Last Mother’s Day, as the mom of a one-year-old, I wanted anything that would make getting outside with a baby in tow easier. Now I’m a mom of two under two, so the theme of this year’s Mother’s Day gift guide is convenience and versatility. With a 23-month-old and a 7-month-old crawling all over me at any given moment, I rarely have one (let alone two) free hands. If I want to get outdoors, I better have a way to easily schlep two kiddos at the same time, get my shoes on hands-free, and be ready for exercise at a moment’s notice if the opportunity presents itself.
Not every mom has two under two, but every mom’s life is chaotic. So if you’re giving your leading lady something for Mother’s Day, let it be something that makes her day brighter and just a little bit easier. Here are my top Mother’s Day gift picks for moms who are always on the go.
At a Glance
- For Travel: No Reception Club Backpack ($235)
- For Biking and Hiking: Wild Rye Socks ($18) and Hat ($32)
- For Family Fun: Veer Wagon ($700)
- For Sunny Days: Goodr Sunglasses ($35)
- For Pool Days: Nomadix Changing Poncho ($72)
- For Exercise: Oiselle Jogger Shorts ($72)
- For Getaways: Cotopaxi Packing Cubes ($50)
- For 2 Kids: Thule Double Stroller ($850)
- For Comfort: Duer Jeans ($99)
- For Multisport Days: Olukai Golf Shoes ($150)
- For Convenience: Xpand No-Tie Shoe Laces ($12)
- For Style: Marsh Hagood Boxcut Shirt ($69)
No Reception Club The Getaway Bag
This 24-liter travel backpack–meets–diaper bag is a Mary Poppins bag. It’s small enough to meet airlines’ personal item measurements and fit under airplane seats, yet you’ll be surprised how much you can fit into it thanks to its smart organization system.
The main compartment with adjustable/removable shelves is perfect for keeping kids clothes and toys organized; an insulated and removable lunchbox fits a few baby food pouches, a sippy cup, and at least one 8-ounce baby bottle; three dedicated “parent” compartments house things like sunglasses, keys, wallet, and laptop; a zippered pocket on the side provides quick access to diaper change essentials; and a water-resistant bottom compartment keeps soiled clothing separate from everything else.
The beauty of all of these dedicated pockets with multiple access points is that you can find whatever you’re looking for immediately—no rummaging through a black hole to find that elusive pacifier while your baby is screaming at the top of their lungs. Pro tip: Spend the extra $85 to upgrade to the No Reception Club Adventure Bundle, which includes the very versatile Sidekick sling bag. It’s worth it.
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Wild Rye Bike Socks and Edith Brim Hat
Socks $18 at Wild Rye Hat $32 at Wild Rye
As a woman and a mountain biker, I’m a huge fan of Wild Rye, a company founded by women who love to ride for women who love to ride (read: their bike shorts actually fit women’s bodies). The brand has branched out beyond mountain biking apparel in recent years and now makes hiking and lifestyle apparel in all kinds of fun prints and colors. If the mom in your life likes to bike or hike, you’ll make her happy with anything on this brand’s website.
But if you don’t want to risk guessing her size incorrectly, I can recommend the Edith Brim Hat and Wild Rye Bike Socks; both of these items have become part of my daily uniform this spring because they are so versatile. What mom couldn’t use another pair of fun bike socks that double as everyday socks and a trendy hat to hide hair that hasn’t been washed in more than three days?
Veer All-Terrain Cruiser
Veteran parents know there’s no such thing as one stroller to rule them all. Active families who are always on the go likely need a compact travel stroller, a jogging stroller, and some sort of gear hauler. We have all three, but these days, the Veer All-Terrain Cruiser is getting more use than the others. thanks to its versatility and packability.
Unlike many other wagons out there, you can push the Veer like a traditional stroller, which is a really nice feature when you’re conveying a heavy load of kiddos and gear. It also has burly wheels that make it easy to navigate off the beaten path. But my favorite feature of this wagon is how compact it is.
Unfolded, it seats two children on built-in benches, or it can seat a toddler and accommodate an infant car seat with the appropriate adapter. Folded up with the wheels popped off, it lays flat for easy storage in the trunk of a car, in the roof box, or against the wall of our garage. We even flew with the All-Terrain Cruiser in a gate-check bag for a beach vacation last summer, and while it came back home with lots of sand, it had nary a scratch. When we don’t have the space to travel with our Thule Urban Glide 3 Double stroller, we pack the Veer wagon as our double stroller instead. Read my full review here.
Goodr VRG Voight-Kampff Vision Sunglasses
I used to own expensive sunglasses that I’d baby—always putting them away in their case to make sure the lenses wouldn’t get scratched. That went out the window when I had kids. Now, I reach for these durable and affordable Goodr sunnies. The polarized lenses still offer pretty good optical clarity for the price, but I especially like the grippy, lightweight frame that stays put on your face and on top of your head. Plus, the sporty-meets-stylish single-lens design makes these versatile enough for bike rides, hikes, and ski après sessions. I’ve put these through the wringer and they’ve held up admirably over two years.
Nomadix Changing Poncho
I grew up in Germany, so I have no qualms about changing in public after hikes, bike rides, or even swim sessions (not to brag, but I’ve even mastered the difficult art of changing swimsuits without cover and without exposing myself). But changing ponchos like this one from Nomadix certainly make things easier.
This one is made from 90-percent post-consumer recycled polyester, and is oh-so-soft to the touch, highly absorbent, and quick-drying. It has some weight to it, which makes it feel like you’re enveloped in a towel when you’re wearing it. I love the cinchable hood and kangaroo pocket—small details that make a big difference on windy beach days and when you’re carrying the kids’ odds and ends on top of your own.
Even better: Nomadix now makes this changing poncho for kids (one size for 3–6 year-olds and one for 6–12 year-olds), so you can buy a matching set for mom and her mini-mes. I’m 5’5” and 140 pounds, and the size M/L fits me with plenty of room to spare. Now I just have to wait for my 2-year-old to grow into his.
Oiselle Pocket Jogger
The selling point of these shorts for moms is in the name: pocket jogger. I think I can speak for all moms when I say that pants without pockets just don’t fly. And these shorts—which come in 5.25-inch, 7-inch, and 8.25-inch inseam lengths—boast a whopping five pockets. That means mom can carry her phone, keys, chapstick, sunscreen stick, credit cards, and emergency snack without having to carry an extra bag or purse.
I’ve been wearing the 7-inch Pocket Jogger all day, every day for almost a month (with a few days off here and there to launder them). Made from a mix of spandex and nylon, they’re highly compressive, have a snug waistband that prevents them from gradually working their way down the butt (as some spandex shorts and leggings do), and are simple yet stylish enough to serve as bonafide workout shorts or errand-running attire.
Cotopaxi Cubo Packing Travel Bundle
$50 at Backcountry $50 at Cotopaxi
I was slow to adopt the packing cube travel hack, but since having kids, I’m all-in. There’s just no other way to keep all the small kid items—tiny pairs of socks, bibs, medicine, toys—organized and easily findable when you’re traveling with the family. There are lots of options out there, but Cotopaxi’s Cubo Packing Travel Bundle is a nice gift set because it includes three colorful cubes of different sizes (2L, 3L, 10L).
Each features a wrap-around zipper, carrying handle, and mesh sides for breathability. Some people prefer all-mesh packing cubes so they can easily see what’s inside, but I actually like those made with some solid fabric because they hide the mess within, and the fabric gives the cube a little more structure. These nylon-polyester cubes (made from Cotopaxi’s textile scraps) are also easy to wipe clean and throw in the wash.
