The Best Family Hiking gear for Outdoor Adventures

the winter 2023 edition

When it comes to hiking, ultimately less is more. Every ounce of gear weight you add to your kit is weight you have to carry, so it’s always best to bring as little as possible… provided that you have everything you need to enjoy a great hike. That’s why we’re focused on hiking accessories like trekking poles that add stability and can take a bit of the strain off your legs, a neck gaiter that can add a bit of warmth and also keep the sweat at bay (yes, you’ll sweat plenty even when hiking in winter weather), and necessities like a great first aid kit for families who hike. 

That said, when you are hiking with the kids, it’s safe to assume you’re not going to log 20 miles a day on the A.T. or gain 6,000 feet of elevation in the Sierras, so a few extras are probably a safe bet. And when those extras can make the hike more fun (as can something like a monocular) or when they can extend the outing after sunset (like with a great kids headlamp) it’s OK to add a few extra pieces of hiking gear to the mix.

winter hiking gear for the whole family

Best First Aid Kit for Hiking - Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Kit

Sure, the word “Hiker” is right there in the name of this first aid kit, but honest to goodness it was the one we always stuffed into our packs when headed out for a trek of any meaningful distance before even noticing that coincidence. The Mountain Series Hiker first aid kit is our choice for the best first aid kit for hikes because it weighs less than half a pound yet it has enough supplies to cover four (very accident prone) people for a long day hike or two people on a weekend trek. From multiple options for wound cleaning, sterilization, and closure to blister treatment to bite and sting mitigation to basic medications needed for pain, fevers, or common abdominal issues, this kit has got your back, so stick one in your backpack.

Heavy-duty Hiking Poles - Kelty Range 2.0 Trekking Poles

These are some of the most durable hiking poles we’ve ever tested, and that included a 40 kilometer trail run (so yes, almost a marathon) through the Swiss and French Alps. Light enough to be strapped to a running pack but sturdy enough for mountaineering use on rock, snow, and ice, the Range 2.0s are a great choice when you’re not sure what the terrain will throw at you, but you are sure you want to be able to lean into it. Blended cork and foam grips provide comfort and traction even when it’s raining or you’re wearing gloves, and the large adjustment range makes them suitable trekking poles for a hiker of just about any height.

Light weight Hiking Poles - Leki Makalu Lite AS Trekking Poles

These trekking poles are so lightweight you may at first be hesitant to jam down on them as you cruise up rough mountain trails or crash down a rocky scree field. Don’t be. They can take it. And what’s more, thanks to a “DSS damping system,” they even absorb a bit of each impact as you stab a pole down into the rocks or roots or ice, so your hands, arms, and shoulders won’t be quite so jarred and shaken. Your ankles and spine will thank you for getting them every time they take a bit of the pressure off as you trek along.

Best Hiking Gaiter - Columbia Terminal Tackle PFG Neck Gaiter II

This gaiter can be worn around your neck, used to cover your face, or worn wrapped around your ears and the top of your head for added warmth during winter hikes. And it will help catch and evaporate sweat, too, which is every bit as important in colder weather as it is in warm conditions.

Best Hiking Headlamp for Adults - Ledlenser MH5 Rechargeable

This is a great headlamp for night hikes because of how quickly and effectively you can adjust the beam’s shape and throw length. With a twist of a dial, you can focus up to 400 lumens of light out an impressive 180-plus yards in low light conditions, and even on a lower output setting a focused beam will throw light out more than 40 yards ahead of you. The light can be aimed up at a horizontal angle or pivoted down to fall on the trail, the headband has reflective elements so those coming up behind you will see you more easily (if the beam of light didn’t do the trick), and with an IP54 sealed rating, this headlamp will do just fine on dusty or drizzly trails. And as per standard, it has a red light for use when night vision must be preserved.

