Best Travel Backpacks For Kids

As a family we prefer backpacking as a way to travel. We enjoy the simplicity of minimalist travel. Jumping on and off buses and trains is a great way to get around. When travelling with children, we pack light. Two spare hands can be a real help. What is the best backpack for children?

When we first started backpacking for kids and the boys were younger than four years old, like when we went to Sri Lanka with our kids , the parents carried everything they needed in their own backpacks. Around 4/5 years old, we would give them their own backpack to help them get used to carrying things. (At this age, the only essentials are cuddly toy and a few clothing items).

The boys began to travel with their own backpacks at the age of six, which contained almost all they needed.

It was surprising to find that there were so few backpacks for children available for our four months of family traveling in Morocco. There are many backpacks available, but there were surprisingly few travel back packs that met our criteria.

We’ve tested the backpacks in Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. Check out our guide to the best kids’ travel backpack.

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Contents

When should children start carrying their own backpacks?

The earlier you introduce something to your children, the quicker they will get used to it.

From the age of 4, a small, light backpack is a great way to teach kids how to carry their own stuff. You may have to carry it a lot (this is why the backpack needs to be light and small), but this gives your child a sense responsibility.

The boys were 8 and 6 years old when we set off on our four-month journey through Morocco. It seemed like the perfect time to give them each a backpack for our adventures. The pandemic stopped us from backpacking for two years, so I didn’t get the oldest a backpack until later.

What to look out for when purchasing a backpack for children

For children to be comfortable, their backpacks must fit properly. The backpack should last for many years without breaking the bank.

You should look for the following when buying a travel backpack for your child:

• A waist strap is used to distribute the weight.
• Fits everything between 30L and 40L
• A backpack that’s not too long at the back and has no gap between their shoulder straps and arm straps
• Separate compartments to ease access
• Stitching and material of high quality will last a long time
• A backpack that’s affordable

If you can, try some out.

It’s important to try on kids shoes. If a kids backpack does not fit properly and is uncomfortable, they will not carry it.

We live in Bakewell which is in the UK’s Peak District. This area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. There are at least a half dozen outdoor shops right outside our door. We decided to walk into town one Saturday afternoon and try out some travel backpacks for kids.

There were no backpacks for kids in any stores that we could try. There were some cute backpacks with animal characters, but they were not suitable for travel (no separate compartments and no waist strap).

We decided to give Decathlon a try. The nearest Decathlon is in Sheffield which is about 30 minutes away. Stock of kids travel backpacks was extremely limited. The only backpack I could find was a 18L one (this one), but it didn’t have enough room to hold all the items they needed, had just one main compartment and stitching wasn’t up to par. Decathlon sells a backpack with a 40+10L capacity for children. However, 50L is way too large for kids of this age.