Kids love to be outdoors. Even babies do great outdoors, but we know a full day of outdoor adventuring can be intimidating. The QALO team is here to help you get prepared. Here’s are a few of our favorite hiking hacks to help you hit the trails, with the kids in tow, and have a fabulous time as a family doing it. Hydration and Snacks Kids pass the time by eating. It’s a great way to distract them as well as keep them happy. Plan on having plenty of hydration for everyone in the family. Re-pack your snacks. Instead of just tossing in a bag of trail mix - filled with air - open the mix and put it into smaller, snack-sized bags before taking off. You’ll take up less space in your pack, and allow kids to have appropriate portions. We also love the idea of wrapping fork and spoon handles in Paracord and then clipping them to a carabiner. The carabineer can be clipped to an internal part of your pack - or even right on your belt - to allow for civilized dining later. First Aid Boo-boos happen. Even on the trail. Especially on the trail. Be prepared with a small first aid kit. Take an empty prescription pill bottle and load it up with a few alcohol wipes, Neosporin, and Band-Aids. A non-drowsy allergy pill or two may also be a good idea. If you’re prone to hiking blisters, try placing a Band-Aid over problem areas or rubbing petroleum jelly on your skin before putting on your socks. Stay Dry Even if there is no rain in the forecast, Mother Nature is in charge. Prepare to stay dry by planning ahead. We like garbage bags for this purpose. They’re already in the house, and if you don’t wind up needing them, they’re not a wasted purchase. Line your backpack with a bag to keep moisture away from the things you’re carrying. Spare bags can be ripped and turned into ponchos with little effort. Plus, the kids will think this is super silly (and ultra-memorable!). We also recommend putting your phone in a Ziploc bag. If you do get wet, because kids happen, pack a few office binder clips. You can clip wet clothes to the outside of your pack. Or place them inside of a spare garbage bag. Duct Tape Duct tape is a multi-purpose hack tool that is good for so many things on the trail. From stopping a leaking water bottle to preventing a blister from getting worse, and even to remove ticks. If you don’t want to carry the whole roll, wrap a few layers around your water bottle. Spice it Up If you plan on cooking during your hike, empty out some old Tic-Tac cases. Then turn them into space containers. Hiking with kiddos is super fun, and a great learning opportunity. Be sure to be a good steward of the environment and strive to teach your children to do the same. Remember to leave no trace, and take only the memories.