One of the hardest parts in planning your Park trip is the amount of ‘stuff’ required to make it successful. There are a few things that we have gotten our kids over the past few years that we have used until they’ve been worn down or they have outgrown them. We really try to make it a point to gift these items to our kids for birthdays and Christmas. Proper gear and planning is the key to success. Below are some items that we have deemed ‘Must Haves’. Remember… Christmas is right around the corner!

Backpacks

First- invest in some good backpacks. We got our kids these CamelBak hydration packs in 2013. The backpack is big enough to carry an extra pair of shoes, a raincoat or jacket, a snack and their Junior Ranger books plus their own water… and boy do they love drinking out of that straw thingy! It is important to have your kids carry their own gear as early as they can. Our kids have all outgrown them but they made it to about 20 parks and are ready to be replaced. Thad and I each have larger CamelBak as well and this is likely what we will be replacing the kid’s packs with. They make the perfect daypack and hold a lot of water.

Headlamps

Another item that we use often are LED Headlamp Flashlights . They are a must have for camping (night time potty trips!) and are great for the many National Parks that include caves. Our kids not only use them on our trips but they take them to summer camp and sometimes they make it under the stairs when a Texas tornado is nearby! Again, this is an item that will soon need to be upgraded because our kids are getting bigger but they have done their time.

Tent

Tent camping is not for everyone but it is such an awesome experience for your kiddos to get away from technology and actually enjoy nature. It’s not always easy and it requires a lot of preparation. And let’s be honest… the older we get, the harder it is to sleep on the ground! But, do it for the kids!! There really is nothing better than waking up with a nip in the air and enjoying a hot cup of coffee while you stretch your back after a night on the ground. Our family of 5 went with a 6-man tent and it has served us well! The Big Agnes Big House Deluxe Camping Tent is great and roomy enough for us for now. The elements may not always check with you before your thoroughly planned camping trip so make sure that you are fully prepared. A ground cover or tarp is necessary to go under your tent as well as EXTRA tent stakes (the wind in Guadalupe Mountains National Park and random afternoon showers in The Great Smoky Mountains will help prove this point).

Camp Mats

Speaking of sleeping on the ground… you have got to have a mat! Thad and I have the Therm-a-Rest Prolite Ultralight Self-Inflating pads and the kids have Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Ultralight Foam Backpacking Mattress. We will upgrade the kids to the inflatable ones as they get older but for the price, these are good for now. They are perfect to sleep on or to sit around the camp fire (if you are in a park that allows fires). They are also very light weight, durable and easily roll up to strap on a backpack. Some people prefer actual blow up mattresses but its hard to cram 5 bodies in the tent with a full size mattress so we embrace the ibuprofen and sleep on the ground!

Hammocks

• 

• 

The best way to relax after a day of hiking is in your hammock! We have a total of 4 of these hammocks and we use them all the time. There are many different brands available now but we have the ENO brand and can attest to it’s stability. We not only use them while camping but the kids set them up in the backyard (when it’s cool enough) and read and watch football.

Gear is an investment. It can be expensive but if you get quality brands and take good care of it then it will last you for years! Gear to Get you Going- Part 2 will include shoes, sleeping bags, hiking poles, camp stoves and other essentials for a successful trip!