Going camping is a fantastic vacation for the whole family and one that you can do virtually year-round with some planning. Camping during the cooler months of the year requires some specific gear to make your adventure both safe and comfortable. However, it can be challenging to know the best kid-friendly camping gear for fall and winter trips.
Here are some of the best kids’ camping gear for fall/winter available today:
- Sleeping bag
- Kids’ dishes & utensils
- Kid-sized folding chair
- Headlamp
- Binoculars
- Hiking shoes
Let’s take a closer look at each of these items and discuss why you need them for your next family wilderness outing.
1. Sleeping Bag
Staying warm and comfortable at night is probably one of the most important tips for keeping kids happy while camping. A warm, cozy sleeping bag is an essential item that you should invest some time in researching and choosing the right one.
Some families might be tempted to purchase an air mattress for their kids’ camping trip, but you should actually avoid those for camping in cold weather.
According to Sleep Advisor, sleeping on an air mattress makes it more difficult for your body to regulate body temperature. The air pocket inside becomes cooled to the outside temperature, which leaves you lying in a cold pocket.
Instead, look for a well-insulated sleeping bag.
You can choose a small, kids-sized sleeping bag or a larger design that will sleep more people, allowing you to share body heat. This might be a better option if you’re camping somewhere very cold in the middle of winter.
According to the camping experts at KOA, here are the factors you should consider when choosing a cold-weather sleeping bag:
- Temperature rating: Remember that the temperature rating assumes that your sleeping bag is on top of a pad and that you’re wearing appropriate clothing underneath. Ratings are either summer, winter, or spring/fall.
- Materials: Different liners and fillings provide different amounts of heat insulation. Common materials include synthetic, goose down, and water-resistant down. Typically, down filling provides more warmth than synthetic, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Shape: Sleeping bags come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Small, mummy-shaped designs might be warmer for a single sleeper than larger bags but might feel too restrictive.
You should also consider how often you’re planning to use your camping gear. If you like to head out into the great unknown year-round, it might make more sense to purchase a versatile sleeping bag that’s good for heat and cold.
The Coleman Kids’ 30 Degree (available on Amazon.com) sleeping bag is a warm, mummy-style option that’s perfect for camping during the cold winter months. It’s about five feet (1.52 m) long, so it’s a good size for your little camper to grow into.
For closer to year-round use or in areas where the temperature doesn’t get so low, I recommend the Oskys 3-Season Camping and Sleeping Bag (available on Amazon.com). It comes in various colors, is made of waterproof materials, and has a hood that you can cinch up to stay extra warm.
2. Kids’ Dishes & Utensils
Next to sleeping, eating is probably the most important activity for your kids while on a camping trip. There’s nothing like cooking over an open flame, filling up on hot dogs, and getting sticky faces from too many s’mores.
Having the right tools and utensils for eating and drinking is essential for your camping trip, especially during the cooler months of the year. In addition to the standard plates, bowls, and forks, you should remember a thermos for hot chocolate during those cold nights around the fire.
Versatility is important for these items when you don’t want to pack your entire kitchen or have to figure out how to clean a bunch of dishes. Here are some of the best tools and utensils from Amazon.com:
- Uco Mini Spork Combo – These are perfect for kids. They’re smaller in size for little hands and come in sets of three, so you can rotate them instead of having to wash them after every use.
- Stouge Collapsible Silicone Cups – These come in a set of five and are different colors, so you know which cup belongs to which kid. They also have lids to make sure no bugs get in, and you can stick them in your pack without getting water drops on everything.
- Uco Mess Kit – This is your best bet for all-in-one convenience, which comes with a plate, bowl, and a fork/spoon combo.
- YETI Rambler Jr. Bottle – I also suggest an insulated cup or bottle that you can use for water or keep hot drinks or soups hot. This is super rugged and will stand up to adventurous children. It also keeps liquids hot or cold for many hours, no matter the temperature outside.
3. Kid-Sized Folding Chair
When it’s time to sit around the fire, everyone needs a seat. Kids love to have a chair that is special and just for them. Having a chair that’s the appropriate size is also safer because it keeps small children from climbing into too tall seats.
This Coleman Kids Quad Chair (available on Amazon.com) is perfect for your little camper, and you can take it with you on any outing, such as to the beach, baseball games, or in your backyard.
These chairs have fun glow-in-the-dark designs and a cup holder in the armrest – just like mom and dad’s chairs.
