We’re always looking for stuff that isn’t junk.
That’s genuinely the bar. Not educational in a flashy marketing sense. Not a toy that ends up in the corner after 20 minutes. Something that actually holds their attention, makes them think, and doesn’t make us feel like we wasted money on more plastic.
KiwiCo cleared that bar. Here’s what happened.
What We Got
We picked up subscriptions for both boys. Seven and four (almost five).
For our four-year-old we went with the Koala Crate, which is the ages 3 to 4 box. He got a dinosaur dig kit where you excavate little figures out of sand. For our seven-year-old we went with the Kiwi Crate, which runs ages 5 to 8. His was the Motorized Spin Art kit. He built the motorized device himself, loaded it up with paint, and let it rip. The result was this kaleidoscope-style artwork he made from scratch. Think spinning, color, and a finished piece he actually created himself.
Both boxes arrived with everything included. No running to the store for supplies, no missing pieces, no printing instructions off the internet. Everything was in there.
How It Actually Went
We handed them the boxes and mostly got out of the way.
That’s the honest version. We weren’t hovering, we weren’t co-piloting, we weren’t saving anyone from frustration every five minutes. They just did it.
Our seven-year-old was locked in. He built the motorized device, figured out the mechanics, loaded it with paint, and came back with this wild swirling piece of art he made himself. It wasn’t a participation trophy project. He built something real, it worked, and the result was genuinely cool. He wanted to show everyone in the house.
Our four-year-old liked his too, though here’s an honest note: if your kid is on the older end of an age bracket or running a little ahead developmentally, size up. We probably should have gone with the 5-to-8 box for him. The dinosaur dig was a little too quick for where he’s at right now. He still enjoyed it, but he was through it faster than we expected. We’ll go up a level on his next one.
That’s not a knock on KiwiCo. That’s just good advice for dads making the call: when in doubt, go up an age bracket. You know your kid.
Why We’re Keeping the Subscription
For $30 a month this is genuinely one of the better line items in the budget.
Think about what $30 normally gets you. A toy that breaks in a week. A game that loses half its pieces. Something with batteries that makes noise for six months straight. Or in this case, a curated box that shows up at the door, keeps the kids occupied for a solid stretch, gives them something they actually made, and sets them up excited for what comes next month.
Both boys are already asking about the next box. That’s the real tell.
What KiwiCo Actually Offers
For dads doing the math on which box to get, here’s the quick breakdown:
Koala Crate (ages 3 to 4): Hands-on learning for preschoolers. Good starting point but size up if your kid skews advanced.
Kiwi Crate (ages 5 to 8): Science, art, and engineering activities. This is the sweet spot for most elementary-age kids and the one we’d recommend most confidently.
Atlas Crate (ages 6 to 11): Geography and culture focus. Each box explores a different country with STEAM projects tied to the theme. Great if your kid is into travel or learning about the world.
Tinker Crate (ages 9 to 14): More advanced STEM. Build and engineering focus for kids who want to go deeper.
Eureka Crate (ages 12 and up): Engineering and design for older kids and teens. This one runs into adult territory, which is actually a nice detail.
Every subscription includes free shipping. Prices range from roughly $17 to $30 per month depending on which crate you pick and whether you go monthly or annual. Annual is obviously the better deal if you’re planning to stick with it, which after this first round, we are.
Our Honest Recommendation
If you’re a dad looking for something different to give your kids that isn’t more junk, KiwiCo is worth it.
It’s not a screen. It’s not passive. It’s something they build with their hands and walk away from with a finished product they made. That combination is increasingly hard to find at any price point, let alone $30 a month.
Our boys loved it. We’re keeping both subscriptions. And next month we’re sizing up the four-year-old.
Check out KiwiCo here and use the age guides to pick the right crate for your kid. Click through our link and you will get 50% off your first box. When in doubt, go one bracket up.
We paid for our KiwiCo subscription ourselves. This post contains an affiliate link. If you sign up through our link, you will get 50% off your first box.
Join the Family
The wearable market just got a lot more interesting.
Google dropped the Fitbit Air in May 2026 at $99 and aimed it directly at WHOOP’s territory. Screenless. App-dependent. Built around recovery, sleep, and keeping tabs on how your body is actually doing.
For dads who have been watching the wearable space and wondering whether it’s worth the investment, now is a good time to pay attention. Because the conversation has changed.
Here’s the honest breakdown.
What These Things Actually Do?
Both the Fitbit Air and WHOOP are screenless fitness bands. No notifications. No steps on your wrist. No distractions.
What they do instead is track the stuff that actually tells you how you’re performing and recovering. Heart rate variability. Sleep staging. Blood oxygen. Skin temperature. Resting heart rate. Recovery scores.
The goal is simple. Show up every day knowing whether your body is ready to push or needs to rest. Make smarter decisions about training, sleep, and stress based on data instead of guessing.
For dads trying to stay healthy and actually function at a high level, that data is genuinely useful.
The question is which device delivers it better and at what cost.
The Devices
Fitbit Air is Google’s first screenless band. It launched May 2026 at $99. Small pebble-shaped module, 12 grams with the band, 1.4 inches. Google describes it as 25% smaller than the Fitbit Luxe. Ships May 26, pre-orders open now.
WHOOP 5.0 is the current generation of the device that has been in the screenless recovery tracking space for years. Released May 2025. Weighs 27 grams, 7% smaller than the WHOOP 4.0, redesigned sensor suite, and 14-plus days of battery life. There’s also a premium version called the WHOOP MG that adds medical-grade ECG and blood pressure tracking.
On paper, they’re going after the same thing. In practice, they’re built for different people.
The Specs That Actually Matter
Here’s what separates them on hardware:
Battery life:
WHOOP wins. 14-plus days versus 7 days for the Fitbit Air. Real-world WHOOP users report 16 to 18 days per charge. The Fitbit Air has a quick-charge feature that gives you a full day in 5 minutes, which helps. But WHOOP charges on your wrist via a battery pack, meaning it never actually comes off. For uninterrupted 24/7 data collection, that’s a meaningful edge.
