Taking the Kids: 12 must-haves for gearing up for a fall outdoor adventure

QUICK DRY rules. You want to look for fabrics that wick moisture and dry quickly and are easy to pack and wash overnight if needed. That can include underwear, like the newly designed performance underwear from Ex Officio. I love my Mountain HardWEAR, which is a hoody that is not only comfy and quick drying but has UPF 50+. You will find many choices these days that protect you from sun, as well as bugs and ticks from companies, including L.L.Bean and Royal Robbins.

PACK SMART, especially if you are heading on an outdoors-oriented trip like on an RV where space is so limited. You will need less gear than you think you will, and a good go-to brand for packing cubes that compress is Eagle Creek. They are great to keep each member of the family more organized.

COMFY FEET are essential. Consider whether you need hiking boots that are waterproof. I certainly did in Alaska and was happy with those I got from Keen that were lightweight and waterproof. For our Grand Canyon rafting adventure, I’ve got a pair of Hoka One One closed-toe waterproof sandals that are so comfortable and have so much cushioning. They worked great on a raft trip on the boat, splashing through creek beds and scrambling over rocks to waterfalls.

SOCK ALERT. You want socks that aren’t cotton so they will wick moisture and have cushioning. Look for ones from brands like SmartWool and DarnTough.

FIRST TIME RVers. You may not realize it, but having a couple of foldable camping chairs like those we got from L.L. Bean will be a welcome addition as will a plastic table cloth for the campsite picnic table. (My backpacking kids like their Packlite chairs that collapse very small.)

ROAD TRIP COOLER is essential for picnics on the road and the meals you will cook in your rental cabin/condo/cottage. Yeti coolers are pricey but our Tundra Haul cooler on wheels certainly did the job on our 2,800-mile road trip this summer. We’ve been plastering stickers on it everywhere we go too. A tip: Freeze water in gallon or half-gallon jugs; this is much less messy than using ice and then you have cold drinking water on the road or campsite.

WATER BOTTLES THAT KEEP DRINKS HOT OR COLD. I’m also a fan of Yeti’s Rambler bottles (there is a 12-ounce one for kids) with their double-wall vacuum insulation. You have many brands to choose from — but vacuum-insulated stainless steel ones like those from Yeti, CamelBak, and Hydro Flask are worth the price – and as I’ve said before, become instant souvenirs when you slap stickers on them during your trip.

BACKPACK FOR OUTDOOR SPORTS. More and more, adults and kids are using packs with a water “bladder” connected to a tube that’s easily accessible without always having to take off your pack and reach for a water bottle. I’ve happily used my Daystar 16 Hydration Pack all over the West that is designed for women. There is also a line of Kids’ Mini M.U.L.E hydration packs.

KEEPING WARM. Puffy jackets (and/or puffy vests) for everyone, even the toddlers. Look for ones that are also water resistant and stay warm when wet — like my Micro-puff hoody from Patagonia. You can always put a rain jacket over them too. I love that they compress into a pocket and can double as a pillow on a road trip.

Ready to go? Maybe float the idea of an early holiday gift — or gift card — before your trip.

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia, the 13th in the kid’s guide series, was published in 2020, with The Kid’s Guide to Camping coming in 2021.)