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Kids’ Outdoor Gear Reviews for Real Families

Honest gear reviews and outdoor guides for parents who hike, camp, and adventure with their kids — mud, meltdowns, and all.

Full-length back view of the Eddie Bauer Toddler Rain Jacket in size 2T on a 2-year-old

Eddie Bauer Toddler Rain Jacket Review

The jacket that lives in the bottom of our backpack. It's ultralight, rolls into a ball, and the highlighter hood makes him easy to spot. The catch: a basic hood with no adjustment.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

4–6 minutes
Toddler in yellow REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket running on wooden boardwalk at Yellowstone National Park

Best Rain Jackets for Toddlers 2026

We tested ten toddler rain jackets in real rain: West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone, Colorado's Front Range, and park days in the drizzle. Here are the best rain jackets for toddlers.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

6–9 minutes
Toddler in yellow REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket walking on wooden boardwalk at West Thumb Geyser Basin Yellowstone

REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket — Toddler Review

We took the REI Rainier to Yellowstone in a downpour and Oren (2) stayed dry. Soft chin guard, a hood that stays put, true-to-size fit. It's a shell, so layer up.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

5–7 minutes
Low angle full length front view of toddler in Columbia Hikebound II Rain Jacket showing overall fit and zipper

Columbia Hikebound II Rain Jacket — Toddler Review

The comfiest toddler rain jacket we tested. The Hikebound II feels like cloth, not plastic, and it's still waterproof. The catch: mesh pockets that open straight to the inside.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

3–5 minutes
Side profile of toddler in navy Amazon Essentials Toddler Rain Jacket pointing at something, showing elephant print lining visible at cuff

Amazon Essentials Toddler Raincoat Review

Warm, cute, and easy on the budget. The quilted lining and insulated hood make it great for cold drizzle. But it's water-repellent, not waterproof, and it overheats in warm rain.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

3–5 minutes
Full length back view of toddler wearing yellow Reima Lampi Rain Jacket on trail with Reima logo visible

Reima Lampi Rain Jacket — Toddler Review

The most sealed-feeling toddler rain jacket we tested, with a detachable hood and PVC-free fabric. The catches: no pockets, no chin guard, and our 2T could fit our five-year-old.

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Roxy Dawson

Oct 22, 2026

4–6 minutes
Hand holding a yellow straw lined up with a child's heel and toe lines on orange paper, with measurements of 7 1/8 inch, 18 cm and 6 inch, 15.24 cm written beside them

Kids’ Shoe Size Chart: How to Measure Kids’ Feet (and Why Brands Disagree)

Kids' feet don't follow averages. Here's how we measure for shoes with paper, a pen, and a tape measure, plus the straw trick for shopping in a store.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 2, 2026

8–13 minutes
A parent inflates a paddleboard with a hand pump while a toddler watches on a granite cove on Lake Tahoe's East Shore.

Things to Do in Lake Tahoe With Kids: Our Summer Guide

Our summer guide to Lake Tahoe with kids: where we camp and how we score sites, our favorite beach, easy kid hikes, cold water and bear tips, and the gear we pack.

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Roxy Dawson

Oct 24, 2026

9–13 minutes
Three young children gathered around a camp table at a tent campsite with a vehicle and trees in the background

How to Go Camping With Kids for the First Time

Your first family camping trip doesn't need to be perfect. It needs a plan, realistic expectations, and half the toys. Here's what actually matters.

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Roxy Dawson

Oct 16, 2026

9–13 minutes
Marmot Tungsten tent with an orange and grey rainfly pitched on sand below red canyon walls

Marmot Tungsten 4P — Family Camping Tent Review

We've tested the Tungsten for years, and the 4P really does sleep four of us. The catch: your gear lives in the vestibules, and you'll want extra stakes.

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Ben Dawson

Oct 22, 2026

4–6 minutes