GearFlogger

REI Piggyback child carrier

Don't be fooled by the looks of the REI Piggyback child carrier. What appears at first glance to be some kind of medieval torture device is in reality a very comfortable backpack that allows your offspring to achieve their full potential as a crosstraining partner.

As the LittleFlogger nears 40 pounds he becomes an ever-more-realistic training aid for carrying big mountain loads. The Piggyback makes it happen with adjustable everything for you and your passenger. Parents can switch torso sizes relatively easily. It's hydration compatible and includes lots of nice little touches like a tethered mirror, removable daypack and a good kickstand.

The high seat means a good view for kids. If you're under 5'2" or over 6'2" you should make sure it fits you, but you probably already know that. A separately available diaper back expands capacity. Quibbles: it's really big, there's a useful mesh pouch on one side but not the other, and no belt pouches for cameras, phones, etc. All in all a great value.

$165.00 at REI

REI Windy Peak snowsuit

Kids. Nature's way of turning perfectly good food into toxic diaper stuffing. Gotta love 'em though, future mountaineers that they are. Good gear is even more important for kids because they can't always tell you what's up. If you want to ditch the anxiety so you can concentrate on enjoying your time out with the WeeFlogger, REI comes through with the nifty Windy Peak snowsuit.

It's warm and highly weather resistant with a midweight fleece lining and nylon shell. The lining is in the permanent hood too, which as a bonus fits close to their little heads to minimize the frantic tearing motion they make when their vision is obscured. They really hate that, you know. The cuffs all seal with velcro.

My two-year old son loves his, and will happily play outside in single-digit temps with some warm boots and mittens. He's warm when I take him out of it after an hour or three, so I know he's OK. Double bonus round: the suit has extra length in the arms and legs that is designed to be let out by removing the stitches when they grow. Haven't tried that yet, but anything that extends the life of kid-wear gets a thumbs-up from me.

$69.50 at REI

REI Zigzag sleeping bag

It's hard to use kids as effective training tools if they don't have their own place to sleep. The REI Zigzag +15F sleeping bag solves that problem, and nicely so. With the ability to sleep a five-footer some short people might find this bag fits the bill too.

Obviously designed by someone who has actually camped with kids, the Zigzag is small-human-friendly with a pillow pocket, extra room for tossing and turning, a small interior pocket for whatever stash your tyke likes to keep handy, and pad loops to secure the whole enchilada so junior doesn't end up on top of you.

The temperature rating of +15F seems about right, helped by some expedition-style technical features like a full-length draft tube. The ripstop nylon shell is durable, and the synthetic fill will insulate even when wet, always a danger with the little guys. All this makes the Zigzag a great choice when you want to get outdoors with the whole family.

$99.00 at REI

Chariot Carriers Cougar 1 stroller

OK, I told you I wouldn't go crazy with the kid stuff, but we all know some of us are "old" and have "children" and need to "watch them" sometimes. So, in the interests of fostering familial harmony I give you... the Chariot Carriers Cougar 1 stroller.

Calling this thing a stroller is like calling Realization a good weekend project. The 1 is for 1 child; there's also a Cougar 2 for... well, figure it out. The Cougar has extremely low rolling resistance, super smooth adjustable suspension, five point safety harness, roll cage, plenty of storage, wind and mesh roll-up covers, padded handlebars and a parking brake. It folds up a little bit to fit into a trunk even.

What makes this an awesome cross-training device are the add-on kits, at least one of which must be purchased to make it useful. There are kits for biking, hiking, strolling, jogging and skiing. I've used them all except the stroller (oh the irony!) and they all work as advertised. The ski system works for both skating and classic styles, with skating being a little smoother, as well as with snowshoes. The jogging system adds a front brake which makes it useful for rollerblading downhill.

Works up to 75 pounds, so it won't be obsolete after the first growth spurt. This thing is seriously well-designed and worth its weight in gold. There's nothing like the look on a one-year old's face as he sits in the cockpit at speed while you push him down the trail!

$435.00 at REI

Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon

It has come to my attention that some of you are breeding. Stop it. Stop it right now. Too late? Oh well. Now that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak, you're going to need something to keep that brood busy and yourself sane.

As a relatively new father myself (18 months), getting outdoors often involves the LittleFlogger. He's keen to get on Denali, and while I'm supportive I also believe in the crawl-walk-run approach - literally in this case - as necessary predecessors to the climb-ski-BASE jump activities.

And so I'm happy to introduce a new category at GearFlogger: Kids. There won't be a bunch of baby clothes, I promise, but I will try to point out the occasional useful gear for active parents. Let's start with the basics. Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon is a 2007 title from the ever-indispensable Mountaineers Books, and there are many other states in the series. They show off "100 hikes selected for kid appeal," with the focus on fun: waterfalls, bridges and other kid-cool natural and human-made points of interest.

Just-long-enough descriptions include simple and clear maps, difficulty ratings, distance, elevation and more. A particularly handy list is titled, "How to create memorable outings for kids," and includes pointers we all know but too often forget: take plenty of snacks, avoid electronics to keep them in the moment, and go slow are a few. You can't go wrong with this guide.

$14.00 at Amazon.com