THERE'S THIS OLD quote from Abigail Van Buren, the “Dear Abby” manners columnist, that goes like this: “If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money.”
Pardon our manners, Abby, but this is kind of horseshit.
Any dad trying to parent well in 2023 knows that a hand-me-down set of wooden blocks and a rubber ball are going to last kids only so long. Now, don’t get us wrong; we’re all for backyard bug hunts, the public library, and family volunteering. But spending money to do cool stuff with your kids is also fun. And spending the right kind of money on the right kind of things can actually help you spend more time with your kids.
Think hiking packs, jogging strollers, and bikes. Think projects, board games, and books. Think Lego. And then think of all the little things, from snacks to day packs, that make your life as Dad less stressful and thereby your kids’ lives much more fun.
We contacted dads that think like us—doctors, dietitians, longtime lovers of fitness—for the best things they bought for their family (and, okay, for themselves) in the past few years. Then we mixed those picks in with gear that dads on our staff at Men’s Health love.
The result is the Men’s Health 2023 Dad Gear Awards, a collection of father-tested, kid-approved stuff that’ll help you spend more time with your children and help them turn out really, really well.
Jump to each section:
ACTIVE / ADVENTURE
PROJECT / PLAY
SNACKS
SLEEP
Hard-charging dads know that good shoes make all the difference, and Kane’s Revive Active Recovery Shoes are breathable, durable, made from renewable materials, and way cooler looking than those other hole-studded shoes.
This no-lace, squishy, stuff-in pair makes the infernal “Put on your shoes” battle far easier. They just need to make the colors in adult sizes now, too.
Merino wool is the base layer when it comes to cool- and cold-weather sports. This line of layer-on garb keeps you warm, dry, and comfortable during snow sports, cold-weather camping, or stargazing.
This flexible padded gear is capable of withstanding soccer shin kicks, baseball elbow blows, and all manner of bike scrapes. But it’s also lightweight and formfitting and looks like something out of The Terminator—negating all the excuses of kids not wanting to wear pads.
Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB, at SPF 50+, in a noncomedogenic formula that goes on clear and easy. Plus, it’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Sure, you could shove a loose diaper and a slim pack of wipes into your back pockets and wing it. Or you could just wear this bag, which also houses a water-bottle holster, a changing pad, and tons of pockets. You know what the Boy Scouts say.
Skiing is expensive, but these packages pay for themselves in three weekends. Adjustable boots adapt as kids’ feet grow, meaning they’ll use them for at least two years—and no more sunk hours in the rental line.
If you’re looking for a good way to help kids channel their aggression, this is far better than having them take it out on their sibling.
This shirt wicks sweat like its life depends on it, the mesh fabric is ideal for using your cuff to wipe your kid’s snotty nose when you’re out of tissues, and when you finally get a minute’s rest, it’s as comfortable as silk pj’s.
This sturdy stroller folds up on a hinge and unfolds with the twist of a handle—and a massive holding area beneath the seats can hold an entire diaper bag. The ride is smooth, the lockable turning wheel transitions easy from walk to run, and the adjustable handlebar snaps for the comfort of various pushers.
When your kid’s ready for an upgrade from their first Huffy, this ultralight eight-speed bike rides safely everywhere, from paved streets to groomed off-road trails.
This bike-trailer-turned-stroller does it all. The roomy cockpit seats two kids (or one kid and a ton of toys). When you’re ready to unhitch, it quickly converts to a traditional push-around stroller with drop-down wheels at the front. So it’s basically a Transformer.
Cheapo scooters jiggle and eventually fall apart—sometimes at the absolute worst time. This company pops two stabilizer wheels up front, and the kids turn by leaning, which is more intuitive and safer than handlebar-only steering.
Every dad needs a cheap, light, no-frills option for chucking into the back of a van and navigating nimbly through crowds.
Cursed be the father who forgets to pack the water. This 12-ounce tumbler is ultra-durable and easy to clean, and the double-wall, vacuum-sealed design keeps cold drinks that way for hours.
This insulated backpack cooler keeps its cool for up to 36 hours, which means you can pack it up well ahead of time. Plus, the watertight design guarantees zero dad-fails.
Strider Strider 12 Sport Kids Balance Bike
The simple design lets kids up to five years old push with their feet and steer with their hands to help develop balance, coordination, and confidence on two wheels.
Hiking with a substandard kid pack makes the journey feel like a death march. This carrier has padding in all the right places and a lightweight frame and holds a kid up to 50 pounds.
This rig converts from kayak to paddleboard on the fly. It can seat two (like a parent and a younger child who doesn’t have to paddle) and is light and stable enough for school-age children to use solo. No roof rack needed!
Clam Quick-Set Venture Portable Pop-Up Outdoor Gazebo
This versatile “insta-gazebo” provides protection from the sun, bugs, and rain, whether you’re camping, tailgating, taking a beach day, or picnicking at the park with the family. It’s available in a handful of sizes and sets up in under a minute. Really.
This all-new takes-a-beating cooler holds 36 12-ounce cans (or like a million juice boxes) and includes a strap for easier lugging. It’s your assistant coach for pretty much any gameday.
