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Sections
5
Getting There...
While There...R&R
While there...fun & outdoor rec
Smart Home/Other
Non-perishable items we keep on hand
Getting There...
Great for pool days, going to the cabin….or just hauling gear for multiple people. Could use it daily perhaps but it's quite large.
Topo Designs Mountain Gear Bag
At home, we use free standing hard sided laundry baskets but for camping and road trips where we are bringing pillows, bedding, blankets these totes are super versatile, cheap, and help keep the transit at least somewhat tidy.
BlissTotes 90L Collapsible Laundry Basket
We have 2 of these and use them far more than we thought. Air travel or ground. Nice size, they have held up extremely well, and some really nice color options to color code for the kids.
Topo Designs Global Travel Roller Bag 44L Navy
Usually near the front seat and filled with extra water or sometimes hot cocoa for when we get to the destination. Sometimes we consider getting a second. Money well spent. Also the wide mouth makes it easy to add ice cubes and the stay-in-place lid ...
Stanley Stanley Easy-Pour Growler
For road trips, most of my family packs their full size buckwheat pillows and then for car napping we have a few of these memory foam neck pillows that can be passed around. A matter of personal preference though and probably not the leading option f...
Brookstone Free Form Memory Foam Travel Pillow
For air travel, this pillow packs down extremely small and lightweight but isn't my favorite option for comfort.
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Neck Pillow
This is great for when you are traveling with larger toiletries and have no TSA concerns. It's soft sided and one compartment so it can pack quite a bit. Perhaps best of all, it has a waterproof interior liner. I've had more spill incidents than I ca...
Topo Designs Dopp Kit Travel Bag - Recycled Nylon
I have a Thule hanging dopp kit from years ago that seems to be discontinued. If I needed to buy another hanging style bag (great for the gym, air travel), I would go with this Bellroy.
Bellroy Hanging Toiletry Kit 3L - Clay
Car Kit essential
DEWALT DXAEPS14 12V Jump Starter & Power Station
These are the headphones our older 3 currently have and they have been a good buy. No BT or low batteries to deal with. Keep an aux splitter in the car when multiple children want to listen to the same thing.
Kids Wired Headphones
Cheap buy that has made road trips a lot easier with children wanting to listen to the same audiobook or watch the same show. And I appreciate the hi-viz red when I'm looking for it in my go bag or the glove compartment.
JSAUX 3.5mm Headphone Splitter 2F to 1M Red
One of, if not my favorite pouches. It's in my daily commute bag, gym bag, for road trips it's usually within closest reach (wallet, tylonal, dongles, power bank) and for flying, it usually holds my cosmetics in my carry-on. Since it's top load, it's...
Organizer Cube Clear
Such a great buy. The older 2 kids have access to audiobooks and songs that I load for them but don't have apps or games otherwise. If they are home, they can BT connect to their speaker or on road trips, they can connect to their headphones. It also...
Innioasis Mp3 Player with Bluetooth, 2.4" 128GB Portable Mini HiFi Sound Bluetooth Walkman Digital Music Player with FM Radio Audiobook and Speaker Built in for Kids (Teal) - Walmart.com
Excellent weekender bag…waxed canvas, hi-viz orange interior, this has a timeless look and should last for years.
Waxed Canvas Weekender Bag
While There...R&R
So many personal health improvements, definitely a believer
Classic Massage set
Still seeing if we will keep this in the house but right now, the only smart speaker we have considered.
HomePod mini
Had previously tried a heavier weighted blanket (20lbs) and thought it was a bit much so for this purchase, I went down to 15lbs (5-7%) and it is perfect. Also this blanket has great size options (unlike others that are one size), I'm tall so I stepp...
yescool 20 lbs Weighted Blanket, 60x80 Grey
I tend to sleep hot…hard to sleep on anything else now.
Fishers Finery 19mm Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase Navy
I'm a side sleeper, buckwheat has been my pillow fill of choice for almost a decade now. Can't imagine switching.
LOFE Organic Buckwheat Pillow with Cotton Case
Merino Wool boxer briefs, baselayers…not the most durable fabric (iykyk) but I won't wear anything else now.
Icebreaker Merino 150 Anatomica Long Boxers
Managed to somehow surprise my wife with a pajama set and jogger pants for her birthday. She wears them constantly.
Eden & Om bamboo pajamas & loungewear for Her
Someone gave us this as a gift and we use it a lot more than we thought…several of the kids like warm glasses of milk, make their own chocolate milk, coffee drinks, etc..
Instant Pot Magic Cup 9-in-1 Frother with 17oz Stainless Steel Cup: Electric Milk Steamer, Dishwasher-Safe Parts, 600W
Got these as a surprise gift. Already knew the brand. My new favorite slippers if the wool lasts. House, travel, cabin, evenings on the back deck, and even car camping in warm weather when I want to be wearing a pair of slip-ons at sunrise and sunset...
OLUKAI Kalawa Men’s House slippers
Kids. Technology. Apple Find My.
Twelve South USB-C wall charger with Apple Find My
On my wish list for the cabin. Anyone else have this?
Pure Enrichment PureBliss Luxury Towel Warmer
Lots of kids, lots of devices…someone is inevitably going to forget to pack their charger. Good experience with Ecoflow and the River lineup.
EF ECOFLOW RIVER 2 Pro 768Wh Portable Power
Since we're doing tea, french press, and hot cocoa, this is the kettle we use at the cabin. Has a 2-hr stay hot setting and variable temp down to the exact temp you want.
Gooseneck Electric Kettle 0.9L Black
Has been a great addition, definitely would recommend a wood pellet stove as a heating option.
Ashley 3,000 Sq. Ft. Pellet Stove w/Wi-Fi
Men's Scotch Plaid Flannel Robe
While there...fun & outdoor rec
Good functionality/price point. USB-C. Updated in 2025. This is the one my kids always grab out of MY bag when we go car camping.
Range 400 Waterproof Rechargeable Headlamp
My kids love this game!
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Pool Edition
Tons of fun colors and not so professional grade that I'm scared to let the kids touch them. We have a pair of binoculars and the monocular and both are used frequently year round by everyone.
Nocs Provisions 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars
Will be under the Christmas tree…update: fun game that goes quickly and can be played anywhere. Wish it came with additional stones, we mostly play 2 person rounds.
Upgraded Magnet Chess Game w/ Stones & Dice
I keep this in my tech bag for when I don't want to sign into apps, connect and then mirror from my iphone/ipad.
llano S850 Wireless HDMI Transmitter & Receiver 50M 4K
Sits out of the way most of the time but really nice to have and built like a tank.
Waxed-Canvas Log Carrier
On my wishlist…also have to decide if you want to keep at the primary residence or secondary. Or buy one for each. Our current one is a Patina Products one from Cabelas and is perfectly fine.
YETI™ Fire Pit
Popcorn & hockey?!?…I gave this to my wife who is an avid hockey fan…she loved it and we use it all the time at the cabin.
Popcorn Maker NHL Stanley Cup Popcorn Maker
Organizer Cube First Aid
Smart Home/Other
Can control remotely or automate and the air quality sensor is a nice feature also.
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium w/ Sensor
Nothing too complex or costly at the moment…
eufy SoloCam S340 Solar Wireless Outdoor Cam
First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm
Non-perishable items we keep on hand
My kids love stovetop popcorn year-round
Orville Redenbacher's Original Popping Kernels - 45oz
No additives or seed oils and we can easily pick up locally
Double Chocolate Flavored Hot Cocoa Mix - 16oz - Good & Gather™
Simple Mills Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Almond Flour Mix - 10.7oz