I’ve been getting a few questions about some of the items we are using in our adventures. I plan to do many longer, more detailed gear reviews for some of the items. But I’m just not getting to them at the moment. So for now, I’ll share a list of items with a brief description.

At this time, no items were sent to us. We either completed research, sometimes extensive research, and made our own purchases. For many baby items, some were hand-me-downs or were thrifted, and we just happen to like them.

The post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Check out more detailed gear reviews for Sunday Afternoons Sun Hats and Smartwool socks.

Kids Gear

Hiking Day Pack made Diaper Bag

With our first child, we got a very standard diaper bag backpack. I can’t find the exact model but it’s something similar to this. When we were pregnant with our second child, I wanted a bag with a larger capacity and a more durable bag. After a good bit of research, I actually landed on a hiking day pack, REI Co-op Ruckpack 28 Pack. This specific bag is discontinued. The new, very similar version now comes in men’s and women’s. This is not a diaper bag, we just use it as a diaper bag. What I like about it is its versatility. We can use it as a hiking day pack or diaper bag, or both at the same time. It also has great tech features and would do great for the solo working traveler for example. When we are done with the baby stuff, I’m sure it will live on in our family as a hiking bag. Have you been in this situation? What kind of bag did you land on?

Portable High Chair

This Hiccapop portable high chair really comes in handy. We do lots of picnics. Our weekly DAP (dinner at the park) nights in the summer would be overwhelming if we didn’t have this chair. In addition to picnics, this chair comes in handy when going to someone else’s house for dinner that likely doesn’t have a highchair, taking them on vacation, and also having them at our home if we have friends over who have a baby.

Portable High Chair

This is another type of Summer portable high chair that someone handed down to us. What’s nice about this version compared to the previous one listed is I can look away or walk around and not feel like the baby is going to fall over. The other one isn’t a problem on the ground, but if we put her on top of a table, I feel better when someone is there full time, even though it comes with straps. The one above however takes up less space.

Wagon

We absolutely love this Creative Outdoor Wagon. I spent many hours researching wagons. The main reasons we went with this one are because you have the option to push or pull it, you can strap two children in, it’s collapsible for easy storage, and it has a roof for shade or to protect from rain. I love the basket for extra storage so the kids don’t have as much piled on top of them when they are sitting in the wagon. This works for us for occasional beach use. We mostly take it around the neighborhood, to the playground, and to the pool. But if beach use is your primary use, you might want to try one with more off-road tires.

Double Stroller

This is our double stroller. When deciding on a double stroller, we wanted one that folded up easily and fit through doorways. We thrifted some single strollers. So when we got a brand new double stroller, this thing felt like a Cadillac, and still does. We’ve been very happy with it. It looks like it’s unavailable at this time. I’m guessing they came out with a newer version, which looks very similar but is a little more expensive.

We also got these attachments so we could put our newborn car seat on the double stroller until the baby could sit up in the seat.

We purchased two of these cup holder attachments that are absolutely essential for our belongings like phones, keys, sippy cups, etc.

Hiking with Kids

Baby Wrap

I used a Moby Baby Wrap for several weeks to hike when my babies were newborns. We switched them to a child carrier, specifically the Sunveno Child with my second child when she could hold her head up.

Child Carrier

This Sunveo child carrier is incredible. I didn’t have it with my first. I had some other second-hand ones that were okay. My neighbor offered this to me and I took it reluctantly, thinking to myself “I already have one, I don’t need it.” I was wrong. My second baby lived in this thing. This was honestly the key to me navigating my way of having two kids close in age. What separates this carrier from others I’ve come across is a bolster that the baby sits on which completely saved my back. The baby was comfortable, I was comfortable. And I was able to complete a wide range of activities carrying her from mowing the lawn to shoveling the driveway and everything in between. I used it so much that I actually kept my neighbor’s and bought her a new one. It has a sippy cup holder for my toddler or a water bottle holder for me. A pocket for keys/phone. And I like that the baby’s legs aren’t spread so wide like they seemed to be in other carriers.

Child Carrier Backpacks

A child carrier backpack is essential in hiking with toddlers. Our second baby is starting to get heavy in the front carrier and is transitioning to the back. We try to let our toddler walk as much as he can on his own, but we almost always use a carrier on a hike when he gets tired or distracted, or if the terrain is hard for him to navigate. We have two very dated Kelty carriers, one we bought secondhand on Facebook marketplace, and the other was handed down to us. Ours are very basic, they are basically the carrier and then one pouch in the back for storage.

I am amazed at some of the newer versions. Although they can get a little pricey, they have ones with rain/shade covers, bug covers, and extra storage, some conducive to backpacking with kids. One feature I think is really important when considering a carrier is hip support. One of our carriers has a padded strap for hip support. The other carrier doesn’t offer much hip support, putting more strain on the back. Some of the brands I notice others using include Kelty, Osprey, and Deuter.

