Rather than a bunch of individual posts, I thought I’d make one list of the things I really like to use when outdoors. Most of these are “nice to haves” rather than “need to haves” but dang they make my time more enjoyable.
This Telescoping Fishing Pole. I use it all the time, and wrote about it in more detail here.
This nature scavenger hunt deck of cards. Easy to keep kids (and open minded adults) engaged and using all their senses.
This Tri-Leg Stool. It’s super portable. I use it when I fish, am participating in an outdoor program where there will be lots of “standing around.” It’s easy to clip onto my bag too. I wrote a detailed review about it here.
A 32 Ounce Wide Mouth Nalgene Water Bottle. These things would last a lifetime, except that I lose them sometimes. They are a great water bottle though. They include a loop to clip to your bag with a carabiner. They also can be used as a lantern if you wrap a headlamp around them. Highly recommend.
A cheap headlamp. We bought a ton of these for my work, and they are awesome. At $20 or less per piece, they are a good price and give good light for night time outdoors. I wouldn’t recommend them for cycling, though I certainly have ridden my bike at night with mine. That said, for a low stakes high enough output headlamp that I might lose, I would recommend this one.
Ove Gloves! Seriously. I don’t remember where I learned this “hack,” but Ove Gloves are awesome for camping/outdoor cooking/tending to bonfires. Don’t leave home without them if fire will be involved.
Ranger Ready Insect Repellent. It’s DEET free, smells good enough (lots of options here, including scent free), and I’ve never gotten a mosquito bite while wearing it. GET SOME! Seriously. It’s amazing.
Hand Warmers. Two good options here. One are some compostable one time use hand warmers. I’ve used these for half day outdoor events, and my hands have stayed quite warm. Another good option are the reusable hand warmers. They don’t stay warm for as long, but are great for shorter outings (like an hour long hike would be great).
Long Telescoping Smores Sticks. These are great. I’ve tried a few different kinds, and would recommend these ones from Amazon. They are portable, yet super long when you extend them, which is great especially with folks who might otherwise get too close to the fire.
Sock Liners. OMG get yourself some good sock liners this winter for under your regular wool socks. These have literally saved my toes and feet. I like the Fox River ones and the REI brand ones. They are both a game changer when it comes to keeping my feet warm on cold days.
Ugg Sheepskin Insoles. These are another great way to make any pair of shoes warmer. I wear these in a variety of shoes, for when it’s too cold out but I want to wear cute shoes rather than bulky winter boots.
A great game to bring when there’s “downtime” outdoors is Use Your Thinkball. It’s a card game that asks folks to find various things in the woods and then come back with those things and present them to the “judge.” It’s a fun way to get folks of all ages to move around and think creatively. Works for small or larger groups. If you work with kids or have kids of your own, this is a great option to spend time in a way that is engaging and fun.
A first Aid Kit. Gotta have one. It doesn’t need to be big or robust, especially if you’re just going out for a day. Just bring one.
