travel gear we use - Pitstops for Kids

Travel Gear We Use: Winter jackets that pack down small

December 30, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Winter is a tough time of year to pack light, but it IS possible to do so. The easiest solution: winter wear that packs down small. We love our ‘puffies’! The best packable jackets keep kids and parents warm during winter travel, but fit well into suitcases for carry-on travel:

What Pit Stops for Kids’ Dad is wearing:

Arc’teryx Atom LT: No one does lightweight, quality, technical jackets like Arc’teryx. The Atom LT is like wearing a cloud (not that my husband would describe it so poetically), and is really easy to layer under a rain jacket or over a fleece. It has two zippered pockets and is fully insulated, but does not have a a hood…which can be a plus or a minus, depending on your needs. Grab the Atom at Amazon for $228. And yes, it comes in a women’s version as well.

What the teens are wearing:

Craghoppers CompressLite PackAway Jacket: In our opinion, Craghoppers offers the best value out there for parents needing to outfit the entire family. The CompressLite PackAway is our son’s go-to jacket for everything from air travel trips to backpacking trips. When he outgrew it, he refused to pass it down to the next kid, despite the fact that it had tons of life left in it! We had to pry it away from him. The CompressLite packs down into it’s own tiny stuff sack, and has elastic cuffs at the wrist to keep out cold. Best of all, it’s only $80, and will hold up for years. Read a full review on Practical Travel Gear. Buy on Amazon.

Dare 2b Burrow Jacket: With alpaca wool insulation, the Burrow Jacket keeps men and teens comfortably warm without bulk. The Burrow actually feels more like a windbreaker when worn (it has ripstop nylon on the outside), but is far warmer. There are lots of zippered pockets, and like many other of our picks, it packs into it’s own bottom pocket for easy storage. Find the Burrow for around $150 on UK sites, coming to the US Dare 2b site soon.

White Sierra Zephyr hooded jacket: The White Sierra Zephyr is another great pick for an affordable price. With kids outgrowing jackets on the regular, it’s essential that the layers we buy are a good value. After all, they not only need to be affordable; they need to be passed down! What the Zephyr does that others in the same price bracket do not: it has a hood and smaller, flatter cells for a thinner feel, and a slightly boxier fit. It’s as packable as the others, and water resistant and insulated. Find it for $100 on White Sierra or Amazon for a few bucks less.

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What the school-aged kid is wearing:

Stio Hometown Down: While thicker than his older brothers’ packables, our school-aged kid loves his Stio puffy. The Hometown Down is a fully technical winter jacket with a hood and multiple pockets that still feels lightweight (he usually wears it only with a cotton long-sleeved tee). The jacket is 650 fill goosedown and comes in fun, bright colors. Made in Jackson Hole, the Stio sells for $159, and will last and last.

Big Agnes Ice House: Like the Shovelhead for women (see below), the Ice House is made with DownTek, which is warmer and more ethically harvested. The Ice House is a serious jacket that will keep your kid toasty warm from the ski slopes to city touring. It packs down small, so it will fit in a carry on or a boot bag. Pick it up on Amazon on SALE right now!

What I’m wearing:

Big Agnes Shovelhead Hooded Down jacket: Ok, it’s admittedly spendy at $249, but this jacket is made by the makers of some of the best sleeping bags on the market, and uses Downtek technology. If you tend to get cold easily, like I do, wearing the Shovelhead feels like wearing a sleeping bag, without any bulk. It’s shiny, sleek, fitted, and feminine. I love it because I feel all bundled up without looking it. (No hood, however.) Grab one on Amazon.

Exofficio Storm Logic: Slightly more reasonable but still indulgent, the Storm Logic comes on all my international trips. It has pockets for everything, from hidden money stash pockets to a place for keys, room key cards, cell phones, and passports. I love not needing to bring a purse everywhere I go. And yes, it’s still an insulated, winter-ready jacket that also packs into its own pocket. Find it on Amazon for $150.

