“Because “we’ll just be out for a bit” never actually means that.
Colorado moms know something most people don’t: 300 days of sunshine sounds like a dream until you’re factoring in the altitude, the afternoon thunderstorms that appear out of nowhere, and the UV index that has no business being that high at a Tuesday morning farmer’s market. Then there’s the air so dry it cracks your lips the moment you step outside. Still, we love it here, and we know how to come prepared.
This list was made specifically for us. We’re the moms who are out in it all summer long, from the trailheads to the reservoirs to the festivals to the summer camp pickups.
10 Things Every Colorado Mom Needs in Her Bag This Summer
For the Trail Day
1. A buff or neck gaiter
This is the most underrated item in any Colorado mom’s arsenal. It works as sun protection, a sweat band, and a dust shield. It also doubles as an impromptu hair tie when your kid decides to roll down a hill and you’re suddenly sweating too. In short: one small tube of fabric, endless use cases.
2. Electrolyte packets
Not just for athletes. Altitude dehydration sneaks up on kids fast, especially when they’re running ahead of you on a trail and refusing to stop for water. So toss a few Liquid IV or Nuun packets in your bag. Then add them to water bottles at the first sign of a headache or a meltdown that feels slightly out of proportion.
For the Lake, River, or Pool Day
3. Reef-safe, water-resistant sunscreen
Colorado’s lakes, rivers, and reservoirs deserve better than chemical sunscreen runoff. Plus, your kid deserves sunscreen that actually stays on after three jumps off the dock. Look for mineral-based formulas and reapply aggressively. After all, the elevation makes the UV intensity no joke.
4. A dry bag or giant zip-lock
For the wet swimsuit, the sandy snacks, and the phone you almost dropped. Also for the towel that is somehow already soaked before anyone touched the water. In any case, a small dry bag costs almost nothing and saves the entire drive home.
For the Sudden Storm
5. A packable layer for every person in your crew
If you’ve lived in Colorado for more than one summer, you already know. Clear skies at 11am can mean a full lightning show by 2pm. A lightweight packable puffy or a kids’ fleece takes up almost no room. Besides, the one day you leave it at home is the day you need it most.
6. Offline maps downloaded before you leave the house
Cell service disappears fast once you’re out of town. In fact, Colorado’s most beautiful spots are usually the ones with zero bars. So before any trail day or mountain adventure, download your area in Google Maps or AllTrails. That way you’re not standing at a trailhead squinting at a cached screen wondering which way is the parking lot. It’s not a physical bag item, but it’s a habit in the same category as packing snacks: you only forget it once.
For the Farmers Market or Outdoor Festival
7. Reusable bags that actually fold small
Not the giant tote sitting by your front door. Instead, look for the little ones that compress into a pouch and live permanently in your bag. That way you’re ready when you inevitably find a vendor selling peaches, kettle corn, or a plant you absolutely did not come for.
8. Cash and a snack slush fund mentality
Outdoor markets are a cash-friendly zone. They’re also a “we’ll just look” zone that always becomes a “fine, one funnel cake” zone. So keep a small amount of cash tucked in your bag just for this. That way the afternoon stays on track, even when your willpower doesn’t.
For Camp Pick-up Chaos
9. Baby wipes
They work on sunscreen-caked faces, grass-stained knees, sticky popsicle hands, and dusty car seats. And yes, even when you are well past the diaper years, baby wipes will still earn their place in your bag every single day.
10. A high-protein snack that can survive the heat
Granola bars melt. Chocolate anything is a disaster. Instead, go for individual nut butter packets, Chomps meat sticks, or a small bag of mixed nuts. After all, your camp kid is going to be starving and slightly feral at pickup. The drive home is definitely not the time to negotiate.
What’s your non-negotiable summer bag item?
