product reviews - Pitstops for Kids

Travel Gear We Use: Camping Comfort Items

April 20, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We used to be hardcore minimalist campers…until we starting reviewing camping gear. Then we realized there’s a whole slew of fun, convenient camping items we now can’t live without. Turns out, we like to be comfortable! While we still camp in a minimalist fashion when it comes to backpacking gear, we’ve added the following camping comfort items to our car camping experience.

Big Agnes Helinox Chair:

This lightweight chair weighs in at only 1 pound, 3 ounces, so you could conceivably take it backpacking. (It stuffs into it’s own sack). However, we bring it to the campsite for car camping, and it plays double-duty as a soccer game-viewing chair during my kids’ season. I love how easy the Helinox is to clean (spills wipe away) and to stow (simply fold the corded poles and wrap the mesh sling around it). A Helinox chair sets you back further than your standard foldable chair, but you absolutely can’t beat it for weight and convenience. You’ll barely know it’s packed in your car! Pick up the Helinox Camp Chair on Amazon for $99.95, or find it for a few bucks more at most outdoor retailers.

Grand Trunk Goods Double Hammock:

Grand Trunk Goods make some of the highest quality outdoor luxuries on the market (I love their travel pillows and sleep sacks). Naturally, when it comes to making a hammock, they excel…and for a very reasonable price. Their double hammock fits two adults (or three squirmy kids) and can be hung anywhere, using the included rope and carabiners. The hammock is made from parachute nylon, and stuffs into a small stuff sack for easy transport. We’ve taken ours on camping trips as well as vacations to condos and vacation homes. The most fun part of a Grand Trunk hammock: picking your color. The site offers over 20 color combinations. Pick up yours for only only $45 on Amazon. You can also upgrade to a Grand Trunk Skeeter Beater, which comes with a built in bug net!

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Eureka Cook Table:

We didn’t know we needed a camp table until we tried it…then couldn’t go back. Why? The Eureka Cook Table fits a double camp stove perfectly, and comes with an organization center below. This section zips closed to keep dust and dirt off your plates, utensils, and kitchen tools, and keeps small animals out. Where we camp, we almost always need a bear locker, so our food does not go in here, but it would be entirely possible to store food in the camp table if you’re in a safe area. With our stove on the table, we are free to spread out more on our picnic table, using it for card games, art projects, and board games after dinner. I worried the camp table would be bulky to pack and heavy to carry, but with it’s own carry case and easily folding legs, it’s been a breeze. I wouldn’t want to carry it far, but for short distances, it’s no problem. Pick up the Eureka Cook Table for $99.

Kelty Camp Pillow:

We can’t camp without pillows. Even while backpacking, I bring along a very small one. The Kelty Camp Pillow is compressible, fits into its own stuff sack (which is also handy for keeping it clean as you pack and unpack camp), and has an extra sleeve where you can stash extra clothing (socks, anyone?) or a lightweight jacket for added volume. They come in a variety of colors, so everyone can have their individual one. The Kelty Camp Pillow is only $16.

Coleman Trailhead II cot:

Until recently, I hadn’t slept on a cot since summer camp as a kid. When I tried Coleman’s Trailhead II cot, I was amazed how rested I felt! You’ll stay warmer off the ground, and since the Trailhead is designed in a ‘military’ style, it’s very sturdy, even for bigger adults. You get multiple side pockets down the length of the cot, where we like to stow flashlights, books, and small items like watches or lip balm. Best of all, it folds down small and stows in a carry case for storage. The Trailhead II is under $45 on Amazon.

Klymit Static V and Static V Jr:

A cushy sleeping pad is essential for me when I backpack and camp. I know there are those who swear by minimalist pads, but I just can’t do it. The Klymit Static V feels downright luxurious with its air chamber design. It inflates and deflates in seconds, and is still only 18 ounces. Plus, it rolls into its own stuff sack that’s a quarter of the size of my other sleeping pads. It also limits air movement, which means you don’t lose heat while sleeping. With Klymit, I can be an ultra-lightweight camper and live in comfort! There’s also a Klymit Static V Jr, which is 3/4 length for adults, and weighs only 13 ounces. We have one for our 11-year-old, and my teens use it as well when they really want to shave off ounces. The Klymit Static V is under $50 on Amazon, as is the Jr model.

Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

GSI Java Press:

Can’t live without a good cup of joe in the morning? Me, neither. I love, love, love the GSI Java Press, which travels well and still provides a great cup of coffee (or two) during camping mornings. Maybe I’m a snob, but I will not drink instant coffee, and the java press is lightweight, indestructible, and easy to pack with the rest of our kitchen gear. It’s double-walled and insulated, BPA-free, and brews a strong cup of coffee or tea. Pick it up on Amazon for under $30.

Waka Waka Power +

Normally, we like to unplug when we go camping. But let’s be real: sometimes you simply need or want to have a source of power for your phone or other device. When we’re not backpacking ultra lightweight, I like to carry my phone for safety purposes (GPS positioning, etc) and when we’re luxury car camping, it’s nice to be able to watch a movie on the iPad. What? I told you this was a post about camping comfort. The Waka Waka Power+ is awesome because it’s a charger that’s powered by the sun. It’s small solar panel charges virtually any type of small electronic device within just a few hours. Plus, it has a light, so you can get up to 150 hours of illumination. When we tried it out, we had trouble at first finding a sunny spot to put the Waka Waka to charge. Once we’d gotten the knack, however, it could charge fully after a day outside (breakfast until dinner). There are multiple light settings (so you can save battery when needed), but we found we hardly use it for light. Instead, it’s our go-to phone charger. The design is flexible, so you can set it upright on a table, or hang it from the ceiling of a tent. There’s even an SOS emergency beacon. The Waka Waka isn’t packed for every trip, but when it stays home, it’s in our emergency supply box, for those ‘just in case’ moments. Grab the Waka Waka on Amazon for $79.

What item can’t you live without while camping? Find more Travel Gear We Use!

Disclosure: We received some of these items for the purpose of review. Without product reviews, Pit Stops for Kids would not be able to keep you informed on the latest gear.

Travel Gear We Use: Best cameras for small hands

April 15, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

A good camera or HD video device is essential gear for most families traveling today. We agree, and take it one step further: it’s wonderful to put the camera in the hands of a child. Kids become more engaged with their surroundings when they have some control over documenting the trip, and we find our tweens and teens pay better attention on historic site visits or at natural attractions when occasionally looking through the lens of a camera.

This said, it’s not necessary to buy top-of-the-line camera equipment for kids! (Shouldn’t we parents get the good stuff, first?) Here’s what we deem to be the best cameras for kids:

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860:

Many cameras designed for young kids look like toys. I dislike this, mostly because kids know what the real deal looks like, and want their photography efforts to be taken just as seriously. This is why I love the Olympus Stylus Tough: it’s a real camera with a design that still appeals to kids. It truly is tough, with a rugged shell and shock-proof features. It’s waterproof up to 15 m, as well as crushproof and freezeproof. There’s easy selfie shooting, if you’re into that (your teens might be) and you get built in Wi-Fi, which makes it easy to transfer photos to a smart phone or the IO Share app. The optical zoom is decent at 5x, and I like the image stabilization. And yes, it shoots movies, too. Pick up the Olympus Stylus Tough on Amazon for $248.

NERF Action Camera:

Yes, NERF! HD action cameras are very expensive, and frankly, I’m not shelling out the big bucks until my kids can do something darn noteworthy on their skis or see something pretty amazing while we’re on the go. In the meantime, we’ve been traveling with the NERF Action Camera, which features many of the same assets of the spendy brands without the terror of kids losing it or breaking it. You get a 5.1 MP digital sports camcorder that produces full HD 720p images and has a 4x zoom, much like mom and dad’s. It mounts on a helmet just like that other brand, and comes with a waterproof case. You also get a full touch preview screen, which makes it easy for kids to use on the fly. Our kids have used it while biking and skiing. Pick up the NERF Action Camera for under $60 on Amazon.

