What Clothing to Pack for a School Residential Trip

Getting your child ready for their school residential trip? As the official kit partner of PGL, we've got all the gear your child needs to make the most of their adventure away.

On residential trips, kids will take part in a huge range of outdoor fun – and that's likely going to include getting wet and muddy. Waterproofs and spare clothes are essential to pack. With that in mind, here's everything you should be preparing ahead of their residential trip.

Waterproofs go right to the top of the packing list, they'll be required for some activities, but more importantly, you always want to be prepared for the changing weather.

At Regatta Great Outdoors, we have plenty of kids' waterproof jackets and trousers to choose from.

If their residential trip is in the summer, you could opt for one of our kids' packaway jackets, which they can keep tucked away in their rucksacks whenever they're needed. The same goes for our kids' overtrousers, they'll both pack down into a stuff sack which makes for efficient packing.

Another important thing your child needs for their trip is a suitable kids' backpack. That way, they'll be able to keep their important waterproofs tucked away, alongside a water bottle, their hat and perhaps a spare pair of socks! We recommend the Jaxon III.

A fleece is a great versatile option to pack, they're useful to wear during mild weather or for when they're doing an activity that requires their arms to be covered. Our kids' fleeces can also be used as part of a layering system, worn underneath a raincoat for added warmth.

Some activities (like rock climbing) require covered arms, so ideally, you'll also want to pack different types of clothing. A variety of our kids' long and short sleeve tops will do the trick. It's one of the main things they'll wear during their stay, so you should definitely be packing multiple clean t-shirts.

When it comes to legwear, our kids' zip-off trousers are the best choice as they're great versatile option for any unpredictable weather. Being able to swap between shorts and trousers on-demand also means they'll always be ready regardless of the activity.

Lastly, there's footwear. A pair of kids' walking shoes are great for daily wear, whether that's time spent orienteering, hiking or general day-to-day use.

A second, older pair of shoes or trainers will also be handy to wear during water-based activities. You'll also want to pack multiple pairs of socks, as a change of socks will likely be needed.