Gear Reviews

A Back-to-School Guide with Gumption

posted by gumptiongear August 13, 2018 0 comments

It seems like summer only just started, but alas, it’s time to rain on your beach party and talk about the upcoming school year. Don’t worry, though: With most US colleges opening their doors in late August, and public grade schools waiting until after Labor Day, you have plenty of time to stock up for the semester if you haven’t started shopping yet.

Back to School Student Essentials

Sharpen those pencils and shake the sand from your sneakers. The sun is quickly setting on summer barbecues and the chime of that first school bell ticks ever nearer. Whether you’re a parent, teen, or grown-up who just really likes a fresh set of office supplies, these goodies will set up your fall right. Teach yourself how to treat yourself.

LifeProof | Packs and Slam Case

LifeProof built its reputation by building cases designed to measure up to the challenges of everyday life. Whether your playground of choice involves water, snow, rain or dirt, LifeProof offers a way to protect your electronics from the mishaps and mayhem of an active life. It’s that legacy of protection that makes their new line of packs the perfect option for your back to school adventures.

LifeProof packs are a great choice whether you get to school via bike, foot, bus, or crowded subway car. Each pack combines a water-repellent exterior with a ton of smart storage solutions as well as ergonomic shoulder straps, ensuring you can carry your school and life gear comfortably. Whether you’re a little tike, or loading up with books for that Graduate degree, LifeProof has the right size pack to fit your educational style.

Honesty moment: The latest generation of mobile phones are as beautiful as they are smart, but beauty is often fragile. Between navigating crowded hallways and the torture of late afternoon gym classes, schools can be a hazardous place for those mobile devices. Enter SLΛM, the first LifeProof case dedicated to drops — and styled to get noticed wherever you take it. Clean lines, a screenless front and a pop of color around the perimeter give SLAM an unmistakable look and style that will stoke envy in the hearts of your classmates.

HydroFlask | Hydration & Food Flasks

Since the beginning, Hydro Flask has been on a mission to save the world from lukewarm. So to keep your educational adventures crisp, fresh and hydrated, why would you turn anywhere else? For the littles, the new Limited Edition Kids collection is a fun, imaginative way for kids to stay hydrated. The 18oz Standard Mouth Bottles are a bright way to keep the fluids flowing all day. And of course you can always get more of a good thing with the 40oz Wide Mouth. Whatever you choose, TempShield insulation eliminates condensation and keeps beverages icy cold to save your classroom for the hazards of lukewarm.

While you’re at the Hydro Flask site, make sure you to add several Food Flasks to your shopping cart. Vacuum Insulation locks in temperature for hours so their food will still be piping hot once the lunch hour finally arrives. And since it’s made with professional-grade stainless steel, these flasks won’t retain or transfer flavors. That means today’s chicken noodle won’t remind you of yesterday’s Very Berry Banana smoothie.

OTTO Design Works | OTTOLOCK

OTTOLOCK is the go-anywhere cinch lock that’s light enough for kids to carry, yet still a tough and durable solution to keep their bikes and scooters safe and secure. Fun color choices and easy to use, make it convenient to throw in a backpack on the way to school. A number dial means no keys to lose for ultra quick, temporary locking. Stronger than a cable lock, and perfect for short-stay security to keep that new bike protected. All they have to do is cinch it and then get to class!  

Kicker Audio | Bluetooth Headphones

Your adventurous side knows no boundaries. Why should your music? Kicker Bluetooth headphones and earbuds provide supreme audio performance that will help keep you motivated on your travels both to and from the classroom.

Equipped with Bluetooth streaming and a wireless design that allows you to stream your favorite songs without sacrificing mobility, you can take your favorite playlist with you without worrying about getting caught up in cables. Kicker’s waterproof EB400’s offer long-lasting comfort so you’ll be good to go whether cycling to class, or while hitting full sprint mode to avoid detention. If instead you need something to help keep you focused during those late nights in the library, the Tabor offers the ultimate combination of comfort and sound quality. Either way, you’ll get to indulge in your sonic hedonism when the moment is right. 

Darn Tough | Lifestyle Socks

Add a little magic to the annual school clothes shopping trip with a few pairs of back-to-school socks for kids and you. Built Darn Tough to take on wild adventures both on campus and off, these socks provide big comfort and unbeatable durability. Simply put, Darn Tough is making the best damn lifestyle socks on the market.  But don’t just take our word for it. Darn Tough Vermont is so confident in their product that they have offered their unconditional lifetime guarantee. Style, comfort and a lifetime guarantee? The only winner here is you.

Rumpl | El Puffy Blanket

Designed with the same technical materials found in premium sleeping bags and insulated puffy jackets, Rumpl is ready for quick naps between classes, or lunch hour picnic with friends. Utilizing a weather-resistant 20D ripstop nylon shell with DWR treatment, the blanket resists water, dirt, odor, and school yard debris. The Puffy fits easily in an included stuff sack for quick storage or taking on the go. Featuring an impressive combination of a traditional design and technical features, the El Puffy is a back-to-school necessity.

Altra | Intuition & Instinct 4.5

There is a tried and true rule with the start of school: Classmates will be breaking out fresh pairs of white-on-white Nike Air Force 1s, “Checkerboard” Vans, and “Wheat” Timberlands left and right. As timeless as those shoes are, when we say everyone will be rocking them, we do mean everyone. If you really want to let your kicks do the talking, we’ve got the sneakers that will help you stand out on campus: Altra’s Instinct and Intuition 4.5.

Since the beginning, these have been Altra‘s original neutral do-it-all shoes. Years after these shoes first shook up the  landscape of traditionally made footwear, these flagship models are showing no signs of slowing down. Featuring the same legendary fit that maps the natural design of the foot, the Instinct & Intuition are back with impressive new upgrades: extra rubber that wraps up to protect your toes, a decoupled heel to promote a soft landing with each step, and a modernized engineered mesh upper for a comfortable and secure fit. Specs aside, the cool kids at Altra updated the midsole design in a way that blends an understated style with a spark of eccentric fun that will kick off the school year right.

LL Bean | Stowaway Hip Pack

Yup, the Fanny Pack Is Back. Admittedly, some of us are still wrestling with memories of every dad in the ’80s rocking the pack around the waist of their cut-off jean shorts at the amusement park. But the reality is that these little sidekicks are back, and a handy addition to your back-to-school gear list. The stowaway hip pack from L.L. Bean is a surprisingly convenient sidepiece, especially for students on the go. It’s the perfect home for your wallet, phone, sunnies and even a little classroom snack. Plus the L.L. Been classic logo gives the Stowaway hip pack that retro feel all the cool kids crave.

Zealios | 32 ounce Sun Barrier

While you’re stocking up on back-to-school basics for your little ones, make sure to pick up a very important, yet easily forgotten essential—sunscreen. We know, you’re sending your kids to school, not to the beach, but children (and you) actually spend a great deal of time exposed to the sun walking to and from school, outside at recess, during after-school sports and on field trips.

Not all schools allow hats or sunscreen, but with so many schools kick-starting the year in late summer months, applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen like Zealios to start the day is just the smart thing to day. This high performance, oil-free zinc oxide based sunscreen goes on easy, never feels greasy and let’s the kids chase adventure without the fear of the dreaded ‘sunscreen eye sting’.