No Man Before

5 Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids (Great for Exploring the Outdoors)

2019-09-25T00:27:23Z

Most parents, doctors and experts would agree, barefoot is best for babies learning to walk. Learning to walk while barefoot helps grow stronger muscles in the foot and doesn’t interfere with the natural, healthy walking and running gait. Plus, being barefoot means more sensory messages are being sent to a growing child’s brain that is learning all about their new and ever-changing environment.

When your baby starts walking literally everywhere and you need to put a little protection on their feet, there are quite a few companies making cute soft leather barefoot baby shoes and moccasins. But once they start hitting those toddler sizes, there are less and less barefoot and minimalist shoe options.

Earlier this year, I started researching barefoot and minimalist hiking shoes for adults. As I learned more about the benefits of barefoot shoes, I started looking into barefoot toddler shoes for my son. Though limited, there are still great options for barefoot shoes for kids and toddlers. My son has been wearing several of these shoes, and I’ve included our personal reviews here in this list of the best barefoot shoes for kids and toddlers.

What to look for in Barefoot Shoes for Kids

1 Wide Toe Box – Look for shoes that fit the natural shape of the foot, including the toes. There should be enough room for all of those little toes to wiggle.

2 Thin, Flexible Soles – Soles should provide protection, but still allow for a sensory connection to the ground beneath and easy movement.

3 Zero-drop Platform – A zero-drop platform means a flat sole, just like our feet. Many shoes have a raised heel, which can cause strain on our body from the unnatural position and make injury more likely.

The difference between barefoot shoes and minimalist shoes is usually a little extra cushion or a slight heel drop of a few millimeters or less. You’re still getting most of the benefits of a barefoot shoe, just a little more padding or durability which can be a great option with kids that are pretty rough on shoes.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on one of them, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, read our full disclosure. I requested a pair of shoes from Wildling and Softstar for this post, and they kindly sent me a pair of shoes for review. I’m sharing my personal opinion based on my experience here.

Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids and Toddlers

Wildling

Wilding is a small company out of Cologne, Germany that only makes barefoot shoes, both for children and adults. Germany has been a leader in the forest school movement, which seeks to immerse children in a natural environment, and Wildling shoes feed perfectly into this. These barefoot shoes allow children to develop a greater sensory connection to the world around them, bringing a child and its environment back together.

Hudson absolutely loves his “fox” shoes as he calls them. Hudson’s pair (the Tanuki Umi) is made of a special paper-type material from Japan called Washi. You make think of paper as flimsy, but Washi is durable, breathable, and dries quickly when it gets wet. These are the best barefoot shoes for active toddlers and kids during the summer. Wildling uses other vegan materials in its shoe line-up including organic cotton, linen, and hemp. Wildling winter shoes and boots utilize wool lining and exterior for extra warmth and its water-resistant properties.

I also have a pair of Wilding shoes from the company’s adult line ReWild, and they are the closest thing I’ve experienced to being barefoot. The 2.5mm outersole is just enough protection and there’s a thin layer of cushion for comfort. I love the full sensory connection to the ground; my feet have never been so happy in a pair of shoes.

Wildling shoes starts and size US Baby 2 (EU 18). To determine the appropriate size, use Wildling’s printable FitKit. Just make sure your scale is set to 100%. The Cubs (Baby) line starts at $60, and the Wildling (Toddler to Youth) line starts around $70.

➳ Shop Now: Cubs /// Wildling

Vivobarefoot

Vivobarefoot is one of the most prominent names in barefoot shoes. Its kids’ shoes all have soles that are thin, wide, flat and bendy to promote the natural foot development. Vivobarefoot has a wide range of styles in its kids’ barefoot shoe line up, including active, every day, sandals, and boots.

The Primus Kids and the Primus Junior are some of Vivobarefoot’s most popular zero-drop kids’ shoes. The breathable mesh uppers on these lightweight barefoot shoes are made from recycled PET plastic bottles, so they’re cutting down on the amount of new materials that go into their shoes and reducing the plastic that ends up in landfills.

Vivobarefoot shoes start at US Toddler size 5 (EU 20). Prices range from $60 to sandals to $90 for leather boots. You can purchase Vivobarefoot shoes directly from the company website or on Zappos.

➳ Shop Now: Vivobarefoot Kids

Softstar

Softstar makes butter-soft leather shoes and moccasins with leather soles (for early walkers to be worn mostly indoors) or super-flexible Vibram Pyramid soles made for outdoor use. This company focuses on using natural, eco-friendly materials, minimizes waste, and continues to rank as one of the Best Green Workplaces in Oregon.

Every shoe is handcrafted in Softstar’s Oregon workshop, and many of the shoes can be customized with different colors. The customizability of these shoes continues with its sizing, where you can order narrow, regular, wide, or extra wide width shoes (check out the Softstar sizing information here). It can be difficult to find properly fitting shoes for children with wider feet, so Softstars are especially great for them!

I opted for Softstar’s Rugged Rambler for Hudson which comes with a thicker 9 mm sole – we walk plenty of rocky, dirt trails, and I wanted something more rugged that would stand up to this kind of use. It’s held up really well, making me think the slightly thinner 6 mm sole would be really durable too. Even though the sole on the Rugged Rambler is a bit thicker, it is still extremely flexible. The Ramblers are easy for toddlers to pull on themselves as there aren’t any ties or strap. If you want to add more cushion and warmth, Softstar sells removable sheepskin innersoles specifically made for its shoes.

While most companies making moccasins stop at early walker sizes, Softstars sizing goes from Baby Size 2 (0 – 6 months) all the way up to youth size 6. For both kids and adults, Softstar has the PRIMAL RunAmoc, a barefoot lace-up athletic shoe with leather uppers and a 5mm Vibram Trail Sole.

Most baby and toddler moccasins are priced from $40 to $50. The Youth PRIMAL RunAmoc is $110.

➳ Shop Now: Baby /// Child /// Youth

Xero Shoes

Xero shoes recently expanded into barefoot shoes for kids with a smaller version of its most popular shoe, the Prio Running and Fitness Shoe. This is a great all-around shoe with a wide toe box and thin, flexible sole, so they’ll be great for all your outdoor adventures. The Xero Shoes Prio use the company’s signature FeelTrue rubber that provides adequate protection but still allows you to feel the ground underneath. The sizing currently starts at toddler size 12 and goes up to youth size 4. The kids’ Prios are priced at $69.99.

➳ Shop Now: Kids

Tikki Shoes

Tikki Shoes is a family-run barefoot shoe brand from Romania. This brand sells full-leather soft soled shoes for babies, as well as barefoot toddler shoes including everyday shoes, sandals and boots. The Tikki Aster is a barefoot kids’ shoe with a super flexible 3mm rubber outsole, wide toe box, and high-quality leather. These shoes are made to be easy for your toddler to put on and take off themselves with an easy velco strap. Tikki’s barefoot winter boots feature water-repellent suede leather and a warm wool lining.

Tikki Shoes are some of the most affordable I’ve seen, with barefoot leather baby moccasins starting at $22, and toddler shoes ranging from $30 to 62.

➳ Shop Now: Baby /// Kids

Let us know if you have any questions about barefoot shoes for kids, or if your child have a favorite shoe we didn’t include here.

The post 5 Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids (Great for Exploring the Outdoors) appeared first on No Man Before.

The Lems Mesa: A Versatile, Packable, Minimalist Hiking Shoe

2019-09-22T04:37:57Z

Searching for a versatile, lightweight minimalist hiking shoe that’s perfect for adventures both at home and on the road? Then look no further than the Lems Mesa.