Biking with Kids

Topeak Bicycle Seat

I was given one of these Topeak bike seats as a hand-me-down. We loved it so much that we purchased another one. If we have two adults we love to take these. If my kids ride in the trailer, they tend to poke at each other and there is excess screaming. I think they like the view in these seats because the only thing I tend to hear from them is a squeal of enjoyment. They feel very secure in these seats. One of our favorite features is that the seat comes off easily without having to remove the bike seat. So I can transfer from the bike seat to the pull-behind trailer very easily.

Pull Behind Child Trailer

This InStep Bike Trailer was another item that was handed down to us. It has served us well. It converts to a stroller if needed. When I have the kids by myself, I’m able to ride with both of them in there. There’s some storage in the back which is nice.

TowWhee

I love the TowWhee! It’s the cord connecting an adult bike to a child’s bike. My girlfriend let me try hers and then I immediately purchased one. I actually didn’t think it was going to work for us. I was worried we would run into each other. But after a little practice around the neighborhood I was hooked. It allows my son to ride his bike independently but comes in handy when he might get tired or distracted and he needs just a little tow to keep going. Visit the website to learn more and shop. You can also shop for this on Amazon.

Some other gear I considered for this situation was the Trailgator Trailer Bar, but I couldn’t attach that with the Topeak Bike Seat on. I also looked at items like this Kazam Co-pilot Bike Trailer, but again I don’t think I could attach something like this with my Topeak Bike Seat on, and honestly, I didn’t want to own another bulky item. So TowWhee was the way to go for me.

Balance Bike

I can’t say enough how much I love Strider Balance Bikes. They have definitely helped my little ones get on two wheels earlier as opposed to the traditional method with training wheels in my opinion. Balance bikes don’t have pedals and promote teaching balance.

Outdoor Gear

Core 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent

Our sort of spontaneous tent purchase. The only tent we had prior to this one was a small, two-person backpacking tent. So I was looking to upgrade to a larger one for taking our kids tent camping. At the time, many larger tents were out of stock. I had never tried this brand and I sort of just went for it.

We haven’t camped too much but here are some initial impressions. At 10×18, I was worried it was going to be too large on a campsite. We haven’t had any issues so far fitting a campsite. It’s very spacious and it’s great to be able to easily stand in it.

It says instant, it really is. It goes up so fast and so easily. No threading poles through loops.

There are two partitions creating three separate spaces. It’s like my kids have their own room. We easily fit a pack-and-play in one area for the baby. Each space can fit a queen size air mattress with room to spare. I think we can grow into this tent easily if our kids want a cousin or friend sleepover.

I can’t attest to how durable it is or how it does in wind and rain. But so far, we are very happy with this tent for our family.

Kids Clothing

Ets Cubbies

I can’t tell you how much Cubbies by Enjoy the Snow Apparel helped me keep somewhat sane during the winter, especially during a pandemic winter at home with two little ones. We had better days when we were able to get outside. Initially in the winter, we were only able to stay out as long as my son’s hands were warm, which was sometimes 5-10 minutes before he was ripping them off then having a tantrum because his hands were cold. I found these and then our time increased to an hour or more. It seemed I was the one getting cold first. Basically, it’s a fleece shirt with water-resistant mittens that are attached with a zipper, just genius. It comes in blue and pink 18M to 4T.

Rain Pants

These Hatley Splash Pants really keep us outside on days when we might otherwise spend more time indoors. I love these rain pants for splashing around in puddles, or even when I assume the playground will be wet and muddy. They also served us well at the beach when it was cool. The sand just wiped off. My son can’t walk by a puddle without jumping in it, which I have to say is something I really love about him.

Kids Toddler Rain Suit

I then sort of from the rain pants to the HAIPU Kids Toddler Rain Suit. These really come in handy because my kids won’t hesitate to swim in a puddle. Even with rain pants, they manage to get wet in the waist area. The onesie has better coverage. On a cold, snowy day, I think I could easily layer warm clothes underneath while the rain onesie acts as a rain barrier. These also fold into a nice travel pouch. The 12 month size ran really big.

Orange Reflective Kids Safety Vests

We try to get out for at least a half hour every day. And in the dark winter, sometimes that means getting out when it’s dark. Cars have thanked me and I have thanked myself for making sure my kids are wearing a kids orange reflective safety vest. In the dark, the vests help make my kids my kids more visible to cars, and cars actually slow down. Plus, the bright orange color doubles as my kid’s hiking vests in the woods during hunting season.

