With my daughter, Josephine (aka Jojo), now eight months old and me approaching my first Father鈥檚 Day as a dad, I鈥檝e been reflecting a lot about how I want her to grow to have the same love for the outdoors that I do. And being 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Gear Guy, I know that the right gear (for both her and me) goes a long way toward making the most of our daily hikes and runs. A happy Jojo means a happy Joe, after all. Here鈥檚 what I鈥檝e found works best聽to keep聽an outdoorsy baby and her dad content and comfortable.
For Dads
Hoka聽One One Clifton 4 running shoes ($106)
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I once proudly told friends, 鈥淚 never run on asphalt unless it鈥檚 on the way to a trail.鈥 Alas, strollers don鈥檛 do so well on rutted and rooted dirt, so now 90 percent of my running is on sidewalks and roads. ultra-cush midsole and generous stack height are incredible at saving my dogs while pounding the pavement. My feet feel so good after a run that I鈥檝e even worn them on the kiddo鈥檚 daily walks. No matter that they elicit comments from friends like 鈥淒ude, you鈥檙e wearing聽mall-walker shoes!鈥
Boppy Comfyfit baby carrier ($60)
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is hands down my favorite everyday carrier for Jojo. Made of soft spandex, it鈥檚 stretchy in all the right places, like at the arms and anywhere that comes into contact with her delicate聽body. But it鈥檚 also got a sturdy harness with a solid buckle in the back that gives me peace of mind that I won鈥檛聽drop her if I tie something incorrectly. Since becoming a dad, this is the item of gear that I鈥檝e used most鈥攁t least once a day, for everything from ten-mile hikes to keeping her close while I fold laundry.
Fj盲llr盲ven Kanken pack ($80)
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When a friend gave me and told me it was the ultimate diaper bag, I scoffed. I have tons of cool backpacks, how is this any different? Turns out聽he鈥檚 right. For starters, the Kanken鈥檚 squat 16-liter body is small enough to stay out of the way of a squirming infant when crammed into the tiny changing space of聽a public bathroom. Yet it鈥檚 large enough to fit a blanket, four diapers, wipes, some toys, sunscreen, and the occasional six-pack, when our walk brings us by the supermarket on the way home. It helps that the Kanken doesn鈥檛 look like a diaper bag. I don鈥檛 mind changing Jojo, I just don鈥檛 necessarily want to be seen with a diaper bag in hand every time we leave the house.
For Babies
Luvmother Baby Everyday T-shirt and Non-Stop leggings ($35 and $44)
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Yes, merino clothing is expensive to dress a growing baby in, but these supersoft and 聽regulate Jojo鈥檚 temperature so well, on both hot and cold days, that the investment is worth it. Also: I tend to sweat (a lot), sometimes soaking through the Boppy if we鈥檙e tackling serious vert. Last time I got ridiculously sweaty while Jojo was in her carrier, I put a blanket under a big oak tree and unstrapped her from my soaked chest; the shirt and leggings were dry in under five minutes. Also, she鈥檚 started crawling (so proud!), and the knees of the leggings are showing no signs of wear聽despite her industrious motoring around the house.
Patagonia Sun bucket hat ($29)
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A is a must if you鈥檙e spending a ton of time outside with your baby. My favorite feature on this one is probably聽Jojo鈥檚 least: the Velcro chin strap. It聽doesn鈥檛 chafe her chin when closed, and it keeps聽the hat on her head when she inevitably tries to rip it off and throw it to the ground.
The North Face Baby Salty Pup beanie ($20)
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I put two hats in this list because: 1) they-re both damn聽cute on my daughter,聽and 2) Jojo loves . She wore it all winter and during聽early-morning Spring walks without fuss. The knit acrylic is stretchy enough to accommodate聽Jojo鈥檚 head as she has grown, and it-s soft enough that she doesn鈥檛 complain when I pop it on her head right out of bed in the morning.
Smartwool Toddler sock sampler ($22)
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Whether tucked into her running stroller or popping out the sides of the Boppy, Jojo鈥檚 little feet are exposed a lot of the time that we鈥檙e out and about together. I upgraded her cotton socks to . On top of the fun colors聽(adding to the bro aesthetic I shoot for whenever I鈥檓 in charge of dressing her), they keep her feet exceptionally warm. They run a little small, so size聽up.
Sun Bum Baby Bum SPF 50 sunscreen ($12)
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My goal is to avoid becoming a helicopter parent as Jojo gets older. For now, I鈥檓 protecting her with everything in my daddy gear arsenal. Any inch of her baby-smooth skin that isn鈥檛 covered by clothing or shaded by a brim is slathered in , so she doesn鈥檛 have to pay the price for being in the sun with her dad.