Growing up in Arizona, our main outdoor activities were swimming in the summer and hiking all of the other months. Even though I’ve been hiking for a long time, I feel like I haven’t figured out what gear I really love until recently.

I know rugged terrain calls for the toughness of a deeply grooved tread, and extra padding is needed when you’re carrying a heavy load on a backpacking trip. But there are so many scenarios where traditional hiking boots still felt like overkill to me, so I started researching minimalist and barefoot hiking shoes earlier this year.

One of the best shoe brands out there I found making minimalist hiking shoes was Lems. Lems started by making barefoot running and hiking shoes, and has expanded its line to include minimalist hiking shoes with a bit more padding and traction. Lems recently released a new shoe called the Mesa in their line of mountain-to-town hiking shoes. I was excited to try them out and share my review with you here!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on one of them, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, read our full disclosure. I was provided this pair of shoes by Lems in exchange for my review. I’ve been interested in trying out a pair of Lems shoes for some time now because of their great reviews, and I’m sharing my personal opinion based on my experience here.

There were five things I wanted my new pair of minimalist hiking shoes to be: comfortable, lightweight, durable, a simple, clean design, and versatile.

Comfortable

Comfort always comes first when I’m looking for a shoe now. I’ve had far too many shoes that I thought looked cute or seemed technically good, but they hardly ever ended up leaving my closest because they pinched my toes or gave me blisters. Lems started out by making barefoot shoes (the Lems Primal); barefoot shoes follow the natural shape of the feet with a wide toe box, have a zero-drop heel, and a thin, flexible sole.

The Mesas have a bit thicker of a sole which puts them more at a minimalist shoe than a true barefoot shoe, but this also means they are better equipped to handle more rugged terrain. There is enough padding in the Mesas that I’ve never felt any discomfort whether I’m running or walking on asphalt or a dirt trail.

The toe box is wide (no squished toes!) and the shoes are still really flexible.

As far as sizing goes, I’m typically a women’s size 7, but needed to go a half size up in these. Aaron has a different Lems shoe, the Trailhead, and his typical size was the right fit. The Trailhead and the Mesa both use the mountain-to-town outsole, so I’m assuming the sizing of both shoes is the same.

➳ Read next: 9 Versatile Hiking Shoes Perfect for Travel

Lightweight

The men’s Mesa weighs 9.8 oz, while the women’s model weighs 8.4 oz. Traditional hiking boots can often times weigh three times this amount!

I don’t want to feel like I’m literally dragging my feet from heavy hiking shoes. A good portion on the uppers on the Mesa is knit mesh. It feels durable, but breathable, and my feet haven’t gotten hot and sweaty on the trail. These shoes are also supposed to be quick drying. I haven’t stepped through any streams or puddles yet, but I’m sure that time will come.

Durable

While heavy hiking boots can be excessive some trails, a good minimalist hiking shoe shouldn’t be totally beat up after a few uses. The mesh on Lems Mesa is reinforced with a TPU frame overlay on the sides and a coating around the toe box. I’m impressed by the amount of traction and grip on this shoe – the solid rubber outsoles are much more in line with a hardcore hiking shoe than a lightweight sneaker. The materials and quality of this shoe seem to be in line with the $125 price tag. These shoes still look great after several hikes, but I’m planning on updating this review a few months down the line to report how they’re holding up.

Simple, clean design

Even when I’m hiking, I’d like a shoe with a simple, clean design. Some brands seem to think the crazier the colors or the more types of materials mean a shoe is more hardcore or rugged. I’ve not found this to be the case, and am happy there’s a company like Lems out there that shares the aesthetic appeal of simplicity. I opted for the coastal blue, which has a nice pop with the darker yellow laces. The Lems Mesa also comes in carbon (black), forest (green), and rosewood (dark purple – women’s only).

Versatile

We often hike while we’re traveling, so I wanted a minimalist hiking shoe that was versatile. I typically try to avoid checking a bag which means packing light. Instead of bringing a shoe for each different occasion, I needed a shoe that could function well in a lot of different environments. This shoe is part of what Lems calls its mountain-to-town collection, meaning it can easily make the transition from trails to city streets. The fact that this shoe is lightweight and has such a simple design makes it versatile enough to use throughout most of our travels. The weight and flexibility also make the Mesa a great packable hiking shoe, though I’d just as easily wear it through the airport.

Since getting the Lems Mesa, they’ve become my go-to shoe for hikes, walks around the block, and all the little things in between.

Shop Women’s Mesa /// Shop Men’s Mesa

The Best Winter Hiking Pants for Women: Water-resistant, breathable and comfortable

2019-09-09T22:50:30Z

To prepare for colder weather when hiking, layering is key, including a lightweight but sturdy, water-resistant outer shell. Here are my picks for the best women’s winter hiking pants.

Even though summer isn’t officially over for a few more weeks, Labor Day always feels like a fond farewell to the warmer months, and a cue to start looking forward to the cooler months ahead. Now that we’re in Northern California, the transition to fall will be much more than a few degrees, especially when we’re planning hikes among the redwoods.

While living in Cambridge, England, I quickly learned that the key to being prepared for any sort of weather is layering, topped with a good water-resistant shell. In his book A Coast to Coast Walk, British fellwalker and author Alfred Wainwright famously noted, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” And as someone who walked the width of England and dealt with Britain’s notoriously fickle weather, you think he’d know.

The women’s winter hiking pants I’ve included in the list below will have you covered in colder, wetter weather so you can just enjoy the trail ahead.

Save on Pinterest to Read Later ↡

1 REI Co-op Activator V2 Soft-Shell Pants

REI has managed to create a women’s hiking pant that’s breathable and wind resistant up to 35 mph, which makes it a great winter hiking pant. The fabric is lightweight but durable, and treated with durable water repellant (DWR). The belted waistband allows you to adjust to your perfect fit.

Price: $99.95 // Shop on REI

2 prAna Halle Pants

The exceptional stretch, comfort and flattering fit offered by prAna’s Halle Pant has made it a long-time fan favorite for women’s hiking pants. The fabric has a Durable Water Repellent treatment, but they’re not as water resistant compared to the other hiking pants on this list. These pants can take you from the cooler fall and winter months through summer with a roll up option to convert to capris.

Price: $85 // Shop on REI

3 Kuhl Resistor Pant

Kuhl’s Resistor pant is soft with great stretch. The cotton/nylon fabric blend feels tough and offers a great layer of protection if you’re doing some scrambling. Women’s hiking pants are often plagued by small pockets, but the Resistor has a slot for a cell phone, back pockets that button up and decent-sized front pockets. The fit is comfortable and relaxed, which make it easy to add a base layer underneath in colder weather.

Price: $99 // Shop on Kuhl

4 Patagonia Women’s Simul Alpine Pants

I love the higher rise and slim fit of the Patagonia Simul Alpine Pants. The narrow leg has an adjustable cuff and tie-down loops to work with alpine boots. These pants are made for winter activities including climbing over rock, ice and snow. The water-resistant finish protects you from light rain and snow.

Price: $139 // Shop on Patagonia

5 Arc’teryx Gamma LT Softshell Pant

Arc’teryx touts its durable double-weave fabric as the best material to keep you covered and comfortable while you’re stretching for that next hold on a rock climbing route. And the water-resistant finish on these pants is one of the best, so you’ll stay warm and dry even if you’re battling rain and snow on your winter adventures. The Arc’teryx Gamma LT Softshell Pant are the most expensive pants on this list, but they’ll be worth it if you need some serious protection from the cold.