Sunday Afternoons Play Hat

I absolutely love Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hats and have an entirely separate post explaining why.

I’m also interested in getting my kids their own backpacks soon and am eyeing up these REI backpacks.

I found many of these items on Amazon. If you are expecting, maybe you might consider an Amazon Baby Registry

Footwear

Hiking Boots

If you start to take up hiking regularly, hiking boots may be worth considering. After some hiking shoes, my husband and I both decided we wanted ankle support, so we went for boots. Everyone has different feet and there are lots of great hiking boots out there. If you go to an REI, they have artificial rock surfaces that are uneven so you can test out a boot to try. My husband and I both landed on Lowa Renegade. Here is the women’s version and here is the men’s version. A little further explanation may help you through the initial sticker shock (I know I had it). These boots are waterproof. So crossing creeks and things like that are no problem. Because of how waterproof they are, they have replaced the need for me to own a snow boot. So I wear these boots if I take my kids sled riding, for example. When we purchased these, we met a woman in the store who told us her pair lasted her 15 years with regular use. We are 6 years and it feels like they haven’t worn at all. Also, I feel so stable and secure in these which is even more important for when I carry kids around.

Keen Whisper Sandals

Shoe + sandal- I call these Shandals. I’ve been wearing Keen Whisper sandals for a few years now. As the weather warms, I basically want nothing to do with socks. So I’m basically in these all summer long. I wear them for tons of activities like walking, biking, and hiking. And they have become my water shoe so I wear them kayaking, taking a dip in the river/lake, and they are great for the beach too. They are comfortable, adjustable, and offer great coverage and support. And unlike other shandals I’ve tried, these do not make my feet sweat. You can shop for these on Amazon or REI. But I’m very excited to learn I can shop for them locally at Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle. My husband also seems very happy with his version, the Clearwater CNX.

Wool Socks

Without sounding dramatic, investing in a high-quality sock has changed my life. They can be expensive but I love to watch for sales and maybe buy one pair a year. I have a separate post explaining how much I love Smartwool socks. And I’m also falling in love with Darn Tough socks. My husband loves them too and we both have slowly built a wardrobe of different types of socks for a variety of purposes such as working out, everyday wear, hiking, casual wear, etc.

Adult Clothing

prAna Pants

PrAna makes a versatile pant that goes a long way for us. I know for myself I wear these pants hiking, golfing, around the house, to the park, etc. But I easily wear them casually to work, to church, or even dress them up a bit for a night out. I wear the Halle Pants. They are so comfortable, stretchy, and seem to be water-resistant. Spills are no problem for these pants, we have a lot of them. They come in short, tall, and plus sizes. I also absolutely love the winter Hallena pant (I found these locally at Wilderness Voyageurs. They can also be purchased at REI). The winter pant has a fleece lining on the inside and I like to wear them winter hiking, cross country skiing, and taking my kids sled riding. I just noticed a convertible zip-off pair that I’ll be tempted in.

My husband wears the Brion Pants and the Brion Shorts. We love them so much we have them in about 3-4 colors each.

Hats

Ball Cap with Option for Higher Ponytail

I love this CC criss-cross hat for when I just want a regular ball cap. I love when I have the option to put a ponytail higher on my head.

My Shade Goddess Sunday Afternoon sun hat also has a ponytail hole.

Beanie with Ponytail Hole

This bright orange CC beanie is perfect for my fall and winter activities. It keeps my head warm, my hair off my neck, and helps with safety during hunting season. Sometimes I find it available in orange, sometimes I don’t. I also recently found one with a brim that I love even more for sunny days.

Bike Helmet with Ponytail Hole

At this time, I don’t have a picture of the back of my head, and I can’t find a link. But a few years ago, I found a bike helmet with a ponytail hole. My helmet is a Specialized. I love it. I can’t stand the feel of my helmet crushing my hair against the back of my sweaty neck. I can’t find a link, but I just wanted to share that they exist. If you find one, please let me know.

Sunday Afternoons Hat

I absolutely love my Sunday Afternoon Shade Goddess Hat mostly because it has a ponytail hole, but because these hats have several other likable features explained in this separate post explaining why.

Liquid Containers

Growler Holder for Bike

This Blackburn Water Bottle Holder not only holds water bottles but growlers! We love when we can go for a bike ride, take a break to taste some craft beer, and then take a growler home. We also tend to shove anything in this thing holder, sippy cups, water bottles, diapers, jackets, and more.

We also love our Hydro Flask 64oz Growler. It keeps our beer cold. But we also pack other drinks like hot chocolate, iced tea, ice water, for whatever the case may be.

