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While my husband is always outfitted with trail-ready gear, my

Seriously Good Adventure Gear From Backcountry

June 22, 2022

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Sponsored by Backcountry & ShopStyle Collective

It’s summertime, which can only mean ONE thing to my little family…

We’re going to be outside as much as physically possible.

My son, who’s now a toddler and officially running and climbing on his own, has his eyes fixated on anything related to water, so we’ve been taking full advantage of all the beautiful adventure spots around Lake Superior.

Trail-Ready Gear We Can Play In Too… Which Way, Adventure?

It became apparent rather quickly that both my kid and I were in need of some proper gear for our summer adventures.

While my husband is always outfitted with trail-ready gear for every season, my, uhm, “fashion accessories” for me and the kid weren’t exactly serving us well on sweaty lake days.

THANK GOOODNESS for Backcountry.com where, naturally, it has everything conveniently categorized (helloooo, “hiking” section), making it easy to shop for your specific needs. Backcountry has been my favorite (and the easiest) place to shop for kids’ gear, and it always has the best adventure brands.

Backcountry.com has everything conveniently categorized, making it easy to shop for your specific needs. Backcountry has been my favorite (+ the easiest) place to shop for kids' gear, & it always has the best adventure brands.

This summer feels more exciting than most because now that my little guy can run and climb around on his own, our adventures have become a lot more active (and completely adorable).

1. A Hip Pack For Hands-Free Hiking

We don’t typically stray too far away from our car since my boy is still in diapers, so I’ve been opting for an easy hip pack thrown over my shoulders to keep snacks, bug spray and sunscreen on hand (leaving the bulky diaper bag behind in the car).

As someone who prefers just carrying a wallet, I have found hip packs (i.e.: fanny pack, belt bag, etc) to be a good compromise of something small & hands-free yet, with the right size, can easily fit a diaper & a pack of wipes!

I scooped up Topo Designs Mountain 2.4L Hip Pack the moment I saw it. The pack holds a surprising amount with 2 pockets, even perfect for my "max" size iPhone. The bag is fast-drying should it get wet + is able to be tightened & loosened easily for wearing multiple ways.

I scooped up Topo Designs Mountain 2.4L Hip Pack the moment I saw it. The pack holds a surprising amount with two separate pockets, even perfect for my “max” size iPhone. The bag is fast-drying should it get wet, and is able to be tightened and loosened easily for wearing multiple ways.

Hip packs have been my motherhood saving grace in general. As someone who prefers just carrying a wallet, I find hip packs (i.e.: fanny pack, belt bag, etc) to be a good compromise of something small and hands-free yet, with the right size, can easily fit a diaper and a pack of wipes!

More Hip Packs From Backcountry

2. Lightweight Hiking Sneakers For Toddler Chasing + Rock Climbing

I normally love to hike in my ON Cloudrock hiking boots that I scored last year from Backcountry, but since my little guy can’t seem to resist putting his toes in the lake, I need a shoe that lets me swoop into the water when needed (while also still being able to climb steep rocks with a baby on my hip).

Sorel’s Kinetic Breakthru Tech Lace Sneaker are truly perfect for my exact needs.

My little guy can't seem to resist putting his toes in the lake, so I need a shoe that lets me swoop into the water when needed (while also still being able to climb steep rocks with a baby on my hip). Sorel's Kinetic Breakthru Tech Lace Sneaker turned out to be truly perfect for my exact needs.

While not a water shoe, Sorel's Kinetic Breakthru Tech Lace Sneakers checked the box for being lightweight, + the eco-friendly materials they're made from are extra-bouncy & comfy.

I don’t personally love hiking sandals or water shoes, so finding an extra-comfortable, lightweight sneaker that could handle it all was my goal.

It was a tall order, but I must say — these shoes have performed marvelously.

While not an actual water shoe, Sorel’s Kinetic Breakthru Tech Lace Sneakers checked the box for being incredibly lightweight, and the eco-friendly materials they’re made from are extra-bouncy and ridiculously comfortable.

