Hike it Baby Style Picks: The Elusive Women's Winter Jacket

Backpacking with the family is a combination of good planning, patience and carrying the right gear with you. After a good sleep system, you want to make sure the tent you choose is a good weight and fit for what your family needs. When choosing your backpacking tent, it's important to consider what options are important to you. How many vestibules do you want? Do you want something ultra light or can you add a few pounds for extra space? Will you set it up by yourself or will you be going with another adult/older child who can help? Do you want a footprint/fly combination or just always use the tent? To help you sort through some of the backpacking tent options, I've reviewed five four-man tents to help your family get out in the backcountry together! Get Started Backpacking Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 ($249.95) [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="947087,947088"] Looking for a good introductory tent for backpacking with your family? The Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 is a great entry-level tent that will get out on the trail quickly. The package comes with the footprint included. This is a great option for those who can utilize the footprint and fly instead of the full tent on the trail or if you want something that can double as a sun shelter (great for beach days). As a bonus, I was able to set up the tent by myself. This is a bit heavier at 8 lbs., 6 oz. so you may not want to carry it by yourself. Mountainsmith creates a bit more headroom in the Morrison Evo 4 with their brow pole. While not the tallest tent I tested, it certainly was spacious with 56 sq ft of usable interior space. This tent easily accommodates four adults and packs. One nice feature is the amount of storage spots inside. There are storage pockets around the bottom in addition to a ceiling loft. The tent will be superb in the summer as it has mesh lower on its side. This will allow an excellent breeze through the tent. You'll need to be aware of this for windy, cold days while on the trail and adjust the tent accordingly. Related: Backpacking 102: Taking the Kids Sturdy and Tough Grand Mesa 4 ($219.95) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947091,947090"] About seven years ago, I purchased my first camping/backpacking tent. It was a Kelty Teton 4 and that tent has survived a German Shepherd puppy and a toddler. I was excited to try the Grand Mesa 4 from Kelty as my Teton 4 still looks great even after all the trips we've taken. Similar to my Teton, the Grand Mesa has one door and one large vestibule. This is excellent for parents who want to make sure their littles ones stay in the tent. The Grand Mesa 4 is a bit lighter in weight than the Morrison at 7 lbs., 7 oz. Kelty provides a roll-top bag that makes cinching it a bit easier. This was easy to stuff into my Deuter 65L bag. As for interior space, this is set for four adults and the center of the tent is relatively tall. There are only two pockets that come in the tent. If you want more storage, you can buy a separate loft section. This is an upgrade from my old Teton with its upgraded clip system. The hug clips are super easy to use and were hard for my 3-year-old to take off the tent. (Bonus for me: she thinks that is hilarious.) This is a tent that was very easy for me to put up and down by myself. Since it only has two poles, it was very quick to set up, which would be a great bonus for those rainy days. Lightweight and Packs Small MSR Pappa Hubba NX 4-Person ($599.95) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947093,947092"] The MSR Pappa Hubba NX 4-person is a tiny package for a mighty tent. It's the lightest tent among those I tested at 5 lbs., 15 oz. and one of the biggest for floor space. It is one of the shorter tents so you will need to lay down to put pants on. This tent excels for doing solo trips with your children or for bringing another adult. MSR boasts that it packs up smaller than most two-man tents and it's the truth. The bag for this tent comes with three small straps that allow you to cinch it down quite a bit. While the other tents fit in my 65L Deuter, this bag took up the least amount of space. This tent was very easy to set up by myself and the directions/tent marking were clear. This comes with a set of unique stakes that are very lightweight and durable. Four pockets in each corner add to the living space inside. These are high and out of the way, but easily accessible by myself and Sky. For being so lightweight, I was worried about it tearing, but the tent handled the abuse from 70 lbs. of Sheperd and 30 lbs. of preschooler like a champ. Another feature I enjoy about this tent is how high the walls are on the side. I can get Sky dressed in relative privacy and still have good venting on the warmer days. MSR made an excellent family tent that allows just the two of us