Hiking gifts for kids they will love on their next hiking adventure
A handpicked selection of good hiking gifts for kids they will love to carry on their adventures. Kids’ hiking gifts guide [updated]
If you are looking for the perfect gift for a child who loves to hike, you are in the right place!
Our family loves to hike.
We regularly go on family hikes near Dublin, where we live, and we also now weave hiking into our holidays.
Our kids, however, didn’t start off as great hikers.
Our first family hiked had a soundtrack of huffing and puffing: clearly, the love we had for hiking was not naturally shared by our kids!
However, we didn’t give up.
We know exercise and outdoor activity are essential for kids and how fulfilling and fun they can be.
Therefore, we put a lot of research into what we could do to make hiking fun for kids.
I am delighted to report that it worked!
To our surprise, it came down to getting the right gear!
With the right stuff, clothing and games, they soon became avid hiking adventurers.
Since that first success, we have gone on countless hikes and are enthusiastic advocates of giving kids hiking gifts so they can also enjoy the great outdoors.
If you fancy a peek into our outdoor adventures, you can see our family hiking guides here.
This is our selection of hiking gifts for kids.
You may also like additional outdoor gift ideas we have in the following guides: Gifts for outdoorsy kids | Gifts for camping families
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This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission.
As Amazon associates, we earn from qualifying purchases
Useful and fun hiking gifts for kids they will love – pin this!
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Camelbak hydration backpack for kids
A kids hydration backpack is probably the one items that turned the hiking experience around for us.
With their own packs, kids can have water anytime they like, without having to ask or fiddle with zips and bottles.
The pack also has a small pocket for essentials, which allows them to feel independent and well geared up!
My two, and especially my daughter, really enjoyed having it.
She used it to drink but it is clear that it is also a fun piece of gear, easy to use yet technical and fun enough to keep her entertained.
Camelback packs come in several colors and sizes.
Those that are made specifically for kids are the most comfortable as they sit on children’s backs without causing strain or uncomfortable pressure points.
When picking a water bag for kids, make sure you don’t go overboard with the size: as you start filling them, they get heavy fast!
You can find price and specs here.
Silicone collapsible water bottle for kids
If you are buying for a child who already has a favorite backpack, then you can opt for a collapsible water bottle, that they can easily fit into it.
My two children have collapsible bottles for school and they are excellent: they are fun, easy to use and clean and they come in several sizes and colors to please kids big and small
The ones I like the most have a carabiner that you can use to secure the bottle to the bag: you have to unhook them to drink but you can be sure the bottle doesn’t fall and get dirty when not in use.
I love this as a hiking gift for kids as they can use it on the trail but also as an everyday bottle or travel bottle.
The bottle in the image is from Amazon, you can see colors, specs and price here
Telescopic hiking stick for children
Our kids adore their trekking poles, that make hiking more fun and comfortable.
The best ones to get are telescopic ones as they can be adjusted according to your child height and preferences.
They come in several colors and these ones also have their own carry bag, super handy to store when not in use. You can find price and specs here.
Kids binoculars – our favourite hiking gift for children of any age!
Kids binoculars are maybe my favorite gift for kids who love hiking as they are fun, useful and versatile.
Spotting wildlife and the view from the top of the mountain is a large part of hiking fun and binoculars make it better!
We have a full article about our favorite binoculars for kids, we love them so much!
Children’s binoculars come in all shape and sizes, some in kid-friendly colors and some in more grown-up styles, and you can choose between a wide range of price options too.
This is a good paid that works for kids and adults, if they let you borrow them!
Kids’ Orienteering compass
All children I know are enthralled by putting a compass to work.
Magnetism is fascinating and children manage to play with it and relate to it from a very small age.
At the start, it may feel almost like magic and as they grow, the understanding of the science behind it makes it even more interesting.
A compass is also a great way to give them responsibility: they can use it to lead you on your hike, which is empowering and fun for them!
Fun, educational and truly useful, a compass is a wonderful and inexpensive hiking gift for kids.
This one is bright and lightweight, it has a small magnifier, a 4inch ruler and a handy carry string.
Kids action camera
A fun way to capture the highlights of their hike it to equip your children with an action camera for kids.
Resistant, easy to use and lightweight, they are perfect for outdoor pursuits and can be used with a wide variety of mounts to suit all tastes and abilities.
They are cool to use while on the hike and they are also a fantastic way to relive the emotions and share them with their friends once home when they get to see and possibly edit their footage!
Have a look at price and specs of the one in the photo here.
Walkie-talkie for kids hikes
Walkie talkies can be great fun when hiking, especially if you have hikers with different speeds who want to stay in touch along the way.
