reuben
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Post by reuben on Dec 13, 2019 10:48:23 GMT -8
My grandson is 6 years old. He weighs about 50-55 pounds, a little light for his age. He likes hiking, soccer, wrestling, baking cookies, eating cookies, swimming, baseball, lacrosse, ice cream, apple juice, chocolate... all the things that a typical 6 year old boy likes.
So I'm looking for a little pack for him. He likes to carry his own stuff.
I've seen 50+ liter packs for kids "ages 5-10", which seems absolutely insane to me. The best thing I've found so far has been a Thule 4L or 6L pack. It seems more geared to adult cyclists than kids, but is about the right size.
All he really needs to carry is a water bottle (a hydration sleeve is far too fancy, but acceptable), a couple of granola bars, and maybe a jacket. These are just dayhikes of a couple of hours. The hikes are just for fun and exercise. No pressure to go farther, look cool, or anything like that. I could carry this stuff for him, but he likes to carry his own stuff.
Even though he'll outgrow it, I'd like to get him something that's actually functional instead of something that just looks cool.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Maybe just something like a sling pack/gym bag that he'd carry on his back?
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Dec 13, 2019 13:32:17 GMT -8
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Dec 13, 2019 13:41:43 GMT -8
Thanks. You don't think 18L is too big for a 6 year old/50 pounder?
I have a daypack about that size for my own use, but to some extent I'm more worried about the straps fitting than the volume. He doesn't exactly have the shoulder width or torso length of a teenager or adult.
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Dec 13, 2019 14:32:59 GMT -8
They are cut for kids definitely. The Junior might be a bit big, but these packs last YEARS. In fact I sold off the www.deuter.com/int-en/shop/backpacks/p24459-children-s-backpack-schmusebar after Alistaire aged out of it (he wore it from 3.5 to 5 years old, then I upgraded him to the Junior). The Schmus is a good one for the Kinder crowd, as it is a bit smaller. But yeah, my kids are 95% percentile ;-) I do forget that hehehhe!
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Dec 13, 2019 14:35:24 GMT -8
That is both of them in Junior packs, end of May 2017. Alistaire was 5 in that photo and not in school yet.
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Post by bluefish on Dec 13, 2019 14:52:27 GMT -8
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Dec 14, 2019 13:02:40 GMT -8
REI has a selection in various sizes.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Dec 14, 2019 20:40:12 GMT -8
My twins just use simple school backpacks from Target. They carry their own water, snack and a light jacket. The packs are inexpensive and do the job. We had only done day hikes until this summer but they still carried just this load in these packs on our first backpacking trip recently.
When they want to carry their own sleeping bags maybe then I'll pop for real packs.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Dec 15, 2019 9:12:50 GMT -8
Thanks, everyone. Based on your suggestions and wandering around Ye Olde Internet, It seems as though there are a lot of packs with the same basic volume (~18L) and dimensions (~17x9x8"). Some are for kids, some are for adults (small women). Most of the kids versions don't have a waist strap, but I don't think he'll notice or care. Besides, he doesn't have much in the way of hips at this point, and isn't going to be carrying much more than a water bottle, jacket, and a couple of granola bars, so supporting a load isn't an issue. It'll slide around a bit as he climbs over things, but again, I don't think that he'll notice or care. He'll definitely want a pocket for a water bottle like grandpa, though.
The Deuter, Osprey, and REI packs that are actually made for kids are pretty enticing, and can easily be donated to local school charities when he outgrows them.
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Dec 16, 2019 10:14:47 GMT -8
There IS a difference between kids and women packs. Womens have MUCH longer straps and the torso is cut differently (I have a very short torso, but no, I cannot wear even older kids packs). While the kids pack don't have waistbelts for daypacks, it is actually better. Well fitted our Deuters have never slipped or slopped. And the backpacking models have hip belts.
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Dec 16, 2019 10:22:40 GMT -8
We got our son the Deuter Fox 30 when he was 6 (nearly 7). He was quite small for his age, and truth be told, it was probably too big for him at the time, but he's grown into it quite well now (8).
He only carries his sleeping bag and a few personal items like books or a toy.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Dec 16, 2019 14:34:21 GMT -8
sarbar, thanks for the tip on the shoulder straps. It's pretty important that the whole thing fits, not just parts of it. FamilySherpa, the Fox 30 looks good, but these are just day hikes (for now), and I don't want him to be tempted to overload it. Something in the 15-20L range seems better for now, but I'm just guessing since I don't know how much he really wants to hike. As noted above, he likes a lot of different activities, so he spreads himself pretty thin. The Deuter Junior (18L) and Climber (22L) look good, as do some of the Osprey packs at REI. JRinGeorgia bluefish, I used to have a Kompressor and liked it, but considering sarbar's comment regarding small packs made for women/adults, I wonder if the shoulder straps would be too long for a 6 year old.
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Post by bluefish on Dec 16, 2019 15:22:55 GMT -8
The Kompressor straps are 16" from where they attach at the base to the shoulder. Though it did fit my friend's daughter as I stated, it may be a bit too long if he has a short(er) torso.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 18, 2019 8:42:03 GMT -8
reuben, our kids moved into the Deuter Fox 30 in spring 2006, when they were almost 7 & half-past 8. The younger one was fairly average size, the older in the 5th percentile. I had to modify the hipbelt on that one. The packs designed for kids are definitely worth it, but for small day-hikes where he is only carrying a water and a snack, you could look for a small “school pack.” OTOH: a “real” pack that looks like Grandpa’s is going to be a plus for sure! Good fit is important even if only carrying a little bit, IMO. You want him to enjoy the hikes.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Dec 18, 2019 9:12:17 GMT -8
a “real” pack that looks like Grandpa’s is going to be a plus for sure! Good fit is important even if only carrying a little bit, IMO. You want him to enjoy the hikes. Yup, those are two concerns. The latter more than the former, which is why a water bottle sleeve is required. I'm kinda leaning toward an Osprey Jet 18L at the moment.
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