to get out without the additional purchase of a two-man. Backpacking Tent that Does Car Camping Well Nemo Losi Backpacking 4-Person ($449.95) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947096,947095"] When I first put the Nemo Losi Backpacking 4 Person up in my basement, I was unsure if it was going to fit into the space all the other tents had gone up in. It's taller and larger than anything else in this review and weighing in at 7lbs., 14 oz, it's not that heavy for its size. What's even more impressive is that when I stepped inside, I was almost able to stand up completely (I'm about 5'3"). I didn't need to put on pants lying down because here's a tent I can stand in! This tent is so large for a backpacking tent, it's almost a car camping tent. We were able to put a double sleeping bag, three quarter sleeping pads and several backpacks inside the tent. Not to mention the space in the double vestibules. Aside from the size, one of my favorite features is the light pocket. This made it so easy to get ready for bed and read to Sky. I placed my light in the pocket and it diffuses evenly throughout the tent. They have two light pockets in this tent, so it was bright and cheery for bed time. But don't worry, just because they have light pockets doesn't mean they skimped on the stuff pockets! There are still four around the tent that are pretty large. This comes with its own roll sack, making it easy to pack. It was great for Sky as she was able to help put everything back into its space neatly. This does have a pretty open mesh top (only obscured a bit by the pole guides) so stargazing will be easy. Nemo really packs a ton of features in this tent. Shoulder Season and Cold Camping Hero Hilleberg Nallo 4 ($885) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947098,947097"] The Hilleberg Nallo 4 comes in at 6 lbs., 12 oz. and is a great tent for those who want something for all seasons. This tent is meant to be taken out in all weather so those who enjoy the shoulder season or cold weather camping should take notes here. This packed up pretty compact into my 65L Deuter bag. When you first pull this out of the bag, the fly is attached to the tent body. This has the potential to make setup quicker in those sudden downpours. With only tent poles, it goes pretty quickly once you get the hang of it. It took a few tries to set up the tent, so make sure you set it up at home before heading out on trail. With its design, I can see how great it would do against the wind and storms. I liked how the vestibule door worked on this tent, so you can easily open it completely or just a bit with this design. The vestibule provided plenty of space for gear and if you need more space, you can upgrade to the Nall0 4 GT. If you want to go the distance in whatever weather, this is a great choice for families. What tent do you use on your backpacking adventures? Share with us in the comments below. Read More: Snuggle up: Comparison of double sleeping bags Sleep soundly: Review of kids sleeping bag The ultimate guide to camping with kids

When you start to think about backpacking, you start to research gear. A lot of gear. To me, there are three things that can make or break a trip: your pack, your tent and your sleep system. If you don't get a good night sleep, no amount of coffee or tea is going to help in the morning. Splurging on a good sleep system that will last for years can make a big difference on whether you go once or continue to head out on trail. Snuggle More on Trail I'll admit it. I'm a snuggler. Sure, I can sleep alone, but why would I want to? I'm not the only one out there since the double sleeping bag market has several great contenders in it. Before deciding on a sleeping bag, I looked through different reviews to see what would work for our family; however, most didn't take into consideration the special needs of a family with young children. Therefore, we've reviewed three bags below with families in mind. Good for the night sneaker Sierra Design Backcountry Bed Duo 35/700 Dridown Pros: Accommodates 25-inch pads, snuggly comforter feel, foot ventilation With a blanket-like top and fast ventilation for warm feet, the Sierra Design Backcountry Bed Duo 35/700 Dridown ($399.95) is perfect for the some-like-hot, some-like-it-cold couples. My husband typically runs hot and I run colder, so this was a great way for us to share a bag and make both of us happy. This bag is a bit heavier than two solo bags as it weighs in at 3 lbs., 12 oz. Even though it is slightly heavier, the bonus in features definitely make up for the weight. I was excited when this bag came in to see it accommodated a 25-inch sleeping pad. It has two sleeping channels that are set for 20-inch pads, but it was easy to figure out how it can be opened up for the 25-inch pads. There are a number of buttons on the side so you can easily go between the two sizes as needed. My daughter, Sky, will start in