Sensor depth:
WHOOP captures biometric data 26 times per second using 5 LEDs and 4 photodiodes. The Fitbit Air saves heart rate at 2-second intervals. Both track HRV, skin temperature, and SpO2. For most dads, the difference won’t be noticeable day-to-day. For serious athletes, it matters.
Weight:
Fitbit Air is 12 grams. WHOOP is 27 grams. The Fitbit Air is one of the lightest fitness trackers on the market. If you’ve ever been annoyed by a heavy watch, this will feel like almost nothing.
Water resistance:
Fitbit Air is rated 5 ATM (50 meters). WHOOP is IP68. Both are fine for swimming, showers, and whatever else dads get into.
AFib detection:
Both have it. Fitbit Air does passive background detection. WHOOP MG does on-demand ECG. If cardiac health is a priority, the WHOOP MG tier is the one to look at.
The Part That Changes Everything: Pricing
This is where the conversation really happens.
Fitbit Air: $99.99 for the device. Core features, including activity tracking, sleep, HRV, SpO2, AFib detection, and a readiness score, are free. No subscription required. Google Health Premium adds AI coaching, adaptive fitness plans, and deeper sleep insights for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. The device comes with a free 3-month trial.
WHOOP: The hardware is included in the subscription. You don’t buy the device. You pay for access.
WHOOP One starts at $149 for the first year, then $199 per year. WHOOP Peak is $239 per year. WHOOP Life (the MG tier with ECG and blood pressure) is $359 per year. No free tier. All tracking is locked behind an active subscription.
Here’s what that looks like over 5 years:
For most, that math is hard to ignore. The Fitbit Air delivers the core metrics at a fraction of the lifetime cost. WHOOP’s subscription model has taken consistent heat for exactly this reason, with some reviewers calling its value factor a 5 out of 10 now that capable competitors exist at half the price.
What Each One Does Better
Recovery and readiness. Both give you a daily score. WHOOP uses a 0 to 100 Recovery Score based on HRV, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep performance. It also has a Strain Score (0 to 21) that tracks cardiovascular load and tells you how hard you should train today based on how well you recovered. Fitbit Air uses a Daily Readiness Score (requires Health Premium) and tracks something called Cardio Load, which is their version of strain. WHOOP’s system has more maturity and more years of refinement. Fitbit’s is newer but functional. For everyday use, both work. For performance athletes who want to calibrate training load precisely, WHOOP is still ahead.
Sleep tracking. WHOOP 5.0’s sleep staging was trained on polysomnography data from clinical partners, which is the gold standard for sleep research. It tracks light, REM, and deep sleep, gives you a sleep need calculator, and scores your sleep performance as a percentage. Fitbit Air updated its sleep model with what Google claims is 15% greater accuracy, plus improved nap detection and a Smart Wake alarm that wakes you at the optimal point in your sleep cycle. Independent research on Fitbit’s sleep accuracy shows moderate agreement with clinical standards, which means it’s useful for tracking trends over weeks but less reliable night to night. WHOOP’s clinical training data gives it an edge in methodological rigor. Both are useful. Neither is perfect.
Activity tracking. WHOOP auto-detects 80-plus activities with real-time cardiovascular strain monitoring and VO2 Max tracking. Fitbit Air auto-detects common activities and supports manual logging for 40 exercise types plus 140-plus additional logged activities. It also has an AI feature that lets you photograph gym equipment or a whiteboard workout to log it automatically, which is genuinely clever. For serious athletes optimizing around strain and recovery, WHOOP is deeper. For dads doing a mix of workouts, runs, and recreational stuff, Fitbit Air handles it well.
Wearability. WHOOP can be worn on the wrist, bicep, chest, or embedded in WHOOP Body apparel like shorts and sports bras. That any-wear flexibility is a real advantage for sports where wrist placement is inconvenient or inaccurate. The Fitbit Air launches with wrist-only support. A bicep band is coming, but it’s not available at launch, which is a notable gap.
WHOOP-only features. WHOOP MG adds medical-grade ECG, blood pressure insights, and WHOOP Age, which is a longevity metric comparing your biological age to your chronological age. WHOOP also has Women’s Hormonal Insights on all tiers. If any of that is relevant to you, it factors into the decision.
The AI Coaching Angle
Google has leaned hard into AI as a differentiator. The Google Health Coach, powered by Gemini, is available through Health Premium and offers personalized fitness guidance, adaptive workout plans, and multimodal logging where you can log meals and workouts by photo, text, or voice. The Google Health app also pulls in medical records, hydration, and third-party device data.
WHOOP has its own AI coaching tools with well-designed data visualization and personalized correlation insights. It will show you things like how alcohol is affecting your HRV or how sleep duration changes your strain tolerance. That contextual depth comes from years of population-level athlete data, which Google’s newer system will need time to match.
Both are good. WHOOP’s platform has more history behind it. Google’s has more ambition built into it.
Who Should Get What
Get the Fitbit Air if:
You want solid recovery tracking without a recurring subscription. You’re focused on sleep, HRV, and general wellness rather than performance optimization. You’re in the Google ecosystem already. You want AI coaching at a reasonable price. Or you just want the most affordable entry point into this category that still gives you real data.
Get WHOOP if:
You train seriously and want recovery data driving your daily decisions. You need the deepest available HRV, strain, and sleep analytics. You want 14-plus days of battery and truly uninterrupted data. Or you’re a competitive or endurance athlete who will actually use every data point WHOOP provides.
We’ll leave you with this…
For most dads, the Fitbit Air is the smarter buy. It delivers the core metrics, HRV, sleep staging, recovery scores, AFib detection, at $99 with no ongoing cost. The subscription gap between these two products over five years runs into the hundreds of dollars. For everyday health tracking, that math is hard to argue with.
WHOOP is still the better tool for serious athletes. The sensor depth, battery life, any-wear flexibility, and platform maturity are genuinely category-leading. If you’re training for something competitive and want precision data driving your decisions, WHOOP earns its price.
But if you’ve been on the fence about a wearable because the subscription model felt like too much of a commitment, the Fitbit Air just removed that excuse.
$99. Free core features. Buy it and get moving.
Most guys don’t need more clothes. They need better defaults.
