My husband is definitely the gear guru out of us and has a passion for finding, researching, and constantly updating/upgrading our camping gear. I error on the side of necessity and practicality, especially with our daughters needing new sizes/items with each new season. Due to that, I love when Kit finds gear that can "grow" with our kids and be used for multiple purposes.
The absolute best multi-purpose piece of gear that we have invested in for our family adventures is the Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad (https://www.thermarest.com/ca/sleeping-pads/fast-and-light/z-lite-sol-sleeping-pad/z-lite-sol.html) This sleeping pad is super lightweight and easy to pack with its foldable design. It is also super durable due to its closed-cell foam structure, which is a huge asset for camping with kids. In the past, we have had multiple sleeping pads get punctured due to rough play, bites, etc.
The reality of adventuring with babies/kids is that you need to bring more gear, extra clothing, and specific baby items, so when you can find gear that has many uses, it sure makes packing easier. And we have found that we use this pad in a ton of different ways on our trips. For instance, on canoe trips we use the Z Lite for setting our baby down while loading up the canoe, padding inside the canoe, seating for rest stops/ nursing, a comfortable spot to place our baby while we set up camp (and keep her off the sand), and inside the tent as a sleeping pad.
We also love that this pad is great in the snow, providing warmth and insulation during colder trips. We have used it for seating on lunch breaks during winter hikes and cross country skis to keep our bums dry. It also allows us to take our baby out and have her move around a bit without getting wet (which is crucial in maintaining warmth). On colder weather camping trips we have layered it under other sleeping pads to increase warmth and insulation.
So, if you're looking for a lightweight multi purpose item that will go a long way in providing warmth, comfort, and easy seating, I would highly recommend investing in a pad like this one.
To summarize, here's our main uses for the Z Lite Sleeping Pad:
1) Padding in the bow of the canoe for our baby/toddler
2) Extra padding under the travel bassinet in the tent
3) Padded seat on lunch breaks (or while nursing) during our hikes in summer and winter
4) Keeping baby off the sand/rocks (under 6 months or before she's able to start moving)
5) Extra insulation under sleeping pads (increasing R value for cold weather camping)
6) A comfortable/portable place to have a snooze anywhere
We are always looking for functional multi use items that can be used through every season, activity, and by each family member, so if you have a gear item that you love, drop a line and share it with us!
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