REI Anniversary Sale 2026: The Best Deals on Kids’ & Family Outdoor Gear

The Merrell Big Kid's Moab Speed 2 Mid Waterproof is a lightweight “hiker-sneaker” that works well for active kids who move between trails, bikes, and everyday use. The big win is how it feels on foot. It’s lighter and more cushioned than a traditional boot, closer to a running shoe, which makes it easier for kids to wear all day. The grip is legitimately good on dirt and rocks, and it translates well to pedals if they’re riding. Waterproofing is solid for wet grass, mud, and light rain. It’s not built for full submersion or heavy slush, and that’s where some leakage can show up. That’s a reasonable tradeoff for a shoe this light. Durability is generally strong, but the textile around the toe is the one area that can show wear faster if a kid is especially hard on their gear. Pro tip: Swap the standard laces for elastic ones. It makes these much easier for younger kids to get on and off without help.

The KEEN Kids' Y Targhee IV is a reminder that kids don’t need mini versions of adult gear to have a good experience. I tried putting my son in Five Ten Freeriders because they look great and the adult version is one of the best flat pedal shoes available. He reached for these instead, and they’ve proven to be the better choice. He said they're more comfortable. The tread grip is great for riding, hiking, and general play. More importantly, they work across everything in a kid’s day, so you’re not dealing with a single-purpose shoe that only comes out for one activity.

The Smartwool Kids Hike Light Cushion Crew Socks solve a problem most parents don’t think about until it shows up as blisters or complaints. Good socks make a difference. The merino wool blend manages moisture, reduces friction, and stays comfortable across a full day outside. That means fewer hot spots and less odor when everything comes off at the end of the day. They’re not cheap, but they hold up and get worn repeatedly. Smartwool also backs them with a two-year satisfaction guarantee, which helps justify the cost.

The Garmin Bounce 2 is for parents who want a way to stay connected with their child without giving them a phone. It adds real-time location tracking, calls, messages, activity tracking, and parental controls inside a device that feels fun for kids instead of like a tracker hidden in a backpack. Garmin positions the Bounce 2 as a kids’ smartwatch with calling, text messaging, and real-time location tracking. The value proposition is controlled independence. Parents manage contacts through the Garmin Jr. app, so kids can call or message only approved people. That gives children a way to check in, ask for help, or communicate from a friend’s house, the woods, the playground, or the walk to the corner store, without opening the door to a full smartphone. The location features are useful for families starting to expand boundaries. Parents can check the child’s location in the Garmin Jr. app and set location alerts for when a child enters or leaves a defined area. That does not make the watch a safety guarantee, but it gives parents more visibility while kids get a little more room to move. The watch is also fun enough that kids may actually want to wear it–something that isn't a guarantee in our house. It tracks activities, includes sport-specific profiles like running and cycling, and can turn daily movement into something kids pay attention to. For our son, that quickly turned into chasing step-count “high scores” and tracking bike rides like the adults do. The parent controls are also important. School Mode can silence and restrict watch features during school hours, and Do Not Disturb can be set during sleep. School Mode can mute notifications and limit games and messages during school hours, while still allowing basic functions like time, alarms, and emergency assistance. The ongoing cost is the catch. To use the communication and location features, you need Garmin’s LTE subscription, which is $9.99 per month. At full price, the watch is expensive, and the subscription makes it a recurring purchase, not a one-time buy. For families who want controlled communication, location visibility, and activity features without giving a kid a phone, the Bounce 2 makes a lot of sense.

The North Face ThermoBall Traction Bootie solves a specific winter problem: kids need something warm, quick, and grippy when they want to run outside, head to the car, walk around a ski lodge, or get through cold errands without putting on full winter boots or going outside improperly shod. They slip on easily, which is the main reason we love them. No laces, no stiff boots to cram onto feet, and no adult help required once kids get the hang of the pull tab. Our kids also like having the same cozy booties as mommy and daddy, which adds to the appeal. The ThermoBall Eco insulation adds warmth without much bulk, and the recycled ripstop upper has a water-resistant finish that handles light snow, damp grass, and wet sidewalks. These are not snow boots, and they are not built for deep snow or long winter hikes. For short, cold, messy transitions, they are much more useful than lace-up shoes or poorly insulated rain boots. The full rubber outsole is what separates them from many others in the category. It gives kids enough traction for slick surfaces, parking lots, lodge floors, and quick trips outside, although my kids can figure out how to fall down anywhere. Sizing and availability are the main things to watch. These are often limited in size and color, especially when they show up in outlet or sale sections. If your kid is between sizes or will wear thick socks, sizing up may make sense. For families who spend winter moving between the house, car, ski lodge, pool, errands, and short bursts outside, these are easy to justify. They are not a replacement for proper winter boots, but they fill the gap between slippers and snow boots better than most kids’ footwear.

The Jones Prodigy Youth Snowboard is built for kids who have the basics down and are ready to ride the whole mountain. This is not a first-day board. It’s for riders who can link turns and are starting to explore beyond the beginner slope. The flex is soft enough to stay forgiving, but responsive enough that lighter riders can control the board without fighting it. Jones carries over some of its adult board design here, including a 3D Contour Base that helps the board roll into turns more smoothly and reduces the chance of catching an edge. That’s useful for progressing riders who are still refining their technique but starting to ride faster and on more varied terrain. The size range runs from 100 cm to 145 cm, which covers a wide spread of ages and rider sizes. In practice, this tends to fit kids roughly in the 6–12 range, depending on height and weight.

The Columbia Bugaboo II Fleece Interchange Jacket is for kids who need one winter jacket that can adapt to changing weather. It has two pieces: a waterproof shell and a fleece liner. Kids can wear either piece on its own, or zip them together when they need more warmth. The Omni-Tech shell helps block rain and snow, while the fleece liner and reflective lining add warmth without the bulk of a heavy winter coat. It works well for school, recess, errands, travel, and everyday winter use. It is not a specialized ski jacket, and kids may still need extra layers in very cold conditions or for long days outside.

The CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Pack solves a common problem. Many kids’ bikes don’t have space for a usable water bottle, and kids don’t always stop to drink. This puts water on their back and makes it easy to sip without thinking about it. That same setup works beyond cycling. On ski days, kids tend not to drink enough. Cold weather and altitude make that worse. A pack like this makes it easy to take a few sips on the lift instead of going hours without water. For hiking, it carries enough for shorter outings while letting kids manage their own gear. The 50 oz reservoir is enough for most outings without feeling bulky, and the bite valve is simple for kids to use. The small zip pocket holds snacks and a few essentials. The sternum strap includes a built-in safety whistle, which is useful in crowded or spread-out environments. CamelBak parts are easy to replace, which matters because hoses and valves wear out over time.

The Hestra Baby Zip Long Mitt solves one of the more frustrating parts of getting little kids outside in winter: actually getting mittens on their hands. The long cuff has a side zipper that opens wide, making the mitt easier to pull over a jacket sleeve before cinching it down to help keep snow out. For babies and toddlers who fight every layer, that saves real effort. The mitts are warm, water-resistant, and reinforced around the palms and fingers for crawling, grabbing, and general winter abuse. They cost more than basic baby mittens, but the construction is stronger than most and gives them a better shot at lasting through real use.