The kind you grab at 7 a.m. without thinking. The kind that still works at 7 p.m. after a full day of real life. School drop-offs. Work. Errands. Dinner. Whatever the day throws at you.
That’s where a great Western shirt and a solid pair of jeans earn their spot. Not as a statement. As a system.
Most clothes aren’t built for real days. Style content loves a fantasy. Perfect lighting. Clean outfits. Zero friction.
No one in those photos is sweating through a long afternoon. No one is chasing a kid around a baseball diamond in 90 degrees. Real life is movement. Your clothes should move with it.
Western wear, at its best, was never like that. It was built for long hours, changing conditions, and repeat use. That DNA still matters. It just looks cleaner now.
The shirt that does more than you think
The Western Pearl Snap is one of the easiest upgrades a guy can make. Built-in character. The snaps. The pockets. The shape. You don’t need to overthink it.
But here’s what most people don’t talk about: the right one works harder than it looks.
Tecovas built theirs with performance fabric that actually earns its place in the rotation. Four-way stretch means you’re not fighting the shirt every time you reach, lift, or wrangle a car seat. Moisture wicking keeps you from feeling like you ran a 5K by noon. And wrinkle resistance means it looks the same at dinner as it did at drop-off.
There’s even a sunglass wipe built into the placket. Sounds small. Comes in clutch more than you’d think.
Works open over a tee. Buttoned up for dinner. Sleeves rolled on a warm afternoon. Layered when it cools off. It carries just enough personality without asking for attention.
This isn’t just a shirt. It’s the one you reach for on autopilot.
→ Shop the shirt here
The case for better denim
A solid pair of jeans is still the most useful thing in your closet. But most pairs force a tradeoff. Too stiff and you feel it by lunch. Too soft and they lose their shape.
The sweet spot is structure plus comfort. A slim straight fit is clean without trying too hard. Works with boots. Works with sneakers. Holds its shape but still moves.
Tecovas built their denim with that balance in mind — stretch that moves with you through a full day without bagging out by noon.
→ Shop the denim here
Built for the life you actually live
Once you have kids, your clothes need a new skill set. Coffee spills. Long drives. Weather shifts. Sitting on tiny chairs at school events.
You stop dressing for the mirror. You start dressing for durability.
A strong shirt and denim combo covers almost everything without needing a second outfit. Wear it to work. Wear it to dinner. Wear it all weekend. And you still look like you tried.
→ Shop the full Tecovas collection here
If Indiana Jones had kids, the Ineos Grenadier is probably what he would drive. In this first drive review, we spent a day living with the Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster around Charleston doing school runs, gym stops, grocery trips, and kid chaos to see if this old school 4×4 really works as a daily dad rig.
Watch our full Ineos Grenadier drive
What Is The Ineos Grenadier?
The Ineos Grenadier is a boxy, body on frame 4×4 that intentionally feels like it time-traveled from a tougher era of SUVs. It was dreamed up in a London pub called The Grenadier by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who thought modern SUVs had gotten too soft and tried to buy the tooling for the old Land Rover Defender, and when that failed, he built his own vehicle instead.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Key highlights:
- Old school construction: Body on frame chassis, solid axles front and rear, permanent four wheel drive, and locking differentials make it feel more like a classic Defender than a modern luxury SUV.
- Global mash-up: BMW sourced 3.0 liter inline six engine up front, built in Hambach, France in a former Mercedes factory, and now sold in the U.S.
- Purpose over polish: It is not trying to be a G Wagon or a leather lined mall crawler. Everything about it is designed for use, not for show.
Engine, Performance, And Off Road Capability
Under the hood, the Grenadier runs a turbocharged 3.0 liter inline six gas engine from BMW, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time Four Wheel Drive. It produces about 281 to 282 horsepower and 331 to 332 pound-feet of torque, which is more than enough to move this heavy, armored truck feeling SUV with confidence.
What stands out for dads who actually use their vehicles:
- Serious towing and hauling: Max towing capacity is around 7,700 plus pounds, with payload near 1,800 pounds, so pulling a camper, boat, or loaded utility trailer is right in its wheelhouse.
- Trail first hardware: Ladder frame chassis, three locking differentials, generous ground clearance of over ten inches, and deep wading depth mean it is built to handle real off road use, not just gravel road photo ops.
- On-road feel: Steering is old school and deliberate compared with modern crossovers. This is a 4×4 that reminds you it is built for dirt first and pavement second.
It is not efficient. Owners can expect mid-teens miles per gallon, which is part of the deal with a heavy, square, trail-oriented SUV like this.
Interior: Analog Cockpit, Not Tech Theater
The Grenadier interior is where you really feel that analog in a digital world philosophy. It is designed like a cockpit: everything is tactile, overbuilt, and intentionally simple, with physical buttons and toggles for almost every function.
A few standout details from the driver seat:
- Actual key, simple screens: You physically insert a key to start it, and there is no flashy digital cluster directly in front of you. Your speed and vehicle info live in the central display, which takes a minute to get used to.
- The two horn steering wheel: You get two horns, one polite toot for someone texting through a green light and a second serious horn for someone cutting you off. It is quirky and very dad approved.
- Apple CarPlay where it counts: Tech is intentionally minimal, but you do get Apple CarPlay, which is all most dads really need for navigation, calls, and playlists.
- Up top, an overhead console is packed with switches for differential locks, off road assist modes, and exterior lights and accessories. It genuinely feels like sitting in a small aircraft or a spaceship, which makes even a school run feel more like a mission than a commute.
Seats, Comfort, And Dad Usability
This is not a plush luxury SUV, but as a daily dad driver, it hits a very specific sweet spot.
Front row impressions:
- Manual, purposeful seats: Seat adjustments are manual, and reclining requires reaching back to a somewhat awkward lever, but the seats themselves are supportive and built for long days behind the wheel.
- Good elbow to elbow ratio: The armrest heights for driver and door are tuned just right. At around six feet tall, everything falls where it should and feels surprisingly comfortable.
- Simple climate and controls: Fan speed has three physical settings, temperature goes from cold to hot, and heated seats are controlled by one straightforward button with no buried menus.
Storage and practicality:
- Small but intentional center console that includes USB-C and standard USB ports and lockable storage with a separate key so you can stash passports or valuables on road trips.
