We are outdoors A LOT. And fair-skinned. At the end of the day, I really would like to limit the amount of chemical sunscreen we use as a family. And one very realistic way to do this is to keep our skin covered with quality sun wear. We’ve been testing out the Sunday Afternoons sun…

Hiking in the Wasatch Range is… unique. It didn’t take me long after moving from Colorado to realize there aren’t many ‘easy kid hikes’ here. In fact, many of the lesser peaks have more technical trails and more elevation gain than some of Colorado’s 14er’s. It was Kai’s (our Golden Doodle) birthday and so the…

There are so many great kid carriers on the market. But when it comes to cargo space, the Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 is one of our favorites. Tested in: Nearly everything; hiking with child 25-35 lbs, summer and winter conditions. Cost: $300 Best Use: A kid carrier for long distances and/or hikes where you need lots…

Every good summer adventure starts with a few good precautions.  For our family of fair-skinned explorers, sun protection is a must and so I am always on the lookout for good sun hats. Yes. There are good and bad sun hats. Sun hats with vents for hot days. Sun hats without… meaning my kids will overheat…

Tested in: Hiking, walking, & swimming with 20 lb. Toddler and 40 lb. Preschooler Cost: $65 Availability: Boba provided by GoTikesGo.com Best Use: Short hikes, around town use, in the water, backpacking (to pack along for day hikes). For children 3-48 months and 15-45 lbs. Selling Points: The BobaAir is ultra lightweight, ergonomic, & machine…

It is Sunday morning and despite being early March, it feels like April. Temperatures are encouraging us out the door and even though I am operating as a single parent for a few days, I am still meeting some good friends for a hike in Mill Creek Canyon. But I’ll be honest: I am tempted…

A good kid carrier is a must-have for any outdoor family. And having one that suits your needs might not be as straight forward as you think. So we jumped on the chance to review the new Deuter Comfort Air. Deuter Kid Comfort Air Tested in: Hiking, snowshoeing with 35 lbs toddler. Cost: $239.00 Availability: Exclusively…

As a family we haven’t been much into trekking poles. But this last winter my husband invested in a pair and has loved having them, especially when there is tricky footing and he has a kid on his back. So we began wondering how poles would work for our kids. And so far, especially on…

I love spring. Probably more than any other season, there is so much you can do. From skiing to hiking and climbing, every adventurer can find some soul filling beauty. And every year, when the snow starts to melt, there are specific places that come to mind with a beckon similar to the chocolate in…

Important: Family-friendly means easy mileage and easy grade, but not always safe from avalanches! Please educate yourself and visit the Utah Avalanche Center for daily avalanche forecasts and more information! Often, while you are on mild terrain, avalanche terrain looms above you, increasing risk. We’ve recently found ourselves exploring some new trails by snowshoe, and they…

Last week we went to the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. And while we only spent a brief afternoon at the show (other more important things to do, like skiing) we cruised the floor looking for gear that pertains to adventure parents. Below is a brief list of what to look for in the next year….

We were recently asked by a reader: Alyssa and Chris, what are your tips for taking a 1-year-old snowshoeing? We took our first child snowshoeing when she was six months old. My tips? A good carrier for mom/dad + super warm layers for baby, cause remember the babies aren’t actually making any extra body heat…

One last look at a year full of a LOT of first for us as a family. First snowshoe trips. First time on cross-country skis. First half and full marathons. First triathlons. First all-family backpacking trips. Even the first time trying Kipper Snacks (basically sardines….) And a ton of beautiful moments in-between. Here is a…

Kid’s look really cute in rain boots. Yellow. Pink. Blue. Cute. That is why I agreed to test the Stonz Wear Rain Bootz out as ambassadors this fall/winter. But I am finding out they have more uses than just cuteness. 🙂 It turns out I am still learning of new things and new awesome brands….

Merino is all the rage, right? Australian merino is even more so. But why? I am not really “up” on my merino hype and only know that I simply love the stuff. But here is what I learned about I/O Merino: Australian is known for having the world’s best and most advanced wool in the…

I have a love affair with this Stonewear Designs Dryflex Double Cross top. And a funny laundry rotation going with it right now. It looks like this: Wear under a cute black hoodie as casual day wear. Wear as a baselayer on a “low-sweat” adventure. (Ie. Skiing, climbing, hiking) Wear to a “sweat-a-thon” at the…

“In The Open 2014” consists of the gear we choose, use and abuse every time we step out the door. It is the gear we love and need. The gear we’d recommend. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and we have by no means tested or tried every great piece of gear out…

In the fall/winter our choice of footwear for the kids becomes less…forgiving. The low-top hiking shoes and sneakers we usually grab are not quite suitable for our messy, muddy, and snowy adventures. Our first experience with this was last winter when we took the kids snowshoeing for the first time. Well…we strapped that snowshoe onto…

Last month I received a copy of “Tell It On The Mountain”, a walking documentary of life on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The PCT is 2,663 miles long and extends from the U.S. border with Mexico to the U.S. border with Canada near British Columbia. This movie documents the lives of a dozen or…

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…