Adidas Flyloft: This offering from Adidas is synthetic down, and lighter weight than any of the others. Honestly, I barely feel like I’m wearing a jacket at all. The thin design means I can walk and hike in it without overheating. Look for it on Amazon!

Do you have a favorite winter jacket that’s travel-ready? Share in the comments!

Travel gear we use: packing cubes and TSA bags for the family

October 28, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Today in our Travel Gear We Use series, we’re talking about using packing cubes to make family packing easy! Below are the packing cubes we use for every trip, as well as the carry-on liquid quart bag we recommend. Many families consider packing cubes just for air travel, but we use them every time we pack. Most recently, packing cubes made our lives easier en route to a Lake Tahoe vacation rental.

Any packing cube is a good packing cube to use for family travel. Why? They make parents’ lives much easier on the road, and allow you to take much more in a carry on bag. Packing cubes keep kids’ clothing organized so they can find outfits and accessories themselves, and keep clean clothes away from dirty clothes. If you don’t have packing cubes and cannot buy them, use zip-lock bags! If you are planning to purchase packing cubes, here are our tried and true picks:

Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cube Set

Eagle Creek’s packing cubes with compression have changed my life. On a recent trip to Mexico, I knew we needed to bring light rain jackets for the family just in case, but hated the idea of dedicating the needed space to five coats. I was able to fit all five (three in adult size) into one compression cube! How they work: unzip the cube and fill it with clothing (roll clothes to fit the most). Zip up the cube, then zip the outer compression chamber. Packing with cubes already saves space, but these compression cubes also reduce the size of the cubes themselves, sealing in your clothes and giving you much more space in your luggage. We love them! get a set at Amazon for $38, or buy individually.

eBags Packing Cubes – 3pc Set

eBags packing cubes won’t set you back as much, but are still roomy and able to fit more than you’d think. We usually use the biggest for all the kids’ shoes (this works for young kids) and then use the smaller sizes to organize socks, underwear, and other smaller pieces of clothing that usually gets lost at the bottom of the bag. Packing cubes make for great stocking stuffers: get everyone a set for Christmas!

TSA Quart-Size Carry-On Toiletry Pouch

In addition to using packing cubes, we like to stay organized while going through TSA checkpoints with carry-on luggage by using reusable, clear quart-sized pouches. They’re easier to find and grab in your carry-on when you need to present them, and you already have them on-hand at home when packing. We’ve reused ours for years. There are multiple brands out there, but no need to spend much: we have a Timbuk2 version that’s hard to find these days, but the Louis and Clark version linked above is only $5 on Amazon.

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More Travel Gear We Use:
Best carry-on luggage for kids
Best overnight backpacking for kids and youth

Photo credit: Flickr/angryjuliemonday

Travel Gear We Use: Four most comfortable travel pants for moms

October 14, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

A few great pairs of travel pants go a long way…my favorites have gone from Northwest hiking trails to European cities to Central American marketplaces, and many more locations in-between. If you plan to pack light and travel carry-on only, it’s essential to bring a few pairs of pants that can do it all. For women, here are my absolute most comfortable travel pants:

Toad & Co Cassi pant:

The Cassi pant wins top honors here because it’s urban and stylish, but also stretchy and athletic. It’s moisture-wicking and quick drying, crucial for all-weather, all-season travel, and the polyester-wool blend adds nice give to the waist and knees. The Cassi is equally comfortable on the plane as it is on the trail, and because this pant features a tailored look, you can definitely wear it during city travel (out to dinner, touring museums or historic sites, etc).

You get a zippered stash pocket on the thigh for valuables, plus a coin pocket in addition to two back pockets. It comes in just graphite and black, but I don’t mind the lack of bright colors; when I travel, I stick to basic color palettes so I can mix and match clothing.

Pick up the Cassi for $85.

