A lot of my time鈥攅specially these days鈥攊s spent with my kids. It鈥檚 been hard, yes, but also a blessing, because I might never get to enjoy听so much uninterrupted time with them again. To keep myself productive and the kids entertained over the past couple听months, I鈥檝e come to rely on some specific gear. These items make great听gifts for the dads in your life, during the quarantine and not.
Yeti Rambler 26-Ounce Vacuum Bottle with Chug Cap ($40)
At about 10 A.M., my kids go crazy. They鈥檝e done a little homework, watched TV, and need to run around. As we head out to the local park or hiking trails, I always pack this bottle. It鈥檚 my favorite because it鈥檚 not only indestructible,听but it also keeps my water cold and comes with Yeti鈥檚 Chug cap. Its durability is important because my kids always find clever ways to beat it up. And the proprietary cap is handy听because my four-year-old can drink from the bottle without making a total mess, even in the car.
Ursa Major Sublime Sage Spray Deodorant ($18)
Thanks to the spray design, this deodorant goes on quicker and cleaner than any gel I鈥檝e ever used. And听when we鈥檙e ready to leave the house, every second听counts when dealing听with whiny, grumpy kids. I also love the scent and the fact that it鈥檚 made from natural ingredients. I鈥檓 not that worried about my deodorant choice, but my daughter is: it gives her peace of mind that I鈥檓 not rubbing unnecessary chemicals all over my body.
Chrome Urban Ex Rolltop听28L Backpack ($140)
鈥淒ad, can I have some water?鈥 鈥淒ad, can I have a snack?鈥 鈥淒ad, can I have my jacket?鈥 I probably hear similar questions 25 times a day, and all of them prompt me to dig through my backpack. That鈥檚 why I鈥檝e come to love the rolltop Urban Ex, which has a single cavernous chute that allows for quick access to whatever my kids are requesting. In fact, if we鈥檙e just at the park, I don鈥檛 even shut the rolltop, so that the bag becomes a sort of large听tote with shoulder straps. Bonus points for the fully waterproof design: the pack is easy to wash out if I forget a banana at the bottom of the bag and it gets smashed.
All Good SPF 30 Kid鈥檚 Mineral Sunscreen Spray Six Ounce ($22)
My kids hate sunscreen that burns their eyes and strings when it鈥檚 sprayed on skinned knees. That鈥檚 why we turned to this version from All Good; it听uses zinc oxide and is much easier on their skin. Like all mineral sunscreens, it has to be rubbed in a little more, but my kids feel that鈥檚 a fair trade-off鈥攑lus, they like the smell. I like it because it comes in a spray bottle for easy application, and it鈥檚 not horrible for the environment (coral reefs specifically). I happily use the kid鈥檚 version on myself, but the company makes an , too.
Poc Will Sunglasses ($130)
These shades are survivors because they鈥檙e built out of Grilamid鈥攖he same stuff high-end ski boots are made from鈥攏ot to mention they鈥檝e lived through constant wrestling matches with my rambunctious kids. Thanks to a special coating, the lenses are easy to clean of tiny fingerprints. When I get sweaty, hydrophilic rubber grippers on the nose and temples keep the glasses from slipping off. I also like the style. The nose bridge and unique shape of the lenses make them stand out in a sea of similar-looking dad-approved sunglasses.
Apple AirPods Pro ($235)
Sometimes I need to hide from my kids鈥攅ither to get work done or听take a break鈥攁nd these headphones let me do it. With their built-in noise-canceling feature, I can work on the laptop for a couple of hours and not be distracted by shouting or whining. The high-quality speaker components create incredible fidelity, so I can appreciate whatever I鈥檓 listening to. Unlike over-the-ear sound-canceling headphones, these听are also great for workouts: I can use them on a solo run or ride when some alone time to refresh is called for.