Kid's TEVA Kimtah

My son is rough on his shoes.  Really rough.  He's a boy, and he's active and never stops moving until he konks out at night.  His clothes and shoes take a beating, and they need to be rugged.  Enter TEVA.  We've had great luck with Teva shoes holding up until he grows out of them.  He loves this brand and asks for it by name.  The Kimtahs are tough and they look great.  I love the toggle closure as opposed to laces; they're quick and easy, and I don't have to worry about him tripping over shoe laces that he's in too big a hurry to tie.  The orange loop in the back help with getting them on, and add some nice color contrast, as well as the orange in the toggle lace.

They're waterproof, with a special membrane to seal out water, so they withstand the rain, and my kid can't resist a puddle.  And I don't want him to, puddles are fun!  Wool socks help with that too.  Anyway--the Kimtahs are built for hard core wear and daily life.  Find them HERE.

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3 Necessities for Camping Kids

Want to get your child into camping this Summer?  Or do you have a young one going off into Scouts or away from you to camp?  Here are three essentials to help them have a great experience.  First, they need a good pack.  This Mountainsmith Youth Pursuit backpack is a great beginner pack that will keep them comfortable and carry their stuff with good weight distribution.  It has features I would expect on a quality adult pack and it's as well made.  The shoulder straps are adjustable with foam cushion, the hip belt offers support.  There's a sleeping bag compartment and compression straps for a sleeping pad.

The air mesh foam back panel helps with ventilation and there are a lot of pockets and compartments for storage and organization.   Because the pack is so highly adjustable, it should last your child for several years easily. 

To keep kids hydrated, the pack is hydration compatible and also offers outer water bottle pockets for that extra supply.   An integrated whistle on the sternum strap is a fun touch (my son loves this), but I strongly recommend a secondary safety whistle.  Finally, it's a great looking backpack and though it's blue and that's typically associated with boys, it's just as appropriate for girls.  I wish it was around when I was a kid, I would have loved it.  The Youth Pursuit so well made, it will last through many kids easily, so if you have a few kids, it could easily get handed down.  This pack is a great value and perfect for Summer adventures. 

Next, something cozy to sleep in.  I love this lofty KELTY Little Tree Junior 20 Degree Sleeping Bag.  I love the beautiful shade of pumpkin orange.   It has an integrated compression stuff sack--Kelty does this a lot with their bags and it's wonderful for kids who can sometimes get a little too busy playing to remember to keep up with their stuff.  This way nothing can get lost.

There is added insulation around the chest area for warmth, and integrated pad loops to hold a sleeping pad in place.  It fits up to 5"4 at 72 inches and weighs 3lbs 14 oz.

My son Loves his own sleeping bag and uses one all the time at home for snuggling in front of the tv or indoor camp-outs in the tent.   I think every kid needs one, if nothing else, for sleepovers and overnights at YMCA camps.  This bag is a good value with growing room and made with such good quality it will last through more than one kid at least. 

Finally, you want to put your child's name on everything.  Check out these Limited Edition Camp Labels from Mabel's Labels.  The metal tags are great for backpacks, and they look cool.  They come in different colors and designs, I like the tents and trees apt for camping.  In the Combo pack, you get a variety of labels sized for various items.

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