Aventura Carlin:

If you need a less ‘technical’ pant that looks less trail-ready and more city exploration-ready, the Carlin has the same stretchy goodness you need when traveling with a brushed organic cotton feel. (The 3% lycra makes it forgiving.) The Carlin is very earthy-looking, with oversized buttons and exposed seams. I was reminded of cargo pants when I first saw it (though it does not have cargo pockets).

If your travels will not take you up mountains or through brush but you want to be able to climb steps, navigate traffic, and relax in cafes looking put-together yet comfortable, grab a Carlin pant (or two) in neutral colors to add to your travel wardrobe. And as always with Aventura clothing, subscribe to our FREE mailing list for your 60% off discount code!

Pick up the Carlin in Walnut, Black, or Smoked Pearl for $85.

Prana Halle:

The PrAna Halle has been a travel companion of mine for over a year. It comes on just about every major trip I take. Like the Cassi, the Halle is moisture-resistant and quick-drying, and reinforced at the knees for durability. It’s stretchy like all the travel pants I’m listing, made with a combination of nylon and spandex. The Halle deserves its own place on this list because of the variety of sizing and colors available: you can get the Halle in tall or petite sizing in burgundy, coal, cargo green, and dark khaki, in addition to black.

You can also roll up the leg of the Halle and secure with snaps to create capri pants, ideal for creek crossings, chilly mornings that turn into warm days, and water sports like kayaking. Like the Cassi, the look is fitted and tailored, so you’ll fit in wherever you find yourself adventuring.

Pick up the Halle for $85, or save as much as $30 on Amazon.

ExOfficio Damselfly:

The Damselfly is the least fitted/tailored and most rough-and-tumble of my picks, perfect for serious adventure when you’re traveling. I have loved ExOfficio clothing for years, and the quality never disappoints. The Damselfly is distinctive in that it is part of their BugsAway line, which means it’s treated with insect-repellent ExOfficio calls InsectShield. This repellent stays on the clothing for as many as 70 washes, saving you from spraying anything directly on your skin. I’ve been wearing BugsAway clothing in Central and South America to protect against the Zika virus as I travel.

Other note-worthy features of the Damselfly: a packable back zip pocket, and a drawstring waist (with velcro closure at the fly). It doesn’t get any more comfortable than this!

Pick up the Damselfly in three basic colors for $80, or save significantly via Amazon.

What comfortable travel pants are your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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My oh my: Which insulated water bottle to buy?!

September 23, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

At each season’s Outdoor Retailer show (where new products from outdoor and travel brands are showcased and introduced), one or two top travel trends always emerge. This summer, one of those trends was insulated water bottles. It started with HydroFlask, and now, it seems every water bottle company has their own version of a double-walled, vacuum-sealed, stainless steel water bottle. Which to buy for your next travel adventure? We’ll help you sort it out!

Which insulated water bottle to buy:

In addition to various sized water bottles, insulated water bottles come in various shapes and tend to serve various purposes, so we’ll break it down even further. In each category, I’m including all the brands I personally have used and tested. Are there others? Probably, but in my opinion, the following are the ones worthy of your purchase. All the bottles below are insulated, and all claim at least 12 hours of chill time (up to 24 hours).

Due to various sizes for each bottle, it’s hard to directly price-compare. I’ve linked to the lowest price for each type on Amazon. Affiliate links are present, which help fund Pit Stops for Kids at no added cost to you.

All-purpose insulated water bottles (various sizes):

HydroFlask:

We’ll start with the original, a brand that originates from my home state. I do love HydroFlask and have many bottles cluttering my cabinets. They come in various sizes, from growlers to toddler-sized. For travel days, I like the 21-ounce HydroFlask with standard mouth opening, and my sons prefer the larger bottles with wide-mouth opening for sports and around the house. Where HydroFlask shines: high quality you can trust. Where HydroFlask fails: I have yet to find a HydroFlask lid/opening I like. Sorry, HydroFlask! The straw tops don’t always work, and the wide mouths without toppers can’t control water flow. The flip caps (mostly for hot beverages) is best, but still can leak.