Nikon Coolpix L840:

Our eleven-year-old has shown great interest in photography, so this year, we upgraded him to his first DSLR camera. We still didn’t want to break the bank, and we’ve been very happy with his Nikon Coolpix. He gets to learn about manual settings and lenses, and we don’t have to be too fearful of the cost of replacement. The Nikon Coolpix has 38x optical zoom, a low light image sensor, and a tilt LCD display, which makes it easy for a smaller and shorter person to get the correct angle on a shot. And it still takes HD video, too, of course. Pick up the Nikon Coolpix L840 on Amazon for under $200.

iPhone 5 or 6:

Lastly, don’t overlook the photography features on an iPhone. Even an iPhone 5 features an eight megapixel primary camera and 1.2 megapixel rear camera. Tweens and teens usually know more than their parents about photography apps available to make the most of this, and often a phone is already in a kid’s pocket. When younger, our kids aren’t allowed to have a working phone, but we ‘gift’ them with our old phones when we upgrade. They use them as iPods, for music, games, and photography. Given how often upgrades become available, these used phones make for great travel cameras.

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What camera does your child use? What do you love–or not love–about it?

Trip planning with Momaboard Family Trip Planners

April 6, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

I have a confession: I love planning trips. For me, it’s like a puzzle to put together or a painting to outline and fill in…first you choose your family travel destination, then you book airfare and hotel rooms, then finally, you fill in the details of what you’ll do, where you’ll eat, and what you’ll see.

It’s this last part that can be tricky, however, especially in a brand-new-to-you location. For our most recent major trip to Paris, I tried out Momaboard‘s Family Trip Planning Service (FTPS). This online service is wonderfully simple: you select the city of your choice, you read about the local, parent expert for that region (Mombassador), and you click ‘Let Momaboard Plan My Trip’. Don’t worry: they don’t plan the whole thing, and they don’t book things for you. (This fact appeals to a control freak like me.) Instead, you fill out a short questionnaire about your trip (who’s going, your dates, what you like to do), and the Mombassador provides you with a day-to-day itinerary with suggested activities, dining picks, and routes.

How I used the Family Trip Planning Service:

When I discovered Momaboard’s FTPS, I already had several days of my Paris trip pretty well organized. However, two additional days were still blank slates on the calendar. When I filled out my questionnaire, I asked Paris Mombassador Coralie Grassint to focus on these two days, letting her know what I already had in the works for my additional days and what I still wanted to see, such as the Montmartre neighborhood, Notre Dame, and the Louvre.

After only a few days, Coralie provided me with a detailed itinerary (again, just suggestions) that I could access via the Momaboard site using a secure password. From there, I was able to download the entire itinerary as a PDF, which I saved on my phone for reference during the trip.

When I clicked on the locations, they expanded, showing me more details. At the bottom, I was given maps and specific walking and metro directions, in addition to generalized tips and helpful local phone numbers. Here’s what an expanded page looked like:

The way Coralie organized the activities per day was extremely useful, because while I knew basically what I wanted to do, I wasn’t sure which attractions to bundle together in each day, based on proximity and walking routes. Perhaps most useful of all, Coralie included restaurant picks for each day, based on both kid-friendliness and location. More than any other feature of the service, I used these restaurant recommendations. Without them, I would have had no idea which dining establishments to try in each area. (By the way, I told Coralie that we planned to eat at casual, budget-friendly restaurants, but I could have asked for upscale recommendations.)

Using the PDF, I added some of my two day itinerary to my TripIt app for easy reference, but also kept both a printed and digital copy of the entire itinerary so I could use it as needed. I found the level of involvement to be just right: I was still in control of my itinerary and could tweak it at will, but I had solid recommendations from a local parent at my fingertips.

So what does it cost?

A Momaboard itinerary of 0-7 days is $50, and an 8-14 day itinerary is $100. If you’ll be spanning multiple cities, you can email for a quote. We only needed advice for two days, but had I known about the service sooner, I would have asked for our full Paris week to be included. The suggestions based on your kids’ ages and interest combined with the step-by-step directions for navigation make a Momaboard itinerary absolutely worth the cost. I’m sure I’ll be using them again when we travel internationally.

To create your own itinerary:

Start at Momaboard.com, and follow the prompts to select the city you’re headed to. Their list of destinations can be found here.

As we disclose whenever applicable, we were offered a Momaboard itinerary free of charge, for the purpose of review. I’m sure I’ll be using them again, on my own dime!

Travel Gear We Use: Eagle Creek USB Universal Travel Adaptor

February 26, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Twenty-five years ago, I went on my first international trip on my own. One of my first purchases for my journey through Europe was a travel adaptor. It came in a big bag with lots of various-sized plug adaptors. A few months ago, I finally upgraded. As it turns out, gone are the clunky, multi-piece travel adaptors. Instead, adaptors now come in one sleek unit, and include USB ports.

