Homemade Backpacking Gear... For Kids

It has been a warm winter here in Colorado.   Which means not a lot of skiing...  Which means more time to think about backpacking.  As we anticipate the upcoming backpacking season, I assessed the boys' gear.  Specialty backpacking gear for kids is less than abundant.  And this has had me thinking about making it myself.

Really, I had been pondering making  our own gear for quite a while.  I have seen other people's YouTube videos showing backpacking gear they had made.  I read books about through-hikers describing their very specialized homemade gear.  But I kept putting it off.  Fears related to ill-fated sewing projects from my youth crept up as I considered purchasing, of all things, a SEWING MACHINE!!!  And then, I did it!  I took the plunge and bought a basic $80 sewing machine online.

My first project -- gaiters.  The purpose of the gaiters is to keep pebbles and thorns out of the boys' shoes.  They were to be made of spandex, lightweight and simple.  As well, they were a good starter project given their small size and relatively inexpensive material.  They basically are copies of my husband's gaiters.

The Finished Product

Well, I conquered a big hurdle when I bought the sewing machine.  But then I had to go to Jo-Ann Fabric.  Fortunately I went on a weekday when it wasn't so crowded. That place is huge!  I emerged about an hour later with lightweight polyester thread for most of the project and heavier weight Guttermann Sew-All thread for the reinforcements (as well as extra needles, fabric pencils, etc).  I must have exhibited confidence (I don't know how) as I wandered the store because women asked me questions about their own projects!

Back at the house I measured the boys and made several prototypes (after watching several YouTube videos on how to thread my machine).  And about a week after my sewing machine purchase,

I emerged from my craft table with not one, not two, but three pairs of gaiters!  Not bad for a first backpacking sewing project...  I might be hooked!

We will see you on the trail!

-Mama Bear