Clips

Now that the snow has melted in town and is receding in the mountains, it’s time to jump into summer activities like camping and biking. Children add an interesting dimension to playing outside, but having good gear helps.

My family—me, my husband, 2.5 year-old Anders and 10 month-old Finn—tested recreational gear that I thought would add ease our outdoor adventures. Read on to discover a few pieces of great gear.

Green River 6—Kelty
This is the ultimate family camping tent. We fit two adults, a child, a portable crib (with baby) and two big dogs in the 121 square feet. And it was comfortable. The tent is rated to sleep six adults. The vestibule is another 83 square feet and is perfect for setting up chairs to sit in the shade or storing gear. The screened-in vestibule has pull down shades so if you seal it up you are safe from bugs, rain or snow.

WTW (Water Tight Wall) construction keeps the doors and windows from leaking, even in driving rain. All exposed walls are constructed of coated fabrics with the seams shingled downward to shed water. Exposed windows and doors have wide flaps covering the edges so they cannot leak at the zipper even in high winds.

The Green River 6 has only four poles and clip-sleeve construction making it quick to set up and take down. Noiseless zipper pulls are lighter weight than standard zippers and they resist jingling when it’s windy, which is nice when you finally get your kids to sleep.
The internal storage pockets, mesh organizer walls and bookshelves keep everything tidy and right at arms reach when you need it.
www.kelty.com, $369.95

Kangaroo LTD—Wee Ride
Anders, two years old, talks constantly. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we are doing. When I rode my bike, pulling him behind in the bike trailer, I couldn’t hear what he was saying without turning around and swerving across the road. Then came the Kangaroo LTD.

This center-mounted child carrier sits in front of the rider. It’s easy to set up with the included mounting bar and doesn’t throw the bike off balance the way a rear seat can. The seat fits both my cruiser and my husband’s mountain bike. The LTD is the Cadillac of bike seats with its thick seat pad, back padding and padded five-point harness. The foot cups are adjustable to fit different-sized and growing kids.

My little one loves his new spot. Sitting in the front gives Anders a better view of the world around him, and I can hear what he has to say about it.

For kids ages 1 year and up; maximum capacity of 40 pounds.
www.weeride.com $99 (often available for $79)

Kangaroo Carrier

Kids' Bridge—Ahnu
These cute kids’ shoes have soft suede uppers to provide comfort and durability. EVA cushioned sock liners provide flexibility and an arch cookie adds support. Most importantly, the shoes are comfortable and easy to run around in. The velcro strap allows for adjustability to help kids put on and take off their shoes by themselves. The Bridge comes in Castlerock grey, Smokey brown and Lavendar so they work for boys or girls.

Just as important as comfort and fit is the philosophy of the company. Ahnu is an active member of the Conservation Alliance. They contribute to community-based campaigns to protect threatened wild habitat, particularly where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. They utilize sustainable materials such as hemp and charred bamboo in their product line and a significant portion of Ahnu’s ownership is held in trust on behalf of outdoor and environmental nonprofits. Sizes 10-13, whole sizes 1-5
www.ahnufootwear.com, $49.95

Swiss Roadie Runner—PLIM from runbikes.com
Unlike a tricycle or bicycle, run bikes don’t have pedals. Kids sit on the seat, and with their feet on the ground, run Flintstone-style. Balance bikes, or run bikes, help kids develop balance and coordination needed to ride a bicycle.

The bike just looks cool since it is made out of birch wood. Anders likes pushing himself around on it, but for now it is more of a walk bike. Since the seat is adjustable, it will fit him for several years. I like that it is light, easy to carry around and even fits in the bag on the back of my stroller so we can take it to the park.

The Roadie Runner can be ridden indoors and out. Its foam handgrips and padded, water resistant seat enhance the comfort factor while your child learns what it takes to balance and coast. There are a lot of run bikes in both wood and metal.
www.runbike.com, $69.99

Montana Parent
June 09

Just because we have kids doesn’t mean we want to sit at home reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear a hundred times until we have all the animals and their colors memorized. Sure we do that, but there has to be something else, too.

Thanks to all the fancy gear on the market today it is easy—if you can afford it—to get your child out into the woods or across borders into far-off countries. Well, at least you can walk to town with relative ease.