Best Affordable Hiking Headlamp for Adults - Black Diamond 350

Not quite as bright, not packing as long a throw of the beam, and using AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable, the Black Diamond 350 is nonetheless a great hiking headlamp, and not the least because it is very affordable. This is also a great choice thanks to its impressive 40-hour runtime on high output and amazing 120-hour output on its lower setting. At less than four ounces, it won’t weigh you down even when you’re hiking all night, and it won’t stop working even if you drop it in a puddle and, for whatever reason, leave it there for a while, too. (And yes, it has a red light mode.)

Best Hiking Headlamp for Kids - Ledlenser KIDLED4R

Small, lightweight, and easy to use, these compact kids’ headlamps are nonetheless real pieces of gear that can serve a little hiker well out on the trail, not to mention back at the campsite or in the basement during playtime. Their primary output is a 40 lumen white beam that shines out about 30 feet, plenty for brightening the way ahead but not so blinding that the kids will ruin your night vision every time they turn their head your way. The KIDLED4R can be set to a soft red light output much like mom or dad’s light, and it can also be set to a blue light that’s not entirely practical but is entirely fun.

Best Multi-Tool for Hiking - Gerber Suspension NXT Multi-Tool

Smaller than many of the classic multi-tools out there and with a few less tools than many have, the compact, 6.7-ounce Suspension NXT from Gerber is a great hiking multi-tool precisely because it’s a bit smaller and simpler. Granted, you might have limited wire stripping capabilities and only one size of phillips head screwdriver on hand, but those tend not to be issues in the woods and mountains. What you will have is a sharp knife, good scissors, a can and bottle opener, solid pliers, and much more.

Best Monocular for Hiking - Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube Monocular Telescope

Not only is this monocular smaller and lighter weight than most pairs of binoculars, but it’s also a lot easier to use. With a monocular, you can quickly get an eye lined up and the lenses focused, saving time compared to binoculars that require dual focus adjustments. That ease of use is great for adults when time is of the essence as well as for kids for whom binocular use can be tricky in the first place. This Zoom Tube is perfect for the outdoor family that wants to get an up close look at birds, bears, elk, or whatever else is out there, and without having to get up close.

THIS GREASE-FREE SUNBLOCK IS PERFECT FOR USE ON FACES, EVEN IF THOSE FACES ARE HAIRY OR HATE SUNSCREEN (AKA KIDS’ FACES)

The sun doesn’t care that the warm seasons have passed: you can get a burn in any season. And in fact, for every 3,000 feet of elevation you gain, the strength of UV rays increases by more than 10%. So while you may not need to slather your arms and legs and all (and your kids’ arms and legs), you still need sunblock when hiking in the winter. This non-greasy, easily applied sunscreen is a great choice for hiking in the the winter. Or for use in any other season, too, from spring treks skiing to summer fun on the beach.

THIS COMPACT KIT CONTAINS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO COMFORTABLY AND RESPONSIBLY GO TO THE BATHROOM OUTDOORS

The need to poop while you hike, camp, or climb is traditionally one of the least pleasant parts of an outdoor adventure. When you bring a PACT Outdoors Bathroom Kit, you can have the most pleasant possible outdoor bathroom experience, though. That's because these compact kits include a little shovel to dig your latrine, wipes that come compacted into little discs that expand with a few drops of water, mycelium tablets you drop onto your waste before covering it with dirt, said tabs helping the waste rapidly biodegrade, and with hand sanitizer for when you're done. In other words, a PACT bathroom kit has everything you need to poop outdoors, all you need to do is find your way a few feet off trail.

AN OUTDOOR ELEMENT FIREBINER IS A COMPACT AND HANDY MULTITOOL THAT CAN CLIP, CUT, AND MAKE SPARKS TO START A FIRE

This compact carabiner belongs on the belt loop or backpack of everyone who wants to be properly prepared out there, and not just because carabiners are handy for clipping on keys, a folding knife or other small tools, and for securing supplies to packs or gear lines. And not only because this carabiner has a little blade built into it that’s perfect for cutting cords or fishing line and such. What really sets things apart here is the fact that the Firebiner from Outdoor Element has a flint and wheel set into it that can create a shower of sparks, helping you get a fire going out there in the field.