One of my favorite parts of December is that it’s the perfect month to look back and reflect on all the things we’ve learned, done, seen, and tried before the turn of the New Year. In keeping this blog for the past seven years, we’ve done and experienced a lot in all contexts. From traveling to moving, fitness to health, we’ve had the opportunity to try a lot of new things for the year, and I love sharing the things that work for us – and why. Today, I wanted to share the 10 best products we’ve used in 2020 in the hopes that you, too, might find something new to you that may make your life just a little bit easier.
The 10 Best Products We’ve Used in 2020
Relive Everyday CBD Gummies – We first tried the Relive CBD Gummies late last year in a last-ditch attempt to kick our sleeping pill habit. Here’s the thing about us as a family; we are go-go-go-go all the time, and when we go to bed, we can’t seem to unplug and unwind. These gummies come in three different strengths, great flavors, and help us unwind without the need for sleeping pills. Plus, they taste great, so that’s a huge win! You can read more about why we love CBD gummies here.
WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat – WAYB has to be our absolute biggest surprise of 2020. When we adventure and travel, one of the things we struggle with the most is space, but we’re also unwilling to compromise on the safety of our kiddos. The WAYB Pico allows us to minimize the space taken by bulky traditional car seats, keep them safe for every day and on the go, and offers an easy transport option for plane travel, too. Read our review of the WAYB Pico to learn more.
Deuter Kid Comfort II Hiking Carrier – If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you probably remember that when we started hiking, Mieke was in the Lillebaby soft structured carrier. As she got bigger and our hikes got longer though, it became more uncomfortable to hike that way – not to mention unsafe. We actually thrifted our Deuter Kid Comfort II hiking carrier on Facebook marketplace, and this baby has seen some great use so far this year! I highly recommend one, whether new or used.
Noxgear Tracer360 – I had big goals for my running in 2020, but a lot of them ended up taking a back seat between losing my job, COVID, life, military, and all the things. BUT, I’ve managed to continue running at odd hours (more often than not in the dark) with my Noxgear Tracer360 vest. This vest is incredibly comfortable, lightweight, and ultra-bright, which makes it 100% necessary for all those odd-hour runs.
Scarpa Hiking Shoes – We started 2020 hiking in our sneakers. When we hiked Lake Serene, we realized that needed to change, and both Ryan and I invested in Scarpa hiking shoes. Between the solid toe (which helps me as I constantly trip), the lightweight fit, and the rugged grip, they’ve transformed the ease in which we’ve hiked this past year. It doesn’t matter if it’s rainy, muddy, snowy, or dry, these hiking shoes are worth every penny. For those curious, I wear the Moraine GTX Women’s, and Ryan wears the men’s version.
Canon 6D Mark II – This was an impulse purchase that we’ve considered for a few years, but we finally pulled the trigger on this year! With Ryan’s encouragement, I decided to invest the time and energy into using a professional level camera to provide better images across my blog and social media, as well as start doing small photoshoots. It’s been a lot of fun (a ton of learning), and such a good passion project to undertake in this year of change.
Oaki Raincoats – We actually bought the boys’ Oaki raincoats back in 2018 when we first moved here. At the time, we bought them a couple sizes too big, hoping they’d last…and last, they have. Guys, these may be one of our single best purchases of all time. They keep the boys dry, warm, and comfortable, and they’ve withstood their crazy play, all our adventures, and plenty of washing. We can’t recommend them enough.
Liquid I.V. – I’ve never been great with hydration, but I’ve been worse than ever this year as I try to balance all the things. We found Liquid I.V. on a trip to Costco, and we’ve loved being able to add it to our water and amplify our hydration on the go. I almost always have my Hydroflask on me, so I add a pouch to my bottle, and I have extra hydration (and a great taste) whenever and wherever.
Coleman All Night Instant Lighted Shelter – We did a massive amount of camping and local exploring this year, and probably our most surprising and well-loved item was our Coleman All Night Instant Lighted Shelter. Full disclosure…we got it years ago, and we never used it. This year, we put it to good use, and we learned that it’s super easy to set up and break down, and it offers great lighting wherever we go.
Tenacious Tape – This was such a random find in 2020, but it was definitely one of our best! I did a partnership with Nomadik subscription boxes, and they had a sample of Tenacious Tape inside, boasting that it could patch anything – and hold up. We put it to the test on the corner of our tent, which ripped when one of the anchor straps tore off. This stuff hold up and definitely lives up to its name!
So, that’s a wrap, friends! I love sharing the things we find, use, and love because if it makes life a little easier for someone else, I call that a win.
Tell me – what were some of your favorite products that you found or used in 2020?
