My second Father鈥檚 Day is coming up this Sunday. With a year and a half of fatherhood experience under my belt, here are several things I turn to that make keeping up with an outdoor-loving kid a little easier.聽
Supergoop Sunnyscreen Mineral Lotion ($26)
Sunscreen might seem a lamer gift than a tie or (yet another) historical-fiction novel, but hear me out. If, per my preference, a Father鈥檚 Day gift helps me get outside more easily, then a nice slathering of fits the bill. Like many dads, I wouldn鈥檛 spend $26 on sunscreen for myself, but if I get it as a present, then I鈥檒l use it in my battle against bacon face. And Sunnyscreen is meant for kids, so I can make sure my daughter is covered as well.
Taylor Stitch Heavy Bag Tee ($45)
My house has gotten more cluttered since I became a father. I don鈥檛 mind making room for extra food and diapers for my daughter, of course, but I do find myself craving a little more simplicity in my own closet. That鈥檚 why the cotton-polyester is perfect. As the name suggests, the shirt is extremely durable鈥擨鈥檝e had it for over a month (and hiked dozens of miles in it), and it has held up through everything so far. The tailored fit and classy colors give it聽more dress-up potential than even some of my collared shirts. It鈥檚 also damn comfortable. The Heavy Bag is the one tee that (almost) does it all.
Voke Tablets ($60 for 60)
I鈥檝e become much more aware over the past year and a half of how remarkably finite my time and energy are. help聽me make better use of both in the form of 77 milligrams of caffeine per chewable鈥攁bout the same as a shot of espresso. With them, I鈥檓 able to squeeze in a few extra workouts each week, as well as a late night or two to catch up on writing. Full disclosure: Voke tabs taste terrible, but the buzz鈥攚hich comes mainly from green-tea leaf鈥攊s easier to take in controlled doses than it is with coffee. Though my taste buds object, it鈥檚 worth it.
Five Tennie Approach Shoes ($125)
Most of my hikes nowadays are considerably easier than they were pre-kiddo, but the stakes are almost higher because I have a toddler strapped to my back. Luckily, the 鈥檚 extended rand on the toe and legendary Stealth rubber on the sole deliver sure footing. The聽retro styling makes me feel鈥攄are I say鈥攃ool when I walk around in them with jeans. In the two months I鈥檝e worn the Five Tennies, they鈥檝e become both my go-to hikers and daily-errand-running shoes.
Veer Cruiser ($599), pictured with Retractable Canopy ($49) and Comfort Seat for Toddler ($79)
The is currently my favorite piece of gear. If a wagon and a stroller had a love child, this would be it. Nothing in my garage makes adventures with my daughter鈥攍ike our daily walks鈥攅asier. The burly, oversize hard-plastic wheels and front suspension handle light trails with aplomb, and the three-point harness keeps my daughter safe. She prefers riding in this wagon to being strapped to me and loves eating out of its聽snack tray. Yeah, it鈥檚 expensive, but the Veer is absolutely a win-win: I get to stay active, and she gets to have fun.