This spring my son, Anders, and I took a little trip to South America. Although we’d be spending a week of our three-week sojourn with my husband, all the traveling would be done with just the two of us. As I looked over our current holdings (heavy, bulky crib/playpen, external frame kid carrier) I wondered how I would carry all that, plus the kid, plus my stuff, on and off four airplanes each way, through customs, around airports and in and out of cars. Oh yeah, and I have to do all this while pregnant. Fortunately, there is an easier way. With the help of some great lightweight, compactable gear traveling has become a whole lot less difficult.

Organic Carrier—ERGObaby
On our trip to Argentina I knew I needed a device to carry my son around that would also stuff into a duffel bag. I also wanted something that wasn’t too bulky to wear when he got out of the carrier to do a little walking of his own.

The ERGObaby carrier fit the bill. It’s soft, flexible and scrunches into a pretty small wad when not in use. Plus, it is comfortable to wear for both carrier and child. I used it walking around town and hiking up trails. When Anders fell asleep I’d pull the stretchy hood over the back of his head, holding it close to my back. That kept his little noggin from bouncing around as I walked uneven trails and scrambled over rocks.

The ergonomic design supports a correct sitting position for my son’s hip, pelvis and spine growth. It disperses most of his weight between the hips and thighs, which helps eliminate compression of the spine when hanging by the crotch. The ERGO also balances the baby’s weight to parents’ hips and shoulders, and alleviates physical stress for the parent.

I’d still want a backpack with a frame if I was backpacking or hiking all day with my 25-pound guy, but for everything else, the ERGO was the perfect solution. And I felt good about putting the organic cotton in contact with my little one.
www.ergobabycarrier.com

Traveller—phil&teds
Figuring out where Anders would sleep as we traveled around Patagonia was a challenge. He needed a crib, but the portable one we have weighs more than 25 pounds. Then I found the Traveller. At under 10 pounds and 24.8 x 8.6 x8.6 inches when packed, this travel cot fit easily into my bag.

It took a little practice, but the Traveller set up and broke down pretty quickly and it was sturdy once assembled. My son couldn’t tip it over even when standing in it and rocking it back and forth. A UV cover zips off and tent stakes are included so it can double as an outdoor playpen or sleeping area and the self inflatable mattress (just like a Therm-a-Rest) is comfortable to sleep on. At least I assume it’s comfortable, Anders slept through the night almost every night we were away.
www.philandteds.com

When we got back to Montana and started to make the transition from Austral summer into never ending winter, I began dreaming of getting outside with Anders. Since he has a new brother or sister on the way, it was also time to figure out how to get a little exercise—or even walk downtown—while carting two bambinos.

Speedster Deuce—Kelty
The Kelty Speedster Deuce is a double jogging stroller that is lightweight, easy to use and chockfull of safety features.

In 2005, the Kelty Speedster Deluxe (the one-kid version of the Deuce) won the JPMA Innovation Award and in 2007, it secured the number three spot overall in a Consumer Reports survey of jogging strollers. In the same study, the Speedster Deluxe was the only stroller tested to receive a grade of “Excellent” for safety; it also earned an “Excellent” for performance, and a “Very Good” for ease of use. In addition to all the safety features, I appreciate the pulley-assisted folding mechanism and quick release wheels, which make the stroller easy to fold up and put in the car or storage shed.

Another great feature is that the seats can recline individually and each side of the sun canopy maneuvers separately meeting the individual needs of each rider. The height-adjustable handle is a must if people of different heights are going to be using it. Even my 6’6’’ husband found the Speedster comfortable to use.
www.kelty.com

When summer finally does arrive, we’ll be ready for camping season.

Kids EcoPro 30 Reg Sleeping Bag—Marmot
At 2 pounds, 2 ounces, the Kids EcoPro is a sleeping bag kids can carry themselves. The all-purpose synthetic bag is designed for sustained cool, wet weather while backpacking, river rafting and car camping and stays toasty warm to 30∞ F. The EcoPro features 100% recycled fabrics and 80% recycled insulation, mostly from recycled soda bottles, so it can be a lesson in taking care of the earth as well as a comfy place to spend the night.

The face muff allows the hood to be cinched snug without chafing the child’s face, while the feely drawcords make it easy for kids to adjust the hood snugness from inside the bag. There is a two-way zipper so kids with hot feet can cool them down without getting cold up top.
There’s even a stash pocket for nighttime essentials like glasses or toys. The draft tube backing full-length, snag-free zipper prevents cold air from seeping through and the trapezoidal foot box leaves plenty of room for tootsies.
www.marmot.com

Montana Parent
June 02, 2008

Patches of snow linger beneath the Douglas-firs and whortleberry as I hike up the soft path towards the high Absarokan saddle. The early summer sun is already gaining heat, but is nowhere near as hot as it will be in a few weeks.

