princetontec.com, 2.75 ounces
These economical little lights come in as many color combos as you can imagine. Each one can be individually customized with ten choices of colors for the body, end caps ,and brackets. Go with a conservative blue or green, or add some pink, orange, or yellow to make sure your hiking partner doesn’t accidently grab the wrong light. The headlamps are made in Trenton, New Jersey—turn-around time is about three weeks. The lightweight headlamps run on three AAA batteries and have a burn time of 146 hours. Dive in with your kids and get them excited for the trail before you even head out. Coordinate colors to match your favorite jacket, the color of your eyes, or to match the family vehicle, and cast new light on the outdoor world.

www.sierradesigns.com, 6 pounds, 15 ounces
Everything about this tent is family-friendly. The spacious, four-person tent is designed for a quick bivi with snap-together poles that avoid clumsy threading through sleeves. Assembly time is less than five minutes, even for first-timers—in the dark. Better still, there aren’t any awkward sleeves to thread; the five poles snap into configuration and then attach to the exterior of the tent via lightweight clips. At 40 inches, the head room is excellent, with plenty of height for sitting up to play a round of Old Maid or game of backgammon. There is nearly 60 square feet of floor space in the rectangular design, with a breathable mesh upper. Inside are hanging pockets for holding car keys, headlamps, and glasses. Campers can enter and exit via two big doors on either side of the tent, making midnight potty breaks easy. On most nights, you’ll want to leave off the fly off for added ventilation and star gazing, but bring it along in case of a rain shower.

www.featheredfriends.com, 2 pounds, 11 ounces
Everyone knows that sleeping double keeps you warmer at night, but it also makes the great outdoors a little less scary. With 23-ounces of high-quality 850-fill down, this is our family camping bag of choice. The lux sleeper, with five inches of cushy loft, is ideal for couples who yearn for closeness, as but its real glory comes when traveling with toddlers. Mommy and Daddy can enjoy their own separate, adjustable hood (each with its own draft collar) with little Tommy cozily tucked in between. Each side can be easily opened or vented via a snag-free two-way zipper (that, even after many nights on the road, never snagged. The shell is a durable, stretchy Schoeller Nanosphere fabric that allows the bag to breathe (whether it’s filled with little or big, sweaty bodies) and repels stains. At under three pounds, this bag is lighter (and way more convenient) than most zip-together option.

www.keenfootwear.com
As much as it pains their parents, our pint-sized testers really don’t care about gear the way we do. Nothing—and we mean nothing—can stop a newly walking infant from jumping, stomping, running, and slopping through the nearest puddle, snowdrift, or dirt pile. We applaud that steadfast determination, and take comfort that people like Keen make boots that can match their blissful enthusiasm.  The Libby Boot has proven to be a stalwart warrior throughout the fall, winter, and early spring on our two-and-a-half-year-old tester.  The fleece lining provides cozy comfort and serious warmth, a side zipper makes ‘em some of the easiest footwear to get on and off, and the hard-toe rand (a Keen staple) adds a nice dose of extra protection.  Parents love the leather-and-suede outers and the sure-grip, non-marking rubber soles, but our tester just loved the fun style, subtle floral graphics, and the fact that she could wander confidently through any obstacle in her path.  As you’d expect from kids that are still perfecting their balance, the Libby’s do accentuate that Frankenstein stomp particular to toddlers (they are called “toddlers” after all).

shop.outlier.cc
Every so often, we find ourselves splurging for the best with the hopes that the initial investment will be far outweighed by functionality, durability, and the evergreen style of an item. Outlier’s Storm King Shell Parka is such a piece. With taped seams, pockets galore, and Egyptian cotton fibers, it’s a supremely cut and navigable alternative to synthetics that promises to last. Full-sleeve and invisible pit zips allow for extra ventilation, a clear-view hood gives you an unobstructed view of the road ahead, and a high collar eliminates the need for annoying draw cords. Whether you weather your storms on your morning bike commute, treks through the African savanna, or weekends spent on the water, this Parka reigns supreme. What really makes it stand apart, although curated and produced in New York City, is the unique 100% Supermarine Cotton sourced from Switzerland. Outlier calls the fabric a 21st-century edit on a storied fabric that reaches back to World War 2 pilots. We call it soft, durable, water resistant, and almost completely windproof. If you’ve ever rationalized a technical article of clothing with “price per wear,” the Storm King can weather the elements of regret. An important note is that the sizing runs rather large, I suggest ordering an entire size down.
-Chadwick Crutchfield