Price: $189 // Shop on Backcountry

6 prAna Winter Hallena Pant

These winter hiking pants were made to keep you extra warm; the nylon stretch fabric has a soft lining added for comfort and insulation from the cold. If you want a pair of prAna hiking pants dedicated to cold weather, then go with these over the Halle.

Price: $98.95 // Shop on Backcountry

7 Columbia Saturday Trail Pant

Columbia’s Saturday Trail Pant is a great basic hiking pant at an attractive price point. The nylon fabric is thin but water-resistant and has a UPF 50 rating to protect you from harmful UV rays. The 2-way stretch and gusseted knees allow for more movement for all your outdoor adventures.

Price: $59.99 // Shop on Backcountry

8 Rab Sawtooth Softshell Pant

A few thoughtful details on the Rab Sawtooth Softshell Pant make them exception cold weather hiking pant. The fleece-lined waistband provides both comfort and warmth if you’re hiking or skiing in the snow. These winter hiking pants also have reinforced crampon patches at the cuffs, a drawcord hem, and zippered hand and thigh pockets.

Price: $139.95 // Shop on Backcountry

9 Mammut Women’s Hiking Pant

These Mammut hiking pants are specifically designed to perform in rainy weather – the water resistant fabric will keep you dry out on the trails, giving you more time to explore. The preformed knees give you enough flexibility for steep inclines, and the large, zippered leg pocket can fit your phone (or map if you’re old school).

Price: $99.99 // Shop on Backcountry

The post The Best Winter Hiking Pants for Women: Water-resistant, breathable and comfortable appeared first on No Man Before.

Tips for Visiting Pacifica State Beach

2019-08-28T05:11:50Z

As we were prepping for our move from Southern California last month up to the Bay Area, I started to give up the idea that we were going to have any more classic California summers, with those long, idyllic summer days where you stake out your claim on the sand early in the morning for a full day of surfing, swimming, building sand castles, and just enjoying the sunshine and beautiful views. But, Pacifica Beach has given me a glimmer of hope that beach days with swimsuits can be a real thing up here in Northern California too.

On most days, you’ll find beachgoers around the Bay Area clad in jackets to combat the cold and wind. Thankfully, it seems like there are some happy stretches where the sand is warm, the sun greets your face, and it makes getting in to the cold water not so bad. One of the best beaches in the Bay Area is Pacifica State Beach (also called Linda Mar Beach). This mile-long crescent bay is ringed with sand, and the waves have a soft and gentle break, making it a popular spot for beginner surfers and perfect for little kids to splash around.

How to get to Pacifica Beach

Pacifica State Beach is about 17 miles or 30 minutes south from the middle of San Francisco without traffic (but there will probably be traffic). Located in the town of Linda Mar, it’s pretty easy to get to from anywhere on the northern part of the peninsula in the Bay Area.

Parking at Pacifica State Beach

There are a few parking options for Pacifica State Beach. The main parking lot is a small paid parking lot right by the sand which is incredibly convenient, but also expensive. The lot gets full on warm weekends and weeknights with decent surf. Parking costs $7 for 4 hours and $9 for all day between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm. There are a few free spots that are limited to 30 minutes. Use the small kiosks on the sidewalk to pay for parking, and make sure you place your receipt on the dash. They do check these parking lots often and we’ve seen plenty of windshields with a ticket.

Unfortunately, even though this is a state beach, it is not covered by California’s State Park Pass. To check out a map to see which state parks are covered by the park pass and which ones aren’t, check out this map here. You can purchase a separate parking pass just for Pacifica State Beach, which costs $72.

If the main lot is full, or you’re looking for a cheaper parking option, the NorCal surf shop in the Pedro Point Shopping Center charges $5 to use its private lot. You can also purchase something from one of the businesses and get free parking for 2 hours. People used to park here for free, but it sounds like it became an issue when customers couldn’t find a parking spot because it was full of beachgoers.

Amenities

This beach has bathrooms and outdoor showers to rinse the sand off. There’s even a Taco Bell Cantina right on the sand if you get hungry! If you do plan to picnic on the beach, note that fires and BBQ grills, alcohol and glass containers are not allowed.

Best Surf Gear for Pacifica

If you are heading to Pacifica to surf, bring your longboard or foamie. You can pick up a Wavestorm 8 foot surfboard from Costco for pretty cheap (they’re usually $99 in store, or $180 online), and you’ll see a lot of them out at Pacifica. If you want to invest a little more in your board, CatchSurf and Almond, both SoCal surf shops, make awesome foamies.

Pacifica Surf Cam

For the live Pacifica Surf report, head on over to Surfline. The Pacifica Surf Cam is part of Surfline’s paid premium content, but you can still read the daily surf report for free.

Where to stay in Pacifica

If you want to extend your beach day into a little vacation, check out these hotels near Pacifica Beach:

Pacifica Beach Hotel – The Pacifica Beach Hotel is located directly across from the beach on the other side of the Pacific Coast Highway. The rooms are fairly basic, but you can’t beat the location if you’re there for the beach. Check rates and availability for Pacifica Beach Hotel here.

Lighthouse Hotel – This hotel is about 1 mile up the road, near Rockaway Beach. The rooms are a bit larger and more upgraded. Since the hotel is located on the beach side of the highway, the ocean views can be pretty amazing. Check rates and availability for Lighthouse Hotel here.

Beach View Apartment on Airbnb – Airbnb has a few great options that are still walking distance to Pacifica Beach. This studio apartment also includes two Wavestorm surfboards, so you won’t have to worry about renting a board if you plan to surf. Check rates and availability for this Airbnb here. If you’re new to Airbnb, use our referral link here for 15% off your first home booking, up to $400 off! You can also use it for $15 toward an Airbnb experience of $50 or more.

The post Tips for Visiting Pacifica State Beach appeared first on No Man Before.

5 Reasons We’re Purchasing Travel Insurance for Our Next Trip

2019-08-28T05:28:31Z

Thank you VisitorsCoverage for sponsoring this post. VisitorsCoverage gives you peace of mind while traveling.

We were once young and wild and carefree, and didn’t really think about things like travel insurance. Okay, we were really never that wild, but we were once young (R.I.P. my twenties) and definitely much less informed, which I guess could count as carefree.

Throughout all of our travels, it seems like luck has been on our side. We’ve had a few close calls with almost missing flights, but everything came together in the end. And while we’ve never been seriously ill or injured on a trip, I’ve had a few bouts of food poisoning, Aaron always seems to end up injuring a toe, and Hudson has had too many minor falls and scrapes to count.

While I hope our luck holds out, I’ve accepted that the smart and practical thing to do is get travel insurance through VisitorsCoverage on our next trip. I’ve put it off previously because on top of planning everything else, it just seemed like one more thing to research, book, and pay for.

On our recent trip to Costa Rica, we found ourselves skipping certain activities because we hadn’t purchased any travel insurance. While I always hope we never have any accidents, especially while traveling, the likelihood of getting injured when you’re rafting down a rushing river or dangling from the top of a waterfall is at least a little bit higher (but really, a lot).

In preparation for our next trip, I’ve been researching more about travel insurance, and was so happy to learn about VisitorsCoverage. It’s easy to find a travel insurance policy on the VisitorsCoverage website, which means I can focus more on booking fun activities and less about how much an emergency would cost while traveling. Here are five reasons we’re purchasing travel insurance for our next trip.

