With the holidays fast-approaching, the Tales of a Mountain Mama team is encouraging our fellow outdoorsy mamas to consider what you need or want in order to keep being the awesome, nourished, strong adventure mom that you are.
Whether it’s bandaging your wild child’s boo-boos, picking clothing for yourself that holds up to all the extra sitting and squatting that comes with kid adventures, or carving out time for yourself to recharge and get inspired, outdoor moms are pulled in a lot of directions.
The last thing we want to do is add one more thing to your to-do list this season, so we’ve got you covered with products tested and loved by our team, check out all our gift ideas for outdoor moms.
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Gifts to Gear Up
When we recommend clothing for outdoor moms, we are sure to think about durability and versatility. There’s no doubt that adventuring with kids comes with extra time sitting, kneeling, and squatting outdoors. Our outdoor clothing needs to be tough! We also want to simplify your outdoor wardrobe by giving you lots of options that can be used throughout the seasons, for a variety of activities.
Outer and Mid-Layer Tops for Moms
Helly Hansen Odin 9 Worlds 3.0 Shell
This hardshell goes beyond a basic jacket in so many ways. Made for rugged adventuring and rough weather, it is waterproof, breathable and windproof. It is backpack and helmet compatible with ventilation zippers and an adjustable hem, and even comes with a built-in RECCO rescue system transponder.
Wildelore All Phases Fleece
This 4-in-1 sweater grows with women before, during, and after pregnancy, nursing, and postpartum. This well-thought out product features zippers to accommodate growth in pregnancy, and convenient nursing access, plus plentiful pockets and cozy material.
Check out our full Wildelore Fleece Review!
Title Nine Sawtooth Fleece
The Title Nine Sawtooth Fleece is the ultimate cozy pullover, from the oversized fit to the soft fleece and large pockets. The versatility adds appeal to this fleece too. Think apres ski, easy comfort on a winter yurt trip, Spring and Fall hikes, and chilly mornings and evenings on camping trips.
Base Layer Tops
Base layers are a crucial part of layering, and these are some of our favorites! But, if you are looking for more ideas make sure to check out the Best Base Layers for Women and Sun Protection Clothing posts.
REI Sahara Shade Hoodie
For lightweight sun protection, look no further! I personally love my two Sahara Shade Hoodies. Let’s be honest, sometimes busy outdoor mamas have their hands full, and sunscreen for yourself might fall to the bottom of your list. Rated at 50+ UPF, this shade hoodie has you covered. The variety of colors, thumb holes, and hood are added bonuses, and the range of sizes invites all bodies to get outside and be sun safe.
Iksplor Adult Long Sleeve
This unisex long sleeve base layer is 100% Merino wool and a great addition to your all-season outdoor wardrobe. This base layer is UPF 50, machine washable, and temperature-regulating. Use it as a winter sport base layer, a camping pajama shirt, or a mid-range temperature hiking shirt. For nursing mamas, check out the nursing-friendly version.
Outdoor Leggings for All Seasons
So many moms live in leggings for all of mom-hood. Here are some of our favorites and if you need more ideas, head here Leggings for Hiking in Cold Weather and Best Women’s Hiking Pants.
Iksplor Adult Base Layer Leggings
Just like the adult base layer top, these leggings are made from 100% Merino Wool, are machine washable, UPF 50, and temperature-regulating. They feature a yoga-style waistband with a drawstring and are soft and breathable.
Title Nine Crash Fleece Lined Tights
Wind-resistant and fleece-lined, these tights are a great choice for adventuring in Fall, Winter, and Spring. Updated to hold in even more heat, you can trust these tights to keep you cozy on chilly Fall and Spring bike rides and hikes, during Nordic ski days, or for everyday exercise outside.
These tights are warm and cozy (sometimes too warm if I am inside too long)! They are perfect for cold weather hiking or XC skiing. I wear them for daily leggings on those “polar vortex” days for pants too. And I LOVE that they come in lengths. I have two pairs, one regular before they came in lengths and one petite. The second petite pair fits me so much better!
