By Michael Lanza

Parenthood brings a host of lessons, especially for first-time explorers of that uncharted wilderness. But for the couple active in the outdoors, there’s an additional item in the lesson plan: Hiking 4,000 feet straight uphill, lead-climbing a 5.9 off-width crack, or paddling Class V waves. All of that is child’s play compared to the physical and mental challenges of getting a kid dressed, packed, and out the door for a family trip. And the logistical difficulties are only compounded by winter.

But many parents make the effort nonetheless to share these experiences with their children and instill in them an appreciation for the outdoors. Parents who measure their cross-country ski or snowshoe trips in miles instead of minutes quickly learn that pulling a child in a cheap plastic sled on a rope, or carrying Junior in an inferior pack, is about as much fun as a leaky diaper.

Don’t despair. Outdoor-gear makers have felt your pain. Today, there are child-carrier packs designed — like a real backpack — to carry a heavy load for a long distance and remain comfortable for parent and passenger. There are sturdy sleds for towing kids that won’t fall apart or roll on the hills, and skis and snowshoes designed for little boots. Shop around and try out these products in stores to find what’s best for your family.

Sleds
The key traits to look for in a sled are sturdiness; a harness that’s adjustable, thick, and well padded; solid poles that attach sled to harness so the sled doesn’t skitter away on a slope; a bottom designed to ride in groomed ski tracks; and insulation for your prized cargo.

The highly versatile Tourlite from Equinox is a bike trailer that converts to a sled for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing; it can also morph into a baby stroller, or cart pulled by a jogger. It comes with two child seats and a front screen and rain cover, and it holds up to 150 pounds, with space for two kids and gear.

The Tow-boggan, from Ziffco/Outer Limits, comes in various incarnations. For families, the Combo sled comes with a windshield and removable canopy, one child seat, and an insulated liner, and holds up to 200 pounds.

Child-Carrier Packs
The best of these packs no longer cause fusion of your lower vertebrae if you use them for anything more rigorous than a stroll through the mall. Improvements in recent years make the adventure infinitely more comfortable for both family members sharing the pack. Some packs boast ample cargo space and features like a removable child’s daypack and pockets for mandatory gear (diapers).

Popular and widely available is the series from Kelty, beginning at the small end with the Kangaroo Child Carrier, a soft chest carrier for infants up to 25 pounds, with a removable, large-mesh accessory pocket and a hideaway hood to protect baby from sun or precipitation. Kelty has three child-carrier packs, which differ mostly in the amount of space they have for nonchild cargo: the Elite Child Carrier (6 lbs. 4 oz., 350 cu. in.), the Explorer Kid Carrier (9 lbs. 3 oz., 2,780 cu. in.), and the Expedition Child Carrier (8 lbs. 11 oz., 3,675 cu. in.). All three hold up to 60 pounds, including child and gear; can be adjusted to fit a wide range of adult torso sizes; and have a reflective strip, retractable hood, side mesh pockets, and a removable child’s day pack. The Explorer and Expedition have a removable diaper-changing pad.

Tough Traveler also offers a variety of snow-worthy child carriers including the Stallion, which has high, padded sides for extra support and protection from branches (4 lbs. 10 oz.).

For kids who can hike or ski on their own, Kelty makes the Junior Tioga 2000 (3 lbs.), a completely adjustable, external-frame backpack for children age five to 13.

Skis and Snowshoes
Eventually, adventurous kids want to join the self-propelled elite, and there are skis and snowshoes for them. For ski touring, check out the Rossignol LTS Junior for a beginner child. Rossignol also makes the Delta Junior Classic touring ski. Alpina’s NNN 80 Junior Boots or the more heavy-duty, waterproof Trak Piccola Junior Boots from Karhu fit NNN-style bindings like the Rottefella NNN-2 Junior Auto Binding.

Little Bear Snowshoes makes two children’s models, the Cub and the Grizzly. These snowshoes have cupped edges for traction instead of steel crampons, and they fit virtually any boot. The Cubs (1 lb.) are for kids 50 to 60 pounds, and the Grizzlies (1.5 lbs.) for kids 50 to 110 pounds.

The Tubbscout Snowshoe from Tubbs (1.8 lbs.) is 6 by 15.5 inches, and has a toe crampon and a wolf paw molded into the bottom which leaves a paw print in snow, for children up to 75 pounds. Yuba’s T-Rex lets the wearer make dino tracks and comes with a sticker package. The Little Llamas Snowshoes from MSR, measuring 6.5 by 17 inches, have steel crampons and two molded traction bars for lateral stability, and are designed for kids up to 90 pounds.

The right gear is out there these days. But it’s still up to you to find your kid’s hat and mittens.