We’re in the final month of summer—the one where we try to press pause, just for a moment, and soak in every golden hour we can get. The kids are still barefoot most of the time. Our cars are still full of dirt, snacks, and forgotten water bottles. And our hearts? Very, very full. While we are still fully in summer mode, as it is our birthday month (whoo hoo!). I just wanted to take a moment and write down a few of our favorite experiences and some gear that has really stood out thus far.
This season has been packed with joy—from backyard hangouts to long adventurous weekends, lakeside lounging to solo time in the mountains. And while the experiences are what matter most, having the right gear has made them smoother, sweeter, and just a little more magical.
1. Sleeping Under the Stars (With Fewer Complaints)
Camping has been part of our family rhythm since the boys were babies. Sleeping, eating, playing, and simply being outside grounds us — it keeps us connected to each other and to the world around us. We’ve slept in forests, on riversides, lake shores, and more. And we all sleep so well outside. I chalk a lot of that up to the kids’ sleep systems — because when they sleep well, everyone sleeps well.
On a recent ultra-light backpacking trip, we brought along a new addition: the Klymit Static V Short sleeping pads. I wanted something the boys could carry themselves — and these were perfect. They pack down super small, are incredibly lightweight, and the boys loved that they could inflate them on their own. Size-wise, they’re just right for kids (and for mamas who like to curl up).
Before this, we usually used Z-Rests — which are great — but these Klymits felt like pure luxury to the boys. It actually made them excited to cozy up into their sleeping bags at night. And for us parents? That’s an automatic 5-star review.
2. Rooftop Tent Mornings + Coffee with a View
There’s nothing like waking up in our Thule Approach rooftop tent — the air still cool, the sky just starting to blush pink, and the boys and Jason still sound asleep. Thanks to the blackout shades, the tent stays super dark, which means everyone gets to sleep in. Everyone except me. I live for my quiet coffee mornings, and my body naturally wakes early to catch the last of the sunrise. Out in the depths of nature, that morning light just hits different — softer, quieter, more sacred. It feels like I’m the luckiest person in the world to have this sliver of time to myself in such a magical place.
We recently added the Thule Approach awning to our setup, and honestly, it’s been a surprisingly big upgrade. It zips right onto the side of the tent and spreads wide enough to fit a table and a couple of chairs underneath — perfect for slow breakfasts or evening hangs. I even used it as a little morning yoga space. It kept the dew off my blanket, created a calm, dry spot to stretch, and made my early mornings feel even more peaceful.
3. Lakeside Cabin Days
Some of our best family weekends are spent at our lake cabin. The kids rotated between the BOTE Hangout 120 float (they stayed on it for two straight hours last weekend, jumping off and climbing back like it was a game show), and the Soul Waterman Nugget kayak, which has basically become an extension of my sons at this point. They’ve paddled it every week—learning how to flip it, and even paddled it across the lake. It and the super light and perfect sized paddle it comes with has been such a great introduction to a sport we love so much. After every water session they come out asking for their towel ponchos from Iksplor. And wow, do they look so cute wrapped up in them eating snacks and cuddling in the hammock. I even got one for myself because it is so cozy and practical.
4. Camp Meals That Felt Like Feasts
This year, for nearly every car camping trip, we brought along the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp Stove — and it quickly became a game-changer. It packs down small, sets up fast, and made it possible for us to cook real meals in the forest: think pancakes, pasta, and even veggie stir-fry. We could boil a big pot of water for pasta in under three minutes, and even pulled off one of our new favorite gourmet camping breakfasts — Machaca breakfast burritos, inspired by a recent trip to Mexico. Being able to make and enjoy those out in the woods before a big day of hiking and adventuring with the kids set us up for so many successes.
Granted, we upgraded from a basic Jetboil and freeze-dried meals to this full setup — but I truly believe any car camping family would love it.
And while eating our forest feasts, we’ve all been lounging in our Crazy Creek chairs. For me, they’re like a signal to my body to relax, helping me actually slow down and enjoy the meal. The kids? They treat them like mini rocking chairs and love pushing each other over in them — which produces the best giggles. My two favorites are the AirCliner and the Hex 2.0 Original Chair. Both roll up compact and tuck easily into the side of a backpack. The Air Lounger is a bit more cushy (and a tad heavier), while the Hex is lighter but doesn’t roll quite as thin.