- Two central cupholders that actually hold normal bottles and coffee tumblers.
- This is a cabin that assumes dirt, sand, and Goldfish crumbs will happen and is fine with it.
Back Seat And Cargo: Family Life In The Grenadier
From a dad perspective, the Grenadier makes a lot of sense for a two kid family and less so for a big crew.
Rear seating:
- No third row. This is strictly a five-passenger SUV.
- At six feet tall, there is comfortable legroom in the back, and you will not hate being back there on the way to the beach or mountains.
- Power and ports where you need them, including a 120-volt plug plus USB and USB-C ports in the rear center area to keep kid tablets and devices alive.
Car seat reality check:
- We ran a quick car seat test and got a seat installed and tightened down with classic dad strength in short order, with no weird anchor placements or impossible angles.
Cargo area:
- Split rear doors with a rear-mounted spare and a built-in ladder give it serious expedition vibes and also make access easy in tight parking lots.
- Plenty of flat cargo space for strollers, groceries, sports gear, and coolers.
- At six feet tall, you can stretch out in the back with an air mattress and sleep, so weekend camping and beach naps are fully on the table.
If you regularly haul three or more kids, the lack of third row is the biggest limitation. For two kids and lots of gear, it is kind of ideal.
Ineos Grenadier Vs Other Dad Rigs
If you are cross-shopping the Grenadier, you are probably also looking at things like a Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler, or Toyota 4Runner.
Ineos Grenadier
-
Key vibe for dads: Old school, analog, expedition dad rig.
-
Off road focus: Very high, with ladder frame and locking differentials.
-
Third row option: None, five seats only.
-
Tech feel: Minimal and intentional.
Land Rover Defender
-
Key vibe for dads: Modern adventure lux family SUV.
-
Off road focus: High, with air suspension and multiple terrain modes.
-
Third row option: Available on some trims.
-
Tech feel: High tech and upscale.
Jeep Wrangler
-
Key vibe for dads: Iconic open top weekend toy.
-
Off road focus: Very high, with solid axles and available locking differentials.
-
Third row option: None on the standard Wrangler.
-
Tech feel: Techy but simple and rugged.
Toyota 4Runner 2026
-
Key vibe for dads: Reliable, long lasting family hauler.
-
Off road focus: High in TRD and off road trims.
-
Third row option: Available on some models.
-
Tech feel: Moderate and traditional.
Is The Ineos Grenadier A Good Family SUV For Dads?
For the right dad, yes.
It is a strong fit if:
- You have one or two kids and do not need a third row.
- You value towing, off road ability, and durability more than fuel economy and soft touch materials.
- You like vehicles with personality and can live with quirks, heavier steering, and analog controls.
- It is probably not your move if you want a quiet, tech heavy, seven seat do everything SUV that disappears into traffic.
For us, after a day of living with the Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster, the verdict is simple: this thing is awesome, and if you are an adventure-minded dad, you should try one.
If you are in South Carolina and want to see one in person, Hendrick Ineos Grenadier of Charleston is the crew that hooked us up with this truck. They have been great to work with, and it is worth dropping by the showroom to climb around one yourself.
There’s a version of you that used to just go. Throw a pack together on a Friday, drive until the pavement ran out, sleep under something that wasn’t a roof.
That guy still exists. He just needs a different gear list now.
Camping with young kids isn’t harder than camping solo. It’s harder. The problems aren’t physical. They’re logistical. The wrong tent means no sleep. The wrong sleeping bag means a miserable kid at 2 am. The wrong stove means cold hot dogs while your four-year-old decides the whole outdoors thing was your idea and she’s done with it.
This is a gear guide for camping with young kids, specifically the 10 items that make or break a first family camping trip. Every pick has a best version and a budget version, because the goal is getting out there, not waiting until you can afford the premium kit.
Get the gear right and most of those problems disappear. Here’s what we actually use.
The goal for the first trip is not adventure. The goal is that everyone wants to go back. That changes everything about how you gear up.
One note before the list: start with one night, a flat campsite twenty minutes from the car, and a hike under two miles. The gear below supports that. Scale up from there once everyone’s bought in.
01 — Best Family Camping Tent
Why It Matters
Whatever size you think you need, go one up. Two adults and one kid in a two-person tent is a math problem that doesn’t work. You need room to actually exist. Gear, kids, and all. Freestanding setup matters more than you think when a four-year-old is actively trying to help. Weather-worthy enough to handle a surprise rainstorm without drama.
Best Pick
Marmot Limestone 4 Tent at Backcountry · ~$429
Four-season-ready aluminum poles, color-coded clips so setup is fast, and vertical walls that actually give you headroom to move around. This is the tent you buy once and stop thinking about.
Budget Pick
Ozark Trail 4 Person Family Instant Cabin Tent at Walmart · ~$119
Punches well above its price point. Waterproof, roomy, easy to pitch. It’s not sexy but it’s not going to let rain in at midnight either.
02 — Best Kids Sleeping Bag for Camping
Why It Matters
A cold kid at midnight shuts the whole trip down. Buy a bag rated 15 to 20 degrees colder than the lowest temp you expect. Kids sleep cold and they won’t tell you until they’re already miserable. You want real margin, not theoretical margin.
Best Pick
Big Agnes Little Red 15°F Kids’ Sleeping Bag at Backcountry · ~$100
Built like an adult bag scaled down. Mummy cut, insulated hood, quality synthetic fill that handles moisture. Rated 15°F means you’ve got serious buffer on a cold spring night. This is the bag that won’t let you down at 2am.
Budget Pick
Firefly! Outdoor Gear Youth Sleeping Bag at Walmart · ~$40
Machine washable, sized for kids up to 5 feet, and cheap enough that you don’t panic when it ends up muddy. Not a cold-weather bag. Pair it with a liner if temps drop below 40°F. For three-season campground use, it does the job.
03 — Best Sleeping Pad for Car Camping
Why It Matters
Don’t bring your ultralight backpacking pad to a car camping trip. You’re not saving any weight that matters. Your back after 40 has opinions about the ground that your back at 25 did not. Go thick. Go comfortable. Nobody’s judging you at the trailhead.