In fact, the Kinetic Breakthru Tech shoes are so comfy that I've been able to hike around without any socks on (even for a few hours at a time) & have never felt any part of my skin rubbing or hurting.

Stoic 4in Bike Short | Columbia Cropped Windbreaker | Sorel Kinetic Breakthru Tech Lace Sneaker

In fact, the shoes are so comfortable that I’m able to hike around without any socks on (even for a few hours at a time) and never feel any part of my skin rubbing or hurting.

Even if it sounds a little silly, not wearing socks has made it so much easier to navigate water when my kid wades in exploring for rocks, yet my entire foot is still covered in a quality hiking shoe.

3. Biker Shorts For Comfort + Style

Stoic's 4-inch bike shorts prove to be the perfect adventure short. They're the perfect shade of blue + fit like a glove.

Basin and Range High Neck Bra Top | Stoic 4in Bike Short | Columbia Cropped Windbreaker | Sorel Kinetic Breakthru Tech Lace Sneaker

Stoic’s 4-inch bike shorts prove to be the perfect adventure shorts, which on one hike alone garnered multiple people asking me where they were from. I’m not sure if it was because of their perfect shade of blue, or the fact that they fit like a glove, but these shorts are a win-win all around.

Fit Notes: I run between medium and large for most everything, favoring a large in bike shorts since I have a thicker midsection/no waistline. But after reading the reviews, I decided to go with a medium in Stoic’s 4-inch bike short and they’re an ideal fit.

4. A Cropped Windbreaker For On-Trend Function

I’m actually a little giddy over Columbia’s Flash Challenger Cropped Windbreaker.

When I realized Columbia made an on-trend cropped windbreaker & in rad colors, I was intrigued. It's flattering + comes with a drawstring waistband that is not only practical for locking out bigger wind gusts but also just looks good.

Stoic 4in Bike Short | Columbia Cropped Windbreaker

I’ve never been a fan of technical jackets because the shape of them are all so…rectangle. They feel completely outdated, and I have the hardest time wanting to reach for them in my closet, no matter how practical they are.

When I realized Columbia made an on-trend cropped windbreaker and in rad colors, I was intrigued.

I'm wearing my normal jacket size, large, in the Columbia Flash windbreaker, & I love it.

Columbia’s Flash Challenger Cropped Windbreaker is even more flattering when worn than it was in the pictures.

Plus, it comes with a drawstring waistband that is not only practical for locking out bigger wind gusts but also just looks good. It’s the little things, ya know?

Fit Notes: Wearing my normal jacket size, large, and love it.

5. Kids’ Sandals For Curious Explorers

As for my kid? Teva’s Toddler Psyclone XLT Sandal is absolutely the best thing we could have found for him.

Teva's Toddler Psyclone XLT Sandal is absolutely the best thing we could have found for him. Both my husband & I feel like we can breathe a little easier with Teva sandals on our boy's feet.

Both my husband and I feel like we can breathe a little easier with Teva sandals on our boy’s feet. He is able to walk and climb far easier than with any other shoe we’ve put on his feet, even handling slippery algae-covered rocks like a champ.

Not to mention, they’re a BREEZE to put on and take off.

He is able to walk & climb far easier than with any other shoe we've put on his feet, even handling slippery algae-covered rocks like a champ. Not to mention, they're a breeze to put on & take off.

Here’s to quality gear that performs well and looks good — that’s my kind of adventure clothing.

Happy trails!

-Amy

Thank you Backcountry + ShopStyle Collective for sponsoring this post! Your online catalog makes it so easy to be prepared for all the summertime fun, and I’m so grateful for your toddler section too. And thank you to our readers — your support means the absolute world. Xx

Let’s be friends on Instagram! Sharing life from my sleepy little beach town, daily style, makeup favorites, “Gilmore Girl” binge-athons, and endless cups of coffee — all with a good dose of adorable toddler content too.

Oh hey, Pinners! This one’s for you…