1. It’s actually really simple to purchase travel insurance with VisitorsCoverage

While I know how important it is and that the costs of not having travel insurance could truly be astronomical, I had a slew of poor excuses as to why I haven’t booked travel insurance. The most used one was that it would just take too long to find a policy that was really worth purchasing, so I just didn’t.

I went ahead and priced out insurance for a potential upcoming trip on the VisitorsCoverage website, and it really only took me a minute. After filling in a few boxes about the who, what and when of traveling, I had seven different insurance quotes.

2. It’s affordable

After scanning through the quotes I got on VisitorsCoverage, I realized how affordable travel insurance is, especially when comparing it to the potential costs of an accident or emergency when traveling abroad. While medical care in some countries can be relatively cheaper compared to the U.S., the cost of travel insurance is a tiny fraction of what a trip to the hospital could cost.

3. We’re traveling to farther places

We started traveling more often about four years ago when we were living in England. We traveled within Europe, so we were only ever a few-hour flight from home and the cost to get back was pretty cheap. Now that we’re traveling further and further from home, with flight times that can be the better part of a day and that cost a lot more, we don’t want to feel like we’re stranded without the resources we need to get help.

4. We’re traveling with a kid

Our top concern is always the health and safety of our son, so I don’t want to feel like I’m compromising with his medical care because we’re traveling.

5. It’s the best way to prepare for the unexpected

I hope I never have to actually use travel insurance, but I know there are so many things that can go wrong on a trip. VisitorsCoverage offers policies that include travel medical insurance, trip cancellation and trip delay insurance, so I can stress less about all of the what-ifs when traveling, and know that I have a plan if anything does happen. You can also learn more about VisitorsCoverage and what they offer by following them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you’re planning a trip and considering travel insurance, hop on over to VisitorsCoverage for a quote. It only takes a minute (it really does)!

The post 5 Reasons We’re Purchasing Travel Insurance for Our Next Trip appeared first on No Man Before.

11 Camping Essentials You Need: The Beginner’s Guide to Camping Gear

2019-08-19T21:24:35Z

Planning a camping trip but not sure what gear you need? Check out this list of the best beginner camping gear.

One of the best and seemingly most affordable ways to enjoy the outdoors is to go camping. However, if this is your first time pitching a tent, you’ll soon start to realize that all of that camping gear can really add up fast. And if you browse through all of the cool camping gear at REI, you’ll start thinking that you need a whole garage just to fit all your new stuff.

We’ve been using some of our camping gear for over 10 years now, so we have a pretty good idea of what we like and what we don’t, and what is going to keep us warm on a cold night, and last through sandstorms, windstorms and thunderstorms.

We’ve created a beginner’s guide to camping gear with all of the camping essentials you’ll need for your first trip. We’ve included great budget items we’ve used and loved if you’re trying to find the most affordable options. We also noted where it’s worth spending a little extra money if you plan to go camping often or are considering going backpacking.

↡ Save on Pinterest to Read Later ↡

Tent

Unless you’re taking a night out under the stars literally, the first purchase you’ll likely make is a tent. We bought a Coleman 3-person dome tent over 10 years ago. This tent has withstood a huge thunderstorm in Nevada’s Mojave Desert, a crazy windy night in the sparkling dunes at White Sands National Monument, and plenty of typical summer campouts. It’s nothing fancy, but we’ve never had any problems with leaking and the dome setup is super quick and easy.

Coleman no longer sells this exact model, but the Flatwoods II and Sundome tent are pretty similar, just a little bit bigger as they are 4-person models.

If you’re looking for a roomier tent, or something lighter for backpacking, the price tag starts to climb pretty quickly. The 4-person Kelty Salida Camping and Backpacking Tent clocks in at 7 lbs, so it’s a great option if you do think you’ll do some backpacking in the future. It’s not terribly expensive with a price of $170.

The Marmot Limestone tent comes in sizes for 4, 6 and 8 people and a great option if you want something taller and roomier. It’s easy to set up and fully utilizes mesh to make this tent lighter and breezier, which is great if you’re camping in a warmer location. The 4-person Marmot Limestone tent costs $359.

Tip: You’ll also want to get a footprint for your tent, which is basically a ground cloth or tarp that fits right under your tent. This helps protect the bottom of your tent from all the rocks and sticks; it’s much cheaper to replace the footprint than get a whole new tent, so this is always a good idea and will save you money in the long run.

/// Budget: Coleman Flatwoods II 4 Person Tent or Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent

/// Better: Kelty Salida Camping and Backpacking Tent (for backpacking), or Marmot Limestone (for more room)

Sleeping bag

There a few basic decisions you need to make when you’re looking for a sleeping bag:

Rectangular vs Mummy: Rectangular sleeping bags will be a bit roomier, but a mummy will keep you warmer without the bulk.

Synthetic vs Down: Synthetic Insulation is much more affordable than down insulation and still very effective, so if you’re just starting out a sleeping bag with synthetic insulation is a great option.

Temperature ratings: It can still get cold at night on a summer camping trip, especially as you head higher up into the mountains. I’d opt for a 3-season sleeping bag that is meant to keep you warm down into the 30°Fs since these are going to be both cost effective and pretty much have you covered until you start winter camping.

For a budget sleeping bag, I’ve used the Coleman North Rim Mummy Bag that can go as low as 0°F and works for people up to 6 ft 2 in. It’s hard to beat its price point of $40, but it is heavier and bulkier than most sleeping bags. But, if you’re car camping, weight and size aren’t a huge concern.

For something a bit more lightweight, check out the Marmot Trestles 15 Sleeping Bag. This sleeping bag has you covered for 3-season camping and at just over 3 lbs 6 oz, you could use it for a shorter backpacking trip as well.

For a kids’ sleeping bag, the REI Co-op Kids’ Nodder 25 Sleeping Bag ($80) is a great option.

/// Budget: Coleman North Rim Mummy Bag

/// Better: Marmot Trestles 15 Sleeping Bag

Sleeping mat

I’ve slept on just about everything when camping, ranging from the cold hard ground to camping cots to a double high air mattress. The best night’s sleep I’ve had while camping is on the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat – and now I’ll never go camping without it.

This air mattress is insulated, so it’s a good barrier between you and the ground. It’s lightweight, (only 14.8 oz), so it’s good for both car camping and backpacking trips. Plus, this mat inflates with only a few breathes. Sea to Summit makes sleeping mats specifically geared towards women by making them a little bit warmer and creating a shape that’s more accommodating to wider hips.

While I’d usually forgo saving size and weight for cost and comfort with car camping, this is the most comfortable sleeping mat I’ve used while camping and has the benefit of also being great for backpacking.

Sea to Summit has a range of high-quality sleeping mats to fit your budget, including the Ultralight Air Sleeping Mat, which one the Gear of the Year by National Geographic Adventure in 2014.

/// Budget: Sea to Summit Ultralight Air Sleeping Mat

/// Better: Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat

Camp Chair

Sitting around a campfire, swapping stories and roasting s’mores is an essential part of the camping experience, and for that you need a seat. These compact camping chairs by Ozark Trail are sturdy and lightweight – and at $25, they’re a steal. You’ll find similar compact camping chairs by more well-known brand names that cost closer to $100, like the REI Co-op Flexlite Chair. Both fold up small and weigh less than two pounds, so they’re so easy to store at home and don’t take up a lot of room when you’re packing up the car.

