Category Archives: Gear Reviews

Every climber worth their chalk knows you can never have enough gear! Pros and cons of gear I’ve used, loved, and hated!

Family Literacy: The Truth About Nature

Oct 27 2014

Our family likes nature. And we like to read. So we were happy to review the latest book from Destination Nature – The Truth About Nature: A Family’s Guide to 144 Common Myths about the Great Outdoors. This is the second book we’ve had the pleasure to read from these authors, and it’s just as good, if not better than, the first! (Click here for our review of The Kid’s Outdoor Adventure Book.) The Truth About Nature debunks 144 different nature myths – about animals, plants, the ocean, weather, and even outer space. The myths are divided into seasons, and…Read the rest of this entry →

If Babywearing Was Like Car Shopping…A Comparison Post

Oct 20 2014

Over the past 4.5 years I’ve logged a lot of mileage with tiny people on my back, front, and shoulders (and in my belly for that matter, but that’s a different post entirely!) I’ve worn a baby everywhere from weddings to pools to mountaintops (but never while climbing…which is what so many insane misinformed people tend to assume…) Babywearing has been something near and dear to my heart for so many reasons. Along with a laundry list of physical/emotional benefits, it’s arguably one of the best ways to bond with baby…and hands down the easiest way to get things done…Read the rest of this entry →

Headbands for All! (And Giveaway from Bolderband)

Oct 06 2014

As an active outdoorsy type with rather unruly hair, I am rarely seen without some sort of hair “paraphernalia,” whether it be a headband, hat, or even just bobby pins and rubberbands. More often than not though, it’s a headband – it’s a great way to disguise the fact that you haven’t washed it keep hair manageable in the outdoors. Recently I got the chance to try out a headband from Bolderband, a product designed by Colorado mom Amy Crouse, who set out to design a headband that would stay put during her cross-fit workouts. The band is made…Read the rest of this entry →

Crowders Mountain…and an Ode to an Old Blue Backpack

Oct 01 2014

This past weekend’s trip to Crowders Mountain was an important milestone in our adventures as a family of four – Baby Z has FINALLY gotten big enough to transition into the Kelty Kid Carrier we used for Big C (our older model is reviewed here). While her brother started using it just shy of 6 months, my tiny Baby Z hasn’t been able to fit into it until now, a few days away from 7 months. Our agenda for the day was pretty open – we mainly just wanted to enjoy a beautiful fall day out on the rock as a…Read the rest of this entry →

Gear Review: The Luci Lantern from MPOWERD

Sep 24 2014

Our family got the chance to try out the new Luci solar-powered lantern on our Labor Day climbing/camping adventure to Tennessee. I had originally planned on mentioning it in the trip report, but we liked it so much that I thought it deserved a post all on it’s own! Luci is an innovative idea from MPOWERD, a company that “develops and manufactures game-changing micro-solar energy products for use by people living and playing on and off the grid.” At first glance it might just seem like any old solar-powered lantern to hang around camp, but it’s cool factor is so much better…Read the rest of this entry →

“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN