As the Editor of BBC Countryfile Magazine, I know a thing or two about essential outdoors kit for camping and hiking adventures. But this summer, I did something new – for our family summer holiday, we all went backpacking around Europe by train. We stopped off in France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany and Belgium and carried everything we needed on our backs.
This presented two issues to address. Firstly, it meant taking more gear than I would on my own, as I needed to make sure everyone was comfortable and the holiday didn't become a slog. And secondly, I can’t expect a young teen to carry a hefty backpack, so in reality, I knew that I would be shouldering the extra load – literally.
So what to pack? We gave this some thought and decided to share with you our top tips for the ultimate family kit guide.
What’s in our kit bags?
To begin with, let's start with the backpacks themselves...
BACKPACKS
Ayacucho Ben Nevis 65+10 Rucksack
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/ayacucho-ben-nevis-65-10-rucksack-B42B3B0219.html?colour=3555
RRP £135
You can pay a lot more and get a lot less when it comes to rucksacks. In fact, once we’d properly kicked the tyres of this 65 litre pack, we couldn’t quite believe what you get for your money. Everything does what you’d want it to, from the ample waistband zip pocket to the easy access front panel, pole hooks, inner and outer hood zip pockets, and a sleeping back section that accommodates even a chunky bag, with room to spare. We can’t fault it.
Osprey Ace 38 Kids' Backpacking Pack
https://www.osprey.com/ace-1?size=O%2FS&color=Blue+Spikemoss%2FDeep+Peyto
RRP £160
Osprey has become something of a byword for quality when it comes to bags, and the Ace 38 delivers on quality, comfort and features. Designed for kids from 8-15, the torso length is adjustable, meaning it will grow with your children. There's a handy front pocket for shoving in tops and jackets, a meshed back panel to keep the pack off your child's back, ample stretchy side pockets for water and snacks, and a zipped top pocket for phone and the all-important pack of Uno cards.
Read our pick of the best backpacks
TENTS
Decathlon Forclaz Trekking Dome Tent MT900
Packed, this is a pretty compact tent, but once it’s up, it offers a surprising amount of storage alongside a decent-sized inner tent – if there’s one of you. As a two-person tent, this is snug, and you might find yourself wishing some of that storage could be repurposed as living space.
Read our full review – https://www.countryfile.com/reviews/tents/decathlon-forclaz-trekking-dome-tent-mt900
Coleman Cobra 2
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-Cobra-Tent-ultra-light-compact/dp/B0BQRHXNM1?th=1
RRP: £188.99
I knew I needed a slightly more roomy 2-person tent, and one that would go up and down super-quick, while offering protection whatever the weather threw at us, and the Coleman Cobra 2 was perfect for the job. At 2.3kg, it was light enough and within our budget (it's a real bargain), and once we'd loaded up with souvenirs and snacks, the fact you can carry it comfortably without stowing it into a backpack came in handy more than once.
Read our pick of the best lightweight tents for backpacking
FOOTWEAR
Keen Women's Whisper Sandals
These multi-use sandals from Keen are ideal for a backpacking family holiday as they're perfect for almost any environment or activity. Incredibly comfortable and supportive, they're as at home on the mountain trail as they are in water, or exploring new cities. The strong arch gives great mid-foot support, while the pesticide-free odour control system is welcome after doing all three in one day. My wife commented that her feet hadn't been this happy in years! Oh, and they look great too.
Columbia Men's Konos Hiker 2-Strap Sandal
This classic two-strap hiker from Columbia is a great all-rounder, and very easy to shove in a side pocket on my pack. These took a little while of experimenting to get the various adjusters (forefoot, ankle and achilles) into a comfortable fit, but once I did, they performed superbly. Antimicrobial footbed, good cushioning on the heel, excellent grip, and they come in a selection of colours, in both men’s and women’s.
Haix Black Eagle Evo Adventure GTX low
https://www.haix.co.uk/haix-black-eagle-evo-adventure-gtx-low-blue-orange
RRP: £159.90
I knew I needed a quality pair of everyday shoes that would look after me on our travels, that I could wear around town and on long journeys as well as hiking through the Alps, round the lakes and on whatever activities take our fancy. These low-riders from Haix offer excellent support on the foot arch, as well as great shock absorbance from heel to toe. The GORE-TEX membrane keeps my feet dry, while the fact that they're PFAS-free is a must these days. They come is a variety of colours, and the fact that they're made in Europe felt like they were destined for this trip.
SLEEPING
Ayacucho Magura 10°C Sleeping Bag
With weight and space being a big issue, but without wanting to compromise on keeping the family warm and cosy, this summer sleeping bag was the perfect solution, and is perfect as long as temperatures don't get below 5-10ºC, which you can be pretty confident of in Europe at high summer.
Nomadix Graphene Puffer Blanket
I've always had a love/hate relationship with sleeping bags. On cold nights, they're worth way more than their weight in gold, but waking up with the sun in summertime, I cant get out of it quickly enough. That's where this puffer blanket comes in, as it doubles up as a blanket and a sleeping bag. Neat poppers around the outside mean you can have it loose as a large blanket, fasten it around the neck to make a camping cape to wrap around as the campfire dwindles, or pop all around to make a sleeping bag, albeit one with ventilation – perfect for camping in the summer!
Read our selection of the best sleeping bags
Sea To Summit Ultralight XR Insulated Air Sleeping Mat & Aeros Ultralight Pillow
This three-season insulated mat packs down to just 19x10cm, and may not look like it's going to be very supportive, but trust me, I'm no flyweight and once I was down on the mat, I was happy to stay there. I slept well, with Sea To Summit's Aeros Ultralight Pillow, which affixes to the mat, doing the basics well. Sure, there are more comfortable mats and pillows on the market, but when size and weight are an issue, it's hard to do much better than this combo.