I chose to purchase my new travel adaptor from Eagle Creek, because apart from one item*, I’ve always found their travel products to be high quality, practical, and affordable. In fact, we love their wheeled luggage lines so much, we were all carrying Eagle Creek bags through France and Italy.

Eagle Creek offers three travel adaptors, ranging from a bare bones model for $25 to a pro model for $65. I chose the one in the middle, the USB Universal Travel Adaptor for $50. Like it’s ‘pro’ counterpart, this adaptor comes with a detachable USB section with two ports. It’s a two-prong design that works in 150 countries. We appreciated that you simply slide the appropriate prongs in or out as needed. This way, in France we could use one adaptor type and in Italy another, all on the same unit, without needing to remember which types to pack. Because it’s a two-prong design, it accommodates US plug-ins directly. In other words, I can plug my US appliance directly into the adaptor, then plug the adaptor into the wall, using the appropriate prong type.

The whole unit is smaller than my fist, and I had no trouble with its durability, stashing it in various places in my carry on and in my day pack. It comes with surge overload protection, which is good insurance just in case your US devices aren’t approved for use at higher voltage.

The USB port section slides right into the main unit; you can take it on or off. I found that we used the USB unit at night to recharge our phones, then I’d just slide that section off (with the USB cables still attached) and use the adaptor solo for items like my hair dryer or my laptop. I debated getting the cheaper model without the USB ports; after all, it’s possible to simply bring a US plug for the USB cables and charge the phones one at a time. However, I’m so glad I splurged. If anything, we could have used more USB ports, not less!

Pick up the USB Universal Travel Adaptor on Eagle Creek, or save a few bucks and buy on Amazon.

*The only Eagle Creek product I’d avoid: their $6 travel sacks (3-1-1 bags) are not durable. We bought five, and four ripped before we’d even left the US.

Tips for planning winter travel: SnowCast review

February 8, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

This post brought to you by SnowCast. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Pit Stops for Kids.

We love winter trips at Pit Stops for Kids, but traveling during the winter months to and from most North American destinations requires more trip planning and preparation than the average vacation. We recently returned from a long weekend ski trip to Colorado, and used the following tips to have a safer and easier travel day on both ends of the trip.

Predict snowfall with SnowCast:

We recently checked out the SnowCast app, available for iOS, which can show users how many inches of snow may fall in any location. Once the app was downloaded to my phone, I was able to choose the ‘now’ option to see how much snow to expect immediately, or the ‘later’ option to see how much snow was predicted to fall up to 48 hours later. Because I was departing from a wintery location as well as arriving to one, I used the app to see how much snow to expect both at home on our departure day as well as at our destination.

With this information, I knew if I needed to wake up earlier than planned to get to the airport (the answer was no, I would not need to shovel out my car) and if I could expect a longer commute to the ski resort once I landed (the answer was yes, unfortunately!). I found the SnowCast app to be easy to use, with a clean interface, and I love that it gets its predictions from NOAA, which is where I turn for snow forecasts already.

Download the app

Prepare your car for winter trips:

If you’re driving instead of flying for your winter trip, use a weather tool like SnowCast to prepare your car as well as plan your route. We absolutely always have the following items in a tote at the back of our car during winter weather trips:

snow chains (that fit our car…check tire size)
collapsible snow shovel
extra gloves, a head lamp, and a small tarp (fold the tarp to use if you must kneel or lie on the snow to put on chains)
a blanket or two
one case of bottled water

I like that I can use SnowCast mid-trip, checking conditions as I go. We’ll have it at the ready on our next winter road trip, which will be in a few weeks.

Pack carefully for winter trips:

I hate over-packing almost as much as I hate checked luggage fees. However, it’s very hard to pack light for a family trip in winter. Here’s what we do:

On ski trips, bring ski or snowboard boots in a boot bag as your ‘personal item’, and rent skis or boards at your destination.
Wear bulky winter items such as boots or jackets on the plane to save room.
When headed to warm-weather destinations, utilize airport coat checks…you can leave your winter coats at the airport, and retrieve them before heading back out to the cold parking garage!
Roll thinner winter items, such as thermals and wool socks, to save space.
Use packing cubes to store like-items that may only come out once or twice during a trip, such as extra sweaters or winter gloves.

