Right gear can ease camping with kids

Taking young children on a trip to the mall challenges some parents. Then there are those who take their tiny hikers into the wilderness.

The right outdoor gear makes camping enjoyable for both parents and kiddos.

Not that you need lots of gear. New Yorkers Amy and Paolo Marini, both avid rock climbers, have camped in the Catskills with their 5-year-old, Lorenzo, and family friends with 5- and 2-year-olds. Just getting a leafy site by water provides ready entertainment, Amy Marini said.

“Little more is needed other than swimsuits, butterfly nets and maybe water shoes to guarantee hours of afternoon fun,” she said.

For hikes with very young kids, she advises packing a pair of trekking poles, as backpack-style baby carriers can throw off your center of gravity.

When the day’s adventures are over, next up is mealtime and some rest.

Sleeping bags that provide a warm, safe and size-appropriate snuggle spot are easy to find now.

There are mummy-style bags, more form-fitting than a standard square sleeping bag. And while some companies make double-wide, mummy-style bags for two sleepers, you may prefer just making two big square bags into one. Especially if you’ve got squirmy sleepers, or someone has to get up during the night.

Marini cautioned family campers about one thing: “We brought a couple of extra regular cotton pillows and a blanket, thinking we might get cold. These were a big mistake, as the material became heavy with dew in the morning. … Synthetic materials are a must for the outdoors regardless of the season. Cotton gets damp easily and takes forever to dry.”

Thin microfiber towels made for camping absorb well and dry quickly.

Marini recommended a two-person hammock for lounging, and she travels with beach chairs rather than traditional camping chairs, saying the kids prefer the higher, adjustable backs.