Most kids’ camping gear is junk. The big-box outdoor aisle is full of $20 sleeping bags rated to 70°F, “kid headlamps” that are LED light-up novelty toys, and $15 backpacks that fall apart by the second trip. None of this is appropriate for Maine, where night temperatures drop into the 40s in July, the bugs require real repellent, and the rain shows up on the forecast-clear weekend.
A lot of kid camping gear gets bought, used, and thrown out before families land on what actually lasts. The 12 picks below are the ones parents keep coming back to, organized by what matters most. The big three are sleeping bag, headlamp, and rain jacket. Get those right and the rest is finishing touches.
| Gear | Price | Age Range | Why It Made the List |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrison Outdoors Little Mo 40 | Premium | 1-4 | Wearable bag, can't roll out |
| Coleman Kids Stratus 30°F | Budget | 5-10 | Best budget sleeping bag |
| TETON Celsius Junior 20°F | Mid-range | 8-14 | Cold-rated for fall camping |
| Black Diamond Wiz | Budget | 3-10 | Best first kid headlamp |
| Petzl Tikkid | Budget | 5-12 | Premium kid headlamp |
| Columbia Glennaker | Budget | All ages | Best value rain jacket |
| Frogg Toggs Kids Suit | Budget | All ages | Cheap full rain suit |
| CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. | Mid-range | 4-10 | First hydration pack |
| Osprey Daylite Jr | Mid-range | 6-12 | Real day pack |
| Sawyer Picaridin Lotion | Budget | All ages | Kid-safe bug repellent |
| Coleman Kids Camp Chair | Budget | 3-10 | Their own seat |
| Hydro Flask Kids 12 oz | Budget | All ages | Indestructible bottle |
Sleep System (The Most Important Part)
A bad sleep system ruins a kid camping trip faster than anything else. Spend here first.
The Sleeping Bag
Maine summer nights drop into the 50s. Shoulder-season nights drop to the 30s. A 70°F-rated kid sleeping bag from a big box store is not enough. Aim for at least 40°F rating for summer-only camping, 30°F for any spring or fall trips, 20°F if you camp through October.
For toddlers (1 to 4 years): A wearable sleeping bag is the single biggest upgrade. Kids cannot roll out of it, cannot get tangled, cannot end up cold in the middle of the night. Morrison Outdoors makes the camping-grade option (the Little Mo 40 is widely regarded as the best toddler sleeping bag available). It is expensive but lasts through years and multiple kids.
Best wearable sleeping bag for toddlers 1-4
For kids 5 to 10: A 30°F-rated standard rectangular bag covers most of the Maine season. The Coleman Stratus is the best value. It is machine washable, durable enough for years, and warm enough for everything except a frosty October night.
For kids 8 to 14: Step up to a 20°F bag like the TETON Celsius Junior. Mummy shape is more efficient, the lower rating means you can camp into November, and the build quality is closer to adult gear.
Maine state park rangers see this all the time: families arrive in July, set up at Sebago or Lily Bay, and at 11 PM the temperature drops to 52°F and the kid in a “summer” sleeping bag wakes up cold and crying. Inland Maine and altitude (Rangeley, Moosehead) drop colder than the coast. Pack the warmer bag.
The Sleeping Pad
Kids fall off Therm-a-Rest pads and end up on cold ground. Two solutions:
- A wider pad designed for kids (the Therm-a-Rest Kids Trail Lite is sized for smaller bodies and stays put better)
- A Pack ‘n Play with a thick foam pad underneath (familiar sleep surface, no rolling)
- A twin air mattress in a 6-person tent (best for kids 5+)
For older kids, an adult-sized air pad works fine. The same Therm-a-Rest pads adults use work just as well for older kids.
Lighting
A kid’s first headlamp is a rite of passage. It is also a real safety item, kids need to be able to find the bathroom at night without an adult.