Strapped to my chest is my four-month-old baby, Anders. From the time he was just a few days old, Anders has spent at least a little time, everyday in the Baby Bjorn. Because of this front-carrying pack, I’ve been able to walk the dogs, hike and even do the dishes while he snoozes away, comfortable and safe.

Before Anders was born, I was concerned that I might have to give up part of my outdoor lifestyle in order to care for him. But, a quick look around Peets Hill, the “M” Trail, Mill Creek and other popular outdoor recreation areas soon assured me that recreating with kids is possible.

There is a plethora of high-tech kid-carrying gear on the market today. This gear not only allows parents to keep on hiking, skiing, swimming and biking, but lets them get hooked on the outdoors right from the start.

Here are a few of Anders’ and my favorite things.

Baby Carrier Active and Diaper Backpack Active —Baby Bjorn
While I love the original Baby Bjorn, I’ve become even more enamored with the Baby Carrier Active. It has all the same features as the original, plus cushioned and contoured shoulder straps and lumbar support that that distributes baby’s weight better. These added features reduce back strain and fatigue on longer hikes or with bigger babies (the carrier works for babies up to 26 pounds).

Like the original, it keeps the baby close and secure and provides plenty of head support. As the baby gets older and can hold up his or her own head, you can turn them around to face forward, allowing them to view the world beyond the parent.

The Diaper Backpack fits with (and matches) the carrier and is roomy enough to store all of baby’s needs on a day hike or a trip to the park. It comes with a changing pad, insulated pockets that are assessable without removing the backpack and is lightweight.
www.babybjorn.com

Baby Spring Float with Sun Canopy—Swimways
Some days you just want to float around in the pool at Chico Hot Springs or cool off in Fairy Lake. The Baby Spring Float allows your baby to float along with you.

This is the first step in the Swimways Swim Steps program to teach children to swim. With a wide floating base and low seat, baby gets a safe introduction to water. Shade provided by the movable sun canopy assures that new skin won’t get too much sun.
www.swimways.com

Cougar 1—Chariot Carriers
This contraption easily changes from a jogging stroller to a bike trailer to a ski trailer. It is easy to assemble and simple to morph from one use to another with the bike and ski conversion kits.

The Cougar 1 has an adjustable suspension system that ensures a smooth ride for your favorite passenger over almost any terrain. Plus, the five-point harness system keeps the rider snug and safe. The chassis sits low to the ground and feels very stable, even when taking a quick corner on skis or rounding the bend on a bike.

We also appreciate that the Cougar 1 seals up tight to protect Anders from the whipping Livingston winds, rain and snow. At the same time, side vents let in air to keep him comfortable in warmer weather. Chariot Carrier also makes a Cougar 2 for carting two children around.
www.chariotcarriers.com

Pathfinder—Kelty
This lightweight backpack gets kids up high where they can enjoy the view. I tested it with a neighbor’s child and she loved riding in it, and the padded shoulder straps and hip belt made it comfortable enough for me to hike all day.

The Pathfinder comes with a removable hood that protects a child from the sun and rain. A removable kids’ day pack is great for storing snacks, diapers and extra layers when toting a child around, and fun for a little one to carry when they are ready to hike a bit on their own.

A feature I haven’t seen on other backpacks—and really like—is the auto-deploy kickstand, which allows you to simply set the pack down with your child in it—great for when you need to get in and out of the pack by yourself. The harness system snugly holds a child in the pack and there are even fleece-lined leg holes and a washable burp cloth.
www.kelty.com

Sun Protection Swim Suit, Sun Protection Hat and Baby BOPPA—SwimEEZY
SwimEEZY focuses on two aspects of outdoor safety—sun safety and water safety. The Sun Protection Swim Suit and Sun Protection Hat are independently rated for maximum sun protection. The sun suit fits loosely so little ones are comfortable running around all day long at the Gallatin Recreation Area beach or on a surfing vacation in Baja. The hat provides both head and neck protection.

The Baby BOPPA is a personal flotation device (PFD) that supports baby’s head and neck and seems impossible to slip out of. The PFD keeps babies on their back so their face doesn’t roll into the water. The soft AIREX flotation foam means it is comfortable enough to wear all day long.
www.swimeezy.com

Montana Parent
June 04, 2007