids are not being replaced, it is likely that at some point dehydration will occur. The amount of water being lost varies by the temperature, amount and intensity of exercise, humidity, and other factors.

Staying Hydrated
Hydration should start before exercise. Make sure that you and your family drink plenty of water on the night before your hike and in the morning before the hike begins. Don't begin your hike with your body already somewhat dehydrated. By getting a head start on hydration, you will have a better chance of staying hydrated during your hike.

Have each person carry their own water if possible. Water is one of the heaviest things you will carry while hiking. Everyone should carry as much water as is comfortable, but that does not create instability on the trail. There is no sense carrying two gallons of water if it makes you fall off of a cliff before you can drink it.

As you are hiking the trail, pause frequently to catch your breath and drink some water. Make certain that everyone in your family is drinking water during the rest stops. Although there is no magic universal answer to the amount of water that is required, occasional sips of water on rest stops should be enough to provide adequate hydration in most circumstances. Even if you are hiking in winter, you should drink water at times when you stop to rest. When you are hiking, your body will produce heat and sweat in both hot and cold weather.

Natural Water Sources
Additionally, it is wise to carry a water purification pump or chemical water purification tablets in your backpack. These can be used to filter most contaminants out of natural water you may find on your hike, thereby rendering it drinkable. Water purification pumps and chemicals are very lightweight and if necessary can provide you with an additional source of water that you don't have to carry. Keep in mind, however, that the best water found in wilderness areas is fast-flowing water. It is not advisable to drink water that has been standing for any period of time.

Food

The food you bring on a family hike should be practical, but enjoyable. Some hikers approach food from a caloric and weight in the pack point of view with little regard to the taste. While the argument can be made that crackers will provide carbohydrates and weigh next to nothing, they do come up short on the satisfaction factor. When one is hiking alone, there is no harm in making a meal of crumbs, but when your family is concerned, pack the extra pound and eat something that adds to the pleasure of the trip.

The beauty of hiking is that you are automatically working off the calories that you will consume, so don't be afraid to splurge a little just for the hike. It is not difficult to burn over 300 calories per hour while hiking which definitely adds up as the hours pass. Pack a small lunch and have a few snacks handy. Trail mix, beef jerky, energy bars, and even soft candy can not only replenish calories, but also stave off complaints that may otherwise have dampened the mood of the hike.

One suggestion for food that I personally recommend is to create your own personalized trail mix. The trail mix you buy off the store shelf invariably has something in it that is not really very tasty and is only in the mix because it is cheap. Decide as a family what you would like to have in your trail mix and buy the separate snacks at the store. If each of the members of your family is able to choose one of the snacks that goes into the trail mix, everyone has reason to be happy with the outcome. Divide the separate snacks into sealable sandwich bags before the hike and you've got a treat instead of a bag of horse food. Kids especially love having their own little bag of goodies to snack on for the trail.

It is a good idea to keep a little extra food in your backpack just in case. If for some reason you are delayed, or have to take a longer route, it is always good to have food stored for the unexpected. The emergency food should be light, and high in calories (this may be a good use of those crackers I talked about earlier). Energy bars are an even better source of emergency food. They take up very little space and provide a good source of calories. Bring enough emergency to replace at least two meals for your entire family.

If you are bringing pets on your hike don't forget to bring food and water for them too.

Here is a summary of water and food considerations for family hiking.