/// Budget: Ozark Trail Himont Compact Camp Lite Chair

/// Better: REI Co-op Flexlite Chair

Camping Pillow

I know people can talk about how they’re “roughing it” when they camp, but we all need a good night’s sleep to really enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Do yourself a favor and bring a pillow. You may be tempted to steal the one off your bed for the occasional camping trip, but just think about all the dust, dirt and bugs you’ll be bringing back into your bed with you.

We’ve used some Eddie Bauer stuffable camping pillows that are no longer sold, but the TETON Sport Camp Pillow is similar and very affordable. For the best combination of comfort and weight, the Nemo Fillo Inflatable Travel Pillow is always a camper favorite and next on our camping gear wish list.

/// Budget: TETON Sports Camp Pillow

/// Better: Nemo Fillo Inflatable Travel Pillow

Water bottle

If you don’t already have a water bottle you use day-to-day that you love, then a camping trip is a great excuse to invest in a good one.

For a lightweight bottle, the Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle is simple bottle that’s leakproof and has a lifetime guarantee.

For a stainless-steel vacuum insulated water bottle, we like the RTIC ones (work great and they’re really affordable), and the Hydro Flask water bottles. I like to fill my insulated bottle up with hot water at night so I have something to warm me up right before hopping into my sleeping bag.

/// Budget: Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle, RTIC Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle

/// Better: Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle

Mess kit

Cut down on waste from paper plates or single use plastics by picking up a mess kit.

This GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless 1-Person Mess Kit includes a 1-liter pot, a folding-handle frypan, a bowl, a 12 fl. oz. cup. For a utensil that does it all, check out the Sea To Summit Titanium Spork.

Cooler

Unless you’re planning on living off of granola bars and apples (which we’ve totally done a time or two), you’ll want a cooler to pack anything that needs to stay cold or frozen.

The Igloo Maxcold Fold Fusion Cooler has been a great size for our family of three, and with dry ice we’ve been able to pack some pre-made cowboy dinners, yogurts, or even meals we’ve assembled and frozen ahead of time for longer keeping.

If you have a bigger budget and want the luxury of having regular ice hold for 72 hours, opt for a YETI Tundra 45 Cooler. Everyone we’ve talked to that has one loves it, and it gives you more flexibility if you’re camping where you can’t buy new ice every day or so. Plus, YETI coolers are about as durable as you can get and made to handle lots of abuse, so you can consider this a lifetime investment.

/// Budget: Igloo Maxcold Cool Fusion Cooler

/// Better: YETI Tundra 45 Cooler

Headlamp

I don’t know why it took me so long to get a headlamp, but I love it. Walking around without having to carry a flashlight in the dark is so convenient. Plus, most headlamps have a few different settings including a red-light mode for those midnight bathroom runs when you don’t want your beam flashing through everyone’s tent and waking them up.

/// Budget: Luminolite LED Headlamp

/// Better: Black Diamond Cosmo 225 Headlamp

Lantern

It’s really helpful to have a few lanterns to stick up on the picnic table while you’re trying to pull out your stuff for s’mores, or to hang up at the top of your tent for late night card games on the tent floor.

These solar Luci lights are amazing– charge them up on your dashboard on the drive out to your campsite and have power for up to 24 hours without having to worry about if you have enough AA batteries every time you take a trip. They’re also completely collapsible, so they take up hardly any space and work well for backpacking too.

Luci lights were originally created to help the three billion people on this planet that still do not have reliable access to electricity. These are awesome for camping, but with your purchase, you also have the opportunity to give the gift of light to people that need it. Learn more about the Give Luci program here.

For a traditional, battery-powered lantern, we like the Cascade Mountain Tech Collapsible LED Lanterns. They’re lightweight, compact, and very bright. These lanterns have high, low, and red-light modes.

/// Budget: Cascade Mountain Tech Collapsible LED Lantern

/// Better: Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern

First aid kit

Chances are something is going to happen to someone with all the shenanigans you’ll be up to in the woods or desert or wherever you decide to camp, so be smart and bring a first aid kit. You can assemble your own, or buy a pre-made first aid kit like this one from REI that comes in a handy nylon bag. We add sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and this antiseptic spray for kids that doesn’t sting.

If you have any tried and true camping gear you love, let us know in the comments below.

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Exploring Isla Espiritu Santo near La Paz, Mexico

2019-07-21T16:40:57Z

Only an hour ride from La Paz, Mexico via panga boat, you’ll arrive at a desert island paradise. Isla Espíritu Santo, often called the Jewel of the Sea of Cortez, is a small, rocky island with over a dozen white sand beaches surrounded by water so clear you can see the colorful fish from above the surface. The island’s name means Holy Spirit, which seems fitting for a place that leaves you feeling cleansed and renewed by its magical mix of solitude, sun, sand, and saltwater.

Isla Espiritu Santo is a protected, deserted island, but it almost had a much different fate. In the 1990s, a real estate developer had plans to build out a large casino. Fortunately, a group of conservations rallied together to purchase the land and donated it back to Mexico. Espíritu Santo Island is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and protected as part of the Flora and Fauna Protection Area of the Gulf of California Islands.

All of our days in La Paz were a thrill, and the afternoon we spent out in the Sea of Cortez with Punta Baja Tours exploring Isla Espiritu Santo was no exception.

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What to bring with you on an Isla Espiritu Santo boat tour

The easiest way to visit Isla Espiritu Santo is with a tour company. Many companies offer Isla Espiritu Santo tours, and we had a great experience with Punta Baja Tours. Punta Baja provided snorkel gear, a life jacket, water and drinks, and a simple lunch of sandwiches and what looked like a never-ending bucket of fresh ceviche. Here’s what you’ll want to bring with you:

Swimsuit – You’ll go from the boat to snorkeling to lunch on the beach, so it’s best to wear a swimsuit if you’re planning on enjoying the water.

Wetsuit – You can rent a shorty wetsuit from Punta Baja Tours for $150 MXN (about $8 USD). Or, bring your own if you have one. I brought along one a 2/1 mm shorty wetsuit like this, and Aaron brought a neoprene jacket like this. We took this tour in May, and the water was still pretty chilly when we stopped to snorkel at Los Islotes. We were only in the water for about 15 minutes which I wish was longer. Since it was so quick, I would say you don’t need a wetsuit if you’re going in the late spring and summer months, but a thin wetsuit is nice to have just to make it a little more comfortable in colder water.

Towels – We always bring these compact microfiber towels when we travel. The tour company does not provide towels, so you’ll definitely want to bring your own.

Windbreaker/sweater – Though Baja weather is warm and sunny, it started to feel pretty chilly on the boat getting full blasts of the wind. I definitely wish I’d brought along a windbreaker or sweater, but wrapped myself up in my towel to stay warm.

Sun protection – It’s a pretty long day out on the water, so wear a long sleeve shirt or rash guard, hat, sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen. We’ve shared why using only non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen is so important to the survival of the coral reefs here if you want to learn more. Our favorite reef-safe sunscreen is made by Raw Elements, which you can purchase on their website here (use code NOMANBEFORE10 for 10% off) or on Amazon here.

Isla Espiritu Santo tour with Punta Baja

Our Isla Espiritu Santo tour with Punta Baja left from Playa Plinguiche, which is about 30 minutes north of La Paz on Highway 11. Punta Baja offers pick-up and drop-off at hotels in La Paz if you didn’t rent a car or don’t want to drive yourself. Tours cost $1,200 MXN (about $63 USD) and last about 6 hours.

➳ To book a tour, check out the Punta Baja website here.