Takeya:

Takeya is a relative newcomer to the insulated water bottle scene, though they’ve been in the water storage game for a while. The Takeya ThermoFlask is similar to the HydroFlask, but in my unscientific opinion, it’s lighter, narrower, and thinner. It’s also a little bit cheaper. Where Takeya shines: the size is ideal for slipping into a backpack side pocket, and the spout lid is awesome: you get a wide-mouth you can unscrew to put ice in, but a smaller opening to drink from. Where Takeya fails: it doesn’t keep drinks cold quite as long as HydroFlask.

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Camelbak:

There’s lots to love about Camelbak water bottles, and certainly this brand has come a long way from its days as solely a hydration bladder company. The Camelbak Eddy and Chute have been in our cupboards for a long time in their BPA-free plastic version, and now, like everyone else, Camelbak is making insulated versions. You can get an insulated Chute in 20 ounce or 40 ounce, with the same lid I’ve come to love in the plastic version: like the Takeya, it’s a narrow opening that opens and closes, with a wider opening for ice. You can also now get the Eddy in an insulated version, with the same bite valve as the plastic Eddy. Bite valves can be easier for kids to drink from, but bear in mind that they’re pressurized, so they can leak during car or air travel. Where Camelbak shines: we love that each bottle has a place to clip a carabiner to attach to a raft or backpack…they’re great outdoor bottles. Where Camelbak fails: we would love more sizes.

S’well:

I have fallen for S’well, probably due it its simplistic yet elegant design. S’well bottles come in two sizes (that we know of): 17 ounce and 25 ounce, and you can get a wide variety of unique patterns and colors. If you want to stand out, S’well may be for you. We also like the simple and narrow opening, for ease of drinking. Where S’well shines: the narrow bottles fit nicely in side pockets, and the openings are simplistic. Where S’well fails: there’s no way to attach the bottles to anything, and they’re pretty darn expensive.

Klean Kanteen:

Klean Kanteen has been around a long time, much like HydroFlask, and has solid construction and design on its side. They make plenty of stainless steel bottles, but their insulated ones come in 16 ounce, 20 ounce, and 40 ounce, with a wide mouth. Where Klean Kanteen shines: clean design, solid color stories. Where Klean Kanteen fails: kind of boring.

Insulated bottles especially designed for hot beverages and insulated tumblers:

Camelbak Forge:

The Forge is a personal favorite of mine. What I love: the narrow but tall shape, which I can easily grasp in one hand, and the mouth opening, which features a locked position and a sipping position with a small bowl at the opening where coffee or tea can cool. It comes in 12 ounce or 16 ounce, in lots of sleek, metallic colors. Where Camelbak shines: the design is awesome. Where Camelbak fails: the design is complicated…if the multi-part lid breaks in any way, you’re toast.

Stanley Classic Vacuum Pint:

Yes, it’s a pint glass, not a mug, but I love this Stanley offering so much, and use it for hot beverages so often, it needs to be included. If you want a rugged, classic design and color scheme without frills (and a low price to match), the Stanley vacuum pint is for you. There is a lid, which works quite well to keep liquid hot for longer periods, but it’s not totally enclosed. Stanley also makes a classic vacuum bottle, but I have not tested it. Where Stanley shines: simplistic, classic designs. Where Stanley fails: no updated color stories.

Note: Klean Kanteen and HydroFlask both have sipping lids designed to fit on their wide-mouth bottles to convert any insulated bottle to a hot beverage bottle.

New to the market in recent months are an onslaught of insulated tumblers, designed for commuting and home use. I’ve started to really like these, taking them in the car, to the lake, on picnics, and for day-to-day use at home.

SIC Cups:

Use it for hot or cold beverages, I’m giving SIC a best-in-show here, because it keeps my drinks cold and hot longer than any other brand in this round-up. And it does this as a tumbler, with a plastic lid (vacuum-sealed) lid. They come in 20, 24, and 30 ounce models, and while expensive, SIC is worth it. Where SIC shines: there was ice unmelted in my cup 24 hours after I put it in there. Enough said. Where SIC fails: a SIC cup is expensive.

