Outdoor Mom Gear Guide: What I Actually Use for Adventures With Kids

Being outside with kids doesn’t require a closet full of expensive gear. After years of playgrounds, field trips, gardens, splash pads, travel sports, walking trails, and everyday adventures with my boys, I’ve learned that the best outdoor mom gear is the stuff that keeps me comfortable, protected from the weather, and ready for whatever the day throws at me.

This is where I share the outdoor mom essentials I actually use and recommend—from comfortable walking sandals and sun hats to practical outdoor clothing I find secondhand. I’m always testing and adding new favorites, so think of this as my growing outdoor mom gear guide.

My Outdoor Mom Essentials

If you only want to know where I’d start, these are the things I reach for again and again:

• Comfortable walking sandals: Support matters when you’re going to be walking, standing, and chasing kids for hours.
• A good sun hat: Because North Carolina sunshine is no joke—and neither is spending an entire Saturday outside.
• Practical outdoor clothes: I want clothes I can move in, sweat in, wash easily, and actually live in.
• Secondhand finds: I love finding outdoor brands I already know and trust for less through ThredUp.
• A hands-free bag: Because when your kid suddenly needs to be carried, you need both hands!

Comfortable Walking Sandals & Shoes for Moms

If there’s one category of outdoor gear I care about most, it’s footwear. I’ve learned the hard way that a day outside can turn miserable quickly when your feet aren’t supported.

After pregnancy changed my feet and I dealt with years of foot pain, I became much more intentional about what I wear when I’m going to be walking or standing for hours.

What I Look For in Outdoor Mom Shoes

• Arch support
• Comfort for walking and standing all day
• A secure fit that stays on my feet
• Breathable materials for hot weather
• Durability for everyday mom life
• Styles I can wear for everything from field trips to travel sports

Read about my favorite comfortable walking sandals for moms →

Why my feet hurt after pregnancy—and what helped →

Outdoor Mom Clothes I Shop Secondhand

I don’t believe outdoor clothes have to be expensive to be good. In fact, ThredUp has become one of my favorite places to look for outdoor clothing from brands I already love.

Because secondhand inventory changes constantly, I don’t shop ThredUp looking for one exact item. Instead, I search for brands and styles I know work for my outdoor lifestyle—and I don’t feel nearly as bad when a pair of shorts gets ripped from playground equipment or my top gets stained from a slushie after a day at the splash pad.

What I Look for on ThredUp

• Athletic shorts with built in underwear
• Trackpants
• Moisture-wicking tops
• Tank tops and tees
• Arch-support walking sandals
• Outdoor brands I already know and trust

My ThredUp shopping tip: Search by brand or style instead of expecting to find the exact item someone is wearing. Copy and paste the search terms I share in my outfit posts, then use your preferred size and filters to narrow down the results.

Shop more ThredUp outdoor mom finds →

Sun Hats for Outdoor Moms

A good hat is one of those outdoor essentials I didn’t fully appreciate until I started spending hours outside with kids. Whether we’re at a soccer field, walking around the zoo, gardening, or exploring somewhere new, I want a hat that gives me good sun coverage without making me feel like I’m wearing a piece of camping equipment.

I especially love wide-brim hats that are comfortable enough to actually wear for an entire day outside.

What I Look For in a Mom-Friendly Sun Hat

• Good face and neck coverage
• Comfortable enough for all-day wear
• A brim that stays put
• A style I actually want to wear
• Durability for years of outdoor adventures

See my favorite outdoor sun hats →

Outdoor Mom Outfits: What I Actually Wear

Sometimes the best gear guide is simply seeing what another mom actually wears. I’m documenting my real outdoor outfits—from field trips and gardens to soccer tournaments and summer adventures.

I’ll share what I wore, why I chose it, how it held up during the day, and how you can find similar pieces without necessarily buying everything brand new.

Start Here:

• What I Wore to a Spring Field Trip
• What I Wore for a Long Day of Walking
• What I Wore to the NC Zoo
• What I Wore to a Lacrosse Tournament

Outdoor Mom Gear by Adventure

Not sure what you need for your next adventure? Start with the activity you’re planning.

🦁 Zoo Days

Lots of walking, unpredictable weather, and tired kids. See what I recommend for a full day at the zoo →

 🥍 Travel Sports

Standing on hot turf for hours requires a different kind of outdoor mom wardrobe. See my favorite travel sports mom essentials →

💦 Splash Pads & Water Play

Quick-drying clothes, water-friendly footwear, and sun protection make these days much easier. See my splash pad essentials →

🌸 Gardens & Outdoor Field Trips

For days that combine walking, exploring, and beautiful outdoor spaces, comfort is key. See my spring outdoor mom outfit →

🌳 Everyday Outdoor Adventures

Because not every adventure needs to be a big one. These are the things I reach for when we’re simply getting outside for the day. See my everyday outdoor mom essentials →

Why I Love Buying Outdoor Gear Secondhand

I’ve found that I don’t need to buy everything new to build a wardrobe that works for outdoor mom life. Shopping secondhand lets me spend less on brands I love, try different styles without paying full price, and—perhaps most importantly—actually use my clothes without worrying about keeping them perfect.

Grass stains? Fine. A little mud? That’s what washing machines are for. A ripped pair of shorts after years of adventures? At least they got used.

See how I shop ThredUp for outdoor mom clothes →

More Outdoor Mom Gear I’m Testing

I’m constantly testing new products and figuring out what actually earns a permanent place in my outdoor mom gear collection. I’ll continue adding favorites here as I find them.

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Outdoor sandals
• Sun protection
• Outdoor clothing
• Travel sports essentials
• Family adventure gear

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase or sign up through my link, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products, brands, and services that I genuinely think are useful for outdoor mom life.