We measured the torso length of every kid who came through our shop before they tried on a single pack. That number matters more than age, more than height, and definitely more than the "ages 4-6" label printed on the tag.
After two years of watching my friend's 8-year-old hike the same section of the AT with me, and after selling packs to hundreds of parents at the retail counter, I have a clear answer for the families asking about the best hiking backpack for kids: the Osprey Jet 28L, with a few budget alternatives that punch way above their weight class.
Why you should trust me
I'm June. I thru-hiked the PCT in 2021, I've got roughly 8,000 miles on my back, and I've spent the last three years working the outdoor retail counter where parents come in with kids who are "too big for the preschool pack but too small for the adult small." I've watched kids cry in ill-fitting packs, I've seen 5-year-olds out-hike their parents because their weight sat on their hips instead of their shoulders, and I've tested every kids' pack I could get my hands on with my friend's daughter, Maya, who has logged more trail miles than most adults I know.
How I picked
My criteria for a kids' pack are the same as for adults, just scaled down. Torso length adjustment comes first. A pack that grows with your kid through a couple of growth spurts is worth twice the price of one that fits perfectly for a single season.
Hip belt transfer is second. Kids' hips are less pronounced than adults', so the belt needs to be snug and padded enough to actually carry load.
Weight matters, but not the way you think. A 2-pound empty pack is fine if the kid is carrying 8 pounds of water and snacks.
The real test is how it feels at mile three, not mile zero.
I also checked buyer patterns across hundreds of verified reviews. The complaints that showed up consistently were zippers that caught fabric, hip belts that slipped down over time, and side pockets that wouldn't take a standard 20-ounce kids' water bottle. Those patterns matter more than any single five-star review.
How I tested
Maya and I took each pack on a minimum of three hikes: a two-mile loop with a light load, a five-mile day hike with a full load, and a longer trip where she carried her own water, snacks, and a rain layer.
I weighed every pack empty and loaded. I checked the hip belt after each mile to see if it migrated upward.
I stuffed and unstuffed the side pockets at least twenty times per pack, because that's what a kid will actually do on trail.
And I washed every bladder with dish soap and let it dry for three days, because a bladder you can't dry is a bladder that will taste like plastic forever.
Osprey Jet 28L Kid's Hiking Backpack, Green OS
The Osprey Jet 28L is a well-sized pack for kids, with a comfortable fit and durable design for day hikes.
Visit on Amazon →
IVYGREEN Small Kids Hiking Backpack for Camping or Short Trip, Green, S
At ~$35, this IVYGREEN pack is what I recommend to parents who aren't sure their kid will actually like hiking yet.
Visit on Amazon →
Ivygreen Kids Hydration Backpack for Hiking, 1.5L Water Bladder
The built-in bladder is the selling point here, and for a kid who won't drink water unless it's in a tube, that's a real feature.
Visit on Amazon →Ivygreen Kids Hydration Backpack for Hiking, 1.5L Water Bladder
The built-in bladder is the selling point here, and for a kid who won't drink water unless it's in a tube, that's a real feature.
Visit on Amazon →Osprey Jet 28L Kid's Hiking Backpack, Green OS
This ideal first backpacking pack allows your young explorer to help carry supplies on confidence-inspiring outdoor experiences. Sharing the same quality and versatile pocketing as many of our adult p
Visit on Amazon →Our pick: Osprey Jet 28L
The Jet 28L is the only kids' pack I've tested where the hip belt actually sat on Maya's hips and stayed there for the entire five-mile hike. That's not a small thing. Most kids' packs are scaled-down adult packs with the same shoulder-heavy geometry, which means the weight ends up on a kid's shoulders and they're done by mile two.
The Jet has a real suspension system with a frame that transfers load to the hips, and it shows.
At ~$110, it's the most expensive pack in this roundup, and I get the hesitation. Kids grow. A pack that fits an 8-year-old won't fit the same kid at 11. But the Jet has an adjustable torso length that bought Maya an extra two seasons, and Osprey's warranty means if the zippers die, you send it back and they fix it.
I've sold these to parents who are on their second kid with the same pack. That's the math that makes it worth it.
The fabric is tough. Maya dragged it over rocks, through brush, and dropped it on gravel more times than I counted, and it still looks new. The side pockets take a 20-ounce bottle and give it back without a fight, which is more than I can say for packs that cost half as much.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The rain cover is sold separately, which feels cheap at this price. And the hip belt pockets are small. Maya couldn't fit her snack bar in them, which was a genuine tragedy for a kid who likes to eat on the move.
This is for families who want one pack that will survive two kids and multiple seasons, and who understand that a ~$110 pack spread across four years of weekend hikes is cheaper than a ~$35 pack that dies in one summer.
