Rounding out the exterior is a lid that features 4 cup holders and inch notches for measuring your catch of the day. I spend a great deal of time on the water every summer boating and fishing in Northern Michigan. I will often load a large cooler up at the beginning of the week and leave it on my Pontoon packed with drinks and ice. If you have a boat and bring kids or friends on the water, you know that once you leave the dock the requests for drinks start rolling in fast and furious.
In the colder seasons insulating layers are a must, and a good rain shell for you and rain fly for your tent are necessary year-round. (This is not sarcasm.) When I was a new mom a hike with my baby on my back was a wonderful antidote to the feeling of being overwhelmed by this huge life change. And once he was old enough to walk on his own, his little brother was being ozark trail chair carried by me or my husband. There are two basic kinds of carriers you can use to tote those who can’t make it the whole way on their own. These are for babies and the smallest toddlers; check the manufacturer specifications for weight limits. The second kind of carrier is hard-framed backpack that kids can ride in for as long as mom or dad are willing to carry them.
I don’t make it a habit of buying my gear from Walmart, but this was a excellent purchase. I use this pack on a daily basis to carry my office clothes while I ride my bike to work and to carry light loads while out Geocaching. My favorite way to keep kids happy on hikes is to invite their friends. It’s amazing how much complaining happens on a hike with only one family.
This hydration compatible backpack has a connection for a water bladder built in to the design. It also includes loops to hang your trekking poles when not in use. In the main pocket I keep my camera bag and jacket and\other clothing for layering (for colder hiking days). This pouch could also be used to hold a small notebook computer but there’s isn’t any protection. Make sure to wrap the bladder if you prefer cold water. I wrap my bladder with a small bath towel (or you could get an insulated water bladder pouch for it) to keep it cool and my gear dry.
There is a lack of reinforcement on the pack’s taffeta bottom, though. Shoulder straps are lightweight mesh-lined with very little padding. Temperatures can swing from chilly mornings to sweltering afternoons.
Comfy and roomy pants or shorts are best (hopefully with pockets, so kids can carry their own snacks and trash). Most kids will do fine with sneakers on short hikes. Once your family is hiking distances on a regular basis, invest in some boots. Kids’ boots are cheaper than adults, and they often outgrow them before they wear them out, so they can get a lot of use by multiple kids.
The overall product weight of this cooler is 37lbs empty which is inline with the Pelican, but 7lbs heavier than the Ozark Trail cooler. The Tundra Haul features rubber clasps, which I really like, and hard ozark trail chair plastic wheels. Like the Ozark Trail 45 Qt Rolling Thermocooler, the Pelican 45QW Elite Wheeled Cooler includes a lid with inch notches and also includes centimeters for those outside of the United States.