Best Pick
Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe SI Sleeping Pad at Backcountry · ~$300
Four inches of self-inflating foam that comes close to sleeping on an actual mattress. Self-inflating means you open the valve and walk away. The closest thing to your bed that fits in a stuff sack.
Budget Pick
Ozark Trail Self-Inflating Camp Pad with Pillow at Walmart · ~$30
Two inches thick, self-inflating, comes with a built-in pillow. It’s not the Comfort Deluxe, but it’s a thousand times better than sleeping on bare ground. For a campground trip where you’re parked twenty feet from the car, it gets the job done.
04 — Best Camp Stove for Families
Why It Matters
You don’t need the three-burner monster with the side table and the propane regulator the size of a small appliance. You need something that boils water fast, runs on fuel you can grab at any gas station, and doesn’t require a manual when you’ve had four hours of sleep and a kid demanding oatmeal.
Best Pick
Coleman Cascade 222 Stove at Backcountry · ~$230
Two burners, removable pan supports, and a design that packs flat. Run them independently: boil water on one side, build something worth eating on the other. Pan supports lift out when dinner’s done. This is the stove for people tired of one-pot meals.
Budget Pick
Coleman Matchlight 2-Burner Propane Camp Stove at Walmart · ~$70
Coleman has been making this stove in various forms since before your dad was camping. It works. Standard propane canisters, independent burner controls, fits two pans at once. If your goal is hot food and a working camp kitchen, this is all you need.
05 — Best Headlamps for Camping with Kids
Why It Matters
One per adult. No sharing. The red light mode keeps your night vision intact and doesn’t blast a sleeping kid awake at 3am when you’re making your way to the bathroom. This is not the place to cheap out on batteries.
Best Pick
Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp at Backcountry · ~$80
400 lumens, red light mode, waterproof, USB rechargeable. The digital lockout keeps it from draining in your pack. Black Diamond has been the standard answer in headlamps for a reason. Get two.
Budget Pick
Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamps 2-Pack at Walmart · ~$25
Two headlamps for $25. IPX4 waterproof rating, red light mode, USB rechargeable, adjustable headband. They won’t last ten seasons but they’ll last this one. Buy two sets and you’ve got headlamps for the whole family.
06 — Best Camp Lantern for Family Camping
Why It Matters
Rechargeable, dimmable, and doubles as a phone charger. The table needs light that isn’t a headlamp pointed at everyone’s face. Camp lanterns are underrated. They’re what makes a campsite feel like a place rather than just a spot.
Best Pick
Kuma Trek ‘N’ Glo Tripod Lantern at Backcountry · ~$150
Telescoping tripod, rotating head, and a battery that outlasts the weekend. Point the light where you need it, plant the spikes when the wind picks up. Swap to handheld when the tripod stays packed. This is the lantern for people tired of fumbling in the dark.
Budget Pick
Coleman Classic Recharge 400 Lumen LED Lantern at Walmart · ~$76
400 lumens on high, 100 on low, and a battery that recharges from any outlet. Clip it to your pack, hang it at the campsite, or use the USB port to keep your phone alive. LEDs that never burn out and never get hot.
07 — Best Child Carrier for Hiking
Why It Matters
If your kid is under five, a trail is only as long as their legs want it to be. Which is not very long. A good carrier keeps you moving and keeps them comfortable. Sunshade for the bluebird days, ergonomic hip belt so the weight rides on your hips where it belongs. Buy it once. Use it for years.
Best Pick
Osprey Poco LT Child Carrier at Backcountry · ~$350
Osprey’s Poco is the standard the rest of the category gets measured against. Built-in sunshade, integrated kickstand so you can load and unload solo, padded child seat, and a torso-adjustable harness that fits most adults. It’s what you bring when the trail actually matters.
Budget Pick
ClevrPlus Premium Cross Country Baby Backpack Child Carrier at Walmart · ~$120
Metal frame, padded straps, and a kickstand that lets you load your kid without dropping the pack. Two water bottle pockets, a big rear pocket for diapers, and a canopy that comes off when you don’t need it. Holds up to 33 pounds of whoever’s along for the ride.
08 — Best Camping Chairs for Kids (and the Adults Who Brought Them)
Why It Matters
A kid with her own chair at the fire feels like a full member of the expedition. That matters more than it sounds. The right chair packs small enough to not take over the car and holds up long enough to be worth owning.
Best Pick
Helinox Chair Zero Camp Chair at Backcountry · ~$150
DAC aluminum poles, breathable mesh, and a packed size that fits next to your water bottle. Sets up fast, breaks down faster. Weighs almost nothing and holds you off the ground. This is the chair for people who stopped leaving chairs at home.
Budget Pick
Ozark Trail Basic Quad Folding Camp Chair at Walmart · ~$10
Steel frame, polyester fabric, and a cup holder that keeps your drink in reach. Folds in four moves and drops into the carry bag. Holds 250 pounds. This is the chair you grab when comfort matters more than pack weight.
09 — Best Dry Bag for Camping
Why It Matters
Rain happens. A wet sleeping bag is useless. One dry bag solves this completely. Stuff sleeping bags in before you leave the car. Everything that cannot get wet goes in the dry bag. Simplest and most overlooked piece of kit on the list.
Best Pick
Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bag 20L at Backcountry · ~$55
TPU-laminated nylon, fully sealed seams, and a roll-top closure that keeps water out when it has no business getting in. Rated to 10K. This is the bag for gear you can’t afford to lose to a downpour.
Budget Pick
Sirius Survival PVC Waterproof Dry Bag at Walmart · ~$15
Waterproof roll-top, adjustable straps, and 20 liters of space for everything that can’t get wet. Toss in a phone, a dry layer, and a camera. Stuff it at the end of the day and it doubles as a pillow.
10 — Best Tent Stakes for Family Camping
Why It Matters
You will trip over tent stakes in the dark. You will also want to know where your kid is wandering at dusk. High-visibility stakes solve at least one of those problems. This is a sub-$20 decision that prevents a turned ankle and a small child disappearing into the treeline.
Best Pick
NEMO Sweepstake Tent Stake – 6-Pack at Backcountry · ~$25
Aluminum stakes with a built-in scraper that pushes dirt off before it dries. Glow-in-the-dark, so you stop tripping over your guylines in the dark. Light enough to forget they’re in your pack.