Takeya ThermoTumbler:

Like the Takeya ThermaFlask, their tumbler is affordable and fits nicely in the hand. Also like the ThermaFlask, it doesn’t keep beverages hot and cold quite as long as its competition. It comes in two sizes, 20 ounce and 30 ounce; the 20 ounce is a really nice size for a standard cup of coffee. Each have a plastic, sealed lid like the SIC cup. Where Takeya shines: the size of the cups are good, and the price is right. Where Takeya fails: just not quite the quality of the SIC. It will come down to budget.

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Yeti Rambler tumbler:

We love our Yeti cooler (seriously, if you’re outdoors a lot or road trip often, invest in one), so I was happy to see Yeti come out with an insulated tumbler. The Yeti comes in three sizes; we found the 20 or 30 ounce to be best (the 10 ounce is just too small). It’s very similar to the other two tumblers in this list in design. Where Yeti shines: it’s a name you can trust to keep stuff cold. Where Yeti fails: it’s still not quite as high quality as the SIC, but it IS a bit more affordable.

Pelican SD32 Travel Tumbler:

Pelican’s offering in this category is just as no-nonsense as you’d expect from this rugged brand. We love that that the SD32’s tall, not fat (so it fits in car bottle holders), and it has a copper-plated inner wall. The most unique aspect of the Pelican tumbler, however, is the unique drink lid, which has a slide opening to prevent spillage. Where Pelican shines: this hefty bottle is substantial, and can stand up to lots of wear and tear. It also comes in a 22 ounce version. Where Pelican fails: the colors (silver, black, and green) feel kind of boring.

If you have a favorite insulated water bottle, let us know in the comments!

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Travel products to protect against Zika Virus

September 9, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We love family adventure, but we’re careful to be mindful of threats to family safety while we travel. Before you go to Central or South America, or the Caribbean, make sure you pack these travel products to protect against Zika or other mosquito-borne illnesses. And of course, always consult a health care professional before any trip to a destination known to have a Zika threat, to discuss any danger to your family.

Ben’s Insect Repellent Wipes:

The first step in protecting your family against Zika is to keep mosquitos away. We don’t like using DEET on our skin, but in the case of mosquito-borne illness, it may come down to choosing the lesser of two evils. Ben’s repellent is a brand I’ve come to trust, and it does offer protection from ticks and insects that may carry the Zika Virus, West Nile Virus (WNV), Lyme disease, Malaria, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and other infectious diseases. Pick up a bottle of Ben’s in a TSA-complient size on Amazon.

Natrapel Wipes:

We’re a family that spends a lot of time outdoors, and Natrapel is the only DEET-free insect repellent we’ve found to significantly work. It uses a CDC-recommended 20% Picaridin formula, and lasts 12 hours. We use the wipes, simply because our kids tolerate them best, but it also comes in a spray bottle form. Pick up a package of wipes for under $9 on Amazon.

Adventure Medical Kits World Travel kit:

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for every family to have a well-stocked medical and first aid kit when they travel. Yes, medical supplies and medications are available almost anywhere, but that doesn’t mean they’re readily available, and it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to communicate your needs or find the right place to buy them. Sometimes, they’ll be packaged differently or have a different brand name, making matters more confusing. Even in first-world countries like Ireland and England, I’ve had trouble finding the over-the-counter medicines I’ve occasionally needed.

We use Adventure Medical Kits when we camp and backpack, and their World Travel kit has everything you’ll need for a family of four. It’s fairly bulky, but I love that there’s extra room for your personal medications, too. It’s incredibly well designed, with different pockets for everything, and each flap is labelled, so you can easily get to the right space for intestinal medications, bandages, allergy meds, etc. It comes with a diagram for communicating your needs in several languages, and a pretty thick booklet on basic first aid. For trips when I’m short on space, I may remove the book to save space and weight. Pick up a World Travel kit on Amazon at a discount.

