Us parents we are always looking for great winter boots. Even better if the boot is three-season, meaning my kids can wear them as rain or snow boots. But I have more unique issues as a mother of a special needs child. My son’s feet are very small for his age. And any boots we…

A few months ago I became acquainted with Skida through the Instagram photos of many of my favorite female skiers, boarders and mountaineers. I guess you could say marketing through influential athletes works because I immediately checked Skida out. Skida Skida hats and headbands are homegrown with a passion for taking a fresh perspective on…

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…

It seems fitting to write this review of the Canada Goose Moraine Shell on National Polar Bear Day. Canada Goose is largely known for their high quality down outerwear. Gear for arctic expeditions. Gear for the highly committed. Gear for the cold, from a country where cold weather is a part of their national identity….

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…

Someone posed a question the other day, “what does being an outdoor mom really mean?” For some moms it means teaching their kids to love, respect, and be knowledgable about nature. For others it means living in such a way as to preserve the environment. I know moms who have taken to the road with…

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….

One reader from Canada asked, “How do I keep mittens on my toddler who hates them?!” She said, “I tried natural consequences the other day and it was not working on my daughter. She was happily picking up sticks and rocks at the beginning and I thought maybe it was still not cold enough for…

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…

This year, Canada Goose came out with a line of outer-wear for kids, taking all the aspects of warmth and protection for adults but miniaturizing it for the smallest of adventurers. The Bobcat Hoodie is their quilted 625-fill down jacket. It is great as a stand alone or layered under a shell for rugged exploration. Tested…

Our kids live in their winter boots for four months out of the year. So naturally we have a high bar on traction, performance, and cost. Today we are reviewing Stonz Winter Bootz for kids. We’ve been nothing but impressed with these! Tested in: Wasatch Range, UT; winter conditions Cost: $54.99-$63.99 Best Use: Winter boot, sledding,…

A good mitten is priceless to our ski family. We spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter. And the wrong gear can mean we are spending a lot of time fussing. Today we are reviewing the Stonz Mittz. Having trouble keeping your kid’s mittens on? Check out this post after reading our review! Q&A: How…

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…

“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…

Last week we published a basic guide to kid jackets, collecting and publishing a handful of favorites from other outdoor enthusiasts. This is the follow up post, as today I am sharing #OutdoorFamilies favorite ski and snow pants. Updated as of Winter 2016/2017  Click on the photos below for a link to a more detailed…

I’ve asked my favorite group of #OutdoorFamily Bloggers for their favorite winter jackets and below are the results! This post is newly updated [as 2016/2017] and these are tried and tested, used, spilled on, washed, and (when applicable) passed on to siblings. These are the jackets that tag along on our adventures and we would…

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…

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…