A seasoned outdoor-adventuring mom shares her favorite gear and classes for camping, rock climbing, biking and more with your family.
NEMO Equipment for Camping
NEMO excels at camping equipment. Their gear is thoughtfully made, but the quality is also superb. A well-designed sleeping pad can make all the difference, and the Tensor Trail Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad ($189.95) is a 3.5”-thick, 1 lb. sleeping pad that works for spring, summer and fall trips, while the Riff 15 Endless Promise Down Sleeping Bag ($399.95 to $449.95) is spoon-shaped, allowing those of us who are side sleepers to avoid the dreaded frozen mummy pose on our backs. The Riff bag also allows you to turn easily from your back to side and vice versa, since it’s wider at the elbows and knees. Rated for 15 degrees F, this bag keeps you warm with 800-fill-power, hydrophobic down. I’ve never slept in a more comfortable bag.
I own two impressively-designed and utterly different NEMO tents: the Wagontop 4P, a tall, easy-to-assemble tent that is often sold out because it’s so popular, and the convenient Mayfly Osmo 2 Lightweight Backpacking Tent ($399.95) for solo trips or adventures with my one kiddo. Since the Wagontop 4P is not always available online, and you may have a larger brood, check out the Johnson Outdoors Eureka! Copper Canyon LX 6 tent ($329.99).
Shop: Casual Adventure, Arlington, Va.; REI, multiple DMV locations.
Gregory Backpacks
Gregory backpacks ($159 to $399) are best-in-class toughies that will last you years after you make the initial investment, and they also happen to be beautiful, with vibrant blue, orange, green and red colors that will stand out on the trail. They’re cleverly made: most have spots to attach your trekking poles, hip belts with pockets where you can secure small items (I can put my phone in my hip pocket without it falling, even when I jump), sunglass storage on the shoulder harness and side-loading access for easy gear packing and unloading. They’re also secure for difficult hikes, with balanced load bearing, strap adjustability and superb weatherproofing. For kids, check out the Wander series, which includes the Wander 8, Wander 12, Wander 30 and Wander 50, where (just like the adult versions) the number accords with the number of liters the backpack can hold.
Shop: Casual Adventure, Arlington, Va.
Thule Cadence Bike Trailer
Local bike chain Conte Bikes offers this excellent all-around bike trailer for your Sunday morning coffee-and-park runs or your weekend country rides. The convenient and well-priced Thule Cadence ($349.95) fits up to two kids, securely snapped into five-point safety harnesses, at 49 lbs. each, with a max weight of 100 lbs for kids. Kiddos can be as tall as 23.6” at sitting height. Plus, it folds easily to 37 x 30 x 9” and weighs only 22 lbs. The bike trailer kit that comes with it includes a secure attachment to bike using the Thule ezHitch axle mount, and it’s compatible with a range of accessories, including a rain cover and a footmuff to keep little bodies warm while you’re huffing and puffing, getting your miles in.
If you’re looking for a bike trailer, stroller and cargo trailer all rolled into one, spring for the Thule Courier ($699.95), which when combined with a separate dog trailer kit offers your canine a soft dog bed and a rain-protectant roof cover. When you get to school, you can convert the Courier into a full-on stroller with an adjustable handlebar and compact wheels for the chaos of school drop-off or holiday events.
Shop: Conte Bikes, multiple DMV locations.
The Landmark Project
These are the adorable stocking stuffers ($18 to $76) you want to commemorate your kids’ and partner’s love for our national parks. The Landmark Project’s T-shirts, socks, beanies, posters and calendars are beautifully designed by Greenville, South Carolina artist, fly-fisherman and avid hiker Matt Moreau and his team. I own many of their hoodies, tees and sweaters and they’re soft and comfy-cozy for nights around the campfire. The kids’ collection is vintage-chic, with throwback designs that bring to mind the ‘50s and ‘60s. A great plus: the apparel featuring Smoky Bear raises funds for fire prevention (personally, I’d love to be gifted this vintage Smokey’s Band tee), and the brand uses ethical sourcing – 60% cotton and 40% recycled polyester for many of the tees, and the cotton is grown with methods that use less water, preserve the soil and compensate workers fairly.
Shop: The Landmark Project website; REI, multiple DMV locations.
Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0
My family has long trusted Janji for lightweight, rain-resistant running gear. The fully taped seams on their durable ripstop jacket ( $208) protect your core from moisture. The face-framing hood, with its bungee toggle for perfect fit, prevents rain from dripping on your face while still allowing 180-degree visibility. Janji really thought of everything with this one, with a mesh sleeve inside your zippered, rain-protected pocket to holds your phone securely and minimize bouncing, a dropped-back hem to protect you from rain or mud splatter and articulated, stay-in-place cuffs. The whole jacket can be tucked inside itself and has a hook that you can attach to a carabiner on the outside of a backpack.
Shop: Janji website, but the jacket may be available at REI and Pacers Running Company DC in the near future.
If you need a reasonably-priced rain jacket for kids, check out Helly Hansen, online or available at multiple DMV retailers; The North Face, multiple DMV locations.
