KIT FOR KIDS TRAIL TIP

Comfortable kit is just as – arguably more – important for kids as it is for adults. Make sure those first impressions of the outdoors make them want to come back for more with this super gear designed with younger adventurers in mind.

Bridgedale Hiker Jr £6

Socks are just as important for kids as they are for grown-ups; and cold, wet or blistered feet just about guarantee you’re going to come home with unhappy youngsters who will dread their next trip to out with mum and/or dad to the big outside place that hurts. These specially designed socks are soft and supportive in the right places, and made of merino wool, Coolmax and Nylon. They are guaranteed for 3 years, too.

Littlelife Alpine 4 £21

A super-cute bag from Littlelife – who make excellent baby carriers – this is perfect for when your little one doesn’t want to be carried around anymore. A 4 litre capacity is big enough for your mini-adventurer to carry their lunch, a drink and a favourite teddy or book – which at the end of the day is all they’re likely to need at this age. And when the inevitable happens and they end up on your shoulders, it’s not too much extra for you to carry!

Regatta Charco All-in-One suit £35

Complete with a fun animal design – we like the pink rabbit design but there’s also a shark version – the Regatta Charco suit is a great value waterproof all-in-one to cover up your little one, and it comes in a massive range of sizes from six months up to six years. It’s not as warm as the Keela Waterbug which makes it ideal for summer.

RegattaGreenhill waterproof jacket £40

The perfect first ‘proper’ waterproof, the Greenhill is a smart jacket that will feel just as at home on the hill as it will in the playground. Taped seams, waterproof fabric, a decent hood and subtle styling this is smart and technical enough to make any young mountain lover proud.

GeosafariWearable Adventure Tools £10

A cool little watch that isn’t a watch. It is actually a specimen keeper/viewer, an LED light, a compass, a removable magnifying glass and an analogue counter – intended for tracking ‘finds’ but also actually rather handy for pace counting. Perfect for engaging your kids with the natural world on otherwise rather daunting (or dull) ascents.

Mammut First Zip Day Pack £24

Some brands have the advantage when it comes to making kit for kids – it certainly helps if you have a logo that can be easily turned into a furry toy, say. But the cute little mammoth that comes with the 8L First Zip isn’t all this Mammut pack has going for it. Bright colours, mesh back system and a nifty webbing cinch on the front means this is a proper pack for proper little walkers.

Keela Youth Munro Jacket£117

A fully-featured miniaturisation of the award-winning adult’s version, this is definitely a considered purchase – but it’s a rare thing in that it is a technical waterproof for the serious outdoor youngster. It’s available in a range of sizes from age 7 to 16.

Regatta Kids Protector Cap II £17

If you want sun protection but someone isn’t a fan of wide-brimmed hats (hey, not everyone is) then a cap with a neck protector is a fine alternative. With UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 50+, a generous neck flap and cooling mesh around the crown area this is a super, protective hat for young explorers.

Snugpak Basecamp Explorer £30

Sleeping bags are a big part of the magic of those first camps. You can get some fantastic younger styles to make camping fun, but for older kids who want to feel like grownups this is a great quality and very affordable option for everything from campsites to garden sleepovers.

CraghoppersNosilife Convertible Trousers £40

Superb technical trousers with Nosilife permanent insect protection built in, as well as high UPF 50+ solar protection, these trousers keep kids protected from the two principal summer nasties of bugs and sunburn, as well as comfortable. And before you baulk at the price, they zip off into shorts, so you’ve got 2 for the price of one.

MammutPeak Mid WP kids £60

Skimping on shoes is a false economy when it comes to kids; if they’re unhappy, your little ones won’t want to come back. The Peak Mid WP is a waterproof shoe light enough to be worn anywhere but sturdy enough to protect little feet all the way to the top of rugged British peaks.

OutdoorResearch Kids Rambler Sun Sombrero £20

Kids are especially vulnerable to sunburn, and it can have slightly terrifying longterm effects: you don’t want to let them get burned, it’s that simple. A sunhat with excellent wide-brimmed coverage and a high SPF rating is essential for any outdoor activity when the sun is out. And this one is perfect.

Osprey Poco AG Plus child carrier £240

Handy for a multitude of applications – probably only a handful of them in the hills – this is a rather remarkable child carrier which carries serious outdoor cred. An SPF-rated sunshade, stand, rain cover, Anti-Gravity support system, plenty of pockets and the ability to cart a hefty load of 20kg around makes this a superb option for when your kid has yet to find their feet.

KeelaWaterbug£40

When all your little ones want to do before they leave the house is not get dressed, and all they want to do outside is splash in puddles and fall over, a reflective all-in-one suit is perfect. It’s quick to put on, offers fleece-lined warmth and is completely waterproof, therefore a complete solution in one product. Why they don’t make them for adults is a mystery to us.

ReimatecJacket£45

Reima are newly famous for ReimaGo technology, developed by Reima and Suunto as a way for kids to track their activity outdoors. Using a sensor, the idea is that when used with a specially developed, game-like app your kids will love getting out and active. While the technology gets a big thumbs up from Trail Reima make fine jackets, too. This offers waterproof and breathable protection in a range of fun colours.