Tested + Compiled By Compiled by Cameron Martindell
Summer + Fall 2024
Nature becomes much more interesting when you can get up close and these small-sized binoculars are perfect for little hands. These rubberized waterproof field glasses have two variations: eight-times or 10-times magnification, both with 25mm objective lens.
$95
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This 20-lumen light is designed for 3-year-olds and older. It’s lightweight, durable and the front glows in the dark! It also has an auto-shutoff feature after an hour to avoid accidentally burning through the three AAA batteries or Petzl’s proprietary rechargeable battery. The headband is nice wide and comfortable and has a simple break-away feature to avoid snag problems. It’s also IPX4 water resistant so it can handle being out in the rain.
$25
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Kids love hammocks! It’s almost guaranteed if you set up a hammock, the kids will want to be in it all of the time. One of our favorites is the SingleNest made with durable 70D Nylon. It’s 9.5 feet long and holds up to 400 points! That’s plenty of room for lots of kids. The hammock tucks into it’s own carry bag which doubles as a pocket while swimming. Straps highly recommended (sold separately or in a kit).
$55
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This lightweight 20-liter pack is perfect for little explorers. It’s made of durable UHMW (ultra-high-molecular-weight) polyethylene waterproof fiber and features eight handy pockets — some mesh to see what’s in there — to keep everything organized. I always love packs with a whistle built into the sternum strap for safety. It also has some great external lashing points for larger items. $60
$60
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Kids love ice cream, but it’s hard to take on some adventures. That makes this freeze-dried treat perfect! Available in a range of flavors including vanilla, neapolitan, mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream, and they all taste amazing, as expected.
$5
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Keep those little peepers safe … if they can keep the glasses on! This is always our challenge, but I feel better as an adventurous parent by making eye protection available. The semi-frameless Shutout has shatterproof and scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses, offers UVA and UVB protection and comes with a cleaning bag for safe storage (when they make it back in the bag).
$25
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We have tested a lot of e-cargo bikes and the newly released second generation Swoop from Xtracycle has easily become our favorite. And by ‘our’ I mean all of us: wife, kids and me. Since it’s a pedal-assist only (no throttle) and thanks to the geometry, it feels more like a bike than others (which feel a little like mopeds with pedals). Available in a class 1 (20mph max assist) or a class 3 (28mph max assist) the swooping frame makes it easy
to mount and a wide range of rear cargo or seating options for kids means it will serve the family for many years.
$4,500-$5,500
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When they couldn’t find a good sleeping bag for their toddler, Morrison, the Denver-based Malcom family made their own. They started with the Little Mo for 6- to 24-month-olds available in a 20-degree (down) and 40-degree (synthetic). Then as Morrison grew up, they had to make the Big Mo for 2- to 4-year-olds. And most recently the Mighty Mo for 4- to 6-year-olds! They’ve also partnered with Rerouted for easy trade-in since kids grow so fast!
$85-$200
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Mountain sun is strong and despite the hassle of “gooping-up” as we say in our house, it’s vital. Especially for kids’ skin, this mineral-based sunscreen (not chemical) is gentle and made of natural ingredients. It is reef safe (Hawaii 104 compliant) and it provides some gentle hydration for the skin — perfect in the dry mountain air. The pump-action tube is one less thing to worry about when applying to a squirmy tot.
$58
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Almost anything that makes setting up camp easier is a win — especially with little people. And this tent hits the mark. While the two-second setup timing is a stretch (it’s true after it’s been unrolled and not including staking it out) it is still very fast and easy. Once up, both the two- and three person can accommodate people up to 6’8” tall, have two doors and are very stable. The blackout fabric is great with kids so the long summer days needn’t impede an early bed time or late sleep-in. But it’s heavy at 10.4 and 18.1 pounds, respectively.
$230-$350
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Solid footwear is key for long adventures outdoors — like summer camp and hiking trips. The Innox Pro from Iowa Boots has a grippy outsole for sturdy traction, a proprietary Monowrap frame for lateral stability, and lightweight synthetic uppers. The Gore-Tex liner keeps feet dry even when stomping through puddles.
$145
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Get ready to solve hauling bikes or skis to your next adventure. The Chuck Rack converts from a simple hitch-mounted bucket to carry skis to a pair of bars to carry bikes — all without taking the main structure of the rack out of the hitch! With the bucket, my kids can get their own skis out when we get to the ski area (or when we get home). When the snow thaws, we’re loading bikes (kids still need help with the bikes). The bucket carries up to eight pairs of skis (four snowboards) and the bars carry up to six bikes.
$500-$1,000
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