7 Best Youth Backpacking Packs 2025 in the United States

The Deuter Climber Children's Hiking Daypack, designed for kids aged 6 and up, is a solid choice for young adventurers exploring alpine terrain. It offers a total capacity of 22 liters, which is ample for day hikes and short trips. The backpack is lightweight at 680 grams (1.5 pounds), making it easy for children to carry without feeling weighed down. Its Alpine System technology ensures a secure and comfortable fit, with an adjustable sternum belt to keep the pack in place and Softstripe back pads to enhance ventilation.

This design allows for flexibility and movement, important for active kids. The pack's durability is notable, crafted from robust materials suitable for rugged use. Storage options are well thought out, featuring an elasticated inner compartment for wet clothing, a lid compartment for essentials, and an inner pocket for valuables. Additionally, it is compatible with a 2.0-liter hydration system, which is a great feature for keeping kids hydrated on the go.

Safety is also a priority with an included SOS label providing emergency instructions. However, some might find the number of pockets limited compared to other options, which could affect organization for certain items. Additionally, while the ventilation system is effective, it may not be as advanced as some higher-end models. Despite these minor drawbacks, this daypack delivers on both comfort and functionality for young hikers.

The Deuter Youth Large Daypack offers a solid 20-liter capacity, making it a good fit for day hikes or short backpacking trips where you don't need to carry a lot of gear. It weighs about 700 grams (1.54 pounds), which is fairly light and helps keep your pack comfortable for active use. One of its strong points is the Airstripes back system, which provides excellent ventilation to reduce sweating on warm days — a nice feature when hiking or moving fast.

The pack includes useful organization options like a large front zip pocket, a valuables inner compartment, and a dedicated document section, helping keep gear tidy and accessible. Its continuously adjustable chest strap helps improve fit and stability, which is important for comfort. However, this pack has a simple frame type that may not support heavy loads or longer multi-day trips well. Also, while the material seems durable enough for regular use, it doesn’t highlight extra rugged or waterproof features, so extra care might be needed in wet or rough conditions.

This daypack is well suited for young backpackers or casual hikers looking for a lightweight, well-ventilated pack with thoughtful organization, but it might be less ideal for those needing large capacity or heavy-duty support.

The Gregory Arrio 22L is a solid choice for kids or teens who need a lightweight daypack for hiking or short trips. Its 22-liter capacity offers enough room for essentials without being bulky, making it suitable for younger users. The pack features a FreeSpan suspended mesh backpanel that improves airflow, helping keep the wearer cool during activity. It’s designed with comfort in mind, including a breathable shoulder harness with built-in hydration routing and a removable hipbelt to adjust fit as needed. The pack’s weight is light at just 1 pound, which is great for minimizing extra burden on smaller frames. Organization is well thought out with multiple zippered pockets, a front bungee system for quick gear access, side mesh pockets, and internal hydration compatibility, though the reservoir must be purchased separately.

The pack lacks a rigid frame but relies on its structure and straps to support load, which is typical for youth packs and works well for day hikes. The materials and construction seem durable enough for regular outdoor use, though long-term ruggedness on rough trails might be limited due to the lightweight design. This backpack is well suited for young hikers who want a comfortable, ventilated, and well-organized pack for day trips, but those needing more capacity or heavy-duty durability might want to look elsewhere.