Keeping your dad gear packed and organized is no easy task. The clever, segmented design of Matador’s Seg28 backpack separates it into four individual compartments to make organizing kid-friendly. Bonus: It’s extremely water resistant.
Yeah, the branded sets are cool. But not even the Lego Millennium Falcon can match the fun of Lego’s City Series. Take its police HQ, which comes with a booking room, a convict pumping dumbbells, and a truck that can spring the perp by removing a wall of the cell.
In this board game, a group of adventurers descends upon a flooding island to swipe four idols before the whole thing sinks. It’s cooperative, so it’ll test your teamwork.
We know what you’re thinking: 130 pieces? Marbles? Look, this construction set knows no age limit. So if you’re looking for something you can all do together, why not connect the spinny wheel piece to the toilet-bowl piece to the steps piece to the…
Spark creativity and hone STEM skills with this kit-based service that goes way beyond your typical baking-soda volcano with projects that build infinity portals, gyroscopes, and space rockets.
This clever board game takes just a minute to learn, so it’s simple but never easy. It’s a four-person game that challenges spatial relations for kids and kids at heart.
This kit includes seeds to grow tomatoes, peppers, and basil. Because nothing motivates like pizza.
Dad learns three chords and becomes frontman for the family band. You know it’s always been your dream.
They’re fun like Lego but easier for toddlers to handle, and they clean up five times faster because the magnets let you take one tile and basically hoover the rest up with a satisfying clacking noise.
Fifty kid-friendly recipes that include everything from Holiday Roast Beast to Pink Ink Drink to Green Eggs & Ham.
Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars: Fun Projects, Skills, and Adventures for Outdoor Kids
This new step-by-step guide covers everything from climbing trees to building bug hotels to tracking wild animals.
Strong wooden poles and durable plastic connectors form the frame for epic indoor and outdoor forts. Your furniture stays put.
Even if you’re wary of screen time, this library on a tablet is strictly for reading purposes. That means there are no games or even additional apps to download. The new 300ppi resolution is extra easy on the eyes, too.
Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD Wireless Portable Power Bank
Speaking of devices, this charger is a battery lifesaver. It has a massive 25,600mAh battery capacity and restores power to laptops, tablets, phones, and cameras via USB.
Budding young carpenters will appreciate the hands-on design of this kid-safe workbench. And let’s be honest, is there anything cuter than a toddler with a wrench?
This child-friendly device comes packed with a rich library of educational games, ad-free books, workbooks, and tons more cool stuff. Plus, it’s outfitted with solid parental controls to limit access and total screen time.
OmMade blends creamy, roasty peanut butter with other ingredients to make good-straight-off-the-spoon flavors like Chocolate Delight PB and Crunchie Munchie.
Babybel’s individually wrapped cheeses are shelf-stable and all good. Peel. Eat. Repeat.
Go beyond the traditional shoe-leather meat jerky of your thru-hiking days and give your kids this sweet, delicious, fruity snack with no sugar added.
A chewy, tasty energy bar alternative packed with fiber and zero added sugar.
Every pair of these savory sticks is made with minimal sugar and has a strong dose of protein.
These squeezable smoothie snacks are made with only organic fruit and vegetables, so they’re plant-based, dairy-free, and ultra-tasty.
They’re like the classic freezer pops you might remember as a kid but made with 100 percent fruit juice and zero added sugar.
Snacking on them is like eating air-popped peanut butter.
Ditch the salt-and-oil-heavy chips for these protein-packed, meat-based snack “chips.” They’re available in a variety of flavors, from simple and kid friendly (like Himalayan Pink Salt) to more adventurous (like Chicken & Waffles and Buffalo Chicken).
They’re gluten-free and dairy-free, made with minimal sugar, and packed with protein.
This simple, durable crib has a removable side and lowerable bottom, so it converts to a traditional bed as your kid grows. Proof nursery furniture doesn’t have to be crazy expensive.
This wildly popular robo-bassinet gently and automatically rocks and soothes your baby to sleep—even if they wake up in the middle of the night. Yes, they’re pricey, but what would you pay for a good night’s rest when you really need one?
QuietOn’s latest earbuds feature active noise-canceling technology that’s designed to drown out everything from snoring to ambient room noise so you sleep longer, deeper, and better. Use them when your partner is “on duty.”
True to its name, this gadget does exactly what it promises. It’s designed to clear dirty noses safely, painlessly, and effectively. Bonus: It’s dishwasher safe. Thank God.
So many baby humidifiers only send up wisps of moisture. This powerful unit chugs out humidity you can feel in minutes. Doubles as a white-noise machine, too.
Place baby in ergonomic baby chair. Sit down. Rock baby with foot. Appreciate quiet—and the ability to sit.
Mind’s free mindfulness app offers a wide variety of meditative programs for adults and children that might just help you and your family sleep more soundly.
If you’d prefer to go screen-free, this setup features eight meditation sessions and eight nature sounds to lull the kiddo to sleep.
The Adventure Challenge Bedtime Adventure Challenge Storybook
An interactive 62-page book with calming activities for ages three to eight. Sure beats another Berenstain Bears.
Paul is the Food & Nutrition Editor of Men’s Health. He’s also the author of two cookbooks: Guy Gourmet and A Man, A Pan, A Plan.