What are your best tips for winter trips?

Five holiday gifts for travelers who have everything

November 23, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Have an avid traveler on your gift list this year? It’s a no-brainer to pick up something travel-related, but what if she already owns all the latest travel gear, or you have no idea where he’s planning to vacation next? No worries: the following five epic holiday gifts for travelers will make any jet-setter happy.

1. Give the gift of connection:

Fly with WiFi, photo by Glen Fleishman

A subscription or gift card to GoGo inflight internet service is appreciated by any traveler who needs to get work done inflight. Buy a $5 one-hour pass as a stocking stuffer, or splurge on an unlimited monthly pass for your loved one. Now he has no excuse not to stay connected! Have an international traveler? Buy a prepaid 3G data SIM card!

2. Give the gift of a good (and free!) night’s sleep:

Marriott Vacation Club, Oceana Palms

Everyone can use a gift card to their favorite hotel chain. We love Marriott’s gift card options, which allow recipients to choose among thousands of hotels. Are you a Marriott Vacation Club owner? If so, you can gift points for an epic gift to a loved one! Same goes for membership in hotel loyalty programs like iPrefer (which is free to join). Think outside the box to stretch your existing memberships into gifts.

3. Give the gift of experiences:

Snorkeling in Laguna Beach, CA

This is our favorite gift to give! Instead of opening more ‘stuff’ on Christmas morning, treat your favorite traveler with the gift of new experiences. The options are endless of course, but if you’re not sure where in the world your loved one will be traveling next, buy a gift card to Cloud9Living, which showcases over 1800 experiences ranging from sky diving trips to snorkeling excursions.

Know your traveler’s destination? Consider buying a CityPass or GoSelect card, which gets your traveler into the best museums, tours, and attractions in cities across the US and Canada.

4. Give the gift of compliments and family stories:

Create a box of memories, compliments, and inspiration.

Create a box of awesome with AwesomeBox. This innovative gift allows families, parents, groups, or teammates to add custom photos, stories, and messages to special cards for a lucky recipient. This can be done online; then the cards are created at AwesomeBox and placed in a memory box that’s shipped to the receiver. This is the gift for the person who truly has everything, or to share as a family. We plan to create an AwesomeBox of family memories, which we’ll open during the holidays as a family gift!

5. Give the gift of travel-day comfort:

Airports are friendlier places with lounge privileges

The traveler on your list may have every airline pillow and eye mask on the market, but if he or she does not have access to a luxury airport lounge, true comfort and relaxation is still at bay. Give the gift of an airport lounge membership. Our favorite is Alaska Airlines’ Board Room, but you’ll want to purchase a membership through the airline your traveler uses most often. Remember, most airlines enjoy access at partner airline lounges, giving members more options with every flight.

Travel Gear We Use: Fall styles from Aventura Clothing

September 18, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

I’m happy to announce that once again, I have signed on to be an ambassador for Aventura Clothing. What does this mean to you? Just like last year, Pit Stops for Kids readers will get 60% off all Aventura Clothing. To get a 60% off Aventura Clothing code, leave a comment and it will be emailed to you, or opt in for our quarterly newsletter (see banner on homepage).

I also get to tell you what’s new at Aventura each season. Clothing lines vary by year, of course, and this year, I have to tell you I am in love with every item I received. That almost never happens! I love each item because everything I picked out A) feels as comfy as wearing sweatpants, and B) does not look like I’m wearing sweatpants.

Jaylee Dress: I am a big fan of wearing comfortable dresses and tights on travel days. It’s important to keep circulation going on airplanes, and who likes to feel their waistband of their jeans dig into their stomachs on road trips? The Jaylee Dress is a knit sweater dress that is fitted but not clingy, and oh-so-soft. It’s 90% organic cotton, as most Aventura items are, with indulgent cashmere (7%) and some nylon mixed in for stretch. The length is 37″, which means the hem hits just about at my knee. It pairs great with leggings (I wear Aventura’s Bienne legging), and the design and colors are very simple, which I appreciate. I can add a scarf to dress it up, or pull on a hoody to dress it down. As the weather starts to turn, the Jaylee has been my go-to dress.