TMM Team Member Jami
Akova Versa Legging
These leggings are stylish, comfortable, and versatile. They are perfect for working out at the gym, dressing up with a cute top, or using as a base layer in the winter. They are ankle-length with a high waist band, and have 2 slip-in pockets for added convenience. Made from material that is odor resistant, water resistant, fast-drying, and PFAS free, these leggings are a durable and clean choice for any active mama.
Comfy Socks
Bombas Marl Ankle Socks
How much good can we say about Bombas? Let’s start with the fact that for every pair purchased, they donate one pair of their awesome socks to people experiencing homelessness. These socks are thoughtfully designed for an easier sensory experience on the feet. We love the heel blister pad, seamless toe, cushioned footbed and arch support.
Bombas Solids Half Calf Socks
Made with the same ‘buy one, donate one’ policy, and the same technology as the Marl Ankle Sock, the Half Calf Socks also come with a Stay-Up technology that won’t let you down. These socks are the perfect thickness for extra warmth and comfort under everyday boots and for cool and cold weather adventuring and exercising.
Gifts to Nourish and Get Inspired
As we dream about, plan, and shop for all the adventures that 2026 holds, it’s so vital for us mamas to be intentional about how we will nourish ourselves. This might mean carving out some solo time, even minutes on a family adventure. It might mean taking up a new hobby that keeps you connected to nature whether or not you’re tackling big outdoor goals. It might mean settling into a book that inspires you, or one where you see your own unique experience reflected. However it looks, we encourage you to make you a priority!
Outdoor Fun
Isle Pioneer 3 Paddle Board
As a newer model, the Pioneer 3 Paddle Board weighs in at 5 pounds less than the previous model. It features a full-length deck pad perfect for kids, dogs, or lounging during a solo SUP, a folding fin box for smaller pack size, and it comes with a carbon SUP paddle.
Team member Mary reviewed this SUP in 2024 and found it stable and easy to use for her family of novice paddle board users. She recommends this SUP for single passengers and kids, calm waters, and those with limited strength who can benefit from the lighter weight and the rolling storage bag.
Stanley Pour-Over Coffee Set
If you’re a fan of pour-over coffee at home, this set is the perfect way to perk up on any adventure. With a durable mug and easy to clean filter, this set is a great addition to your camp kitchen, or even for a midday boost on family ski days.
‘Watercolor In Nature’ Book
This beautiful book is a worthwhile addition to your toolbox for beating the winter blues. With step-by-step instructions for how to paint 20 realistic insects, fungi, birds, botanicals, and mammals you are sure to feel connected to the beauty of nature, while also taking time to yourself to explore a new hobby.
My husband bought this for me for my January birthday, and it was a perfect way to spend dark winter nights, something I can work through slowly, and revisit certain projects to try again.
Artecho Travel Watercolor Paint Set
Pair this watercolor paint set with the ‘Watercolor in Nature’ book so you can keep the two together and take your painting on the go. This book and paint set have come along with me on multiple camping trips and nature play adventures with my kids, where they can play within sight and I can enjoy a few quiet mama moments
Outdoor Reading
Reading is a great way to sit back and unwind. Here are two of my favorite books, and if you are looking for more of the team’s favorites, you can find all of our recommendations in Outdoor Books.
‘Moving Mountains’ by Louise Kenward
Written from the perspective of disabled and chronically ill authors, this book is a true breath of fresh air in outdoor literature. These 25 pieces focus not on conquering nature, but on connecting to nature. From the vast to the microscopic, these writings work to shift the reader’s attention toward things often overlooked by those who move through nature untroubled by their body.
This book is for you if you are disabled or chronically ill. This book is for you if you aren’t. In the spirit of inclusivity in the outdoors, a broad perspective is our first step on the path forward.
‘Rowing to Latitude’ by Jill A. Fredston
A story of companionship, discovery, risk, and the fragility of wild places ‘Rowing to Latitude’ documents 20,000 miles of exploration along the Arctic’s edge. Along with her husband, author Jill A. Fredston spends every summer paddling in the Arctic, with boats packed with everything they need to be self-sufficient. The harrowing tales and reflective insights of their journeys are sure to inspire .
Gifts for Ease in Adventure
Adventure mamas, rejoice! Each of the following products has the potential to make your family adventure life easier in small ways that are easy to overlook. All of the little steps you take to add a bit of ease add up to more energy for adventuring, less disorganization and forgotten essentials, little moments of you-time, and extra safety.