Costa Sunglasses for Adults and Babiators for Kids
Costa sunglasses ($269 to $313) were made for long days out on the ocean or lake, and especially for being on a boat, but I wear these polarized sunglasses when biking, running and walking, too, and they don’t slip off my head. They’re stylish and hardworking glasses that filter reflective glare from the water, don’t scratch easily and block 100% of UVA and UVB light, and they come in a variety of lens colors specifically designed to maximize your sight during outdoor water experiences. They’ve also repurposed a ton, literally, of discarded fishing nets for their Untangled collection, recycle their polycarbonate lenses and support various sustainability initiatives. The Grand Catalina is a vintage style that’s been redesigned for modern times and, with its peripheral protection, is perfect for days out on the beach or lake, while the Nusa, Catherine and May styles are stylish enough to wear out to brunch or shopping, too. If you need kids’ sunglasses, check out the polarized Babiators ($38).
Shop: Costa at Sunglass Hut, multiple DMV locations; Babiators at Nordstrom, multiple DMV locations and Target, multiple DMV locations.
Darn Tough Socks
Darn Tough socks ($22 to $29) live up to their frosty New England heritage, even over long, cold hikes. They boast a lifetime warranty, so if they do wear out, you can return the actual socks for another pair mailed from the Vermont-based company. There’s a lot to love here: they’re sustainable, made in the U.S. and come in cute seasonal designs with new versions for each holiday. I find that there’s a lot less chafing with their snug fit than some of my other trail-running socks. The kids’ polar ski and snowboard socks with polar bears are particularly wintry, and you can also grab a bundle of kids and adults’ socks together on Darn Tough’s site.
Shop: Good Wolf Gear, Herndon, Va.
Coalatree and UV Skinz Sun Shirts
A UV shirt is a must for protecting your family’s skin year-round, especially for longer runs, visits to local farms with the kids, winter resort vacations and boat trips. Many sun shirts are laden with chemicals, but Coalatree’s Suray Shirt ($65) uses zinc ions embedded in the fabric’s molecules, plus it resists wrinkling and always looks good for lunch, dinner and photos during your outdoors events. If you’re running or boating, a zippered side pocket lets you store a pair of keys or a credit card and a hood helps protect you (and your hair) against the elements. UV Skinz has some less pricey options for kids ($30 and under), like the Short Sleeve Sport Sun & Swim Shirt, which works well for the beach but also serves as UPF 50+ sun protection for shoulders and upper arms.
Shop: UV Skinz website; Coalatree website.
Ooni Karu 12G Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
If you love to car camp and hate to sacrifice high-quality meals, consider the Ooni Karu 12G ($399), a truly ultra-portable pizza oven we can plunk in the back of our SUV and pop onto the ground next to our campsite. It uses three different sources of fuel, including charcoal, wood and gas (with a separate gas burner) and temps reach up to 950 degrees F. It can cook a pizza in 60 seconds, though we usually cook at a lower temperature and take a few minutes. A glass door lets you see your pizza as it cooks, and it’s been an absolute hit with our friends when we go camping. Though we wouldn’t tote this to a far-off campsite, it’s been perfect for spots right next to parking. Just make sure you heat it up 15-25 minutes before you need to use it, and consider premade crusts or roll out crust thinly to 12” with a long rolling pin.
Shop: Ooni website; Williams Sonoma, multiple DMV locations.
Learn to Fly Gift Experience
If, like my husband, your dream is to leave the earth behind and soar into the sky in a Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28, the time is this winter, and the place is Gaithersburg, Md. No experience is necessary, and kids 5 years of age and older can participate with a legal guardian. Your first flight will be in a supportive environment with an FAA Certified Flight Instructor, and you’ll get to sit in the pilot seat during your very first experience.
A few details: The experience costs $119 per person. One student and up to two passengers can participate, with an additional fee and weight restrictions. The maximum weight is 250 lbs. per person and 400 lbs. combined weight for all participants. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing (think warm – it’s cold up there!). Unfortunately, this experience is not handicapped-accessible. It lasts approximately 1 hour total, with 30 minutes of ground instruction and 30 minutes of flight time from engine start to stop. Whether you get to go up or not depends on the weather; strong wind, low clouds, fog or maintenance issues would prevent flight. Now get your little Wright Brothers or Amelia Earheart up there!
Shop: VirginExperienceGifts.com
REI Classes
If you’ve always dreamed of an overnight backpacking trip or learning how to rock climb outdoors but been too unsure to try it on your own, check out REI’s classes and events ($30 to $339), which include flat tire repair, two-day wilderness first aid, ski and snowboard waxing, e-bike basics, mountain biking and backcountry navigation with a map and compass. If your kiddo has been struggling to learn to ride a bike, they even have a class teaching bike riding to ages 5 to 12. Best yet, REI often provides much of the gear (check class listings). Getting an REI gift for a loved one and yourself this winter is a great way to ensure a memorable experience together.
Shop: REI, multiple DMV locations.
Dakota Kim is a food, parenting, travel and lifestyle writer. In a past life, she owned a diner and made delicious patty melts. She considers herself an expert in cranky old cats, distracting a frustrated baby during tummy time, Gilmore Girls one-liners and cleaning various substances off her microfiber sofa.