We usually give one to each child and keep each sibling with an adult and the fun is guaranteed.
When picking a walkie-talkie as a hiking gift for a child, make sure you pick the right type.
Some are toys (these are the type we use) and are to play on short distances, but cannot work as a safety device.
Those in the image below are on Amazon and are on the toy end of the spectrum: find specs and price here.
If you are buying for older kids who may need them to call for help or be found when tackling more challenging terrains, then you must make sure you get professional gear instead.
Nature journal for kids they can carry on their hike
Our daughter is an avid observer and collectors of leaves and a nature journal is one of her favourite companions during a hike or even a walk in the park behind our house.
Top tip! To help children stay safe and keep the environment safe while hiking, we like to gift this nature journal with a book about local trees and plants.
This way, they can be sure they do not touch or remove anything that can be dangerous or that can disrupt the mountain ecosystem.
We stick to twigs and leaves already fallen.
More and more, we have moved to a photo scavenger hunt type of activity so we can live by one of our favorite mottoes: take only memories, leave only footprints.
You can find price and specs here
A hiking bingo game with a twist
This game me a giggle and will sure get one from the kids too – an animal poop bingo!
With droppings of common and less usual animals, it is a fun, unusual but really educational gift for a kid who loves to observe natured on their hikes!
You can find it on Amazon here or, if you prefer, on Uncommon Goods: Find out more here
Hiking scavenger hunt for kids
A scavenger hunt is a super simple, super fun way to keep kids entertained on a hike.
Especially when they were toddlers and in the first couple of years in school my kids adored scavenger hunt cards.
They are a great way to get children engaged with the nature and environment around them.
They are fun and a good way to help them develop concentration and both gross and fine motor skills while having fun.
You can find the price and specs of those in the image below here
Portable bug set
Many adults (me, for instance!) find bugs unsettling.
However, kids tend to love them and encouraging them to observe them and not be pointlessly afraid is important.
A bug set is a perfect present for kids who love to hike and observe nature and even parents who do not like insects can appreciate them.
The kids can look at the bugs without hurting them and since the bughouse is enclosed, parents don’t have to touch crawlers unless they really want to.
Just make sure you teach your kids how to treat bugs gently and always release them where you found them at the end of your observation session.
The best bug sets for hiking are very lightweight and come with a carrying bag, magnifying glass and tools that are safe for kids and bugs.
Fun hiking lover desk organizer
Ok, this is not really for hikes!
However, it is a fun gift if you are buying for a kid who loves to hike and has a bit of a theme going on in their room!
A hiking-themed desk organizer is a fun item to keep the adventure alive at home and make even homework, possibly, a bit more fun.
Find it on UncommonGoods here.
Cushy Hiking socks for kids
Hiking socks may not strike as the most exciting hiking gift for kids unless you have a child who has experienced hiking with too thin socks!
Good hiking socks are amazing at cushioning your step and are a perfect stocking stuffer for kids who know their hikes!
Kids activity tracker
A kids activity tracker is a super easy way to motivate them to keep going!
Trackers count steps and active minutes are are made to be outdoor resistant and, to an extent, waterproof should you spill water or get in a brook while hiking.
This has been a huge success with our kids.
Since we have two siblings, they have quickly channeled their rivalry into who gets the highest number of steps or active minutes on any given hike.
Since we adults also have trackers, we were roped into the fun too!
You can find price and specs here.
Fun hiking coloring mug for kids and teens
If your kids, like mine, fond their love for hiking in national Parks, then they will love this color in the National Park mug that will help them get excited and recall their achievement every time they have their breakfast!
A fun and creative gift for hiking kids: find it on UncommonGoods here.
Kids Water shoes for hiking in and near rivers
As an adult, I always avoid getting my shoes wet but kids don’t seem to have gotten that memo so water shoes are the answer!
We have written here >>> about our recommendations for water shoes for kids here.
We have put them to the test on several occasions including hiking in Bryce and Zion in summer.
Those we like the most have a sturdy yet flexible sole and they dry fast. They also cover the toes for extra protection on bumpy terrain.
The ones in the image below are by Merrels (click for prices on Amazon).
Hiking shoes for kids
If you are tackling more difficult terrains or even just anything beyond the local park, you may want to invest in a good pair of kids hiking shoes.
You can find here >>> our selection of kids’ hiking shoes that worked for us.
These ones by Mountain Warehouse are well cushioned and come in several colors too.
Kids’ Survival bracelet
A survival bracelet is a fun and useful gift for hiking kids.
This one has a built I compass, fire starter, whistle and it is adjustable, so it can fit around child’s wrist.
I hope you enjoyed this selection of fun and useful hiking gifts for kids and it helped you find the perfect present!