Budget Pick
Richgv 12-Pack Aluminum Tent Stakes at Walmart · ~$12
7075 aluminum Y-stakes in orange so you actually find them when breaking camp. Seven inches of grip in soft ground, hard ground, and everything in between. Twelve stakes, pull cords, and a storage pouch.
The First Trip Checklist
Print this. Check it twice. Leave the stuff you second-guessed at home.
Sleep
- 4-person tent (or larger)
- Kids sleeping bag, rated 15 to 20°F below expected low
- Adult sleeping pad (self-inflating, 2 inches or thicker)
- Dry bag for sleeping bags
Camp Kitchen
- 2-burner camp stove
- Propane canister (grab a backup)
- Pot, pan, utensils
- Camp coffee setup
Light
- Headlamp x2 (one per adult, red light mode)
- Camp lantern (rechargeable)
On the Trail
- Child carrier (if kids are under 5)
- Kid’s camp chair
- Daypack with water and snacks
Camp Setup
- High-visibility tent stakes
- First aid kit
- Trash bags
One rule: one night, drive-in site, hike under two miles. Do that one well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tent do I need for camping with 2 adults and 1 kid?
Go one size up from what you think you need. Two adults and one child in a 2-person tent doesn’t work. You have nowhere to put gear, no room to move, and no one sleeps well. A 4-person tent gives a family of three real living space. If you have two young kids, consider a 6-person.
What sleeping bag temperature rating is best for kids?
Buy a bag rated 15 to 20°F colder than the lowest temperature you expect. Kids sleep cold and won’t tell you they’re uncomfortable until they’re already miserable. A bag rated to 15°F gives you meaningful buffer on a cold spring or fall night, not just theoretical coverage.
What’s the best first camping trip setup for young kids?
One night. A drive-in campsite no more than 20 to 30 minutes from the car. A hike under two miles. The goal of trip one is not adventure. It’s making sure everyone wants to go back. Get that right and you’ve got a kid asking when you’re going again. Then you start adding miles.
Do I need a child carrier for camping with a toddler?
If your kid is under five, yes. Trails are only as long as little legs want to be on them, which usually isn’t very long. A good child carrier keeps your hike going when motivation runs out. The Osprey Poco LT is the benchmark. If budget is a constraint, the ClevrPlus frame carrier does the job for car camping day hikes.
One last thing. The dads who have the worst camping trips with their kids are the ones trying to run their old camping program with new personnel.
One night. Drive-in site. Short trail. Real fire. Good food. Kid stays up a little late and falls asleep looking at stars.
That’s the trip. Do that one well and you’ll go home with a kid who’s already asking when you’re going back. That’s when you start adding miles.
The outdoors didn’t get smaller when you had kids. Your approach just needs to change. Start this weekend.
Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. We only recommend gear we’d actually bring. If you buy through a link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Picture this.
You’re 45 minutes from home. Your kid is in the backseat. You hit a nail. Tire goes flat. You pop the trunk and realize the only thing back there is a reusable grocery bag, a soccer cleat with no partner, and a granola bar from 2022.
That’s a bad day. And it’s completely preventable.
We’re not saying you need a survivalist bunker on wheels. We’re saying five things. Five things that cost less than a nice dinner out and will pay for themselves the first time something goes sideways.
Here’s the list.
1. A Portable Jump Starter
The old way: dead battery, call a friend, wait 45 minutes, feel like an idiot.
The new way: pull a brick out of your glove box, clamp it to your battery, start the car in two minutes. Done.
Portable jump starters have gotten genuinely excellent in the last few years. They’re compact, they hold a charge for months, and they work. No second car needed. No flagging down a stranger. No calling roadside assistance and sitting on the shoulder while your kid asks “are we going to be okay?” seventeen times.
Our pick: NOCO Boost Plus GB40
This is the one. Under two pounds. IP65 water resistant. Handles gas engines up to 6.0L. Has reverse polarity protection so you can’t accidentally hook it up wrong. Built-in LED flashlight. USB port to charge your phone. Around $100 on Amazon.
If you have a larger truck or SUV with a bigger engine, step up to the NOCO GB70 ($180) which handles up to 8.0L. But for most dads driving a sedan or crossover, the GB40 is the move.
Charge it when you get it. Top it off twice a year. Keep it in the car. That’s the whole plan.
2. A Portable Tire Inflator
Here’s something most dads don’t realize. Most roadside tire situations aren’t full blowouts. They’re slow leaks. A nail. A valve stem issue. The kind of thing where your tire isn’t flat flat, it’s just low enough that driving on it is a bad idea.
A portable tire inflator handles that in about three minutes. Get the tire up to a safe pressure, drive to a shop, get the nail pulled, go on with your life. No tow truck. No drama.
It’s also just genuinely useful. Tire pressure changes with temperature. Cold mornings will drop your PSI. Your TPMS light comes on. You no longer have to hunt for a gas station air pump that works and takes your payment in quarters.
Our pick: Fanttik X8 APEX
Compact, cordless, 7800mAh battery, auto-shutoff when it hits your preset pressure, LED display, built-in flashlight, and an SOS beacon. Around $70. Fits in your center console. Works on car tires, bike tires, sports balls, and whatever inflatable thing your kid is currently obsessed with.
If you want a plug-in option that runs off your car’s 12V outlet and never needs charging, the AstroAI Portable Air Compressor is around $30 and has been reliable for years. Put it in the trunk, forget it’s there, use it when you need it.
3. A Compact First Aid Kit
This one sounds obvious. And yet most dads have either nothing or a kit that’s been in the car so long the bandages have fused together.
We’re not talking about a full trauma kit. We’re talking about the stuff that handles real life: the kid who scrapes both knees at the same time, the cut from the tailgate, the bee sting at the baseball field, the headache you get from sitting in summer traffic.
A good kit in the car means you handle it in the parking lot and keep moving. No convenience store detour. No hunting for napkins.
