Backpacking With Babies and Small Children: A Guide to Taking the Kids Along on Day Hikes, Overnighters and Long Trail Trips

Rating:
Summary: fairly informative
Review: i am reviewing the 1986 edition, not the revised 1998 edition. i would really give this book 3.5 or 3.75 stars if i could. yes, other reviewers are correct, it does cover very basic ideas, but it is not only geared toward beginning hikers & backpackers. my husband and i are expecting our first child in June 2002, and we don't want to abandon our love of backpacking together in the wilderness. this book has some encouraging ideas for crafting your own equipment, evaluating what you really need, and re-visiting your "single" hiking strategies; re-thinking them as "parent" strategies. it's much more useful than Robin Tawney's FalconGuide book "Hiking with Kids," which doesn't even address backpacking (except to call backpackers crazy who take babies & toddlers along). it's not the definitive guide, but it is oriented in the right direction. ultimately, i'm glad i bought it.

Rating:
Summary: fairly informative
Review: i am reviewing the 1986 edition, not the revised 1998 edition. i would really give this book 3.5 or 3.75 stars if i could. yes, other reviewers are correct, it does cover very basic ideas, but it is not only geared toward beginning hikers & backpackers. my husband and i are expecting our first child in June 2002, and we don't want to abandon our love of backpacking together in the wilderness. this book has some encouraging ideas for crafting your own equipment, evaluating what you really need, and re-visiting your "single" hiking strategies; re-thinking them as "parent" strategies. it's much more useful than Robin Tawney's FalconGuide book "Hiking with Kids," which doesn't even address backpacking (except to call backpackers crazy who take babies & toddlers along). it's not the definitive guide, but it is oriented in the right direction. ultimately, i'm glad i bought it.

Rating:
Summary: Everything I needed to know!
Review: This is a very helpful book, full of good information. I found it very reassuring. It is a challenge to even think about taking a very young child into the mountains. We had all our questions answered and felt like we could have a happy, comfortable and SAFE trip. It was successful... We had info about food, safety, equipment, etc... many things that we didn't even think of. Good Book.

Rating:
Summary: for those who pack or camp for the first time
Review: While There is some good information in this book for those who are very inexperienced in the areas of backpacking or camping in gereral, I would hesitate to recommend this to anyone who has already had the pleasure of camping or spending some time in the outdoors. Reviews very basic elements of camping such as choosing tents, sleeping bags and apparel which anyone who has spent time outdoors will already have done. Has some other very basic information as well.

Rating:
Summary: for those who pack or camp for the first time
Review: While There is some good information in this book for those who are very inexperienced in the areas of backpacking or camping in gereral, I would hesitate to recommend this to anyone who has already had the pleasure of camping or spending some time in the outdoors. Reviews very basic elements of camping such as choosing tents, sleeping bags and apparel which anyone who has spent time outdoors will already have done. Has some other very basic information as well.