Need a Comfortable Day Pack for a Mom Hiking with 3 Little Kids

I often go hiking with my three kids, aged 6, 4, and 18 months. Right now, we’ve worked up to 3-mile hikes without complaints, and their stamina is improving quickly. My goal is to start tackling longer, easier trails (5-6 miles) or shorter but more challenging ones. The problem is, the longer we hike, the more gear we need, and my fanny pack just isn’t cutting it anymore.

I’m searching for an ultra-comfortable day backpack (not a child carrier) with the following:

  • Built-in water reservoir
  • Space for first aid supplies and snacks for four people
  • A rain cover
  • Room for kids’ jackets that get shed during the hike
  • Space for a dog emergency carry-out vest (my 10-year-old dog is starting to struggle)
  • Space for miscellaneous items I always seem to end up carrying.

The nearest REI is 2.5 hours away, and the nearest Cabela’s or Bass Pro is 1.5 hours. I’d prefer something I can order online.

Thanks so much in advance for your help!

One thing to think about is making your kids’ gear as packable and lightweight as possible. Regular kids’ jackets can be bulky, but there are more compact options hikers use. The 6-year-old could probably carry a light pack with their water bottle, snack, and jacket. The 4-year-old could carry a first aid kit in an otherwise empty pack, which could also hold their jacket when they’re done with it. They’d probably feel important being the “doctor.”

I’ve been in a similar situation hiking with my four kids over the years. I recently upgraded my pack after 20 years and found that men’s packs were more comfortable for me this time. Two that I really liked and ended up buying are the Gregory Citro and Deuter Futura. Both come in different sizes, and the Citro also has a hydration pack option.

I love my Osprey Stratos, but if I could do it again, I might go with the Manta. For women, the equivalent is the Mira. It comes in a few sizes, but I’d recommend the 32-liter version since you’ll be carrying your kids’ things and other extras. Try to avoid going for a larger pack unless absolutely necessary—it’s tempting, but it adds unnecessary bulk.

@Brook
I was actually considering the Mira 22!