Our pick: My Medic MyFAK (Standard)
This is the gold standard for a car first aid kit. 115-plus supplies. Soft-sided case with clear compartments so you can actually find things when your hands are shaking. Includes hospital-grade trauma shears, a CPR mask, gloves, and a solid range of bandages and wound care supplies. Around $175.
If that feels like overkill for your situation, the Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose First Aid Kit is a solid, affordable option for around $20 that covers the basics and fits in your glove box. It’s not fancy. It does the job.
Whatever kit you get, check it once a year. Restock what’s been used. Replace anything expired. That’s it.
4. A Multi-Tool
The number of times a multi-tool has saved us from a situation that would have otherwise required a phone call is genuinely embarrassing.
Loose screw on a license plate. Kid’s bike needs a quick adjustment. Box that needs opening at a job site. Random wire that needs cutting. Emergency bottle opener situation at a tailgate. The use cases are endless.
A multi-tool is one of those things where if you carry it, you use it constantly. If you don’t carry it, you spend half your life wishing you had one.
Our pick: Leatherman Wave+
The Leatherman Wave+ has been the benchmark multi-tool for years and it’s earned that status. 18 tools including pliers, wire cutters, multiple knife blades, screwdrivers, a file, a saw, scissors, and more. Built in the USA. Comes with a 25-year warranty. Around $110.
If you want something more budget-friendly, the Victorinox Swiss Army SwissChamp comes in around $65 and has 33 functions in a compact package that rides easily in a car door pocket or center console.
Either way, get one. Put it in the car. Stop borrowing things from people.
5. A Car Emergency Kit With Jumper Cables and Road Flares
Here’s the scenario. You get a flat. You can’t change it yourself. Or you’re in a breakdown situation on a highway where you need to be visible. This is where the last piece of the puzzle matters.
A proper roadside emergency kit handles the stuff the other four items don’t cover: getting yourself seen, getting towed, and being able to flag down help safely.
Our pick: Thrive Roadside Emergency Car Kit
This kit is well thought out. It includes heavy-duty jumper cables (yes, keep them even if you have a jump starter), road flares, a reflective safety vest, a tow rope, an emergency hammer for breaking windows and cutting seatbelts, a multi-function tool, and a compact first aid pouch. Rigid carrying case that stands on its own. Around $60.
The emergency hammer is the one thing most people never think about until they need it. If your car goes into water or your doors won’t open after an accident, that thing could save your life or your kid’s. It costs about $10 on its own. Just get it.
The Quick List
In case you need the shopping tab version:
- NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter | ~$100 |
- Fanttik X8 APEX Tire Inflator | ~$70 |
- My Medic MyFAK First Aid Kit | ~$175 |
- Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool | ~$110 |
- Thrive Roadside Emergency Car Kit | ~$50 |
Total damage: around $500. That’s one tow truck call avoided, one ER visit for a cut that needed a bandage, one missed meeting because your battery died. These things pay for themselves fast.
One More Thing
The best emergency kit is the one you actually have in your car. Not the one you’ve been meaning to put together. Not the one in the Amazon cart you haven’t checked out. The one that’s actually there.
Do it this weekend. Future you will be glad you did.
There’s a moment in every dad’s life when you realize the SUV is lying to you. Not maliciously. Just… politely. Car seats multiply. Sports bags get bigger. Costco trips turn into logistical events. And suddenly, space matters more than stance.
That’s how we landed on the 2025 Toyota Sienna XLE—and why it became the latest episode in our What We Drove series.
This isn’t a press car. This isn’t a spec-sheet flex. This is the car we actually bought.
Why a Minivan (And Why Now)
We didn’t wake up one day wanting a minivan. We woke up needing one.
With a growing family, the equation changed. Doors matter. Floor height matters. The ability to move around the car—not just sit in it—matters. Minivans were always designed for function first. And honestly? That’s still the point.
The Sienna just happens to hide that function inside something that doesn’t feel like a total surrender.
The Trim We Chose: XLE (The Sweet Spot)
Toyota offers a lot of trims. We didn’t want all the tech. We wanted the right tech.
The XLE hits the middle perfectly:
-
Big, clean touchscreen
-
Wireless charging
-
Plenty of USB ports (because kids + devices = reality)
-
Comfortable without feeling like a spaceship
Enough features to feel modern. Not so many that you’re yelling at menus instead of driving.
The Hybrid That Changes Everything
Here’s the stat that actually matters:
35–40 MPG in a minivan.
The Sienna runs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid, and it completely reframes what “family car” means day to day.
Real-world dad math:
-
~$40 to fill the tank
-
~600+ miles of range
-
Fewer gas station stops
-
Less mental overhead
School drop-offs. Practice. Weekend tournaments. Errands. You stop thinking about fuel entirely—and that’s freedom.
Interior: Built for Movement, Not Just Seating
This is where the Sienna earns its keep.
-
Second-row captain’s chairs slide effortlessly
-
Tons of legroom
-
Low floor = easy entry (kids and grandparents)
-
Sliding doors that open five different ways:
-
Foot sensor
-
Handle button
-
Pillar button
-
Key fob
-
Driver controls
-
It’s a small thing until you’re holding groceries, a backpack, and a kid who refuses to walk. Then it’s everything.
Cargo Space That Actually Solves Problems
The trunk is deep. Like “this used to be a closet” deep.
- Blankets? Easy.
- Sports gear? No problem.
- A dresser? Surprisingly yes.
The third row folds down simply. The seats recline. The space adapts. And yes—Toyota even includes a first-aid kit. Quietly responsible. Very on brand.
The Price (And the Long Game)
Out-the-door price for our 2025 Sienna XLE: $46,500.
Not cheap. But here’s the real calculus:
-
Toyota reliability
-
Hybrid efficiency
-
Minimal maintenance
-
Long lifespan
This is a car you buy once and stop thinking about. That’s the luxury.
Final Take: From “Team SUV” to Team Honest
We were skeptical. We were resistant. We were wrong. The Sienna doesn’t try to be cool. It tries to be useful. And somehow, that’s what makes it great. If you’re still clinging to an SUV because you think a minivan says something about you—ask yourself this:
Do you want to look like you’ve got it together…or actually have it together?
Dad Day Verdict
The 2025 Toyota Sienna is what happens when practicality wins—and everyone benefits. Watch the full episode in our What We Drove series and decide for yourself.