Thule Urban Glide 3 Double Stroller
$850 at REI $850 at Backcountry
I loved our original Thule Urban Glide stroller so much that we upgraded to the Urban Glide 3 Double stroller last fall when we had our second kiddo. This updated double stroller includes all the same features I loved about the original—smooth steering, an easy and responsive handbrake, simple folding/unfolding, large tires and suspension system that easily navigate uneven and rough terrain, a generous storage basket, and a front wheel that can be locked for jogging—but in a stroller that seats two.
It also includes some notable upgrades, like extended canopies (still with peek-a-boo windows) to provide more weather protection, extendable leg rests (great for short little baby legs), and an improved brake pedal design that’s more comfortable to engage with sandals on.
I originally hemmed and hawed over getting a side-by-side double stroller versus a front/rear double model; I was afraid a side-by-side beast like this one wouldn’t fit on some sidewalks or in the trunk of our car. But we haven’t found a sidewalk or path yet that isn’t wide enough for the Thule Urban Glide 3 Double, and it seamlessly fits into the trunk of our SUV when folded up (though without much room to spare).
Duer Performance Denim Lite Harbour Pant
For months after having each of my kids, I shunned denim; I didn’t want to wear anything as constricting, stiff, or uncomfortable as jeans. But these denim pants from Duer are not your average “jeans.” Made from a mix of cotton, polyester, and elastane, the Performance Denim Lite Harbour pants are as light, stretchy, and comfortable as a pair of thin, cotton sweatpants.
The cut is also equal parts relaxed and stylish, with a high-rise, drawstring waist, relaxed hip and thigh cut, and tapered leg. The best part about these pants: They’re flattering despite having a more relaxed cut, and they don’t sag in the butt like some other pants made from lightweight materials. These have become my go-to pants, even as temperatures rise into the 80s in my home of Boulder, Colorado, because they’re just so dang airy, comfortable, and versatile. Fit note: These run large, so I recommend sizing down.
Olukai Kawela
Every mom needs a pair of slip-on sneakers like the Kawela. Technically, these shoes were designed for golf, but I love them for everyday wear. The sporty look and drop-in heel make the Kawela super versatile and convenient, and the lightweight materials, stiff sole, and stellar traction make them ideal for sandy playground sessions with the kids, biking into town for coffee with girlfriends, and even casual hikes. Bonus: They’re water-resistant, so you can play around creeks and ponds without worrying about getting your feet soaked. A note on fit: I find that Olukai shoes tend to run small and narrow, so I size up half a size.
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Xpand No-Tie Shoe Laces
$12 at Xpand 3 for $28 at Amazon
Alternative to buying slip-on sneakers: Turn her favorite pair of sneakers into slip-on shoes with elastic shoe laces. My husband replaced the traditional laces on my go-to sneakers with these as a Christmas present last year, and they’ve made my life so much easier. This is a brilliant gift idea for moms who spend 20-plus minutes wrestling their kids into shoes and jackets but have no time to properly tie their shoes before having to run out the door because they’re late—again.
You’ll find lots of different brands of no-tie laces, and I’m sure they’re all very similar. I like the Xpand laces because they’re easy to thread, have stood up to longterm wear, and come in a variety of fun colors.
Marsh Wear Hagood Boxcut Shirt
Chances are, mom’s wardrobe needs a refresh—it’s likely she’s always buying cute new clothes for the kids but not for herself. The Boxcut Shirt would make a great new addition to any capsule wardrobe thanks to its laid-back yet stylish cut. Made from woven lyocell and featuring UPF 50 sun protection, this top is the perfect layer for beach and pool days, hikes and bike rides, and thanks to fun prints, is equally fit for backyard barbecues and around-town wear.
After having kids, I really began to appreciate the convenience of boxy, button-up shirts like the Hagood for nursing and layering (they’re the easiest layer to throw on over a tank or T-shirt when you have a baby carrier strapped to you). I love the Hagood in the Wheat color—it hides baby spit-up pretty well.
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The post 12 Mother’s Day Gifts for Moms Who Are Always on the Go appeared first on Outside Online.
