I recently went camping with my 5-year-old daughter, just the two of us. It was super fun, and it wasn’t even all that tough! Mostly because we picked a short, easy route, but also because I’ve been lucky enough to have accumulated gear over the years that is kinda light and fairly small. This allowed us to carry just 37 lbs. of gear in total, split between the two of us. She carried all our food and a few miscellaneous items- weighing in at approximately 4.5 lbs.!
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On our way!
Here’s everything we brought:
For Hiking
MEC 70L Backpack- a bag this size was SO necessary for this trip, and this one is nice and light as a bonus. This link is for the newest model, which unfortunately tops out at 65L.
Decathlon 5L Backpack
Headlamp
Bear Bell
Hiking Pole
Compass
Map
For Sleeping
MEC Spark 1 Person Backpacking Tent– pretty wild that a tent this small and light can actually fit two people!
2x Therm-a-rest Prolite Plus Sleeping Pads– If I had 1 slightly bigger pad that would have fit in the tent and we both would have fit on, I would have brought it instead. As it was, I just stacked one sleeping pad slightly on top of another so that they would fit in the tent.
-9°C MEC Aquilina Sleeping Bag (MEC no longer makes these, I think the Delphinus is the modern-day equivalent)
0°C MEC Aquila Sleeping Bag (MEC no longer makes these)
Luci Lantern (my daughter is scared of the dark, but actually fell asleep without this on)
MEC Camp Pillow
2x Polyester Base Layers
The MEC Spark Tent- tiny and light but so roomy!
For Eating
MSR Windburner– one bowl comes attached to this stove
2x Sporks
MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter
2x Dehydrated Meals- one for dinner and one for breakfast
Clif Bars
2x Stinger Waffle Cookies- but I could have just brought regular cookies
Sour Patch Kids
Made Good Granola Bars
Powdered Cappucino
1 Mug
Ursack – for bear proof food storage
Rope – to hang Ursack
Nalgene
Hydro Flask Kids’ Bottle– she’s had this bottle for 4 years so it holds up!
M&Ms- a trail treat to keep my daughter motivated.
My trusty Windburner.
For Playing
Books for both of us.
Go Fish
3-in-1 Lego Set
Wireless headphones- so I could watch Netflix after my daughter fell asleep.
2x bathing suits
Small Towel
Water Wings
Power Bank– to charge phone.
Hammock– this 2 person hammock is definitely a luxury item backpacking but it’s (fairly) light, super easy to set up, and big enough for us both to fit in comfortably!
Lego in the backcountry.
For Safety
Garmin inReach (I also taught my daughter how to press the SOS button and discussed what qualifies as an emergency)
Pocket knife
Bear Spray – probably completely unnecessary but since we own it I always feel like I may as well bring it.
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
First Aid Kit w/meds
Clothing and Toiletries
Camp Shoes- for me
Sweaters for both of us.
1 extra outfit for my daughter
Extra underwear
2x Kula Pee Cloths
Tiny Roll of TP
2x Toothbrushes
2x Toothpaste
Deodorant
…and that’s it! Lol! I hope you found this list helpful. If you have questions, you can always DM me over on Instagram- @adventurereport. Happy backpacking!