5. Backyard Fires & Misty Evenings
Some of our favorite summer memories happened right outside our back door. We’d fire up the Wind Chill Cooler by day and the Solo Stove by night, and suddenly our backyard transformed into the ultimate summer lounge zone. While we all love going on adventures, we also all benefit and need home days once in a while. Having a cooler of cold drinks and a few cold snacks outside for the kids to come and get while playing in the neighborhood was very appreciated.
This isn’t your average cooler— it combines cold storage (with impressive ice retention), active air conditioning, and a built-in misting system that makes even the driest heat feel manageable. With USB charging ports, an integrated bottle opener, and all-terrain wheels, it’s basically a party on wheels. It runs for up to 3 hours on battery or endlessly with a plug, making it the ultimate luxury companion for backyard hangs, beach days, or any outdoor adventure. I’ve been blown away by how efficient and fun this cooler is!
6. Endless Laps on Banwood Wheels
Our kids and I have clocked serious mileage on their Banwood skateboard and scooter—from campground loops to neighborhood loop sprints to “see who can coast the longest” contests. They are classic, very durable, stylish and are built to stand up to all the abuse. Even I have started to learn how to skateboard, as it’s super easy to and non intimidating to practice. Almost every evening we are home we head out on a digestion stroll. Sometimes its a walk with ice creams in hand in our PJs and other times it’s a scooter and a skateboard roll – either way I love it and we all look forward to it after dinner no matter where we are in the world.
7. That Big, Beautiful Bikepacking Trip
Just us. 180 miles. 3 nights. 4 days. No kids, no clocks. Fueled by 4HourFuel, this bikepacking trip was our marriage reset and summer highlight. No race pressure—just movement, each other, and being reminded why this wild life suits us so well. Read more about it, and all the gear here.
8. Trail Miles & Creek Plunges
Trail time has been my soul time this past month. With Adventure Race World Championships coming up in September, I’ve been putting more emphasis on foot travel and it has been so much fun. Whether it was sunrise runs or slow hikes with the kids, my Hoka Mafate Speed 5s and Salomon Genesis shoes did an amazing job of keeping me comfortable no matter what the milage or speed was. Every long effort included a cold creek or lake dip- my favorite way to break up or end a hot and sweaty session. Want to learn more about my favorite trail shoes? Check out the articles here and here.
9. Swimwear That Works as Hard as I Do
Thus far, I’ve worn Carve Designs swimwear for basically everything: paddling, river and lake lounging, or just washing gear in the yard. Mae Bottom + Elba Top has been my go to for the past few weeks because they are comfortable, supportive and keep everything covered while doing my many activities. Never once have I had to “fix” or adjust anything after jumping in. I also have the Tofino Top, which basically acts as my everyday sports bra in the summer. It’s a mid length crop top which I love and goes with just about everything. On some days, I even run in it because I don’t feel the need to change.
10. Unscheduled Moments That Stuck
Melty popsicles, Uno matches, lego building, spontaneous bike rides, creative art projects and long lazy mornings. These unscheduled days with no agenda have been some of my favorite days. Jason and I take turns being “on” the boys and letting them lead the day. Then we all meet up together for a meal on the deck or if we are out camping, we meet at basecamp. The Helinox Table One Hard Top L has become our command center for or art projects, cards, and some surprisingly competitive Uno and Spot it matches. It’s a low to the ground table that fits great with their Chair One and other lower camp chairs. It’s a great height for relaxed cooking, card games and for a kid to do some art projects on. We have been loving it and can’t wait to take it packrafting later on this summer. The best parts of summer have not been planned, which was kind of my mantra from the beginning – to have less of a list of “to do’s” and more of a “lets go with what we are feeling and see what comes up.”
Summer, thus far has been wild, warm, and messy —just the way we like it. As we head into August, our families birthday month- we’re looking forward to more cabin days, a river trip, maybe another backpacking trip. We’ll be staying out a little later, and saying “yes” every time someone asks, “Wanna go outside?” It’s also exciting that our “summer” life is not ending all the way. We have decided to give homeschool or “worldschooling” a full shot. So stay tuned for that as we figure out our new flow with no Forest School. We are looking forward to more time with our kids, more adventures and more on the go and creative education.
What were your top summer experiences this year? Got a favorite piece of gear or a magical moment? I’d love to hear about it.
Chelsey – aka Endurance Mama