We reached Punta Baja’s beach hut on Playa Plinguiche at about 11 am and got fitted for fins, a snorkel, and life vest. We boarded the panga boat with a small group a bit before noon. The boat was basic but clean with plenty of seating and storage under your seat. The tour is 5+ hours, so don’t worry, the boat does have a bathroom.

The main stops on this tour are Los Islotes, home to a breeding colony of sea lions, and Ensenada Grande Beach, a white sand beach with crystal clear water where we stopped for about an hour for lunch, snorkeling and swimming.

Before these main stops, we followed the cliffy coastline of the islands and drifted in a few spots where our tour guide shared fun facts and the interesting history of the La Paz area. We first zoomed past by Playa Balandra, a large, shallow and protected bay that is often voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. We had just been stand up paddleboarding the day before at Playa Balandra, so it was cool to see if from the ocean this time.

➳ Read more: Stand Up Paddle Boarding at Balandra Beach

The Pearl

La Paz means “The Pearl” in Spanish, with most of the world’s pearls coming from this region starting in the 1500s. By the 1940s, the oyster beds were depleted from over-fishing, and then completely wiped out from disease. A biologist tried to artificially farm pearls by building a small pearl farm on Isla Espiritu Santo. He was actually successful, but the farm was destroyed during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s.

Frigatebirds

Thousands of black seabirds called frigatebirds nest along the coast of Espiritu Santo Island. Though frigatebirds live off of fish, they would be in serious trouble if their feathers got wet because they don’t have a waxy coating that repels water. They circle the skies and hunt on the surface, scooping up the fish before they swim too far below and out of reach.

Snorkeling with Sea Lions at Los Islotes

After making our way past Espíritu Santo and Isla Partida, another small island that’s separated by Espiritu Santo by a narrow canal, we reached Los Islotes. These few large rocks jut out in the ocean several minutes offshore from the northern tip of the islands. A large colony of sea lions resides here, sunning themselves on the rocks and hunting the plentiful fish in the surrounding waters.

We put on our snorkel gear and hopped in the chilly water. While most tour companies highlight the fact you can snorkel with sea lions, I was blown away by the vibrant coral reef and thousands of tropical fish. Most of the sea lions kept their distance while we snorkeled around the reef and through the rocks that form a natural arch, though a few did quickly glide under and around us. This stop was only about 15 minutes for us, which was far too short for the amount of amazing coral reef that’s here. As I was swimming through the rock arch, I was suddenly right above a massive school of fish. I also spotted several brightly colored starfish, parrotfish, angelfish trumpetfish, and rainbow wrasse, plus so many more fish I don’t know the names of.

Los Islotes is a protected area, and you can only visit it with a licensed provider. Our guides requested that we keep our life jackets on while snorkeling, which may be part of the official rules as we noticed that all the groups that stopped here kept their jackets on too.

Playa Ensenada Granda

After this quick snorkel, we hopped back on the boat for a short ride to Playa Ensenada Grande, a beautiful beach on Isla Partida. Our guides set up a tent for lunch, where we all assembled our own turkey sandwiches and piled fresh ceviche on to corn tostadas. After lunch, we had time to swim and snorkel in the impossibly clear waters.

This calm bay was so stunning and an amazingly relaxing way to spend the afternoon, it was hard to board the boat back to La Paz. On the way back, we saw a few turtles popping up to say hi, and even spotted a manta ray fly out of the water. If you take this trip between December and April, you may see the gray whales that migrate to this area to mate and give birth.

Sunset at Playa Plinguiche

We arrived back at Playa Plinguiche at about 6 pm, with enough time to do a small hike and find the perfect spot for sunset.

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Thank you to Punta Baja Tours for hosting us on this tour to Isla Espiritu Santo! All opinions are our own. Click here to learn more or book a tour.

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Sandboarding at the Dunes of El Mogote in La Paz, Mexico

2019-07-11T02:56:32Z

Baja California Sur’s capital city of La Paz is often the home base for travelers seeking adventures in the Sea of Cortez. Some of the most popular things to do in La Paz, Mexico include swimming with the whale sharks that come to feed in the Bay of La Paz every October through March, or snorkeling around Isla Espíritu Santo, dubbed by renowned marine conservationist Jacques Cousteau the “Aquarium of the World.”

But there’s also adventure to be had on dry land. Namely, at El Mogote, a small peninsula jutting out into the sea and forming the northern shore of the Bay of La Paz. The steep hills of soft, fine sand at the neck of the peninsula create the perfect conditions for sandboarding. The top of the dunes overlooks endless stretches of cactus-covered landscape on one side and the deep blues of the Sea of Cortez on the other, so the views are just as epic and the adrenaline rush. Sandboarding in La Paz was one of our favorite activities on our trip to Baja California.

We spent the morning standup paddleboarding with Baja Desconocida at Balandra Beach, and after a quick meal and some rest, we met up again with our guide Josef to head out on this next adventure. After a quick 20-minute drive from the La Paz Marina, we were at El Mogote and about to try sandboarding for the first time.

What to bring sandboarding

We’ve been snowboarding and sand sledding, but never sandboarding, which is basically just snowboarding without all the cold weather gear and a much softer land pad if you do fall. Here is what you’ll want to bring when you go sandboarding in La Paz.

Shoes optional: We went sandboarding in the late afternoon when the sand had started to cool, so we took our shoes off and left them in the car for this activity. The sand is really soft and it’s easy to strap in without shoes. If you go when the sand is hotter or feel more comfortable with shoes, then I’d recommend lightweight sneakers.

Light athletic clothing: It’s usually pretty warm and you will be getting sandy, so opt for clothing that will keep you cool and comfortable.

Sun protection: The sun is bright and hot out on the dunes, so bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen.

Sandboarding with Baja Desconocida

I find all the gear and strapping in and out of a snowboard kind of exhausting, but luckily with sandboarding, there is none of that. Our awesome guide Josef went first to show us how it’s done and made it look so easy. His family-run tour company was the first one that started offering sandboarding tours in El Mogote, so he’s gotten a lot of practice.

We waxed our boards to make it a faster, smoother ride down the sandy hill. Then we strapped our bare feet into the Velcro straps on top of the board and away we went!

I took a tumble once, but the sand is so much softer than snow, it didn’t hurt at all. The hardest part of sandboarding is the walk back up the sand dunes after your ride. It makes this activity both fun and a great workout.

The sandboarding tour with Baja Desconocida lasts about 3 hours. We left about 2.5 hours before sunset, which was 4:30 pm in May. This tour can be booked on its own, or combined with a morning tour like the Balandra Bay SUP tour. The tour costs $55/ $1050MXN. Book your tour with Baja Desconocida here.

Sunset at El Mogote

We had so much fun sliding down the hills again and again but had to stop to admire the sunset. El Mogote has to be one of the best spots for sunset in La Paz because you get both desert and ocean views. Watching the colors fade to pink and the cactus silhouette against the sky as it goes dark is pretty magical.

There are so many things to do in La Paz, but don’t miss sandboarding at El Mogote! Book a tour with Baja Desconocida here.

Thank you to Baja Desconocida for hosting us on this tour. Next time we’re in the area, we wouldn’t hesitate to book another tour with them!

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A Classic Summer Getaway in San Clemente, California

2019-07-22T05:52:57Z

Start planning a classic summer SoCal getaway in San Clemente, California by booking a rental home with Vacasa. Thank you Vacasa for sponsoring this post. Find your Vacasa home for the Summer today!

