There are lots of great new kids shoes from Keen for Fall. The Kids Coronado in suede makes a come back in Loganberry Purple for girls and Navy for boys. At Little Mountain Outfitters we have the Coronado Velcro in Infant/toddler sizes 4-7 and Toddler/Kids sizes 8-13 for boys and girls.
New for fall 2010 there is the Coronado High Top for kids. The velcro version is available in the infant sizes 4-7 and toddler/kids sizes 8-13. The large velcro closure makes it really easy to get on and off children’s feet. The high top is going to give great protection from cold and moisture, we think it’s an awesome fall shoe for kids.
Another new edition that Keen has introduced this fall is the Coronado Rain Boot for kids. This is not just your typical kids rain boot. It is built on the same vulcanized sole as the Coronado shoes for kids and has the same supportive footbed. Besides having the sole of a real shoe what also sets the kids Coronado Rain Boot apart from others is the fuzzy fleece lining. It will help absorb perspiration as well as add some insulation. With a good pair of SmartWool socks for kids your child will be ready for winter snow.
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August is the time to be thinking about kids water bottles. It’s peak summer and hot across most of the country and you are starting to think about getting the kids ready to go back-to-school. Now is the time to assess whether your child will be needing a new water bottle to take to school. Maybe you’ve lost a favorite over the summer or just want him or her to have one that fits the lunch box a little better.
There are many choices in kids water bottles these days. A good place to start in the decision making process is whether you want BPA free plastic or Stainless Steel. Plastic water bottles almost always be less expensive but it is plastic. Stainless Steel water bottles are a bit more but you can be confident that they remain as safe as the knives, forks, and spoons you eat with every day.
My top pick for a BPA free plastic water bottle for kids come from Camelbak. Their water bottles are easy for children to drink from, easy to clean, and sturdy. When the bite valve is closed it is totally leak proof. For drinking it’s easy for kids to lift up, bite and suck to drink – no tipping the head back. There are two types of water bottles for kids from Camelbak. The original Camelbak Better Bottle comes in a .5 liter size that is great for children of any age. There is also the newer of Camelbak Kids’ bottles that have a slightly different top and are shorter which is usually more lunch box friendly.
If you are like me and take them apart to run through the dishwasher you will eventually start to get some splits in the straws. Also, kids do like to chew on the bite valves which will cause them to split. The great thing is that Camlebak make replacement bite valves and straws for all the bottles, hooray!
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After a slow and steady expansion of the North Face Kids product offering you can now get some of the best North Face styles for infants and babies. The item that I think will be the most popular is the Denali Fleece Jacket for infants which is just ridiculously cute in the 3-24 month size range. For cool weather there is also a great baby fleece outfit, the Glacier Suit, which is made with Polartec Classic Micro-fleece. The Glacier Suit can be just right for fall or layering for winter. Having a go-to fleece jacket or two piece set is a must for keeping little ones warm in cooler climates. If you don’t want to bother with a jacket then there is also the Buttery Bunting which is a one piece fleece bunting that is super soft and cozy.
Once winter comes and temperatures start heading towards the freezing mark then you can bundle your baby up in another North Face classic, The Nuptse Down Jacket for babies. Like the Denali, this one is sure to get plenty of oohs and aahs because of it’s off the chart adorable factor. Just like the original, it’s still got top quality Down for the best insulation and temperature regulation. If you are going to be outside for a while with your little one and really want to bundle him or her then The North Face also has got you covered with their one piece Toasty Toes Bunting.
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Sometimes it’s the little things that can make all the difference. If you’ve ever been out on the trail carrying a child on your back in a carrier and wondered what the heck is going on back there then you must get this mirror. The Rearview mirror is a simple but useful tool for checking out what’s going on behind you. There is a locking carabiner to keep it secured to your pack and a retractable cord that attaches the convex mirror. Your friends will see it and wish they had one! It also makes a great gift.
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Camelbak Tritan BPA Free Water Bottles in .5 litre or .75 liter sizes are perfect size for kids that have moved beyond a sippy cup. The Camelbak bite valve is easy for little hands to open and close. When in the closed position the bottle is completely leak proof. If the valve is left open it generally will not leak unless is gets a good shake. I’ve found ours lying next to our daughters car seat with the valve pointing down and no wet spot underneath. We have found that most kids 3 and up can get the bite and suck coordination down just fine and some as young as 18months. Some younger kids may have a more difficult time because the straw is pretty wide to maximize water flow and so it takes a bit of suction. It is also not good for kids transitioning from bottles and sippy cups because the Camelbak bottle has to remain more vertical as opposed to the bottle or sippy that gets lifted up and tilted back.
For most kids a half litre is plenty of water to carry. A lot of camp programs ask kids to have two full litre bottles to carry in their backpacks. For a lot of kids this is just way too much weight – over 4lbs of water alone! Often you can get away with the .75l size and be just fine. We see kids all the time that aren’t willing to carry much more than 4lbs of weight in their packs. If you go with just a single litre water bottle and stick on the side of the pack it’s likely to be uncomfortably unbalanced.
Have you been using a Camelbak Better Bottle for your child? What do you think of it? Post a comment to share your experience with other parents!
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Looking for children’s hiking boot gaiters or snow boot gaiters? What is a boot gaiter you say? Boot gaiters are protective sleeves that go over the top of a boot to protect your lower legs from things like rain, snow, or rocks. They are usually made of nylon because of it’s durability and water resistance. Some are short and others tall depending on how much protection you are looking. To secure the gaiters there is often a stirrup, or at least grommet holes to make one, so that it won’t ride up as well as a laces hook for the front. Elastic or a toggle is usually built in to make it snug around the top.
