Family Travel Gear for Banff (Amazon Finds We Actually Used)
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All photos in this post were taken by me during our trip. I love capturing real experiences to give you an authentic look at what to expect.
Worried the snow gear you ordered online won’t cut it for your family’s trip to Banff?
We’ve been there… playing in the snow with frozen fingers inside gloves that were marketed as “waterproof.” 🧤🥶
After a week in Banff with our kids, we’ve pulled together a list of Amazon winter gear that actually worked. This is the stuff that kept us dry, warm, and comfortable during snowy hikes, sledding adventures, and spontaneous penguin slides.
If you’re a mom trying to figure out what your kids really need for a wintery Banff trip (without overpacking or overspending), this guide is for you.
Grab the Packing Checklist
Want to make packing easier? I made a printable version of our winter Banff packing list. It’s what I wish I had before we left, and you can get it instantly when you join our email community!
🧳 Download the Banff Packing Checklist
Our Favorite Family Travel Gear for Banff
We tested all of this gear live in Banff on the trails and in the snow. Some items were amazing, others didn’t make the cut (I’ll share that fail at the end!). I’m sharing our top picks below, but you can find all the Amazon gear we brought here!
When we buy gear, we choose pieces we can wear for a lot of the activities planned for a trip. We also want the gear to last beyond one trip and be reasonable for our trip budget. These pieces were winners in terms of:
- Packability
- Versatility
- Function
- Price
We plan to use most of these items again on winter hikes, outings, and even travel days.
Daypack: Osprey Nebula
This backpack is our go-to for travel, hiking, and even remote work. It crushed it in Banff. It was able to carry everything we needed, stayed dry even when we set it in the snow, and is surprisingly roomy.
What we love:
- 3 exterior pockets (perfect for water bottles + snacks)
- Chest + waist straps (comfortable even when fully packed)
- Tons of clips/straps to attach extra gear
- Great for both parents (we passed it back and forth)
- After 3 international trips + a year of hiking, still looks new
🎯 We stored our ice spikes on the outside and used this daily.
❄️ Ice Spikes (Microspikes)
These changed the game. Instead of paying for guided hikes ($400+ for our family!), we did them ourselves safely with these $25 spikes.
Why they’re awesome:
- Gave us freedom to explore icy trails (and spontaneous frozen adventures)
- Lightweight and easy to clip on the backpack
- Multiple colors = no mix-ups
- Best paired with good traction hiking boots
👀 Tip: Make sure they fit snugly. Too loose = tripping or breakage. We came home with 3 working pairs out of 4.
Men’s Winter Hiking Pants
These replaced snow bibs for my husband and held up beautifully.
- Great for sledding, dog sledding, and general kid chaos
- Not bulky, but warm and waterproof
- Easy to layer over sweatpants on cold days
- Didn’t overheat on active hikes
Teen Snow Jacket
This was my son’s jacket, and it was solid.
- Warm + dry without bulk
- Handy zip pocket for essentials
- Held up to snowboarding and rough play
- Still in great condition after the trip
Women’s Winter Hiking Pants
I wore these over fleece leggings or sweats every day.
- Thin but super warm
- Waterproof + windproof
- Fit nicely over hiking boots
- Kept me dry even sitting in snow
Perfect balance between function and packability.
Pacas Wool Socks
I’m picky about socks, and these were perfect.
- Warm but breathable
- No blisters (even with long hikes)
- Not itchy, not tight
- Worked well with hiking boots + casual shoes
Danner Women’s Inquire Chukka Hiking Boot
These were one of my favorite purchases.
- Not fully waterproof, but enough for packed snow
- Amazing traction and lightweight (Vibram soles)
- Ice spikes fit perfectly over them
- Used in summer and winter
- Excellent ankle + heel support
Already packed for our next winter Europe trip!
Ski Goggles
Game changer for windy days and sun glare.
- Fit easily over glasses
- Comfortable to wear all day
- Didn’t fog up (even with breath + snow)
- Great visibility
These were perfect for our dog sledding and snowboarding days!
What We Wouldn’t Buy Again
My Daughter’s “Waterproof” Gloves
These were a letdown. They soaked through fast and left her hands freezing. We ended up having to buy another pair while in Banff.
I won’t link them here because I don’t recommend them, but just a heads-up: read reviews carefully when it comes to gloves. They matter more than you think!
Shop Our Full Banff Gear List
I’ve compiled everything we used (and loved) into one easy list on Amazon so you can check sizing, reviews, and current prices.
Time to get packing!
We really enjoyed most of the gear we got from Amazon. It packed great, worked great, and seems to be lasting great! We’re hoping for snow this year in the southern part of the US so we can test it all again. Or maybe we just need to head to Banff again? My kids are trying to convince me to book tickets for Christmas.
Wondering what clothes and extras we packed for a full week in Banff? I put together a full list in this post, as well as some of our packing tips! Or you can grab our printable checklist when you join our email community! We’d love to have you!