Munchkin Stainless Sippy Cup

We love this Munchkin stainless steel sippy cup for our toddlers. It doesn’t keep milk perfectly cold, but the coldest we’ve found in a sippy cup before transitioning to a water bottle. The lid is really nice to reduce messes. It’s also easy to clean.

Yeti Rambler 20oz

Anytime we are leaving the house to go somewhere in the morning, there’s a good chance we have coffee to-go. I’ve been through a few coffee-to-go containers. Some keep the coffee too hot, and some not hot enough. Many of them leak. The Yeti Rambler 20 oz has been my favorite so far. It hasn’t leaked and it keeps the coffee at the perfect temperature. It’s also easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

Owala Water Bottle

I’ve gone through a lot of water bottles over several years looking for the right one. So far, this Owala Water Bottle is my favorite.

I’m a fan of straws instead of twist-off caps because I spill all over myself. But I’ve had trouble with other water bottles with straws because the mouthpieces are hard to keep clean, they break, and some have even melted in the heat. The mouthpiece on this one is easy to clean and also gives the option to drink traditionally. I also like the hook for carrying and the insulation keeps my drink cold.

I have the 32 oz bottle. The base is larger, so I simply use a cup holder adapter for the car.

Travel Organization

Over the Door Shoe Organizer

We use this over-the-door shoe organizer for more than just shoes, coats, outfits, and hats when we travel. It honestly becomes a mudroom on the go. I didn’t know how much I needed this thing until my sister suggested it. It really makes travel with kids a bit easier and helps keep things somewhat organized.

Packing Cubes

Someone gifted us these packing cubes. Another item that makes traveling a bit easier, especially when my husband and I share a suitcase, or maybe the family needs an overnight bag for a hotel night for example. There are so many kinds of packing cubes.

I love the latest set of packing cubes I purchased from BAGSMART. My favorite feature is an extra zipper that helps compress the items to save space in your bag.

Fold Up Laundry Hamper

It looks like the specific hamper I have is currently unavailable. Here’s a similar fold-up hamper. I have a set of two. This helps keep our dirty laundry from hiding all over the place. They take up hardly any room in your suitcase. Looks like they also provide hours of entertainment.

REI Co-op Big Haul 60 Recycled Duffel

I recently upgraded some luggage for myself and my husband and we have both been happy with our REI Co-op Big Haul 60 Recycled Duffels. I purchased it mostly as a weekender bag or carry-o luggage item. It’s been spacious and functional. I love that it has backpack straps as well. Surprisingly, it doesn’t come with a duffle shoulder strap but that is something I plan to add later.

Family Toiletry Bag – Looks like I don’t have a picture. But I’ll work on getting one. I love this family toiletry bag!

Personalized Duffle Bags – Someone gifted me this personalized duffle bag for my son when he was born. I liked it so much, I bought one for my daughter when she was born. It sounds simple, but having their names on the bag helps my husband find things when he doesn’t know where something is in our travels. These are the perfect size for packing baby clothes, diapers, and other items. Then, I think they will make a nice bag for activities or sleepovers as they grow older.

Tech Bag – I got my husband the North Face Surge Pack for what he calls his “tech bag.” He’s super techy so I was very intimidated to pick one out for him. He was very surprised that I was able to find such a great bag for him. It’s designed for cycling commuters which he isn’t. His old one was so bulky and falling apart. But this one is durable and slim, yet still spacious enough for all of his gadgets and belongings. We pack all of our family electronics in this and then he loves to take it as a carry-on in a plane for solo business travel.

Gift Ideas

PA State Parks and State Forests Passport

This PA Passport is a fun way to track some of your travels in PA. If you don’t live in PA, does your state do something like this?

National Park Passport

Our National Park Passport is starting to turn into an obsession. This is such a fun way to track your travels in over 400 sites managed by the National Park Services, from national parks to national battlefields, national historic sites, and more. This is the passport we have, but there are other kinds. We ended up getting each child their own, so they can take it with them when they grow older. I didn’t know about this passport until I was over 30 parks in. Here is a detailed post explaining all about the passport program and what to do when you miss your stamp.

Guidebooks

In addition to passport books, I feel guidebooks are a great gift idea to spark curiosity for adventure, plus they are helpful in planning. Choose your interests and location and grab one that is right for you. We have a few around the house such as Complete National Parks, National Geographic Guide to the National Parks, 50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania, and Hiking Pennsylvania.

Tick Remover Key Chain

Knock on wood, I haven’t had to use one of these Tick Removers. I don’t know if they work. But I have a little peace of mind having these around. I keep them on my keys, our diaper bag, first aid kits in the car, etc.

If you are interested in toy suggestions, be sure to check out a separate post My Favorite Toys as a Mom and SLP.

This post is an ongoing work in progress. If you have any gear you love or gift ideas, please feel free to share!