Sometimes the most dad move is choosing what works.
Weighted vests have been creeping into more of my workouts lately. Morning runs. Garage circuits. Even quick backyard laps with the kids. It is an easy way to crank up the intensity without adding more time, which is a win for any dad trying to fit fitness into real life.
But here’s the thing. I didn’t want to spend $140 on a top-tier weighted vest before I even knew if I would stick with it. I just needed something simple to get the rhythm down. Something that would let me test the waters before committing to a legit Ruck (we see you GoRuck).
That is what led me to the Cross101 20lb Weighted Vest. Current price: about $36. And honestly, it surprised me.
First Impressions
The vest showed up fast, and the setup took seconds. No weird adjustments. No over-engineered buckles. Just a straightforward vest that fits well, feels stable, and does exactly what it is supposed to do.
The weight is fixed, which makes it ideal for anyone who just wants a grab-and-go vest for runs or quick conditioning sessions.
View this post on Instagram
How It Performs
For a budget piece of gear, it checks every box:
-
Comfortable enough for shorter runs and metcons.
-
Doesn’t bounce more than expected.
-
Sturdy stitching that feels like it will last.
-
No hot spots or rubbing that makes you want to toss it mid-workout.
If you are starting out with weighted training, twenty pounds is a sweet spot. Enough resistance to make basic movements harder, but not something that wrecks your body on day one.
The Best Part
There is really nothing bad to say about it. At thirty-six bucks, the Cross101 vest delivers ridiculous value. It is the perfect starter vest for dads who want to build some extra grit into their workouts without committing to the higher-end stuff right away.
When you are ready to level up and spend more, go for it. But if you want something that lets you start today, this is the move.
Who This Vest Is For
-
Dads getting into weighted vest training.
-
Runners who want a simple way to increase load.
-
Anyone building a garage gym on a budget.
-
Beginners who do not want to overthink it.
Final Takeaway
If you are looking for the most cost-effective way to add a weighted vest to your routine, the Cross101 20lb vest is a no-brainer. It is simple, comfortable, and crazy affordable. For dads building momentum in their fitness, this vest is the perfect first step.
If you want more dad-tested gear reviews, sign up for Dad Day and follow along as we build stronger dads in real life.
If you’re a dad, you know the universal truth. At some point, everything in your garage will need to be cleaned. Leaves. Sawdust. Goldfish crackers that somehow made it into the toolbox. All of it ends up on the floor. So a good shop vac becomes less of a want and more of a survival tool.
We recently tested the Vacmaster Professional Beast, a budget friendly shop vac that promises serious power without taking up half your garage. This was a quick, real world test. No lab environment. Just a dad, a messy workspace, and a vac that claims to be a beast.
Spoiler. It actually is.
What We Liked
Strong suction without the noise tax
This thing moves debris with zero hesitation. For the price point, the suction power hits above its weight.
Built like it plans to stick around
Thick plastic. Solid wheels. Sturdy hose. It feels durable in the way dad gear should feel. You don’t want to baby a shop vac. You want to drag it across the garage and keep going.
Simple setup
Five minutes out of the box and you’re rolling. No head scratching or extra pieces hiding in the packaging.
Budget friendly performance
If you want commercial power without spending commercial cash, the Beast gets it done. It handles wet messes, dry messes, and the “I’ll get to that later” messes we all pretend aren’t there.
What Could Be Better
The smallest attachment could use a slightly wider opening. It gets the job done, but the narrow design makes it a little slower on tight cleanup jobs. Other than that, for ninety-nine bucks, it’s hard to complain. We dig it.
Final Dad Day Takeaway
The Vacmaster Beast is a legit pick for any dad who wants a tough, reliable shop vac that doesn’t drain the budget. Strong enough for DIY projects. Simple enough for everyday cleanup. Tough enough for whatever your kids spill next. Get it here.
If you want a quick look at how it performs, check out our short review below.
Curated from: We Got an Exclusive Look Inside Red Wing’s American Boot Factory | Behind The Brand: Red Wing by Huckberry
For more than a century, Red Wing Shoes has built boots tough enough for the mines, mills, and main streets of America. In this Behind the Brand feature from Huckberry, we get an inside look at how they still do it: the old-school way, by hand, in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Watch the Video
Video courtesy of Huckberry and Red Wing Shoes.
The Breakdown
If America had an official boot, it’d be a Red Wing.
Since 1905, this Minnesota-based brand has been cranking out footwear built to take a beating and keep looking better with age. The story starts with Charles Beckman, a small-town shoe merchant who got tired of seeing workers ruin their feet on the job. His solution: build something that could handle a lifetime of hard use.
Over a century later, the company still makes its boots in the same town, under the same ethos: tough leather, honest work, and craftsmanship you can feel every time you lace up.
The Big Idea
Red Wing’s factory tour, shot by the team at Huckberry, isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about process — the kind of slow, deliberate craftsmanship that’s all but extinct in the age of fast fashion.
The company owns its own tannery, grades every hide by hand, and still uses Goodyear welt construction so their boots can be resoled and rebuilt for decades. Every step, from leather cutting to final polish, is done by people who actually care what their name stands for.
That’s what makes Red Wing special: it’s not a brand chasing trends. It’s a brand protecting a legacy.
The Process
1. Leather to Last a Lifetime
Red Wing controls its own leather from start to finish, ensuring consistency, character, and quality you can’t fake.
2. Built by Hand, Backed by Pride
Each pair is cut, stitched, and inspected by skilled craftspeople inside Red Wing’s Plant 2 — a living museum of American manufacturing.
3. Repair, Don’t Replace
Through its heritage repair service, Red Wing cobblers rebuild worn-out boots and send them back into the world for another decade of work.
The Takeaway
Red Wing doesn’t just make boots. It makes heirlooms. Every scuff tells a story. Every resole is a second life. And every stitch ties back to a century-old promise: build it right, build it to last.
If there’s a better metaphor for fatherhood and craftsmanship, we haven’t found it yet.
Originally featured in Huckberry’s “Behind the Brand: Red Wing”. All footage and photography courtesy of Huckberry and Red Wing Shoes.