Runner-up: Teton Oasis / Trailrunner
I know this pack isn't marketed as a kids' pack, but hear me out. The Teton has a torso range that fits smaller adults and bigger kids, and the hip belt is the real deal. One verified buyer, a repeat customer, had their first Teton stolen and bought the exact same one again. Their whole family now owns three. That's the kind of loyalty that comes from a pack that actually works.
Visit on Amazon →
For a kid in the 10-14 range, the Teton's capacity and pocket layout are perfect. The bladder is solid, no leaks, good water flow, and the straps fit a 5'3", 135-pound reviewer with a 36C chest properly. That's specific body-type data I trust. At ~$50, it's half the price of the Osprey and it will carry a kid through middle school.
The downside is the bladder. It has a plastic-y taste for the first few fills, and it's hard to dry. It doesn't stand on its own, so you're propping it up in the hotel room or on the kitchen counter, hoping it dries before the next trip. Dish soap and two to three days of air drying helps, but it's a ritual.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The pack is technically too big for a small 8-year-old. If your kid is on the smaller side, the torso adjustment won't go short enough. And the side pockets are tight, so measure your bottle before you buy.
This is for parents with older kids who are done with character packs and need something that will carry a real load on a real trail.
Budget pick: IVYGREEN Small Kids Hiking Backpack
At ~$35, this IVYGREEN pack is what I recommend to parents who aren't sure their kid will actually like hiking yet. It's small enough for a 4-6 year old, the included rain fly is a genuine surprise at this price, and the fabric has held up through a summer of Maya using it as a daycare bag, a hiking pack, and a pillow for the dog.
The suspension is basic. There's no frame, no torso adjustment, and the hip belt is more of a stabilizer than a load-bearing strap. But for a kid carrying a jacket, a water bottle, and a snack, that's fine. The weight is low enough that shoulder carry doesn't become a problem until you're past the three-mile mark.
Buyer reviews are consistently positive on the size and the rain fly, with a few complaints about the zippers starting to act up after a year of hard use. That's the pattern at this price. The zippers are the weak link.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The water bottle pockets are shallow. A standard kids' bottle fits, but anything taller than six inches will bounce out on rough terrain. And the pack doesn't stand on its own when empty, which is annoying when you're trying to stuff it in a car trunk.
This is for parents who want to test whether their kid likes hiking before investing in a pack that costs more than a pair of trail shoes.
Also tested: SKYSPER Kids Backpack 18L
The SKYSPER is the pack I'd buy if I needed something for a single Disney trip and didn't care about longevity. At ~$28, it's cheap enough to replace when the zippers give out, and the pocket layout is genuinely useful for a kid who wants to carry their own stuff.
But the zippers are the weak link, showing the same "acting up" pattern that plagues packs in this price range.
One buyer noted the pack was "virtually impossible" to return when a zipper failed, which is a real concern with budget gear.
The shoulder straps are narrow and got a little cheeky on Maya's shoulders when we loaded it with a full water bottle and a heavy jacket. For a day hike with a light load, it's fine. For anything more, it's not.
Also tested: Ivygreen Kids Hydration Backpack
The built-in bladder is the selling point here, and for a kid who won't drink water unless it's in a tube, that's a real feature. The bladder holds a decent amount and the water flow is good, but it's a pain to dry, and if you don't air it out properly, it'll taste like plastic for weeks. The side pockets are tight, so a standard bottle is hard to return without taking the pack off.
For a Disney trip where the kid is carrying their own water and snacks, this works. For a trail hike where you need to access the pockets regularly, it's frustrating. The lack of a real hip belt means the weight sits on the shoulders, which is fine for short distances but will be a problem by mile four.
Also tested: Kids Tactical Backpack
This one is for the kid who thinks army gear is cool. The MOLLE webbing and the tactical look are genuinely fun, and the pack is built tough. But there's no hip belt, no chest clip, and no torso adjustment.
The weight sits entirely on the shoulders, which is a dealbreaker for anything beyond a short walk. One buyer called it "cool as a red Ferrari" in terms of looks, but admitted their kid complained about shoulder pain on a two-mile hike.
At ~$32, it's fine for a school bag or a sleepover bag. For hiking, it's not the right tool.
The bottom line
The best hiking backpack for kids is the one that fits the kid's torso, puts the weight on their hips, and doesn't have zippers that will die in a season. The Osprey Jet 28L is the only pack I've tested that does all three, and it's worth the premium if you've got multiple kids or a kid who's serious about the trail.
The Teton is the value pick for older kids, and the IVYGREEN is the pack I'd buy for a first-time hiker who might not stick with it.
A pack that fits a kid properly is the difference between a family that hikes and a family that fights. I've seen it happen. When the weight sits on the hips instead of the shoulders, kids walk further, complain less, and actually enjoy themselves. And if the price makes you wince, remember that a ~$110 pack that lasts four years is cheaper than a ~$35 pack that lasts one.