For an ergonomic, high-quality chair with lumbar support, I recommend the Strongbody Prodigy Heavy-Duty Camping Chair (available on Amazon.com). The Strongbody supports up to 200 lbs. (90 kg), compared to Coleman’s 150 lb. (68 kg) maximum.
During the fall and winter, you’ll need a place for your kids to sit near the fire and up off the ground, which could be cold and damp. A high-quality fold-up camping chair is a must-have.
4. Headlamp
Every camper needs a headlamp to light the path when they’re walking around at night. Having a personal light source like a headlamp can help kids, especially younger ones, feel more secure when they’re in the wilderness after dark.
A headlamp is a camping essential because it allows you to keep your hands free instead of holding a flashlight or lantern.
There are many options available, and most of them perform the same basic functions. That’s why I really like the VIP Love Headlamps (available on Amazon.com). They’re made specifically for kids, with fun designs like an owl or a dinosaur.
The owl’s eyes are the lightbulbs, and the headlamp even makes an owl sound. The lights can flash or even shine green. These headlamps will be a lot of fun even when you’re not camping, so it’s well worth the investment.
If you have older kids, or if they’re just not into dinos or owls, there are other fun options you can consider that are more exciting than just a plain headlamp.
For example, this Sun Company Headlamp (available on Amazon.com) is actually a soft, stretchy headband that fits around the top of the head and has a fun fox face design.
If you’re camping in colder weather, you should consider this YunTuo LED Beanie Knitted Cap (available on Amazon.com). It is a cozy hat with a built-in LED headlamp.
Whichever style you choose, be sure that you check whether the item includes batteries so that you can plan to get some before you head out, if needed. The days are shorter during the fall and winter months, and it gets dark earlier, making a headlamp one of the must-have items on your camping gear checklist.
5. Binoculars
Binoculars can be much more than just a toy if you choose the right option and spend some time teaching your child how to use them properly. A camping trip is a perfect time to introduce kids to binoculars because there are so many things to look at while being in the great outdoors.
Additionally, binoculars should be on your must-have camping gear list because they provide entertainment and give your kids an opportunity to learn, explore, and enrich their minds. A boring hike with mom and dad may suddenly become an opportunity to find the biggest spider or see how many different kinds of birds you can spot.
This can be especially helpful during the fall and winter months when other camping activities may be limited due to the weather.
According to the folks over at Live Science, there are some things you should consider when choosing binoculars for kids:
- Size: Binoculars that are designed “for kids” are typically smaller and easier to handle.
- Design features: Depending on the kids’ age, you may want to select binoculars that have rubber or cushioned eyepieces, rounded corners, shock-proof casing, or a breakaway lanyard.
- Magnification: For kids under 10, you should keep the magnification level at 8x or less. Binoculars that are too powerful may be too delicate for a child to focus properly. The younger the child, the lower the magnification should be.
There are many great options available for kids of all ages, but I highly recommend the Porro Prism Binoculars (available on Amazon.com). They’re perfect for hiking, bird watching, and general exploring while camping.
The Porro Prism binoculars have rubber coating all over to help protect them if they’re dropped and to provide a non-slip gripping surface. There’s soft rubber surrounding the eyepieces for safety, as well.
These are a solid choice for your little explorer.
6. Hiking Shoes
Appropriate kids’ footwear is essential camping gear for fall or winter. According to the hiking enthusiasts over at Hike It Baby, the most important feature for little hikers’ is the shoe’s weight.
The key is finding the right balance between warmth, comfort, sturdiness, and weight so that the shoe or boot does the job without weighing down little feet. Combine that with some thick, wooly socks, and you’ve got damp feet that will be more prone to blisters and overall discomfort.
For footwear, here are some options from Amazon.com that need to be in your camping gear collection:
- Columbia Redmond Hiking Shoe – This is made of breathable leather, a lightweight sole, and is waterproof. It’s perfect for exploring the rugged terrain.
- Jack Wolfskin Polar Bear Hiking Boots – For colder conditions, these boots are lightweight but have a polar fleece lining. They’re made for serious warmth, boasting comfort in temperatures as low as -4°F (-20°C).
- Darn Tough Junior Hiking Socks – While you’re at it, don’t forget a pair of warm, moisture-wicking socks.
Fun fact: kids’ feet sweat up to three times more than adult feet!
Wrapping It Up
Fall and winter gear are super important for your child if you want to enjoy your time camping. Making sure they are comfortable is key. Plus having the proper gear for your child is essential to keeping them safe. Just like us adults, kids like their own stuff.
