Camping gifts for kids are a great option for all the outdoor loving kids. Even your non-nature loving kids will probably love a lot of these gift ideas. When compiling this list I tried to go for items that have multi purpose. As a parent myself I know the importance of making money stretch and purchasing things that serve more than one purpose.
Pocket Knife
Pocket knives are often a trademark of youth. A rite of passage into adulthood if you will. Until I was researching pocket knives for my eldest I actually had no idea there were so many options.
Most kids are going to be thrilled to receive a pocket knife especially if they love the outdoors. Pocket knives are a great way for kids to show their maturity and how responsible they are.
You will also never be short of someone to help around the campsite if a pocket knife is needed. There are however a few rules around kids and pocket knives which you can read about here
You might also be interested in a dedicated post on pocket knives for kids because there is a lot to know!
In the end we settled for a retractable blade pocket knife from Buck Knives. The best part is that you are able to get it personalised which makes it a great option if you are looking for extra special kids camping gifts.
Hiking Stick
Every kid has picked up a stick along a hiking trail to use as a walking stick. It is kind of a tradition of sort. I am forever telling my 3 year old that he can’t bring his walking stick home with him.
Walking sticks are actually quite useful for the avid child hiker. They allow for more strenuous climbs and offer a good deal more stability. It is like having and extra set of legs or arms.
When looking for kids hiking sticks, stick to ones that are collapsible to make carrying them easier when not in use. No one wants just “another thing to carry” on a hike if they don’t need too. Most hiking sticks are very light weigh and compact which is great for just for just throwing in the backpack.
Trail Buddy offers a great hiking stick bundle which includes different feet for your hiking sticky depending on the terrain. Lightweight and compact you really can’t go wrong and for a really exceptional price.
LifeStraw
Wild camping is all about using what nature gave you. how amazing is it that someone invented this amazing little device that allows you to drink straight from the stream without worrying about getting sick.
LifeStraws are pretty incredible in that they only allow clean water to get through and everything else stays trapped. These LifeStraws last forever too. A single straw can filter 1000 gallons or water or roughly 4000L. Pretty decent for less than $20
Not only are they great for when you are out hiking, for survival packs they are also a bit of a novelty. Check out this video when two guys use the LifeStraw to drink some pretty gross things. I am sure this would go down as a treat for family game night yet I feel like I would want to be the host and not the participant!
I actually think this might be my favourite camping gifts for kids.
Walkie Talkies
Every kid loves walkie talkies. I am pretty sure most adults love walkie talkies. If you are going to purchase a set for your kids make sure you get a decent set. I have been sucked in to those cute Paw Patrol walkie talkies one too many times and can promise you they will be in the trash by the end of the week. They just don’t do the job that they kids want them to do.
These MOICO walkie talkies are a best kids camping gift for kids of all ages. They have a huge 1.5 mile communication radius which is perfect for camping trips. It is especially fantastic for areas where mobile reception is limited. You can be reassured the kids are safe while they are out exploring as they have a mode of communication. We have also seen families using walkie talkies on cruises which is also genius!
Hiking Shoes
We purchased our kids proper quality hiking boots a little while ago and from that moment we have noticed a huge difference in their hiking abilities. Not only their abilities but their attitudes and confidence.
Hiking boots are important for kids if you are a family that enjoys hiking and hike trails that are a little rugged. The traction and stability that hiking shoes provide just can not be achieved from regular running shoes, or in my daughter case flip flops!
We have two brands that we recommend. Those are Keen and Merrell. These brands are leaders in the hiking footwear arena and I knew when I purchased that I would not be disappointed. However what I didn’t expect was to notice such a profound change in my kids confidence and attitude to hiking. They have become more confident at scrambling rocks and navigating steep slopes. Along with that they are much more excited to try bigger and more challenging terrain and trails. Who knew a shoe could do so much?!
I will link the exact shoes we have. Our daughter has these Keen shoes, the only fault I have with these is the laces. I appreciate the no tie laces for kids but they stretched out quickly. However it’s an easy fix with new laces.
Our boys have these Merrell hiking shoes. They are our favourites. The lady at the store said that she has a lot of parents purchasing them as school shoes because they last the entire year and still look brand new.
Hammock
Hammocks have come a long way over the years but their charm and draw has stayed the same. A hammock is the perfect place to spend a lazy summers afternoon.
These are surprisingly affordable camping gifts for kids Kootek has an amazing range of different colours for under $30 right now. They also come in either a single or a double size hammock. The single is designed to hold 400 pounds and the double can hold up to 500 pounds. That is a decent amount of weight, so you could definitely be comfortable having a few kids hanging out on the hammock without worrying that it will break.
It is a super lightweight camping accessory that fits easily into a backpack. Many people are using hammocks as addition beds on camping trips. I think my back is too old for that but I know every single one of our kids would be definitely excited about sleeping in a hammock. These are for sure a great camping gifts for kids.
Slack Line
This have become a bit of a craze in the last few years and you can see why. They are a great outdoor activity that takes up virtually zero space. Slack lines are perfect for the campsite, picnics in the park and even just the backyard. Personally I would be practicing a whole lot in the backyard before I tried my skills in public!
Essenitally a slack line is a tight rope that is kind of bouncy that you can do some insane tricks on. I would be happy to just be able to balance but kids and teenagers are flipping, jumping and twisting all over these things!
You can purchase an excellent slack line here for under $60 last time I checked.
Check out the video I found below of some of the awesome tricks you can do on slack lines. Careful because you can go down a bit of a youtube blackhole!
Fanny Pack
Okay so where I am from we call these “bum bags”, but it has come to my attention that most of the world calls them “fanny packs”. Which I actually find quite hilarious.
Back to the point, fanny packs are making a come back in a big way and it’s no wonder. Fanny packs are the perfect camping gift for kids because they can carry around all their little treasures they find. Fanny packs are a lot smaller that regular backpacks but fulfil much of the same purpose.
Older kids can fill their fanny packs with a pocket knife and first aid supplies before heading off on an adventure. Little kids will be excited to carry around their little cars or rocks and shells they always seem to be collecting.
Hiking Pack
Our kids love having their own backpacks when we go hiking. I feel like a hiking backpack is a great camping gift for kids because it is so multipurpose. It is not just a gift for camping but works great for traveling, overnight or weekend trips and just everyday life in general.
We really recommend getting a hiking backpack that’s a correct size for your child. A backpack that is too big is not going to be comfortable and be too cumbersome. Our kids prefer hiking backpacks that have hydration pack option especially as they are getting older. Osprey have the perfect kids hiking backpack that actually has the option of having a hydration pack. We are definitely proponents of detachable hydration packs so it can just be a regular backpack when you are at home.
If you are after something a little more substantial look into something like the Deuter Fox 40 which is the ultimate in kids hiking and trekking backpack. This type of pack would be perfect for an older child that you were taking out on a overnight trek. These are ideal for kids over 8 but they have a really brilliant feature that allows them to grow with your child. This is done with a back length adjuster. Personally I feel this is such a great feature especially for parents who are trying to get more bang for their buck.