Gaiters can usually be worn with most kinds of boots or shoes. Boot gaiters are also very popular with kids, because kids don’t like to have snow down their shoes any more than adults do! That is why more and more kids are wearing gaiters now than ever before. If you take your kids cross country skiing or snowshoeing they can be especially useful. Sizing doesn’t need to be too precise for kids gaiters. It may make a difference if they are being worn over a big snow boot vs a hiking shoe. Lucky Bums boot gaiters for kids come in two sizes.
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Crocodile Creek has created some of the best looking stainless steel water bottles for kids. Better yet, they’ve done it for under $10! There are 10 great designs for boys and girls. All the bottles are 12oz capacity and made from #304 food grade stainless steel(also more commonly known as 18/8 stainless steel). They are single wall(non-insulated) with a sport style top.
The Crocodile Creek drinking bottles look as good as the Sigg bottles, even have some better kids designs, in my opinion, and because they are stainless steel they are naturally Lead safe, Phthalate free , and BPA free. There is no liner on the inside so you can safely fill them with any beverage; water, juice, or milk. Crocodile Creek does recommend hand washing of course. I’ll be taking one home tonight to put to the test with my 4 year old daughter. I’ll also give it a run through the dishwasher so check back for more updates.
There are also other great products that Crocodile Creek makes like kids melamine place settings, puzzles, placemats, bibs, lunch boxes, and even play balls, that you’ll find at their website, crocodilecreek.com.
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If you’re looking for quality children’s swimwear this summer, add i play baby wear to your shopping list. The company, officially known as “i play.”, was founded by designer Becky Cannon based upon the motto: Extraordinary Baby Wear. At first glance it may seem a little out of place with some of the more traditional outdoor brands you find written about on this site and at our store, Little Mountain Outfitters. I have found that very few ‘outdoor brands’ offer sizes for infants, babies, and toddlers, especially when it comes to swimwear. i play excels in this category and does it with quality, function, style and at a great price.
I play offers a wide range of products and I have focused our selection on the best of the sun protective swimwear, and sun hats for infants, babies, and toddlers.
The company began when Becky Cannon was inspired to begin making baby wear over 20 years ago after she had her first child, Emi, in Japan. Observing the styles and practicality of Japanese children’s apparel, Cannon returned to the United States, and began her international enterprise in kids’ wear. Starting as an import mail-order company in 1982, the Internet has since boosted Cannon’s merchandise visibility and sales to a level far beyond what she could have originally dreamed. She credits her start to her grandmother who taught her how to sew, and is appreciative of her loyal client base that continually motivates her with new ideas and requests for sensible summer baby wear. It’s no wonder that i play is now a leader in the production of durable and fashionable baby and kids’ items from bibs and diaper covers to swimwear and play clothes.
If you’re looking for quality children’s swimwear this summer, add i play to your shopping list. The company, officially known as “i play.”, was founded by designer Becky Cannon based upon the motto: Extraordinary Baby Wear. At first glance it may seem a little out of place with some of the more traditional outdoor brands you find written about on this site and at our store, Little Mountain Outfitters. I have found that very few ‘outdoor brands’ offer sizes for infants, babies, and toddlers, especially when it comes to swimwear. i play excels in this category and does it with quality, function, style and at a great price.
I play offers a wide range of products and I have focused our selection on the best of the sun protective swimwear, and sun hats for infants, babies, and toddlers.
The company began when Becky Cannon was inspired to begin making baby wear over 20 years ago after she had her first child, Emi, in Japan. Observing the styles and practicality of Japanese children’s apparel, Cannon returned to the United States, and began her international enterprise in kids’ wear. Starting as an import mail-order company in 1982, the Internet has since boosted Cannon’s merchandise visibility and sales to a level far beyond what she could have originally dreamed. She credits her start to her grandmother who taught her how to sew, and is appreciative of her loyal client base that continually motivates her with new ideas and requests for sensible summer baby wear. It’s no wonder that i play is now a leader in the production of durable and fashionable baby and kids’ items from bibs and diaper covers to swimwear and play clothes.
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It’s never too early to instill good safety habits in kids. For winter snow sports that has to include a helmet. For some parents this may seem silly since your child is probably not hucking any cliffs or carving through the trees. Much of the head injury risk is probably not coming from gnarly terrain but from other skiers and simple falls to the ground. Even if you are just putting your child on a sled and sending him down the local hill we strongly encourage you to put a helmet on your child. Helmets range in price from $40-$80 and many offer easy fit adjustability so they will last form multiple seasons. Fits are comfortable and styles are cool.
For more information on kids helmets for winter sports check out this great site, Lids On Kids, which is dedicated to providing information on helmet safety and answers many questions about helmet use.
What are your experiences? Share them with other parents so they can make the best choice for their kids. Click the ‘share your thoughts’ link below to post a comment!
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Little Mountain Outfitters has kids snow goggles for skiing and snowboarding online at LittleMountainOutfitters.com. Check out the great selection of winter goggles for kids from Smith, Giro, and Julbo. All these brands make top qulaity snow goggles for kids that are helmet compatible and have double lenses to reduce the chance of fogging. There are also some goggles that will accomodate prescription eyeglasses. There are a range of goggle sizes for kids age 2 to 12.
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