My middle boy Dalen who is 5 will be going on his 4th trip to the BW this summer. Last year he was able to walk all the portages on his own from Moose to SAK and back through Ensign. He really wants a "real" pack instead of the regular backpack he's been wearing. We checked into a Duluth Pack kids pack but it wasn't adjustable and was way too big. Do any of you have any ideas? Thing that work or don't work, what your kids like to do? Thanks in advance.

We got this with our Sierra Club membership. My daughter really likes it. The tag says Everestbag.com

We have CCS Rucksacks for our girls that we ordered with the short torso straps. The straps adjust down so they can wear it and they expand to the point that my wife or I can carry it as a day pack. They each started using them when they were 5 and are 8 and 6 now. We just pack them really light now and they have a pack that they will still be able to use when they are adults.

We get the kids back packs for hiking from rei

Thanks for the input everyone! I found one of the Everest bags on amazon for $35. I'm going to give that a look and return if if Dalen doesn't like it or it doesn't fit him. I will keep everyone posted how things turn out.

I'm using a small adult backpack I think its 25 liters, has a sternum strap and I'm going to rig up a waste strap. Seems like it will work well, and inexpensive piece of gear for a 6yo

Cooke Custom Sewing. Dan's a great guy to work with.

quote TuscaroraBorealis: "Cooke Custom Sewing. Dan's a great guy to work with."

+1

This is what I used with three kids. It had a waist strap, but I probably removed it for kids. WATERPROOF!!! Could fit their sleeping bags in there along with most of their clothes when they were smaller. And they could carry them.

I have used the Kondo's guide packs for kids. They work very well.

+1 with the CCS Ruck

Good size for kids.
They will have it forever.
Locally made by one of us.
Worth the extra $$$.


John

It looks like CCS has 3 kids packs. Small rucksack, hybrid pack, and a small traditional one.

I'm in the same boat as OP. I'm thinking about going with a couple adult rucksacks for the kids, or smallish adult backpack. Something where they can carry a couple sleeping bags and pads or clothes for the family. Might get to a single portage setup this way.

We have the CCS kids Rucksack and Hybrid and would highly recommend them both. Talk to Dan to be sure but I would guess they'll fit the kids well into high school.

We still haven't bought anything, maybe for Christmas. I saw a rucksack backpack by The North Face on Steep and Cheap that looked like it would fit the bill. Of course in the time I took to research it a little it sold out and I haven't seen it there since.

Don't know how old your kids are, but if they're toward the middle or end of elementary school, consider a Granite Gear Solo pack, or Cabela's Boundary Pack (MEDIUM). Both seem to hold a decent amount and have harnesses for smaller people.

I love the Solo a LOT for my kids and a small adult friend loves hers too. They fight over the Cabela's bag because it's a camouflage design... but I do worry they won't take care with it and it will puncture. Still, had it a long time and it's doing OK.

I saw a Frost River Arrowhead Trail Rolltop Pack last weekend in a shop we stopped at in Grand Marais. It looked really cool and would fit the kids for a very long time. We were going to stop by the Frost River store in Duluth but the weather was so nice we spent most of the day Sunday hiking at a bunch of State Parks and the store was closed by time we came through Duluth.

I like all the suggestions but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger on anything until I can see it in person. We were pretty set on a child's pack from Duluth Pack until we tried one on and it was huge and had no adjustments in the shoulder straps. The other problem is the boys really want a pack that looks "cool" like mine. They are bored with their school backpacks and are ready for something that looks like it belongs in the woods. Hopefully I can catch up with Dan Cooke at a show and check out his kids packs.

Frost River Rolltop Pack

Currently we have an REI daypack for our kiddo.

I'm hoping to win the Frost River Isle Royal Jr pack from a contest on canoeing.com in December for my daughter.

If not - I'm getting the CCS pack for my daughter and convinced my husband to also get a CCS Pioneer Pack!

+1 On the CCS adult ruck. The ruck fits well (not great) on a youth, but they will have it forever and will use it forever as well! My CCS Pioneer is the same color as her ruck and sher thinks it's the same only a little smaller.

We started at ages 3 and 4 with day packs, and it was just fit your clothes and a stuffed animal. With the ruck, they easily can take all their own gear (bag, pad, clothes, book, stuffed animal) and they want a little more group equipment each trip. On the Louse River last summer, my 9 yo carried the filter, tarp, first aid kit and rain gear. 6 ish pounds off my back!!!! When she is 20, I may have a comfortable pack load!


John

Our 11 year old is now carrying our sleeping bag duluth pack (5 sleeping bags and sleeping pads) across the portage

Time to do a little catching up. My middle son that I referenced in the OP is now 8 and continues to wear the Osprey pack we bought him a few years ago. My youngest son will be 6 by time we trip in June and has outgrown the small, single compartment backpack he's carried for the last 3 years. One of the hardest things to find is a pack that looks like my pack, they really like extra pockets to carry their "luxury" items.

Grandma found this L.L. Bean Continental Rucksack for Christmas. It's a little big now but we should be set for a few years.

While Looking around The North Face has also brought the Rucksack Backpack back into their inventory which is a similar looking pack but a bit more expensive.

Thanks for the update! I like that this pack has a hip belt. I only have my kids carry packs with hip belts