her own bag but typically sneaks into my bag halfway through the night. Even with the standard 20-inch pads, we slept comfortably between the three of us. One thing to watch is that there is a middle channel between the two pads that is stuffed with filling so it remains warm. However, there is a slight dip between pads so if you shuffle quite a bit at night, you may find yourself sinking a bit. Foot ventilation, integrated comforter, closure to seal out drafts and insulated hand pockets are the main benefits that give this a cozy feel. The insulated hand pockets on each corner, paired with the extra long comforter, make this feel like your bedding at home. This is an excellent hybrid between a sleeping bag and a quilt-style. [gallery size="hikeitbaby-featured" columns="2" ids="922746,922747"] Photos by Jessica Featherstone. Versatile and Cozy Nemo Tango Ultralight Down Comforter Pros: Compresses down small, able to use as a solo bag The simple, effective design of the Nemo Tango Ultralight Down Comforter ($329.95) compacts down small and keeps you cozy on trail. The backless design of the Nemo comforter makes it compress as small as a single-person sleeping bag, leaving plenty of room in the bottom of my Deuter 60L pack for its slipcover, two sleeping pads, pillows and Sky's blanket. (Never forget the blanket!) The slipcover keeps the two pads snug tight against each other. The design is simple with only the foot box and top section that slides under the pads. The sides are open and bottom attaches to the top with a snap on each side. This allows each person to determine how much ventilation they desire whether it's a full open side or just enough to stick out a foot. The snap is strong and not even a preschooler rough housing can break it open. Since this is backless and lightweight, I've also used it as a solo quilt. It was quite effective as a quilt and it's about the same size as other single sleeping bags. This is lightweight for a two-person bag at 2 lbs., 11 oz and compares to many single sleeping bags out there. This bag is an excellent choice for those who want to head out with the family and also use the same bag solo. [gallery columns="2" size="hikeitbaby-featured" ids="922749,922748"] Photos by Jessica Featherstone. Double or Solo Therm-a-Rest Ventana™ 35™ Pros: Cozy feel, use as solo or double bag, fits 25-inch pads The lightweight, versatile and compact design of the Therm-a-Rest Ventana ™ ($269.95) makes it a great choice for families who take both family and individual adventures. Use as a cozy solo bag (it is also wide enough to fit a 25-inch sleeping pad) or use the included zip-in mattress coupler, which turns it into a soft, draft-free sleeping solution for two (or even three if you have early snuggle visits from a preschooler, like we do!). We paired the sleeping bag with the NeoAir Camper Duo Pad ($299.95), and what I love about this camping pad is its separate chambers and how easy it is to use with the Ventana™. I tend to move around more in my sleep than my husband, and with this design, I don't feel bad for tossing and turning a bit at night. The comforter stayed connected (no fighting over the covers!) and he didn't get bumped around as I moved. I can also see us using this sleep system when I take my 3-year-old and 8-year-old boys camping solo. The three of us could easily all fit into the double and, because there isn't a gap in the middle, no one will feel like they're falling in the crack. For summer camping, I can also see us not attaching the comforter to the mattress (like shown), as we all tend to sleep warm. With a temperature rated to 45 degrees (women) and 35 degrees (men), the sleeping bag is a great choice for summer camping adventures. The fabric and insulation will also do well in wetter conditions like the Pacific Northwest. While not the lightest bag on the block (4 lbs., 7 oz), both the bag and the sleeping pad pack down small and would be easy to take on a summer family backpacking trip, festival weekend or campsite adventure. [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="hikeitbaby-featured" ids="920878,920880"] Photos by Jessica Wynne. When considering sleeping systems for your family, it is helpful to take into consideration the climate, versatility, size and weight of the sleep system, as well as those unique features that could help your family sleep while backpacking or camping. What are your favorite double sleep systems? Do you have any questions? Leave a comment below! Read More: The new era of the family camping tents Light it up: Headlamp reviews The ultimate guide to camping with kids Disclaimer: Hike it Baby was provided with free product for this round up and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and photos are Hike it Baby’s own and not influenced by any company or its affiliates. Comments provided by Hike it Baby staff are their own and reflect their own love for their sleeping bags.