Heidi || Outdoor Family Travel

The winter gear we’ve actually used on our kid from her first winter until now, sorted by age. It’s a mix of store brands and a few pieces worth spending more on, because some of it gets outgrown in one season and some of it lasts for years. We live and play in Breckenridge, so everything here has been tested at 9,600 feet. Some links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The gear that lives in our car all winter, so we can say yes when a snowy trail or a last-minute outing comes up. Spare gloves, hats, traction and the right shoes for both of us, plus a packable daypack so nothing gets left behind. It’s the full version of the Go Bag page in my Winter Adventures With Little Kids guide. Some links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A straightforward, zero-fluff guide to the essential gear you actually need for a comfortable, successful car camping trip. If you are new to camping, you do not need to spend a fortune on high-end aesthetic brands or survivalist gadgets. This list focuses entirely on durable, high-utility gear that keeps you warm, organized, and well-fed without breaking your budget.

I ride my e-bike 16-32 miles per day for commuting and drop off/pick up. This is the gear I rely on to get me from point A to point B without drama. I highlight my gear and my daughter's (5yo) gear at 9,000ft above sea level in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Keep the kids entertained, the snacks cold, and the car organized. Here is a collection of our family's absolute favorite, road-tested gear for stress-free travel with little ones.

This is the gear I would buy if I had to rebuild my camping gear at Walmart. I own a lot of this gear already (sleeping bag, table, camp stove, chairs) and use it multiple times a summer. The rest is gear I would confidently purchase if I needed to start from scratch.

What keeps our kid busy at camp while we set up, cook, or just sit down for a minute. Most of it packs flat or fits in one small craft bin: kinetic sand, collapsible buckets and molds for the dirt, watercolors and brush pens that don’t spill, and bubbles for when everyone needs to run around. A low folding table becomes her kid zone, and a sand mat keeps the mess in one spot.

We live near a mountain lake and often take our paddle boards out. This is the gear we use on the paddle boards and on shore before/during/after our adventures. We do regularly pack snacks along for a full morning on and near the water.

These are a list of books that we regularly read and reread at home. I've also used a handful of them for my Preschoolers “Little Campers” Program where I theme each day to a different aspect of camping. I would highly recommend these books go onto your library list, if not become a permenant fixture on your child's bookshelf.