Atlas Packs Athlete vs REI Co-op Tarn 40 Pack - Kids'

Important: Choose the Adventure or Athlete hip belt – otherwise you will have literally no padding on your hips. I don’t recommend using the bag without a hipbelt either. The Adventure belt is more comfortable as it provides two layers of foam padding and a wider webbing and buckle – it’s also bigger and bulkier.

We also loved the comfortable shoulder straps, large water bottle pockets, and zipper-free stash pocket on the back. The fit was also great for my children. My kids all liked testing it so much that I bought two more from REI so they could each have their own! My 6 year old is actually enjoying hiking more now that she has her own comfy pack (with waist belt pockets, of course). Major win for this mom

I also purchased a Capture Clip from Peak Designs which allows you to fix the camera to the shoulder strap in place while hiking – a great addition to this pack.

We also loved the comfortable shoulder straps, large water bottle pockets, and zipper-free stash pocket on the back. The fit was also great for my children. My kids all liked testing it so much that I bought two more from REI so they could each have their own! My 6 year old is actually enjoying hiking more now that she has her own comfy pack (with waist belt pockets, of course). Major win for this mom

The clerk who assisted me said that it was okay to put my stuff in the pack and put it on, and that clinched the deal for me. I was concerned about a weight limit but she also weighed the pack and said that it's 12 pounds, no problem.

I bought this for my son when he was in first grade because the regular backpacks in stores just seem too big for a kid his size.

I use the compression straps to run through my water bottle loops. The material is slick, so if your water bottle sticks out beyond the elastic, it will fall out if you bend over or take the pack off.