When I became a mom, winter brought a whole host of worries. See, babies cannot really tell you when they are cold. They are also much more difficult to keep warm when outdoors, because unlike us, they aren’t skiing or snowshoeing or burning massive amounts of energy. Here is what works for us: JJ Cole…

This post sort of has to do with keeping warm, sort of. [And I know I promised a weeks worth of “staying warm” posts.] But lets face it- this is more than a gear review…cause there is only so much you can review about a hat. Either it fits, or not.  Either it itched, or…

This week has been cold!  And in honor of the season we are posting a weeks worth of reviews, tips, and info on keeping the kids and babies warm! I grew up skiing. I would venture on saying it was a family religion. And because of it, winter was always my favorite season…until I had…

A few things about us: 1. we aren’t a stroller family 2. we are habitual “baby-wearers” when the kids are young but 3. I am a sceptic when it comes to baby slings. I learned this week, though, that the Seven Sling has a place in my baby gear repertoire! (FYI, my youngest child is…

Christmas comes every year and grandparents start asking what to give the kids, and I start wondering what to do after I’ve given them all my ideas.  This year I made a list of useful things – not to expensive – that the kids would love but also satisfy some need in their outdoor gear….

We told our daughter that if she made it to the top of the wall, we’d get her climbing shoes. And so, we very quickly found ourselves trying on shoes. “Are they comfortable?” “Oh Mom, these ones are really great, they look so cute on me,” she responds. She is such a girl… To say…

We’ve gotten a lot of questions regarding kids climbing harnesses. There are two harnesses I would suggest- though I am certain there are many others that are great. Please leave your comments if you’ve found other great ones. These are the ones we have experience with: 1. Petzl Simba Full Body Harness  We love this…

Mixed bag… Product features: Zippered main compartment, zippered small front pocket, mesh pocket interior for 1 liter hydration reservoir, mesh side pockets, reflective piping and 1 liter hydration reservoir with bite valve. We got one of these for my daughter’s birthday and overall I have mixed feelings about it.  It is great for hiking, with…

Product Features: Removable diaper pad 2 Water bottle holders Insulated bottle holders Internal organization Internal waterproof pocket Floral fabric interior Nylon fabric Top zipper for easy access to internal compartment 7 x 13 x 18 inches I received this diaper bag with our third child and it is versatile, easy to organize, and fits a…

It sounds like a gimmick right?  Some stupid rubber bracelet that you strap on your kid and when you get home he’s covered in bug bites.  I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness and scent of this product.  At one point the mosquitoes were swarming around my son’s head like he’d been dropped in a…

Fleece is everywhere.  From cheap fleece pajamas from Target to Performance Fleece from Old Navy to higher priced fleece from say North Face, REI, or Patagonia.  But are they equal?  Will cheap do just as good as the most expensive versions? Fleece is my fabric of choice for layering my kids at night camping.  Also…

We encountered a new kind of mutant mosquito this weekend.  The kind that can sniff out the one square inch of skin that doesn’t have repellent on it, and bite… Maybe you’ve met them before. They bit through clothing.  They flew up pant legs.  But most of all they like to bite your scalp and…

For those serious hikers out there who love to bring their kiddos along, this backpack is perfect for you. There are a lot of backpacks out there to choose from and it can be overwhelming trying to find one that works best. We tried going cheap and used hand-me-down packs that squeaked with every step and sent us…

We love our Striders and they go everywhere with us. They are marketed as a “No Pedal Balance Bike” teaching kids to balance and steer before the complicated task of pedaling. We got our first Strider for our son at about 22 months old. One plus: as they transition to pedaling, they never need training…

We have three kids. But the number of kid transportation devices we have is simply ridiculous. We have had: an umbrella stroller, a single jogger and a double jogger, a double sit/stand stroller, two bike trailers, a co-pilot bike seat (kind that mounts behind), a Bjorn, a REI framed kid backpack complete with Camelbak pouch…