Black Diamond Wiz (Best First Headlamp)
The Wiz is sized for small heads, simple enough for a 3-year-old to operate (one button, three modes), and includes a red night mode that preserves family dark adaptation. The brightness is limited compared to adult headlamps, but for camp tasks and bathroom walks, it is enough.
Best first kid headlamp
Petzl Tikkid (Premium Kid Headlamp)
The Tikkid is the upgrade pick. Phosphorescent reflector glows in the dark so kids can find it. Flood beam pattern is right for camp tasks (not blinding for hikes). Build quality is what you expect from Petzl: drops, mud, and rain do not break it.
Rain Protection
A wet kid in cool Maine wind is miserable and dangerous. Real rain protection is not optional. Two paths:
Columbia Glennaker (Best Value)
The Glennaker is the rain jacket we recommend most for kids. Truly waterproof (most kid rain jackets are water-resistant at best, which means they leak in real Maine rain). Packs into its own pocket. Hood adjusts to actually stay on. Sized XXS to XL, so it grows with the kid.
Best value rain jacket for kids
Frogg Toggs Kids’ Rain Suit (Cheap Full Coverage)
For families who want a backup or a full jacket-plus-pants combo for under $30, Frogg Toggs is the answer. It is not stylish, not durable, but genuinely waterproof. It is the kind of set worth keeping in the car for the rainy-day surprise.
Hiking Packs
A kid carrying their own pack walks further with fewer complaints. Two picks:
CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. (Hydration Pack)
For kids 4 to 10, a hydration pack is the right first hiking pack. Kids drink more water when they don’t have to ask for it (and when it tastes like the cold water in a hydration tube, not the warm water in mom’s bottle). The Mini M.U.L.E. is sized right and durable.
Osprey Daylite Jr (Dedicated Hiking Pack)
For older kids (6 to 12) ready for a real day pack, the Daylite Jr is the one to reach for. 10L capacity, hydration sleeve, multiple pockets, and the Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime repair). Kids carry their own water, layers, and snacks in this pack.
Bug Protection
Maine has serious bugs. Black flies in late May to mid-June. Mosquitoes all summer near water. Ticks April through October (and a high rate of Lyme disease, read our Lyme guide before any kid hike).
Sawyer Picaridin 20% Lotion (Best for Kids)
Picaridin is the bug repellent pediatricians recommend over DEET for kids. It works as well, smells better, does not melt plastic, and is safer for skin. The lotion form is easier to apply than spray. Use it on exposed skin every morning before getting dressed for camping.
Best kid-safe bug repellent
Permethrin for Clothes (Critical for Ticks)
Permethrin is the chemical that goes on clothes (not skin) and kills ticks on contact. Treat your kid’s hiking clothes, pants, socks, long-sleeve shirts, the day before the trip. Let dry overnight. One treatment lasts through 6 washes. This is the single biggest tick protection step for Maine families. See our best tick and bug protection guide for the full protocol.
Camp Comfort
These are the small upgrades that prevent meltdowns.
Coleman Kids Camp Chair
Kids in their own chair, at their own height, with their own cup holder, are content. Kids without their own chair want to be in yours. The Coleman Kids Camp Chair is $25, lasts years, and is the single best $25 you can spend on family camping gear.
Hydro Flask Kids 12 oz
The water bottle that survives. Drop it on rocks, leave it in the dirt, kick it across the campsite (owners say it still works). Insulated stays cold all day. Straw lid is easier for younger kids. Lifetime warranty. Buy one and you understand why these have such a loyal following.
The Stuff You Already Own
A lot of kid camping gear can come from the house, not the store:
- Familiar pajamas + base layer, better than “camping pajamas”
- Pillow from home, kid won’t sleep without it
- Favorite stuffed animal, pack one, not five
- Tablet + offline videos, for genuine emergencies (3 AM meltdown), not for daytime camp entertainment
- Beach towel, works for swim, picnic, and emergency drying
- Old sneakers, for camp wear, not hiking
- Old fleece, kid will get it muddy, do not buy new
Things Reviews Tell You to Buy That You Don’t Need
- “Kid hiking pants”: Athletic pants or leggings work and cost a third as much.