It’s officially summer and we’re looking forward to spending the longer days doing what we love most – hanging out at the beach, playing in the sand, and catching a few waves. Even though we’re only a few minutes from the water’s edge at home in Newport Beach, we love taking little trips an hour or two up and down the coast to get in vacation mode. Whenever we’re traveling, we spend full days exploring a new area, and it’s fun to be able to get into that mindset in a place we live.

San Clemente is the perfect spot for a SoCal summer getaway. It’s located in the southern part of Orange County, right before you hit San Diego. San Clemente has a laidback beach town vibe with some of the best beaches in the state, especially if you want to surf! There are plenty of beautiful vacation homes within walking distance of the beach, so book a place to stay, load up the beach gear, and spend your week basking in the So Cal sun.

What to look for in a vacation rental

When trying to plan a fun, family summer trip, there are a few things we like to keep in mind when booking a rental home.

1 Location – Location pretty much trumps everything else for us, especially when we’re planning a beach trip. We want to be close to the water so we’re spending as little time traveling to and from, and it’s easy to hop back over to our vacation home for lunch or just to grab some more beach gear. We love San Clemente because it’s close to several amazing beaches, plus there is a fun downtown area lined with shops and restaurants.

2 Space – We love having a little more space to stretch out, play games, and just enjoy each other’s company without feeling like we’re crawling over each other. Plus, everyone sleeps better when we’re not all in the same room.

3 Book with Vacasa, a professional vacation home management service – We’ve traveled all over and had a different experience with almost every rental home we’ve booked. Using Vacasa takes the guesswork and uncertainty out of booking a rental home because they provide accurate photos, 3D virtual tours, and have a full staff of housekeepers and property managers to provide a seamless and professional experience from start to finish. Vacasa manages over 13,000 vacation homes around the world, so no matter what Vacasa home you choose, you’ll have the same team to make sure the home meets the highest standards so you and your family can just relax and enjoy your trip.

Browse rentals, book confidently, and always get the guaranteed best price on Vacasa.com. And, if you or someone you know owns a vacation rental, consider having Vacasa professionally manage your home.

4 A fully stocked kitchen – While renting a full home might cost more than a hotel room, being able to cook in a kitchen fully stocked with pots, pans and utensils usually makes up the difference, especially if we’re planning a trip for more than a few days. For us, being able to eat at home is usually more relaxing too with a toddler in tow.

5 Easy check-in – This is another perk of booking a vacation home managed by Vacasa since they use smart locks and lock boxes. That means you don’t have to worry about coordinated a time to meet with someone or worry about a communication issue. Once you arrive at your rental, you’ll be able to get right in! Learn more on Vacasa.com about all of the perks of renting a Vacasa vacation home.

Vacation Rentals in San Clemente

Vacasa has a lot of great options if you’re looking for a vacation rental in San Clemente. Here are some of our favorites.

Casa Granada Unit B | San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 6

This light, bright two-bedroom vacation rental is just a few blocks from the beach and the San Clemente Pier. Plus, you’ll be right next to Avenida Del Mar, a cute street that’s lined with popular restaurants and shops. This home is fully stocked with all your vacation necessities, including dishes and cookware in the kitchen, board games for a family night of fun, and extra towels for the beach.

San Clemente – Monterey C | San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 4

This vacation home is close enough to the beach to catch the ocean breeze, whether you’re dining al fresco on the patio or cozied up on the couch. If you’re planning a trip with a small family or a few friends this one-bedroom condo is a great fit. If you have a bigger crew, there are four neighboring condos that are also available for rent from Vacasa.

San Clemente – North Beach D | San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 10

Enjoy an ocean view with this spacious four-bedroom home that includes a large rooftop patio perfect for watching the sunset. The home includes a fireplace, wet bar, and a kids’ playroom. When you’re ready to head to the beach, North Beach is only a few minutes’ walk away.

Things to do in San Clemente

Once you have your Vacasa vacation home booked, it’s time to start planning the rest of your trip. According to Vacasa’s summer travel trends report, 70% of travelers in the U.S. this year are heading to a beach location like San Clemente.

Here is a list of fun things to do in San Clemente!

Walk the San Clemente Pier – This classic wooden pier juts almost 1300 feet out over the Pacific Ocean. Hang out here for sunset, then walk back to Pier Bowl, the downtown shops and restaurants around the pier.

Go Shopping along Avenida del Mar – San Clemente is nicknamed the Spanish Village by the Sea for the beautiful Spanish-inspired architecture in its downtown. Walk the streets to admire the buildings, pop into the boutique shops or grab dinner at The Fishermans Restaurant & Bar or Nick’s San Clemente.

T-Street Beach – All of San Clemente’s beaches offer something a little different, so my recommendation is to visit as many as you can! T-Street Beach is just south of the pier, popular for surfing and bodyboarding.

Trestles – The Trestles surfing area is broken up into a few different spots, and Lower Trestles is considered of the best surf spots in California (and maybe even the world) for its clean, consistent waves.

San Onofre State Beach – San Onofre feels like the classic So Cal summer scene, with its long, slow rolling waves perfect for longboards, old VW buses, and Westfalias filling the dusty dirt parking lot, and the sand dotted with beach blankets and colorful umbrellas. Parking is $15, or included with a California Explorer Pass.

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The Best Way to Explore Balandra Beach, the Most Beautiful Beach in Mexico

2019-07-09T06:51:52Z

Balandra Beach is an easy pick for the most beautiful beach in Mexico. Its crystal-clear turquoise waters and white sand dunes are set to a desert backdrop of red-hued hills and prickly cardón cactus that dot Baja California, making it feel like a remote, deserted beach even though it’s only 30 minutes from the busy city of La Paz.

The calm, shallow waters of the lagoon are perfect for swimming, SUP boarding, and kayaking. At the inner edge of Balandra Beach, the fine sand and blue water transitions into a mangrove forest where thousands of small, brightly colored fish dart through the roots of the trees. While SUP boarding through the mangroves, we spotted long triggerfish, blue crabs, and a few herons looking for their next meal.

Don’t miss visiting Balandra Beach while exploring Baja California. After traveling to some of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations including Cancun and Tulum in the Riviera Maya, we’d still slot Balandra Beach at the top spot for the best beach in Mexico.

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How to get to Balandra Beach

Playa Balandra is located along the Gulf of California, about 30 minutes north of the city of La Paz, Mexico in the state of Baja California Sur.

If you’re planning on coming here as part of a day trip from Cabo San Lucas, plan on about 2.5 hours each way.

The easiest way to get to Balandra Beach on your own is to rent a car if you plan on doing some exploring during your time in Baja California. The most convenient place to rent a car is at the Los Cabos Airport. Check RentalCars.com to compare prices of the world’s biggest car rental services, including Hertz, Avis, and Budget. Note that you will have to purchase third-party liability insurance when renting a car in Mexico.

Another great option is to book a tour of Balandra Bay. We booked a SUP boarding tour with Baja Desconocida which left from their office near the marina in La Paz.

Hotels near Balandra Beach

The shores of Balandra Beach are pure and pristine because it was designated as a Natural Protected Area in 2008, so no construction is allowed. The closest hotels are in La Paz, which is where we decided to set up a home base for a few days to explore the area.

We use Airbnb or Booking.com most often when booking accommodation. Booking.com wins for convenience in making a reservation because most places offer free cancellation up until your stay (or only a few days before). Plus, the site often has great last-minute deals. This means we usually book something in advance, but check back close before our trip to see if there is a better hotel or discounted rate available.