Safety
Hart Outdoors Day-Hike First Aid Kit
Keeping first aid kits on hand is essential for safe adventures. So, what makes this one so special? The small size and easy price point mean that this kit adds ease to your adventuring by allowing you to buy multiples and let one ‘live’ in each of your commonly used packs, your purse, or your car. No more shuffling one kit around, or forgetting to do so and being left without when you need one!
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Not only can the Garmin inReach Mini2 send SOS signals in emergencies, it provides basic navigation tracking, text messaging capability, and optional weather forecasting updates. The rugged casing is impact resistant and can withstand rain and water exposure of up to 1 meter. Whether adventuring solo, or solo with kids the inReach Mini 2 provides an added layer of safety and peace of mind.
Black Diamond Cosmo 350 Headlamp
With the thoughtful design and durability you’d expect from a Black Diamond product, my favorite feature of this headlamp is the red light option. I love that a red light on my headlamp means I can use it in the tent after my kids are asleep. This comes in handy for changing my clothes at night, reading before my own bedtime, and slipping out to use the bathroom, all without waking up the kids or attempting to move around in the dark and stepping on someone.
Outdoor Comfort for Moms
Kelty Loveseat
The Kelty Loveseat is designed just like a fold up, just-right-height camp chair, but for more than one person. This might mean extra closeness for you and your partner during campfires, when you would normally be sitting in separate chairs. This could mean your seating is less squished and more stable when kiddos pile on for snuggles, or that you have a bit of extra wiggle room for nursing or pumping outside.
Teva ReEmber Slip-Ons
I love my ReEmber Slip-Ons for their durability, comfort, and versatility. These have added ease for me by letting me slip in and out the tent more easily, which helps me avoid waking up sleeping kids or letting bugs in while I fiddle with shoelaces. I have loved these for road trips where I kick off my shoes, but then a side of the road kiddo potty break requires quickly jumping out of the car. I have used these for cabin and yurt trips, where I want to enjoy the coziness of a slipper but appreciate the hard sole that keeps my feet dry and safe from kindling bits near the wood stove.
REI Co-op Liner Gloves
I always have cold hands and have tried a variety of liners. These are my favorite! They have been my go-to for chillier stroller walks, hikes, bike rides, and camping trips. They are a staple in my ski clothing set up too. The number of times I remove my shell mittens to open a kiddo snack, fix a zipper, help with a ski binding, or wipe a runny nose absolutely demands liners. Bonus that I can keep them on to take a picture!
CTR Summit Crushable Straw Hat
This hat is stylish enough to wear around town and functional enough to be worn hiking, while shading the whole face and neck. The fact that it is crushable means that it can be stowed in a pack, not to be forgotten at home when you head out, and leaving you less encumbered with a hat hanging off of your pack when you don’t need it.
Great Packs for Moms on the Go
We know that moms are (normally) always prepared, and we need a great pack to put all our preparedness into! Below are two of the team’s favorites, but if you are looking for more ideas or a different style, head over to Best Daypacks for Women or Outdoor Gear Bags and Bins.
Osprey Raven 14 Hydration Pack
This pack is perfect for carrying everything you need for biking or hiking, including easy-to-access water. It is breathable, and sized specifically for women.
This pack has been used hard the last 4 years and it has held up great. I mainly use it for biking, to hold all the things needed for biking with little ones, but I also like using it for a lightweight day pack. Its versatile and well built with lots of storage options.
TMM Team Member Jami
Patagonia Terravia Mini Hip Pack
The Terravia Mini Hip Pack can be worn around the waist or as a crossbody bag. Lightweight and made from weather-resistant material, this hip pack is great for everyday use. Teammate Kara uses hers as her purse. For smaller outings, skip the big diaper bag and throw a diaper and pack of travel wipes into your hip pack, a couple of small snacks, and head out!
Gifts for Mom
Amid all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we hope our fellow outdoorsy mamas will take time to dream about next year’s adventures and pass along some of these gift ideas for products that are sure to add comfort, ease, and self-love to time outdoors.
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