- Kid hiking sock sets: One pair of Darn Tough kid socks is enough. Save the rest for cotton athletic socks at camp.
- Branded kid hiking gear sets: You are paying for marketing.
- Specialty kid camp dishes: Family dish set from the house works.
- Kid solar lanterns: They die in a season; just use a regular lantern at the picnic table.
Buy gear at end-of-season sales (late September for summer gear, late March for winter gear). REI’s Anniversary Sale in May and their Garage Sale events also hit kid hiking gear hard. Costco sometimes has Coleman family tents and sleeping bags at lower prices than Amazon for 2-3 weeks each spring.
Building a Kid Camping Kit From Scratch
Starting from zero, here is the kit we would build:
Minimum viable kit (~$200):
- Coleman Kids Stratus sleeping bag ($45)
- Black Diamond Wiz headlamp ($25)
- Frogg Toggs rain suit ($30)
- CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. hydration pack ($60)
- Coleman kids camp chair ($25)
- Sawyer Picaridin lotion ($10)
- Hydro Flask kids bottle ($30), okay, this puts us at $225
Premium kit (~$400):
- TETON Celsius Junior 20°F sleeping bag ($70)
- Petzl Tikkid headlamp ($30)
- Columbia Glennaker rain jacket ($45)
- Osprey Daylite Jr pack ($70)
- Coleman kids camp chair ($25)
- Sawyer Picaridin lotion ($10)
- Hydro Flask kids bottle ($30)
- Sawyer Permethrin spray ($20)
- Therm-a-Rest Kids Trail Lite pad ($60)
- Beach towel + pillow + favorite stuffed animal from home ($0)
Either kit will get a kid through a Maine camping season. The premium kit lasts longer and works for cold-shoulder-season trips.
What temperature sleeping bag do kids need for Maine camping?
For summer only (June through August), a 40°F bag is the minimum. For shoulder-season camping (May, September, October), use a 30°F bag. For fall camping through Halloween or cold-weather trips, a 20°F bag is the right choice. Inland Maine and altitude drop colder than the coast, so err warmer.
Is DEET safe for kids?
DEET is approved by the CDC for kids over 2 months old at concentrations up to 30%. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends picaridin as the first choice for kids because it is equally effective without the same skin absorption concerns. We recommend Sawyer Picaridin 20% for kids and reserving DEET for adults.
Do kids really need their own hiking pack?
Yes, by about age 4 or 5. Kids who carry their own pack walk further with fewer complaints because they have ownership of the hike. Start with a small hydration pack (CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E.) for ages 4 to 10. Move to a real day pack (Osprey Daylite Jr) for ages 6 to 12. The pack should hold their water, snacks, and a layer, not be empty.
What's the most important piece of kids' camping gear to buy first?
The sleeping bag, by a wide margin. A kid who is warm at night camps happily. A kid who is cold at night is miserable. Spend on the sleeping bag first, then the headlamp and rain jacket. Everything else can be skipped or borrowed for the first trip.
How do you keep kids warm camping in Maine?
Layers: fleece pajamas as a base, then sleeping bag rated for the temperature, then a hat for sleep. A wool or fleece hat is the cheapest way to warm a cold sleeper. Hot water bottle in the sleeping bag works for older kids. Bring extra layers, what feels warm at 8 PM is not enough at 2 AM.
Related Reading
- Camping with Toddlers in Maine: What I Wish I’d Known
- Best Family Camping in Maine: 12 Campgrounds Kids Actually Love
- Hiking with Kids in Maine: A Survival Guide
- Best Family Tents for Maine Camping
- Best Kids’ Hiking Shoes for Maine Trails
- Best Tick and Bug Protection for Maine
- Maine Bug Season Calendar