Our Favorite Gear of 2022 - Parents Edition
Flying high at the Oregon Coast in a Tuffo Muddy Buddy suit
In 2022 our adventures took a different shape than they have in previous years. We are the parents of a very active toddler and are finding that day trips rather than epic type 2 adventures are more accessible to us right now. That being said, we definitely got after it this summer and figured out our “go to” items that made getting out the door much easier and more comfortable for all parties involved.
Our Favorite Gear of 2022
Here is our list of gear that changed how we approached adventures as parents of a toddler.
1. Two Ways to Carry a Toddler - Trail Magik Carrier & Deuter Kid Comfort Active SL
Trail Magik Kid Carrier
Our kiddo is at that perfect toddler age where he wants to walk on his own, but only for like 15 minutes at a time. If we want to get anywhere we need to have an easy way to carry him that he enjoys. We found two kid carriers that we really loved for this in-between stage.
For overnight trips, solo hikes or trips that require travel I would highly recommend the Trail Magik Kid Carrier. We began using this carrier for day trips a few week prior to our two night backpacking trip to get our kiddo used to riding in it. It took a few tries for him to get more comfortable, but once we figured out he could ride facing out, we knew this would work for us. On our backpacking trip, kiddo took his nap nestled into my chest while we hiked to camp or to scenic lunch spots. It was easy to get him in and out of the carrier, and I was eventually able to do this on my own even with a full pack! An additional carabiner to connect one of the top straps facilitated this even further.
Deuter Kid Comfort Active SL pack at Smith Rock State Park
For day hikes we still default to the Deuter Kid Comfort Active SL pack. Our kiddo likes riding in this so much that he will pull it out and try to climb in it anytime he sees it. I prefer this specific pack because I’m a smaller framed person with a super short torso, and we tried two other popular kid carriers before discovering this option. This pack has a highly adjustable system that is very comfortable for me but will still work for my partner. It is a bit lighter than other similar packs becasue they cut a few of the bells and whistles found on other models but it still has everything we need including hip belt pockets and a kick stand. It’s hard to reach water bottles kept in the main pocket, so I would recommend attaching the CTUG Bottle Sleeve to one of the shoulder straps (see below).
CNOC Vesica Bottle — collapsed & full.
We have been long time users of the Smartwater bottles, but this year we decided to give our hydration system a little upgrade! What I appreciate most about the CNOC Vesica bottle is that it is collapsible. When its not filled it’s easy to make it compact and fit it any available pocket so it’s not taking up valuable real estate for snacks or other kiddo entertainment. It’s so handy, we‘re planning to bring these in our carry-on when we travel abroad. Beyond its convenient compact size, its also compatible with our Sawyer Squeeze water system. CNOC is also a B Corp so you know you are supporting a holistically awesome company that cares about the earth AND its employees.
CTUG Bottle Sleeve with CNOC Vesica bottle.
The Chicken Tramper bottle sleeve was a game changer for solo hikes. With both the Trail Magik and the Deuter carrier I found it really difficult to reach my bottle without an extra set of helping hands. This mesh bottle sleeve attaches easily to your pack with a few of clips and straps. It is lightweight and adjustable while still being convenient for the parched hiker or kiddo. It’s made to fit virtually any size pack and comes in a variety of sizes to fit both vesicas and smartwater bottles.
4. Trail Specific Shirts - Town Shirt and Jolly Gear
Ashley in Jolly Gear hoody & Daniel in short sleeved Town Shirt.
When it comes to trail shirts, we are a house divided.
I gifted my partner a short sleeve Town Shirt this year, and its safe to say it’s in his regular rotation (on and off trail) and has become his go-to party shirt. He loves the fun, bright pattern and short sleeve design since he runs hot.
Manzanita Town Shirt on the trail.
I on the other hand, run cold even on the warmest days so my go to trail shirt is the long sleeved Jolly Gear button up hoody. Beyond my cool body temp, I also appreciate the full sun coverage and more neutral design.
Both options make getting dressed for the trail simple since we use these shirts as our adventure uniforms. No matter which trail shirt company you choose, know you are supporting an amazing small brand, with both companies being run by stellar humans!
Jolly Gear hoody (left) at the Painted Hills, OR.
It’s called Fashun - Goodr sunglasses on the kiddo.
With our kiddo being the age he is, things get broken pretty regularly. After losing a sunglasses arm to tug of war with him earlier this year, I resigned to buy more affordable sunglasses for the time being. To be honest, I’ll probably be a Goodr loyalist for awhile. Their sunglasses are fun, affordable, polarized AND non-slip. They look good and feel great to wear - ya know, they don’t give your ears the squeezies. They have glasses for every sized head with the recent addition of the LFG’s, so now our whole family can rock pairs of Goodr.
Tuffo Muddy Buddy suit at the Oregon Coast.
As an active family, you know how important a waterproof layer is for all seasons. For our kiddo, we LOVE our Tuffo Muddy Buddy suit! It packs small, has been really durable so far (got us through crawling and early toddling/ falling stages without rips), and is easy to layer under for cooler weather. We used this suit Fall through Spring this last year and it even came in handy for windy days at the coast. I cannot recommend this convenient and affordable waterproof suit enough.
This is not a paid post, nor does it contain any affiliate links. This is just a list of solid companies that are making great gear that suits our needs during this stage of our adventuring. We hope you find something here that makes getting your little one into the outdoors a little easier. Cheers!
