Pack for an eight year old

[Jplus4]

Does anybody have any good recommendations for a decent hiking pack for an eight year old? I plan on taking my son hiking this year and need some advise. I don't even know how much he can/should carry. I figure about 5lbs? Maybe just some freeze dried dinners and a water bladder or his sleeping bag? We are only going 2-3 miles of flat trail.
Thanks
JoshM

 

[Above Timber]

I started my son off with the REI Passage 40 Pack. It is a 40 liter (2400 cubic inches) pack. He is a light weight at 14 he only weighs 75 lbs. I try to keep his pack to 1/3 of his body weight. If you think about it we like to have our big packs as light and comfortable as possible. I try to keep mine 50-60 lbs. which is about 1/3 of my own weight. It is an adventure trying to keep a kids pack weight down to something they can manage. My son is to the point where he carries he own food, clothes, bag, water, calls, and a small med kit. Make the hike fun and you will have your best hunting/hiking partner a person can ask for, for many years to come.

 

[JoshTX]

My 7 year old uses this:

http://www.rei.com/product/807783/deuter-fox-40-pack-juniors

I try to keep his weight down to 20% of his body weight which is 12 pounds in his case. He did 20 miles over 3 days last summer with this and it was no problem except for the 2nd day where he asked if I would carry it the last 2 miles of the day

 

[justinspicher]

My 8 yr old daughter has an REI kids pack. She's been out quite a bit and has built up some stamina now. I think you're on the right track. Start slow, light and short and you keep them interested.

 

[Vance in AK]

My 10yr old son will be using my Eberlestock Bluewidow this year (I got a new Kifaru Duplex/highcamp 7000).
As far as load goes, I'm figuring about 25% of body weight max. He is a fairly big boy. About 4'10 & 125#.
My thought is to let him pack the large & light stuff. Sleeping bags & pads, maybe tent, & his clothes. That's around 20#. If it gets heavy I can always start filling up that Highcamp!

 

[hodgeman]

My son has been using a Osprey Jib 35 since he was 8 or 9... pretty nice pack and I keep the weight to about 25% of his body weight. He did pack caribou meat last year in it and I topped him off at about 30lbs.

 

[Rick Leathley]

http://www.rei.com/product/781283/d...|google|main&gclid=CPb3lqCJsr0CFVKIfgodWJoAVA

Deuter fox 30 I have 3 of these for my kids.

 

[Rick Leathley]

 

[j-bow]

I recently got my daughter a north face terra 55. It was on sale at campmor. Although I'm not a huge fan of north face stuff, this seems like a sturdy pack and fits her well.

 

[Jplus4]

Thanks for the responses guys! I did some more research and measured his torso length. He is at 10" now. The Deuter 30 looks good and will adjust between 10-17". I think that should give him at least two or three years. It sounds like my thinking was right about weight. Glad to see others are keeping the family involved too!
JoshM

 

[Colby Jack]

I bought my youngest a Kelty external. Worked great for him until he was 14. Then we just moved his bag onto my old Kelty Cache Hauler. So I got a new Barneys! Win win.

 

[Roy68]

I bought my at the time 8 year old boy an Osprey Zip 25. He is now 9 and he beats the crap out of that bag. It pulls double duty as his school bag. 7 year old brother got his old Deuter (don't remember the model), and it has been bomber as well. The 3rd son will likely be using the Deuter next year.

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/sh...ce.search.beans.SearchResultViewBean@64386438

 

[Browtine]

http://www.rei.com/product/781283/d...|google|main&gclid=CPb3lqCJsr0CFVKIfgodWJoAVA

Deuter fox 30 I have 3 of these for my kids.

^^This^^

Nice little pack that's big enough for a bag, clothes and snacks.

On an 8yo.