Keltie skirt: Skirts are perhaps even more versatile than dresses for your fall travel wardrobe. You can pair with the same leggings or tights, and wear the same skirt with multiple blouse and tee options. One solid skirt usually helps me create 3-4 outfits while away from home. The Keltie skirt is super classy-looking, made of an organic cotton/viscose blend. It’s knit, which means it will keep your bum warm on cold seats, yet not at all bulky (it can easily go from outdoors to dinner, for instance). It comes in three muted colors to go with everything. I might get one more, come to think of it. The only downside of the Keltie: it’s hand wash or dry clean only. Uh oh.

Spectra Dress: With its sporty, drawstring waist and sweatshirt-like feel, I wasn’t sure about the Spectra when I ordered it. Would it be too casual even for travel days? Nope…it’s my favorite piece in the fall line! It’s a cotton/poly blend, machine-washable, and looks adorable with a simple pair of boots or mules.

Farrah Cowl Neck sweater: I love sweaters, but rarely travel with them. They’re just too bulky in my luggage. The Farrah sweater is the exception to this rule, because it’s thin while still being substantial enough for fall travel in northern climes. Plus, the cowl neckline gives the Farrah a sophisticated look without adding any pieces, which makes me look dressier than I am (always a plus). It’s a poly/wool blend, and while it’s also hand-wash only, it seems to be able to go through quite a few wearings before it needs to be cleaned.

Want an Aventura code? Leave a comment!

Travel Gear We Use: One really good shell

August 28, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

With the arrival of fall, now is a great time to talk about one travel gear essential every person should have in their closet: a really good, high quality shell.

A shell is not an insulated jacket, nor is it a rain jacket, though it does need to be waterproof. It goes over a base and mid-layer in winter, or can stand alone over a t-shirt or light cotton layer in summer. Shells pack down small and are very lightweight, making them the perfect travel accessory for your suitcase.

Everyone in the family should own a quality shell to wear in all seasons, and while a good shell will set you back, they are used year-round. We definitely get our money’s worth out of ours, using them in ski season as an outer layer, during summer as a backpacking rain layer, and in fall and spring as a precaution (often, our shells are rolled at the bottom of our backpacks or roller bags). Here’s our pick for adults and kids:

Adult shell: Arcteryx Zeta LT

Arcteryx has long been a favorite brand of mine due to its high quality. Make no mistake, the price is high too, but as noted above, a quality shell will be highly used and will last many seasons. The Arcteryx Zeta LT stands out for me because it’s not just made for winter. It’s flexible and breathable, which makes it shine during hiking and backpacking season, too. It’s only 10 ounces, and folds or rolls very small. The storm hood is adjustable, so you can fit it over a helmet in winter or a beanie hat during summer camping trips when the weather turns on you. You also get an internal laminated pocket for your smart phone, and seamed pockets on the outside. The ‘lip’ at the back of the jacket is longish, which means it covers below your waist, and the cuffs at the wrists are adjustable to keep out sleet, snow, and rain.

My Zeta has been on ski trips, camping trips, autumn weekends away, and will soon head to Europe when we visit in winter. It has kept me dry while kayaking in the San Juan Islands and while skiing in Utah. Pick one up at Arcteryx for $399 (a one-time investment you won’t regret), or look on Amazon for a deal.

Kids’ shell: Marmot Southridge

This shell is a solid choice for kids, and even better yet, it’s currently on sale. The Marmot Southridge is fully waterproof and sealed, but still breathable, and like the Zeta, it’s lightweight enough to stash in a backpack when not in use. The cuffs at the wrists are elastic (we wish they were adjustable) and the hood is oversized. Pick one up for less than $60 or look on Backcountry.com.

Want something a bit simpler? The Columbia Trail Trooper is a waterproof outer layer that retails for even less. It’s less breathable than the Southridge, but every bit as waterproof and just as light.

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What about ‘soft shell’ jackets? They’re just fine..for winter sports. It’s a matter of preference during the winter; one of my kids vastly prefers his soft shell jacket (also waterproof) to his Goretex shell. However, for four-season use, soft shells are too bulky and not breathable enough for travel or trekking.

Read about more Travel Gear We Use!