Scarf or head net:

I almost never travel without an organic cotton or wool scarf. I find so many uses for one, from a wrap on the chilly airplane to an optional headdress or bandana while in foreign countries. In Central and South America, my scarf has doubled as bug protection. I love Aventura Clothing scarves, but use what works for you. In some cases, you may even want to upgrade to a mosquito net for your head. We have used Sea to Summit mosquito head nets. Pick one up for under $10 on Amazon.

Insect repellent clothing:

For travel to the Caribbean and Central and South America during which you know you’ll be outside a lot, such as when we were volunteering in the Dominican Republic or our upcoming trip to Panama, when we know we’ll be visiting national parks and preserves, we decided we would rather invest in travel clothing treated with insect repellent rather than spray ourselves with it daily. I love the Toad & Co DeBug line for women, and have also traveled with ExOfficio’s BugsAway line extensively. ExOfficio is the first US company to offer insect protection in clothing, and their BugsAway items keep their repellent for 70 washes. I’m still wearing my ExOfficio crew shirt from 2013. For this fall’s travel, my husband is now wearing ExOfficio’s Baja Sur shirt, which is lightweight but tough as nails.

For kids, Columbia Sportswear’s PFG Bahama long-sleeved shirt helps repel both sun and mosquitos (though it is not treated with repellent).

Mosquito-free shelter:

Part of the fun of a tropical destination is sleeping outside in warm weather. If you think you’ll be sleeping outdoors, whether in a hammock on the rental home porch or in a backcountry environment, consider a mosquito shelter like Grand Trunk’s Mozzy Net. This 144″ by 30″ shelter includes spreader bars and guy lines, so you can expand it fully, like a tent, giving you plenty of room. And it packs down small into its own stuff sack for easy transport. Pick one up on Amazon for under $60.

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Have you traveled to Central or South America or the Caribbean lately? What precautions have you taken?

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Travel Gear We Use: GoTenna review

July 8, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

When we visited Paris last winter, we spent a wonderful day in the Louvre. At least, it was mostly wonderful, except for the two hours we spent looking for each other. My husband had our two older sons in one section, and I had our youngest in another, and our plans to ‘find each other later’ went woefully sideways. We both had phones, but had put them in airplane mode to save on our international data plan. When I turned my phone on to contact him, he had his turned off, and vice versa.

Months later, I was introduced to GoTenna. The minute I saw what it did, I knew we could have used it in Paris. And in Rome. And in Costa Rica. And so on and so forth. GoTenna is a thin, 2-ounce wand that connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth low energy (LE). It creates a low-frequency radio wave network for its iOS and Android app that reaches about 1 mile in skyscraper-filled urban areas, and, supposedly, up to 9 miles in most open outdoor areas (even longer on mountain tops).

How to use GoTenna:

When you buy GoTenna, it comes in a pack of two (for $199). I had ours set up in about two minutes. You just take the wands out of the package, and pull the little tab on each to extend the stick. When it clicks, you can see whether the GoTenna wand is charged by waiting for the light to blink. If it does, you’re in business. If not, charge the wands first using the included USB cords.

Once they’re ready, turn them off, and download the free GoTenna app. It will walk you through the activation steps, which, again, took me only a minute or so. You turn the GoTenna back on to pair it with your phone via Bluetooth (one wand per phone), add your phone number and name, and you’re in business. You can import your contacts, so it’s easy to find other people when you need to contact them (more on that in a minute) and download maps to use off-line (more on that, too).

Once you and a partner both have the wands paired to your phones, you can use them offline to contact each other. Each GoTenna has a nylon loop so you can attach it to a backpack, jacket, or hat. You don’t hold it; you need it to have a clear path to get a signal. Think of GoTenna like a messaging app: it has the capability to send messages and location, but not much else. You cannot use GoTenna to send photos or video, make phone calls, or scroll through social media. It’s like a walkie-talkie, only much better.

