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Taking the Kids: Cool Dad's Day gifts for outdoors-loving dads

By Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Content Agency on

WASH THE WET AND DIRTY TRAIL CLOTHES in a Scrubba wash bag, which is a lot more hygienic than washing in a dirty sink or bucket. Think of it as a flexible washboard in a lightweight bag. All you need to do is add cleaning liquid, water, rub for a couple of minutes, and then hang to dry, $55.

A PORTABLE BATTERY BOOSTER that also protects your guy's phone, from mophie -- delivers up to 100 percent extra battery with enough power to extend the life of your iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. (It's $99, though you might find it elsewhere for less.) Weego portable jump starters (starting at $69) are powered by a battery and can charge or jumpstart virtually anything on the road or on water, including phones, mobile devices, laptops and any device that uses a car charger or USB port.

A SMARTER FITNESS TRACKER from TOMTOM, including the TomTom Adventurer (under $300), equipped with a barometer and compass that tracks distance, altitude, descent and speed. Upload 15 trails and also enjoy an integrated music player with Bluetooth speakers. (For golfers, there's the TomTom Golfer 2 with automatic shot detection that allows you to see how far you've hit each ball. It also updates you on more than 40,000 courses around the world.

A credit card-sized multi-tool from Lever Gear called The Toolcard -- 40 tools in one that would be appreciated at any campsite or boat. It can even be used to fix a flat tire! There are screwdrivers, bottle openers, cord cutters, wrenches, and more. Personalize with dad's name. It's TSA compliant and less than $50.

CLOTHING THAT REPELS BUGS -- hats, pants, shirts, hoodies, neckerchiefs. My husband was skeptical too but they really do work. Find "no fly" options from L.L. Bean or "DeBug" styles from Toad & Co. also www.rei.com, among others. They continue to provide protection even after many washings.

 

FOR THE SHUTTERBUG DAD, from Polaroid, there's a new small Cube+WI-FI Lifestyle Action Camera ($149.99 from Amazon.com). With a magnet on the bottom, this camera can mount just about anywhere, including on a bike, for video or photos.

Time to start shopping?

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(The 2nd edition of Eileen's Kid's Guide to Washington, D.C., has just been released. For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.)


(c) 2017 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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