Like my last post, I hope you read this and get an idea of what a 10 year old may be able to carry in his/her backpack for a multiday trip. However, not all 10 year olds are the same, and I caution you to just use this as a reference.
My son weighs 68lbs and averages 12-15lbs. of weight (including the backpack itself) on his back. This comes out to 17-22% of his body weight, which sits on the higher end of the recommended weight threshold for kids. Although he can comfortably carry this weight, I constantly monitor this to ensure it isn’t too much.
So, what does he carry:
- Backpack: Deuter Fox 40 (we just upgraded, everything listed fits nicely in a Deuter Fox 30 as well)
- Foam sleeping pad
- Sleeping Bag: Northface Tigger
- Tent Rain Fly
- Tent Poles
- Rain Pants
- Rain Coat
- Extra clothes in a gallon sized bag (Extra Socks, a t-shirt, a long sleeved shirt, underwear, long underwear, pajama pants)…..pajama pants could be removed, it’s more of a comfort request
- Fleece top
- Inflatable sit pad
- Backpack rain cover…..a trash bag lining inside backpack would work as well
- Sun hat (when needed)
- Thermal hat (we live in Washington)
- 16oz. or 32 oz. Water bottle
- Water shoes
- Contents of items in “lid” of backpack
- small tube of sunblock
- lip balm
- gloves
- inflatable pillow
- tissue
- hand warmers
- sunglasses
- headlamp
- Kindle
- journal/writing pen
