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October 06, 2008
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Is there a kids’ backpack that can grow with a child?
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Yukon 2900 Backpack (courtesy, Kelty)
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Who makes quality comfortable backpacks for kids, ages 8 to 12? My grandsons love
our weekend camping trips, but the best packs we can find, extra-small women’s
packs, still have harness systems too large for them.
— Sam
Fairbanks, Alaska
Do you have a question of your own?
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 You’re right. There aren’t tons of youth packs out there, in large part
because there just isn’t much market for them. Backpacking kids are relatively
rare, and in most cases mom and dad get wheedled in schlepping the gear—or
they do so voluntarily to reduce the whining quotient.
So your grandkids are the exception, and I’m please to see them so interested in
getting outdoors. And there are indeed some packs that would work for them. Sort
of the boilerplate pack for youngsters is the Kelty Yukon 2900 ($110). It’s a classic external-frame
design, which is actually a good design for a kids’ pack because it can be
telescoped as the child grows. Torso length, in fact, can be adjusted from 13 to
19 inches. Capacity is pretty good at 2,900 cubic inches. And there are plenty of
pockets for kids to place—and lose—their stuff. JanSport makes a similar pack
called the Scout Pack ($90). On the internal frame side, Deuter makes the Fox 30
($79), an 1850-cubic-inch pack that can support loads of up to 20 pounds.
As the grandkids grow, put the biggest one into The North Face Terra 55
Youth pack ($129). It’s a more modern internal-frame design, for more comfort and
load-carrying capacity (3,350 cubic inches). It can then be handed down, and when
that happens, the first to use it will have grown into small adult packs.
Have fun!
The 2008 Summer
Outside Buyer’s Guide is now online. From riding to trail-running to
camping, get reviews of nearly 400 gear must-haves.
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