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Let’s face it: outdoor gear can be pricey.  And yet finding a piece of gear that has long-lasting, timeless qualities can make the expense even out over time - and constitutes a worthwhile purchase in our eyes!  

One of the ways we like to spread out that expense is to look for different items that we can use for a lot of different reasons, times, or ways.  No matter if we’re camping, sailing, or at home, here are ten of our favorite multi-purpose gear items and how we use them often.

• Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants. Honestly, about anything in their Ferrosi line stands up to the test. Considered a more technical pant, it has a water-resistant DWR finish and even stands up well to some abrasion. Super flexible, they bend when you in the crag or as you chase your toddler. They also look great when you head to work, dinner, or out to the brewery with friends. In fact, I have had a pair for over six years!

• Solar lanterns. An example is the MPOWERD Pro Lux Solar Light + Mobile Charger. We take these with us almost everywhere we adventure. They’re compact since they’re inflatable and a full-charge can last up to 50 hours. It’s also a backup charger for your phone (30-50% in 2-3 hours). There are 4 lighting modes. The one we love is multicolored, but they also have a simple white light. We use these as tent lights, picnic table lights, nightlights, sailboat cockpit lights, and just about every other way you can imagine having a gentle light outdoors (ambiance for a backyard BBQ). We’ve had a lot of luck with ours and they’ve lasted through weather and consistent use. The only reason we’ve had to replace them after nearly four years was that the adhesive finally failed. Considering what we put them through, though… that’s pretty good.

• Buffs. Headband, balaclava, sweatband, hair-tie, washcloth, and so many other possibilities. What a simplistic creation that’s easy to throw in a pocket or around a wrist and go.

• Osprey Poco Series Kid Carrier Backpack. Ok, this one is more specific to a time in your family’s life, but with all the various other pieces of gear it covers, we felt like it deserved to be included. Backpack + stroller + baby sling + water transport + sunshade + semi-high chair. Not to mention it can be adjust to fit mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, anyone. Seriously, if you’re still in doubt, head to your nearest gear shop and try one on!

• A good rain jacket. Particularly something GoreTex because it works. We wrote about GoreTex here. An example of a solid GoreTex rain jacket with a good price point is the REI XeroDry GTX Jacket. They have both men’s and women’s versions, but also include men’s tall and women’s plus sizes. A really good, truly waterproof rain jacket can go anywhere and will become your go-to for both water and wind, no matter the adventure sport or setting.

• A travel bed. Specifically, we’re thinking of the KidCo PeaPod Portable Travel Bed. It’s basically a hoop tent that folds into itself and fits into a handy dandy bag. For this particular item, we found that it was a bed, protection from elements (sun, insects, etc), and playpen rolled into one. We brought it to family members’ houses many times as a secure-feeling place for The Dude to nap, even if holiday festivities kept us out in the backyard. He even just had fun filling it with his toys and playing wherever we were.

• Patagonia Capilene. We love this material and the reason we’re including it in our multi-use list is because it’s original purpose was as a base layer. In that roll, it provides lightweight layered warmth under your mid layers and shell. But it also looks good, washes easily, doesn’t wrinkle, travels nicely, and lasts forever. We run in it, relax in it, bike in it, sail in it, use it as an added layer, or wear it as sun protection. There are options for the whole family, including the little tikes (when our son was a baby, we splurged on the onesie and pants that he ended up wearing for our hikes, for days on the beach, and even when paddling).

• A hammock. ENO (Eagles Nest Outfitters) hammocks have been well known for some time, but we also encourage you to check out Kammock hammocks! They’re lightweight, packable, and perfect to use for naps, as a place to sit, as a swing, as part of your sleep system, or a place to bundle up with a blanket while someone else is climbing and your waiting for your turn. It can be an alternative to bringing a tent (if you a few tricks to hammock camping) and a camp chair (all you need is a couple of trees, a tree and a post, a vehicle and a tree, or any combo from there).

• A tech blanket. We’ve tried a variety and Rumpl blankets and ThermaRest are two of our very favorite brands. A tough blanket that won’t stink, is highly washable, super warm (especially considering its size), and crazy packable. Packability and washability are the biggest difference between this and grabbing your favorite cotton blanket from a bed. One blanket to rule them all: we use it as a picnic groundcloth, it’s been a diaper changing pad, it’s been a dog bed, it’s been an RV comforter, and it just keeps lasting and lasting. Easier thing about it is throwing in the washer after all that adventure, only to find it perfectly plush and ready for more.

We know this is a mishmash of gear that could go on forever.  It’s easy to justify purchases, but sometime challenging to decide what to purchase on a budget - especially for a growing and changing family.  Hopefully some of these items are helpful to you, or at least help you find what can be “multi-purpose” for your needs.  Is there anything you’d suggest that we didn’t include here?  We’d love to hear about it!