Most kids love the outdoors. Outdoors camping, hiking or even just walking on a trail through the forest.  Because they enjoy it so much, they often tend not to notice if they are getting too cold until their little hands turn blue.  A sure way to keep their tender hands protected and comfortable is to provide them with really excellent insulating gloves.  May I suggest the Patagonia Kid’s Synchilla Gloves? These gloves are made with a unique polyester (85% recycled) fabric and the ribbed c...

  Here comes the sun! With the weather getting nicer as spring slowly approaches, thoughts turn to the outdoors. In the fresh outdoors, hiking along a lush forest trail is particularly appealing. Day hikes are a great way to start the outdoor camping hiking season. I think that, for a simple day hike, the ideal backpack is the Kelty Duo Pack 6. This versatile little backpack is actually two packs in one. You can carry it like a tote bag if you’re going on a short hike, or use it as a backpa...

     Sleeping bags - the word says it all, bags made for sleeping (in) – but – what if you could get a sleeping bag that you could dance in! As I notice that the season is changing, I find myself sometimes lost in the vast world of sleeping bags! But this is time well spent, because one should definitely spend time researching all the options of this important part of one’s hiking outdoor gear. Why? Because you will be amazed to find that today, there is a sleeping bag for almost every ...

  An important consideration that is essential for survival out there in the subzero temperatures is underwear that can protect you from the cold and wind. However, I think the most important factor is choosing good quality wicking underwear. When snow hiking and backpacking camping in the winter, it is imperative to wear undergarments made of material that spreads out moisture and dries quickly.  Having your next-to-skin clothes damp is not only horribly uncomfortable, it is also extremely d...

   When you go family camping with kids of varying ages, sometimes it’s hard for the youngest ones to feel included in all of the fun activities. What’s great about this cool kids’ bike is that it’s perfect for young children to get a head start at cycling. This little beauty develops muscles, coordination and motor skills but is a super light (less than 7 pounds – 1/3 the weight of a typical 12 inch pedal bike) addition to the family’s tent & camping gear.  While it provides the ...

   Here is another fabulous snow hiking boot, this time for women! These boots come in the prettiest ice blue colour.  They are super comfortable and have a Dri-Best lining that keeps your feet completely dry.  They’re really easy to put on and the removable EZ Flex tongue is highly adjustable so you can have a totally personalized fit. These are great hiking boots for the “all round” hiker.  They are excellent if you are traveling on a mixed route that includes heavy snow and alpine tr...

  Isn’t it amazing the variety of snow hiking boots that there are available! A great choice to add to your hiking outdoor gear might  be these super light and very comfortable alpine boots that are noted for minimizing any blisters or hotspots that are often encountered on the trail. These snow hiking boots are very light at just over 3 pounds and they are designed for all types of climbing, from mixed climbing, big walls and dry rock climbing to alpine ascents. The reinforced heels provid...

   This camping grill stove is as versatile as it is cute!  It has been rated as “excellent” in stability, ease of operation and cold weather use. This remarkable camping grill stove has a 285 square inch surface area with dual burners that have independent controls that makes for perfect open flame grilling. It has detachable side tables and lid and folds to a compact, easy to handle and pack size. It comes with very convenient hooks for hanging utensils and has scissor legs that provide...

     This ultra light tent would just be perfect to add to anyone’s hiking outdoor gear.  This 3 person, 4 season lightweight camping tent is ideal to take tent hiking.  The knee pole design allows for maximum interior space and it only take about 5 minutes to set up.  It also has no-see-um mesh panels that provide bug free ventilation. Another important feature is the bathtub floor.  Even if you’re caught in the rain, you’ll stay cozy and dry in this great tent. It has a six pole struc...

     I’m the born optimist, so much so that I was dreaming of a new hiking camping tent (& camping gear of all kinds), and delicious warm weather, on New Year’s Eve, oh my! I was daydreaming of all the diverse outdoor equipment gear that’s available out there. One tent in particular caught my eye.  A great advantage of this tent is that it is a 2-pole square dome tent, not the standard 3 pole. In addition, it has a hanging gear loft organizer, 2 built in water bottle holders, a corner o...