You do everything you want with GoTenna from the app.

Send one-on-one messages: this is the primary thing we’ve done with it. You can send messages to anyone in your contacts who also has a GoTenna (this is the reason for the pack of two).
Send Shout messages to everyone in the area with a GoTenna: A ‘shout’ message is basically a general message that will go out to everyone with a GoTenna within range. Not many people have these, so it’s not much of an issue right now, but in theory, you could use this feature to send out a general invite to meet up at a location at a concert or festival to meet other users, or send an ‘all call’ as an emergency.
Send emergency messages: this feature is deceiving, because GoTenna cannot actually connect with emergency services (a con to using it, for sure). It can only connect with other GoTennas (not satellites), so this emergency feature is just a ‘shout’ set in priority mode. If anyone nearby is also using GoTenna, they’ll get a message that someone needs assistance. I guess it’s better than nothing.
Use maps: I love this feature. While online, you can download tons of pre-existing maps in GoTenna’s app. (This feature is under ‘location’). Then you can use the maps while offline. We could have used this in Paris, and we will be using it in Central America this fall.

When and why to use GoTenna:

GoTenna is touted as a solution for communicating in the outdoors, when traveling without coverage, and during natural disasters other situations when off the grid. I initially thought I’d like using the wands while backpacking and camping, but in practice, we leave GoTenna at home during outdoor trips. Why? The range isn’t long enough for hikers or campers to communicate with family back at home (reason #1 I’d use it), and to use it hiker to hiker, we’d also have to carry multiple cell phones in the wilderness, which would require bringing solar chargers. While we might do this occasionally (I love the Waka Waka solar charger for this purpose), most often, we’re tech-free in the wilderness.

So what DO we use GoTenna for? International travel. We’re also glad to have it in case of a natural disaster when we may need to communicate off the grid, but primarily, it’s a wonderful tool for travel. When we travel internationally, we pay for limited service plans, so more often than not, we’re in Airplane mode and offline. With GoTenna, we can continue to communicate when we separate during the day, and we can use the maps. The teens and I used GoTenna last month in the Caribbean, when we were doing different service projects a few miles apart, and we’ll use it again in Costa Rica and Panama later this year. The only place we’ve used GoTenna where it’s only worked so-so was on a cruise ship. I think all the metal walls and doors messed with it.

Pick up GoTenna for $199 or look for it at REI. If you travel even a few times per year off the grid (or in Airplane mode), it’s well worth the investment.

Disclosure: We were given a GoTenna to test, for the purpose of review. As always, all opinions are our own.

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Aventura capri breakdown: Which Aventura capri pant to buy

July 1, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

For today’s Travel Gear We Use, I want to take a moment to compare various style of my favorite travel pants and capris. If you’ve checked out Aventura Clothing, you can probably see why this brand is my favorite for traveling in. Aventura clothes are almost all organic cotton, which don’t wrinkle, they’re designed for an active lifestyle, and they’re comfortable and practical.

Me, wearing the Galina capri while bird watching in Louisiana.

Aventura capri breakdown:

I get it: when you’re ordering online, you can’t try things on, and even when a company makes it easy to return and exchange things, it’s a pain in the rear. Hopefully, this guide on which Aventura pant to buy will help you make the right selection on the first try.

I have a true size 8 waist, but larger thighs (I’d like to think it’s all muscle, but…). I find that the following capris and pants fit me well. If you tend to be ‘pear shaped’, try these styles:

Harlow capri: I love this new capri style! The Harlow is thin and lightweight, has a narrower waist and more generous thigh, and falls to mid-calf for me. (It will fall to just below knee-length for tall women.) The white color especially is very summery. It also comes in a short.
Arden pant and capri: The Arden capri is a classic of Aventura’s, and also comes in a pant and short. Like the Harlow, it has a true-to-size waist and shorter leg length, and it’s organic cotton. The legs can roll up or down to change the length, too. It comes in a wide variety of colors now.

