Helmet Heads

Things we love about skiing with our kids:

1. Watching their excitement when they master that next level (yes, we’ve accepted the fact that they’ll be better than us soon)
2. Bright rosy cheeks
3. Family hot chocolate time in the lodge, swapping stories about the runs we’ve been on all day
4. Fresh air (and not a screen in sight)
5. Sharing our old pre-kid skiing stories with them and discovering new runs together

Things we don’t love so much:

1. Fighting about putting on helmets (and in Savvyland, we believe helmets should be worn for skiing, skating and even tobogganing)
2. Carrying ALL the equipment (no, we’re not sherpas, and we don’t want to argue about who is going back to get little Jack’s skis)
3. Repeat above (add meltdown)

However, our latest savvy discoveries are sure to help reduce the fight factor and make sure everyone is having more fun on the slopes.

Got some fast ones in your pack that love to ride/shred on the snow but don’t love to wear their mandatory safety equipment quite as much? They will when their helmet is decked out in a Tailwags helmet cover ($40). Handmade in Canada by Toronto mom entrepreneur Karyn Climans, who was inspired by a stint as a costume designer for her son’s school play, these fun fleece covers also provide warmth in the cold and easy identification on slopes (or rinks or toboggan hills). From cats to dogs, from lions to tigers, the requisite dino, and even a mouse, Tailwags makes lots of styles to suit any kids (and in case you’re jealous, they make adult sizes too).

Pressure-tested on the gondola at Sunshine Village in Banff on the busiest ski day of the year, we’re all tied up in knots about our new Bowtie Ski Carriers. Our seven and five year old testers were pressed into service to carry their own skis, as the rest of the party was carrying bags, adult skis and a few toddlers to boot, and they handled (pun intended) them with aplomb. Not a complaint was heard as they carried their own skis for the very first time.

The simple carryall straps wrap around skis (and poles, if they’ve graduated to that level) and secure with Velcro, magically creating a carrying handle that can be easily adjusted for use as a back sling (think backpack over the shoulder, our fave position for little ones), arm sling (think purse, under the arm) or hand-carry handle (think suitcase-style). When you hit the slopes, just fold up the strap and put it in your pocket. Available in pink or blue for $17.95, they are definitely a worthwhile investment to keep the family peace.

Now, if only someone could invent a combo foot-warmer/nose-wiper, there’d be not a thing left to complain about.

Tailwags
www.tail-wags.com
Available from www.tail-wags.com

Bowtie Ski Carriers
www.bowtieskicarriers.ca

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