Ollie and Stella Outfitters have been generous with me as I’ve tested their one-piece rain, wind, and snow suit during each of the four seasons. You might recall this item making it in our “Multi-Tasking Must-Haves” series last spring. And after 5 more months of having this piece of gear around, I still agree. While…

I hear it every year. And have already heard it a handful of times in the last week. There are only two seasons around here, Summer and Winter. Fall only lasts a week or so. I hate to be the contrarian, but I respectfully disagree. So why does it always feel like Fall comes and…

Softshell is the garment of fall in Utah. Breathable. Stretchy. But wind and water-resistant. This is the first time I have tried a vest. My original hopes were to wear it for cold weather running and while I believe it will be awesome this winter when I am pounding out miles in twenty degrees, it…

Not all outdoor sports require a ton of skill and gear in order to get out and do them! And that is what keeps us from pursuing certain activities as parents, isn’t it? Cost. Time. Cost. Danger. Cost. But certain outdoor sports are not only easy to get “into” but flow with their natural inclinations….

For most parents I talk to, getting into outdoor sports with their kids is a lot of work. But it doesn’t have to be. My son has been riding a Strider bike since he was 22 month old. And at age 4, he graduated to pedals. We’ve done nothing special. The majority of his time…

Another super snuggly performance top to keep you covered this fall/winter! Toaster Zip Top Location: Wasatch Range, UT Activities: Hiking, Climbing/Bouldering, Daily Living Best Use: Skiing, Snowshoeing, Backpacking/Hiking, Casual Wear Yays! Fit: Sleeve length was near perfect for me, not too long. But then I am short with short arms… The fit is relaxed in the…

I think I found a pant designed for the iPhone 5. But that is just one of the many things I love about the Rockin’ Pant. More on that later. 🙂 I am hard to please when it comes to pants. I’d say I have a hard body to fit – round hips, short legs….

It was mile 75. Dark had settled into the woods and there would be no strong moon to fight it back tonight. Chuck’s hands were numb, hardly working. Things like peeling a banana, tying shoes, removing or adding layers of clothing were increasingly difficult. Chris handed him a hand warmer. Chuck dropped it. Chris picked…

Tested by: Alyssa and 7 yr-old daughter Location: Camping and Biking / Bear Lake, Wasatch Range, UT Season: Late summer / Fall Best Uses: Running, Biking, Yoga, casual wear, but honestly works for EVERYTHING!  Sizing: True to size Yays! Fit: Very comfortable a-line cut. Loose (but not too loose) around the hips and legs. Dress…

Fall is here! And that means the most reached for clothing item in our closets is our softshell jackets. We have a variety of brands we love, but this is our first time getting to try out a softshell for our toddler. Let’s just say the other kids are a little jealous… Girls Ice Plaid…

This is likely to be an “alpine start” I am never going to forget. For those new to outdoorsie lingo, here is a brief definition: alpine start- 1. To make an efficient start on a long climb by packing all your gear the previous evening and starting early in the morning, usually well before sunrise. My…

The sunlight turned orange this morning, behind hazy mountains, and navy blue clouds. The sky was a swirl of indecision. Lightening. The smell of rain. An unsteady breeze. The colors outside were alive. Somehow, the world I see everyday looked new again. The same black topped streets, the cracked sidewalks, cookie cutter houses all displayed…

This last weekend my daughter ran her first 5K. She is seven. And it is funny…while brainstorming tips for helping your kid “Run Their First 5K” I came up with a whole bunch of warnings. If, like us, you are building a lifestyle of running, your kids will notice certain things, certain habits and will…

Hi Tec has graciously allowed us to do an extended test of the Timaru Down jacket for women. We received this jacket last spring and while I enjoyed getting to use it in the snow and cold, I was also significantly interested in how it would perform on our many high alpine backpacking trips this…

Balancing kids and climbing can be quite the task. This is what a weekend at the crag looked like for 9 adults and 13 kids: After the fourth reading of “Big Girls Use the Potty” we get the: Mom, I am hungry. Can I have some chips? It is only 9am. They just had breakfast…Imagine…

Kid’s Love to create. It doesn’t matter if it is with sticks, legos, or massive amounts of  paper, glue, and stickers. So when Nike contacted us to be part of their #FreeYourMoves campaign and design our own shoes, we jumped at it! Free Your Moves I’ve become more sentimental with age. Meaning a company with…

“Hey, Tom! How has the week been?” “Girl, I love your new swimsuit! Where are you guys headed after paddling?” And so the conversations continued, swirling around me in a vortex of water, paddles, boards and beauty. Community. Somehow people had bottled all the laid back, relaxing, and positive energy of a local surfing scene…

As we walked through preparing for our first family backpacking trip I noticed something: there are a ton of articles on backpacking with kids in their teens. Even a few with middle schoolers. But I found only a couple posts on backpacking with young kids… seeing as our kids are ages six, five, and three, I just…

As small coastal towns faded into our rearview mirror, a new type of water started to dominate the landscape. Rivers. Big Rivers. And cities. So it seemed some good-old-fashioned urban paddling was in our future. Spending a few days in Salem, OR meant we had to check out the local paddling scene on the Willamette…

Honestly, until this summer I haven’t been all that worried about my kid’s eyes when we are out adventuring in the sun. Probably more out of ignorance than anything. But I wear sunglasses ALL THE TIME…well most-the-time since we live in sun-drenched Utah. And so I’ve been working on getting my kids to wear them…