ACCESSORIES
Biolite AlpenGlow Mini
This dinky, and rather cute, camping lantern fits in the palm of your hand, and thanks to an integrated bungee, can be hung from a branch or tent pole for your convenience. Powerful too, on test we found the lantern was bright enough to function as a decent reading light in the dead of night.
Read our guide to the best camping lights
Nomadix towel
https://wildbounds.com/collections/nomadix-original-towel
RRP: £39.95
Nomadix call this 'the only towel you'll ever need' and while I love the sentiment, there's no denying that it's not as gentle and cosy to use as a thick Egyptian cotton towel. But that aside, it's practical and does everything you need from a towel, while taking up a fraction of the space of a traditional one. It's also lightweight, quick-drying and doubles up nicely as a blanket.
Cotopaxi Packing Bundle
https://uk.cotopaxi.com/collections/organisers/products/packing-pro-kit-black
RRP: £128
With so many different toiletries, sun block, medication, insect repellent and so on, this neat toiletry kit from Cotapaxi, made from recycled materials, was a great way to stay organised without adding bulk. We liked it so much that we also picked up some of their packing cubes and a waterproof laundry bag that came in very handy!
VSSL Nest Pour-Over Set
https://wildbounds.com/products/nest-pour-over-set-cream-coffee
RRP: £54.95
This all-in-one coffee maker and mug kit feels so obvious we’re not sure why it’s taken this long. It breaks down into stages: a chunky stainless steel mug; the nest dripper, which screws easily into the mug, and houses a trough to nest your stainless removable filter; and a sippy lid. Light and portable, this set makes the perfect way to start a day’s camping, and offers a lightweight indulgence when packing light.
Read our full review here
Dometic water bottle
https://www.dometic.com/en-gb/product/dometic-tumbler-650-78?v=97000171491
RRP: £32
With so many different styles of water bottles on the market these days, it's impossible to be confident with whichever you plump for, but having tested a lot, this one is a real stand-out for me. It's all in the detail. A sleek, straight case houses an insulated tall tumbler container that keeps drinks hot or cold for longer than you'll need. It's 90% recycled, dishwasher safe, and the integrated rubber coaster on the base is most satisfying. There are plenty of accessories available too.
BrüMate Strova 18oz (532ml) Leakproof Coffee Tumbler
For the discerning coffee lover, there's a lot to love in the Strova. This stylish 18oz tumbler opts for a ceramic lining to preserve the coffee's flavour, while the simple twist-lock lid is genuinely leakproof – trust us, we bravely put it through its paces upended in a kitbag on a long and bumpy cycle ride – and keeps coffee (or whatever hot beverage you may prefer) hot for four hours (cold drinks remain chilled until the next day).
UNO Card Game
On long train journeys and lazy lakeside lunches, there's one accessory no family should be without, and that's a portable game or two. The first thing to be packed will probably be the most used – the classic UNO, a game of as much frustration as can be imagined. Who could ever tire of it?
Read our pick of the best camping accessories for 2026
CLOTHING
Montane Men's Dart Nano T-Shirt
This performance tee from Montane is so light it's almost comical – how do they do it? It's great quality too, with moisture and odour technologies designed to keep you dry and fresh on any outdoor pursuits. The only slight gripe is the sizing comes up snug even when sizing up, so unless you like a tight fit, go that extra size. Comes in a selection of colours.
Craghoppers Men's NosiLife Kadin Cargo Shorts
https://www.craghoppers.com/mens-nosilife-kadin-cargo-short-dark-sage
RRP: £65
I spend from Easter to Hallowe'en in cargo shorts so have certainly worked my way through a fair few pairs over the years, but what I love about these is that they're so comfy, you forget you're even wearing them; they're longer than a lot of hiking shorts, finishing just above the knee; and they're probably the lightest pair of decent shorts I've ever worn. As if that's not enough, they're also great at wicking moisture quickly, UPF 50+ and insect repellent. Not bad for a pair of green shorts.
Jack Wolfskin Women’s Vonnan t-shirt
https://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/vonnan-s-s-t-w/A63951_H0112_A04.html
RRP: £35
Jack Wolfskin are known for making great hiking gear, and this multipurpose lightweight technical tee is ideal for walking through the mountains in the summer, thanks to its fast-drying, breathable fabric (TEXADRI, for those who know their materials). Loads of colour options available.
Keela St Kilda T-Shirt
keelaoutdoors.com
RRP: £29.95
The Scottish outdoors brand Keela stands for quality and sustainability, and they’ve hooked up with The National Trust For Scotland on a range of gear that supports the conservation charity. This t-shirt inspired by St Kilda’s rugged cliffs comes in two colours for men – a women’s version is also available.
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat
https://www.sundayafternoons.co.uk/products/ultra-adventure-hat
RRP: £44.95
We don’t think we’ve ever seen such a high-spec sunhat as the Ultra Adventure Hat. Wide brim? Check. UPF 50+ sun rating? Check. Lightweight, packable, PFAS-free water repellent coating, wicking sweatband – check again. There’s also the French Foreign Legion-style neck cape and a neat slot that locks in your sunglasses for when you want to rest your sunnies on top. It's not cheap, but it sure packs a punch.
Columbia Unisex Mountaincap™ II Snapback Cap
https://www.columbiasportswear.co.uk/p/unisex-mountaincap-ii-snapback-cap-2158911.html
RRP: £30
Finding a cap that fits and is comfortable all day has been something of a trial for anyone with a large head size, but with this snapback from Columbia, I've finally found my favourite hat. The elasticated