Here are a few great options for hotels in La Paz:

Hotel Catedral La Paz – This bright, contemporary hotel is located right across the street from the Cathedral in La Paz. The rooms and bathrooms are updated and spacious, and there is a pool and patio on the roof. We stayed here and would definitely book this hotel again. This hotel seems to be one of the most popular in La Paz and was fully booked while we were there. Doubles start around $70.

Casa al Mar – Casa al Mar is located along the Malecon in La Paz, the waterfront walk that stretches from Marina de La Paz to Playa Coromuel. This modern hotel has apartment-like rooms and suites and amazing reviews. Doubles start around $75.

Costa Baja Resort & Spa – For a luxury resort with all the amenities, book a room at Costa Baja Resort & Spa. Rooms feature views over La Paz Bay or the resort’s golf course. The hotel also has several pools, a spa, and three onsite restaurants. Doubles start in the low $100s.

Airbnb Apartments in La Paz – If you’re looking for great budget-friendly options, check Airbnb. There are entire apartments with great reviews (like this one bedroom apartment) between $20 and $60 per night. If you’re new to Airbnb, use our referral link here for 15% off your first home booking, up to $400 off! You can also use it for $15 toward an Airbnb experience of $50 or more.

Stand Up Paddleboard through Balandra Beach with Baja Desconocida

Stand Up Paddleboarding is the best way to explore the glassy waters of Balandra Beach and the nearby mangrove forest. We booked a tour with the company Baja Desconocida, which means Baja Unexplored. We opted to use Baja Desconocida because of their stellar reviews on TripAdvisor, and we were so happy we did.

Balandra’s Mangrove Forest

Our guide for the day was Josef, who is also the owner of the company. Sometimes we’re hesitant to book group tours because they can often feel rushed, but when never felt that way with Baja Desconocida. Josef was helpful and told us all about the fishes and birds in the mangroves, but gave us the time and space to explore on our own and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

While paddling through the mangroves, which Josef called the heart of Balandra, we saw triggerfish, grouper and blue crabs, plus herons and osprey circling above.

Exploring the Lagoon

Once we were out of the mangroves, we started paddling across the salty lagoon. Because the bay is protected from the ocean waves, the water is so calm and smooth. During low tide, a sand bar forms in the middle of the bay.

We watched the pelicans dive bomb the schools of sardines while we were paddling across the water, finally making it to an empty beach on the other side. We had our own little private beach where we stopped for a refreshing snack of chips and watermelon. After spending some time exploring this side of Balandra Beach, we hopped back on our boards to make the paddle back.

Balandra is the perfect place to SUP because of the calm waters, plus it allows you to explore the mangroves and the whole bay! The SUP Balandra tour with Baja Desconocida is $79 per person and includes transportation from their office at Marina de La Paz. Baja Desconocida offers a number of other tours, including snorkeling with whale sharks, visiting Isla Espíritu Santo, and Sandboarding at El Mogote. Book a tour with Baja Desconocida here.

Tips for visiting Balandra Beach

1 Get there early to enjoy Balandra Beach without the crowds

It’s amazing to see Balandra Beach while the white sand beaches are still empty. It makes me happy to see a place this beautiful preserved from the commercialism that encroaches on so many other places that look like a natural paradise. Besides the dirt parking lot and a few palapas on the main beach, Balandra appears untouched. Get there early (before 9 am) to enjoy the beach and the views before the crowds. There are a few free palapas for shade on the beach, so you may be able to snag one of these too if you’re early enough.

2 Get a view from above

If you park in the small dirt lot in front of the main beach, there’s a small hill where you can get an amazing view over the whole bay. Follow the rocky trail to see Balandra Beach from above!

If you look out to the edge of the bay, you can see El Hongo, a mushroom-shaped rock that’s a popular image for tourism in La Paz. While photos might make it look large, it’s actually pretty small and not that impressive, but fun to see where it is in real life.

3 Bring your own water and food

There are no restaurants at Balandra Beach because of the Natural Protected Area designation, so make sure you have enough water and food for the day. We did see a small food truck in the parking lot while we were there, but I wouldn’t count on it.

4 Shuffle feet if you’re walking through the sand to avoid stingrays

Stingrays love the warm shallow waters of Playa Balandra; they rest on the bottom partially covered by sand. This is another reason why SUP boarding is a great option for exploring Balandra. If you are walking through the water, make sure to shuffle your feet so you don’t step on a stingray.

Thank you to Baja Desconocida for hosting us on this tour. Next time we’re in the area, we wouldn’t hesitate to book another tour with them!

The post The Best Way to Explore Balandra Beach, the Most Beautiful Beach in Mexico appeared first on No Man Before.

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5 Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids (Great for Exploring the Outdoors)

What to look for in Barefoot Shoes for Kids

Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids and Toddlers

Wildling

Vivobarefoot

Softstar

Xero Shoes

Tikki Shoes

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Let us know if you have any questions about barefoot shoes for kids, or if your child have a favorite shoe we didn’t include here.

The Lems Mesa: A Versatile, Packable, Minimalist Hiking Shoe

Comfortable

Lightweight

Durable

Simple, clean design

Versatile

Shop Women’s Mesa /// Shop Men’s Mesa

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The Best Winter Hiking Pants for Women: Water-resistant, breathable and comfortable

1 REI Co-op Activator V2 Soft-Shell Pants

2 prAna Halle Pants

3 Kuhl Resistor Pant

4 Patagonia Women’s Simul Alpine Pants

5 Arc’teryx Gamma LT Softshell Pant

6 prAna Winter Hallena Pant

7 Columbia Saturday Trail Pant

8 Rab Sawtooth Softshell Pant

9 Mammut Women’s Hiking Pant

Tips for Visiting Pacifica State Beach

How to get to Pacifica Beach

Parking at Pacifica State Beach

Amenities

Best Surf Gear for Pacifica

Pacifica Surf Cam

Where to stay in Pacifica

5 Reasons We’re Purchasing Travel Insurance for Our Next Trip

1. It’s actually really simple to purchase travel insurance with VisitorsCoverage

2. It’s affordable

3. We’re traveling to farther places

4. We’re traveling with a kid

5. It’s the best way to prepare for the unexpected

If you’re planning a trip and considering travel insurance, hop on over to VisitorsCoverage for a quote. It only takes a minute (it really does)!

11 Camping Essentials You Need: The Beginner’s Guide to Camping Gear

Tent

Sleeping bag

Sleeping mat

Camp Chair

Camping Pillow

Water bottle

Mess kit

Cooler

Headlamp

Lantern

First aid kit

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Exploring Isla Espiritu Santo near La Paz, Mexico

What to bring with you on an Isla Espiritu Santo boat tour

Isla Espiritu Santo tour with Punta Baja

The Pearl

Frigatebirds

Snorkeling with Sea Lions at Los Islotes

Playa Ensenada Granda

Sunset at Playa Plinguiche

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Sandboarding at the Dunes of El Mogote in La Paz, Mexico

What to bring sandboarding

Sandboarding with Baja Desconocida

Sunset at El Mogote

A Classic Summer Getaway in San Clemente, California

What to look for in a vacation rental

Vacation Rentals in San Clemente

Casa Granada Unit B | San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 6

San Clemente – Monterey C | San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 4

San Clemente – North Beach D | San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 10

Things to do in San Clemente

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The Best Way to Explore Balandra Beach, the Most Beautiful Beach in Mexico

How to get to Balandra Beach

Hotels near Balandra Beach