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Family Road Trip
The Ultimate Adventure Sport
Found in: | Outside |
See America: Road tripping has evolved into a fun, even leisurely activity, especially with the right gear. It is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your kids, away from the glow of your computer screen. This summer, my family is driving coast to coast. Here's some of the gear we're taking to make life easier, giving us more time to explore our national treasures - both inside and out.
See America: Road tripping has evolved into a fun, even leisurely activity, especially with the right gear. It is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your kids, away from the glow of your computer screen. This summer, my family is driving coast to coast. Here's some of the gear we're taking to make life easier, giving us more time to explore our national treasures - both inside and out.
Yakima LoPro SkyBox
On a long road trip, even our '02 Suburban gets crowded. Camp gear, food and books for five pretty much fills up all available space. Add a roof rack, and suddenly there's more breathing room. Plus, heavy objects can be transported on top of the car, which is safer than inside. The LoPro SkyBox is ideal for tall vehicles like Suburbans. I've never even come close to scraping when I drive into our garage. Extremely streamlined, the box provides 15.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The aerodynamic LoPro features a handy solar-powered light that comes on whenever you open the box. I found the latching and locking of the SkyBox much easier than previous roof boxes I've tested, in part due to a much sturdier, stiffer lid. The LoPro features quick-install hardware with a universal fit on all crossbars, a pad to protect the base of the cargo box and a cargo net to organize the gear inside. $699; Yakima.com
Magellan RoadMate 1470 GPS
Once you've traveled with a talking GPS, you never go back. Rather than trying to read a map while you're passing through Albuquerque - your spouse snoozing in the passenger seat, kids squabbling in the back - you can keep your eyes on the road. But all GPS's aren't created equal. For ease-of-learning and dependability, the RoadMate 1470 takes top honors. The device boasts Magellan's acclaimed OneTouch system, plus an easy-to-read 4.7-inch color-touch screen, and an ultra-thin design. Since the GPS comes preloaded with maps and points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, navigating a cross-country odyssey is easier than ever. We've programmed in national monuments across the country that are must-see's for grade-schoolers. And on those nights when we'll drive late into the night, we'll always know where to find the nearest hotel or campground. $249.99; magellan.com
Tilley TH5 Indiana Jones-style hat
Indiana Jones would wear this hat. So would Humphrey Bogart or Brad Pitt. It's the best commander-in-chief hat for dads on road trips that I've seen. The HAT (discreetly called the TH5) has a semi-sloped brim for rain and sun protection. The hat keeps its shape in the most perilous of adventures e.g. indignities like being sat upon, sticky fingers, sudden gusts of wind and the hot sun of the open road. The high crown's excellent ventilation properties not only give Dad's a jaunty, sporty look, it also helps him keep a cool head. The hemp has a soft, linen-like feel with tough-as-nails durability. The breathable hat is UV, mold, mildew and water resistant, and has a UPF 50+ certification. Available in Natural Hemp colors and Mocha. $79; tilley.com
Beyond Coastal Kid's Natural SPF 30 Sunscreen
Road trips mean time in and out of the car. The key to a successful road trip is activity. Swim in that alpine lake, hike that trail leading off from the roadside historical marker, or simply picnic in that local community park in some town of which you're not sure you know the name. To keep your kids protected (you can even get a burn through a car window), Beyond Coastal's natural sunscreen is designed for kids 6 months and up. The formula includes naturally active Zn and Ti for powerful UVA protection. Shea and Cocoa Butter, plus grape seed, aloe, comfrey and green tea combine to keep kids skin smooth and soft and so far, we haven't had any problems with the goop stinging little eyes. $15.99 (4-ounce tube), beyondcoastal.com
Smith Pivlock V90 sunglasses
Even with a rocket box, there's not a lot of space in most of our cars to accommodate several pair of sunglasses per person. But if you have the chance to run, bike, hike or play golf on your trip, it's nice to have lenses that are right for each occasion. The versatile PivLock V90s have an easy, durable lens interchange system. The temples disengage from the lens via a keyhole and pin mechanism. The PivLockV90 is available in two lens profiles, V90 and the larger coverage, V90 Max. I love the retro Platinum Mirror lenses that my V90's came with, and have used the clear lenses on many bike rides on cloudy days. The nice part about the lack of frame is there's no obstruction for driving and sports. The sunglasses (and the 7-base Carbonic shield lenses) are covered by Smith's Lifetime Warranty, which is one of the best in the industry. $119-$139; smithoptics.com
Adventure Medical Kits THE DAY TRIPPER
On road trips, we spend a lot of time out of the car exploring new terrain. Inevitably, someone skins their knee or gets a bug bite. One indispensible item in our car is the Day Tripper, a family-friendly medical kit built for adventure. The Day Tripper is designed for one to five people and has all the usual supplies for wound care, headaches, allergic reactions and burns. Plus it has an illustrated card that comes in handy when you're treating a specific injury or illness. The 8" x 6.75" x 1.75" kit fits under most car seats and weighs only 406 grams. To customize ours, I added some Sponge Bob bandages for those times when something special is needed to stop the tears. $33; adventuremedicalkits.com
Eddie Bauer First Ascent Point Success Jacket
Pack something that is light and comfy. The ultimate road-trip coat is wrinkle proof, water-resistant and wind blocking. Eddie Bauer First Ascent Point Success Jacket is designed for 8000-meter peaks (Ed Viesturs wore it on his successful ascents of Everest and Aconcagua this season), but priced for those of us who prefer more easily accessible terrain. The jacket packs down to grapefruit size and looks good whether you're free-camping on BLM land or checking into the Ritz. The body of the jacket is Polartec Wind Pro (for weather protection), with Polartec Power Stretch on the side panels for great range of motion. $99; eddiebauer.comPost a comment
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