New travel gear: Tuo Travel Undergarment Organizer

August 7, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

We love using packing cubes. I’m a huge believer in organized luggage, with everything in its place. It saves parents time and sanity when on vacation with kids. This is why I’m excited to introduce a brand new packing solution: the Tuo Travel Undergarment Organizer. This innovative product is still in Kickstarter, with pre-orders accepted. The Tuo will retail for $60, but backers get a great discount.

So what makes this undergarment organizer worth $60? Quite frankly, it’s the most versatile packing solution we’ve ever seen. It can hang in multiple ways for easy use in hotel rooms, in cars, and even in airplanes (more on that below), it’s very well-made and sturdy, with oversized zipper pulls, and it’s smart: there are pockets within pockets and a nice fold design for fairly flat storage.

What we love:

Three large main compartments, all with mesh fronts, so we can see what’s inside. Two of the three compartments have secondary, pocket-sized compartments within the compartment.
Nice snap-closure, with straps that convert to hanging straps when you’re in your destination.
Three-fold flat-storage design.

What we use it for:

The undergarment organizer is meant for undergarments, of course. It’s designed to be used by a single person, storing 7 days of underwear, socks, small accessories, swimwear, and the like. Honestly, there’s more room in this organizer than what I need personally when packing for a solo trip. However, for use with a family, it’s genius. The Tuo can easily store the underwear, socks, hair clips, and jammies of up to three young kids, or can store one child’s entire wardrobe in summer: t-shirts, shorts, swimsuits, and undergarments. We also plan to use it for:

Storing toys, games, and entertainment on road trips (it can easily secure to the back of a seat)
Storing zip-locked snacks and entertainment on an airplane.
Storing an entire family’s toiletries, including medications and other important items you should always carry-on with you on planes.

Note: the Tuo also comes with a small laundry bag, divided into two compartments. We found this bag too small to be useful for laundry (from a family travel standpoint), but do use it as a separate packing cube.

GetOutfitted camping gear review

July 31, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Remember our #1 ski tip from last winter? We described how to use GetOutfitted to outfit yourself, or supplement your outfit, for winter sports. We used GetOutfitted to ‘rent’ a pair of ski pants for my husband, who didn’t want to invest in a new pair mid-way through the ski season. Now, GetOutfitted is also renting camping gear.

I am in love with this idea. Even though we personally own all our own camping gear, we know many families who do not, and I have seen how it limits their ability to explore the outdoors. After all, who wants to buy the entire collection of gear needed to go camping when they’re still trying it out? With GetOutfitted, families can rent a ready-made camping package that includes a tent, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads, or rent things a la carte, like lights, stoves, backpacks, and trekking poles. Backpacking packages are also available (they include the same basic items as in the camping package, plus a backpack).

Kelty quality:

One potential problem of a system like GetOutfitted is that families new to camping may not know if the gear they’re renting is quality stuff. Thanks to my job as an outdoor gear reviewer and decades of outdoor experience, I can tell you GetOutfitted is using good gear. Their tents and bags are new Kelty models; in fact, the Trail Ridge tents and PDa pads are the exact items we have at home. They trade out their gear regularly, upgrading just as they do their ski gear.

Cost:

Packages vary, obviously, but a basic camping package for a family of four comes to $159 for a three-day rental. Should a family buy each item, the cost would be well over $1000. If you decide to camp regularly, I’d recommend buying your own equipment, of course, but if you just camp once a year, GetOutfitted is the way to go. Plus, if you rent, you don’t have to store all this stuff in your garage or basement all year!

How it works:

Even though we have gear, we wanted to try GetOutfitted’s summer stuff before recommending it. Last week, my oldest son and I hiked 65 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail, and we decided to supplement our gear with an item I’ve been wanting for a while, but haven’t bought: trekking poles. We rented trekking poles from GetOutfitted, which are only $9 for a three-day rental. After ordering online, I got a tracking code immediately, and they arrived in just a few days. There’s free shipping both ways, and when we returned, we simply put the poles back in the supplied packaging and sent them back.

It was a great way to try out trekking poles and decide if they’d be worth the investment. Our verdict: my son and I both loved them and will plan on buying pair of our own. The best part: at the end of each season, renters have the option of buying the gear they used. We bought our trekking poles at a discount off the retail price.

Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

Disclosure: We were invited to try GetOutfitted’s summer camping line free of charge, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain our own.