Kids’ Camping Gear and Outdoor Gift Ideas [That You’ll Love Too]
If you’re on the hunt for some quality kids’ camping gear to gift during the next birthday, Christmas, or other gift-giving occasion, you’ve come to the right spot! This list is full of great camping gear for kids, whether you’re shopping for a baby, a teenager, or a kiddo in between.
Kids’ Camping Gear
Although kids don’t always get excited about practical gifts, their parents most certainly appreciate them! Each of these pieces of kids’ camping gear will help ensure they’ll be better outfitted for any upcoming camping trips or outdoor adventures.
So read on for over 20 kids’ camping gear gift ideas!
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Kids Quality Sleeping Bag
The Big Agnes Duster and Wolvarine models are excellent high-quality sleeping bags rated for much lower temperatures than typical kids’ bags, and will last through years of growth. The Duster even has a clip system that allows you to easily roll the footbox of the sleeping bag to adjust its size to fit your child. Our 4 year old fits great in either, and will likely be able to use the Duster well into high school!
Kids’ Camping Mattress
While kids can typically sleep easily on just about anything, a quality kids’ sleeping pad is an excellent piece of kids’ camping gear to invest in. We like this quality 3” Memory Foam sleeping pad over other inflatable options because it’s not possible for your kiddo to puncture it on accident. A nice sleeping pad will ensure they sleep well while camping - and maybe you’ll even get to enjoy that first cup of coffee a little longer in the morning!
Preschool Hiking Backpack
This adorable hiking backpack is a great piece of camping gear for kids from about age 2 to 5. It’s big enough to fit a few basics, making him or her feel like a big kid while not being too weighted down by a giant backpack!
Elementary Hiking Backpack
If the kiddo you’re buying for is between about 5 and 9 years old, this hiking backpack is a good piece of camping gear. It’s well made, comfortable, and makes for a great day pack, or (if strategically packed) will work for overnight camping trips too.
Micro Camping Towel Set for Kids
These microfiber towels are great for camping because they don’t take up much space, they absorb a surprising amount of water, and they dry quickly. So if you’re looking for a useful camping gift for kids (or even for the whole family), this piece of kids’ camping gear is a win. They come in multiple sizes and colors to choose from.
Kids’ Camping Stool
Our daughter likes this little camping stool, and it’s compact size makes it easy to bring along on a hike or trip to the river. We haven’t always been easy on it and it's still in good shape, and can even support adult weight.
Nalgene Water Bottle for Kids
This water bottle is a great camping gift for kids who love to be outdoors. It’s got two choices for drinking - a straw or a small twist-off lid for higher-flow. We haven’t had any problems with this water bottle leaking, and it comes in a ton of color choices so you can get each person on your gift list the just right color!
Child’s Headlamp
This piece of kids’ camping gear makes a great gift because it’s both useful and fun! With several exciting color choices, you might find they like it so much they want to use it indoors also! Bonus: this one has an auto-off feature in case your little guy or gal leaves it on and walks away!
Headlamp for Older Kids
For older kids and teenagers (and even adults), this BlackDiamond headlamp is an excellent value. It’s rugged, waterproof, and comfortable, with highly adjustable light settings and a long battery life, making it a great addition to your kid’s camping gear!
LED Camping Lantern for kids
This is another fun way to keep track of your kid once the sun goes down! Whether at full strength or not, this is one piece of camping gear our kid loves to use both indoors for reading in forts, and while camping outdoors. Plus they’re rechargeable so you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries!
Merino Wool Socks
We love merino wool socks for camping and traveling! They are more expensive than a pack of cotton socks, but one pair of these (which can be worn for multiple days between washing) will outlast the entire bag of cheap socks. So buy on the larger side so your kid can wear them longer before outgrowing them. (Merino wool socks would make great camping gifts for the entire family too!).
Portable Baby Playyard For Camping
This is a must-have piece of camping gear if you’re taking little ones along for the adventure. A portable baby playyard will allow both you and your little one to enjoy the outdoors more by giving them a safe space to play while camping. This one sets up and packs down easily, and includes a carry bag as well.
Camping Highchair
A compact camping highchair is a great piece of kids’ camping gear and is a lifesaver for parents wanting to take their littlest one along on a camping trip. This camping highchair is nice enough to be used at home, on a picnic, or while traveling, and the cover is removable and machine washable. And when you’re not using it at camp, the whole thing easily folds up into it’s handy carry bag.
Hiking Backpack Child Carrier
A high-quality child carrier designed for hiking is worth it’s weight in gold, and will probably be the best piece of kids’ camping gear you purchase for your little one. We spent a lot of time researching and testing out various child carrier models and options, and Osprey’s Poco Plus was by far the best. The Poco Plus is highly adjustable, both for the child and the adult, making it easy to keep everyone comfortable and happy on even lengthier hikes. Plus it has plenty of built in storage, a convenient kick-stand (for when you’ve earned a much deserved rest on the trail), and it’s good for babies as light as 16 pounds up to about 45 pounds - so it’ll last for years!
Campfire Roasting Sticks
Roasting marshmallows and hotdogs over the campfire is a classic part of camping as a kid. These telescoping roasting skewers will make a great addition to your kid’s camping gear, and come in a variety of colors so each kiddo can keep track of their own.
Kids’ Trekking Poles
Trekking poles can be a great addition to your kid’s camping gear, especially if you plan to do much hiking. They’ll help them to remain stabilized and maintain balance - especially on uphill or uneven terrain. This pair can be customized with various colors and are ideal for ages 7 and up.
Kids’ Hammock
If you’re not keen on sharing your hammock with your kiddo while camping, this hammock is a great piece of camping gear for kids. It’s inexpensive, comes with everything they’ll need to set up at camp, and it packs down to about the size of a baseball. It’s the perfect size for kids up to about age 11 or 12 (around 4 1/2 feet tall).
Compass
While there are loads of “play” compasses made for kids, this one is great because it costs about the same but is a legitimate compass that your kid can grow into while actually learning orienteering!
Their First Pocket Knife
The Swiss Army Knife is an iconic piece of kid’s camping gear, and the camping edition is an absolute classic! Obviously you’ll have to use your own discretion as to whether your child or teenager is ready to learn to use a pocket knife responsibly. But if the time is right, this can be a gift that lasts them a lifetime!
Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
This portable bluetooth speaker makes a great addition to your older kid’s camping gear, either for kids to listen to audio books or podcasts or for teenagers who want to bring their music along. This one is relatively inexpensive, is USB-C rechargeable, waterproof, and offers up to 24 hours of runtime!
Binoculars for Kids
A decent pair of binoculars make a great outdoor gift for kids because they’ll help them learn to engage with nature in a new way. This set comes in a variety of colors to choose from, with good lenses that are easy to adjust, and are perfect for kids ages 3 to 12 or so.
State or National Park Pass
If the outdoor family you are buying for frequently visits state parks or national parks (or plans to), an annual pass could be a great camping gift! We get the annual national parks pass, and as long as we visit about 3 national parks within the year, it’s a money saver!
We hope this list of more practical camping gifts for kids can help you find the just right camping gear to give the special kiddos in your life! And if you want to throw in something a little more “fun” check out 17 Fun Camping Gifts for Kids Who Love the Outdoors next!
And as always, thanks for reading!
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