What should you be looking for in a hydration pack for kids?

If you’re trying to find the ideal hydration pack for your kid, you should be aware of some features and how much they work for both of you.

Looks

Let’s just come out and say it, the way a hydration pack looks is the only thing that really matters to a kid. While us adults look beyond the appearance of our gadgets, kids are much more straightforward. If they like what they see, they’ll be way more cooperative and open to using them, pretty much like every other thing they choose.

So when shopping for a hydration pack, be sure to include them in the process and let your kid choose the color or design they prefer. Luckily, hydration packs come in all kinds of cool and cute styles to appeal to the taste of our young critiques.

Size

Now we’re talking dimensions, or in other words, how much room a hydration pack occupies. A bigger size means more things you can stash but also more weight to carry. This is such a crucial factor to consider because you’re getting your kid a hydration pack to enhance their performance and outdoor experience, so you definitely don’t want to burden them with unnecessary extra weight or distract them with a pack that just gets in their way.

So does that mean a hydration pack is only good for water? Not at all. In fact, most hydration packs have pockets and partitions to cater for snacks or some extra gadgets. It’s just about knowing your child’s needs and limits and what’s more suitable for their age.

Capacity

The main purpose of a hydration pack is to carry water, a generous amount that is. Hydrations packs usually offer up to 3 liters of capacity. However, I find 1.5 to 2 liters to be most suitable for kids as they provide enough water while being not too heavy to move around.

Straps

The shoulder and chest straps on a hydration pack are key to the best fit. They are quite adjustable depending on the frame size of your kid. Smaller frames will require shoulder straps closer to each other and chest straps to be tighter, while bigger builds will find standard sizing rather comfortable. Chest straps also provide the right amount of support to avoid shoulder or back aches.

Ventilation

I find this feature to be particularly useful on those hot days when you get all sweaty and you just can’t stand something else sticking to your skin. Well, kids won’t take that any lighter than we would so keep an eye out for hydration packs made with breathable materials.

Reservoir design

Now this one is for us who actually do the filling and the cleaning. The reservoir is the designated space for the water, so it would only be logical to get one that’s easy and quick to fill up and empty. That way you can be ready in no time and you can even teach your kiddo to do it on his own later on. And let’s not forget, cleaning will be a ton simpler!

Valves

The part of the tube that‘s actually put into the mouth, that’s the valve. You’ll always find it to be made of medical grade silicone to ensure maximum safety.

A bite valve requires applying pressure by lips or teeth to get the water flowing. While that’s awesome for a hands-free experience, it can be a bit of a hassle if you got a “chewer” on your hands as they are most likely going to bite through the silicone and end up ruining them. Although you can replace them with newly bought ones, a better solution would be not using the bite valve and sticking to the plain on/off valves,
which are much smoother to use, till they are older or learn how to properly do it.

A cool thing about valves is that they come in many colors, which I think is ideal when you have more than one kid with the same brand pack. No more arguments on “who took whose!”

What makes a hydration pack special?

Hydration packs are already established as a must-have gadget to make yours and your kids trip more enjoyable. However, there are some features a hydration pack offers that really makes it worth the extra penny. So you’ll be doing yourself a favor to keep an eye out for them when choosing a certain hydration pack.

Lock system

A hydration pack with a lock system is incredibly convenient. It guarantees no leaking or dripping which means not a single drop goes to waste. Intact valves usually don’t show such a problem but with kids who often bite down, damaged valves definitely do. So be sure to train your kid on how to lock the tube once they’re done.

Insulation

The ability of a hydration pack to keep water cool is invaluable in hot weather. Simply chilling your pack and water beforehand, makes for refreshing sips that last way more than when you use a regular bottle. You can easily find additional insulators for your reservoir or bladder that you can apply on before putting it back into your hydration pack. It can do wonders to further extend the period for which water stays cool.

One last advice

As crucial as staying hydrated is, be sure to coach kids on how much to drink. You don’t want them to be drinking constantly for you to go from the “I’m too thirsty!” to the “I need to pee!” situation every two seconds.

Choosing the right hydration pack for your little explorer comes down to their age, what they need and of course, your budget. I find the CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E to be all around fitting to most kids with enough storage space, water capacity, and manageable weight. Unless your outings usually take place on hot days or your kid is really small-framed, then I recommend the Osprey Moki with its tighter chest strap and
back ventilation. For the older kids, I’d go for the conveniently constructed Osprey Hydrajet Pack. Lastly, if you’re on a budget, the Ledge Sports Gooseberry will definitely give
your money’s worth.