If you have thinner legs but maybe a larger middle, I’ve found the following styles to be roomier than most in the waist, but straighter in the leg:

Mackenzie capri: The Mackenzie is a dressier capri that has cute button accents on the bottom and a 17″ length. Plus, it’s not new this season, so it’s on sale.
Galina capri: I’ve fallen in love with the new Galina capri, because it wears almost like a skinny pant on shorter people like myself. The length goes almost to my ankle (26″ inseam), but will fall at about mid-calf for tall women. The Galina has a wider waist and narrower leg, so I needed to order up a size. They do stretch out during the day, however.

General Aventura capri and pant tips:

Aventura clothes usually run slightly big. If you’re a true size 8, for instance (just using myself as an example here), you may be a size 6-8 in Aventura clothes.
Organic cotton pants will have quite a bit of give and stretch, whereas linen (per usual) will not.
Aventura leggings and tights are true to size, and never sag, making them a great choice if you can’t find a pant you love. I recommend the Bienne capri legging, which goes great under dresses and skirts.

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What’s your favorite Aventura capri?

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Travel Gear We Use: Ecoths shirts for teen travel

June 3, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

We’ve been singing the praises of men’s clothing line Ecōths for several years now. Part of my favorite clothing company, Aventura, Ecōths is all about comfortable, practical men’s wear that’s environmentally and socially responsible. Not only are many of the offerings made from recycled or organic materials, Ecōths’ GOOD SAM program has donated over 150,000 meals across the US to local food banks. How do they do it? Ecōths provides a minimum of three meals for every garment sold in America to someone in need. Make a purchase of Ecōths, and in turn you will be donating three meals to someone who truly needs it.

While my husband loves wearing Ecōths, no one is more excited about what this company is doing that the resident Millennial in our family, our 16-year-old. He’s all about environmental stewardship and the outdoors, and always needs quality travel clothing. If you have a teen boy who needs clothing that won’t wrinkle in the suitcase, will last through many washings, and will look good enough to pass the teenage test, read on!

My teen’s favorite Ecōths shirts for travel days:

Chandler Tee:

This raglan-sleeve tee is trendy and casual-looking, but made from an organic cotton blend. This means it’s very soft to the touch, and will not wrinkle…even when my teen balls it up and tosses it in his duffel. Pick it up in four neutral colors in sizes M-XL. Our teen is tall and slim, and the medium fits him nicely.

Hendrix:

Our teen is all about plaid. And flannel, but in summer, mostly plaid. He spends a lot of time in the outdoors, so he needs shirts that provide sun protection and breathability. The Hendrix short-sleeve is organic cotton and Coolmax polyester blend that ensures it’s moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant, even when my son is hiking or biking. As a bonus, he loves the built-in microfiber Handy Cleaning Cloth in the front interior of the shirt. It comes in two colors in M-XXL. Note: the Monroe is similar, but just a little bit more ‘rugged’ looking, in our opinion.

Beckett V-Neck:

The Beckett is 100% organic cotton jersey. This is as pure as it gets when it comes to a boy wardrobe, so pick up a couple (they’re on sale)! Our teen loves the Beckett because it’s fashionable with its horizontal stripes and V-neck, and I love it because unlike his other t-shirts, it’s high quality. No holes here! It comes in three colors in sizes M-XXL.

Ecōths discount for you!

I didn’t include pricing in this post. Why? Because I want Pit Stops for Kids readers to get 60% off! Hey, boys grow fast, and we need all the help we can get keeping them clothed, right? To get 60% off your entire Ecōths or Aventura clothing order, subscribe to our FREE travel newsletter email list (at the top of our page), then leave a comment below. I’ll email your discount code for ANY order up to $250 (while supplies last)!

#EcōthsLife:

Instagram users, share your photos of how you live an #ecothslife everyday! Each month, Aventura will pick one winner who has posted a picture using #EcothsLife and they will receive an outfit from Ecōths.

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.

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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.

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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?