When you venture into the middle of the woods, especially among freezing temperatures and falling snow, you want to make sure you have the right tools for the job. While I may be a seasoned veteran of the outdoors at this point (tongue planted firmly in cheek), I could always use a lending hand. And a sleeping bag. And coffee. Truthfully, this year’s Five Dads Go Wild expedition would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors.

How did we manage to survive our frigid nights in the wilderness and live to share the tale on social media? Well, let’s tip our proverbial hats (and toques) to the brands who got us there. Open up any of the embedded Instagram posts to read the full caption, which will provide more context and information.

Outland Living

Outland Living is exactly the kind of company we need on chilly trips like this. The company specializes in a number of fire pits and fire tables, which are ideal for backyard entertaining. When you’re in the middle of nowhere, especially if there are campfire bans in place, then you might be more interested in the Firebowl portable propane fire pit. We weren’t able to bring one along with us, but it definitely would have come in handy.

Altitude Sports

Altitude Sports is an online store offering “technical apparel for the city and nature.” In this context, I was much more concerned about the nature. And they came through with The North Face sleeping bag and Coleman air mattress for me.

For last year’s Five Dads Go Wild camping, I borrowed my friend’s sleeping bag. Remember that this was the first time I’d ever gone tent camping in my entire life. The mummy style bag was rated for winter conditions, but I found it to be very restrictive and confining. I’m a toss-and-turn type of sleeper, so I need a little more freedom of movement. All while staying reasonably warm, of course.

As much as I may have joked about fearing for my life, particularly under the collapsed tent, The North Face Homestead Rectangle sleeping bag and Coleman Quickbed airbed kept me warm and comfortable, all things considered. The sleeping bag was super “fluffy” and roomy, making for a not terrible night’s sleep.

McSweeney’s

McSweeney’s is proudly Canadian. You’ll know them best for their premium jerky. Even though we were out in the middle of nowhere, we were five well-fed dads. James made beef stew, Stacey had bacon and eggs, Stephen prepared hot pot, and Dale whipped up the most amazing crepes with Bananas Foster. (I offered cold cut sandwiches.)

For all those times in between meals, like when we went hiking through the Strawberry Flats, the McSweeney’s trail mix offerings really hit the spot. The combination of dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and jerky may strike you as a bit odd at first, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that it really works. And it’s what kept us going.

Ford Canada

Ford Canada is another returning supporter of Five Dads Go Wild. I’m not so sure we would have even made it to E.C. Manning Park if it were not for the 2019 Ford Expedition and 2019 Ford Ranger. I rode around mostly in the Expedition, a vehicle that strikes a remarkable balance between proper utility and modern creature comforts.

It’s got electronics galore, including ambient lighting and power fold-down seats, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy driving a larger SUV like this, as I’m more accustomed to smaller vehicles, but I certainly loved the power and space this rugged vehicle delivered.

House of Knives

House of Knives is not one to shy away from dad jokes. Indeed, if you go to their website, the tagline in the title reads, “Never a dull tool.” That’s pretty sharp if you ask me. And their range of products is truly a cut above. (Sorry, not sorry.)

For this trip, we each received a Black Tusk survival bracelet and a Arete folding knife. The survival bracelet boasts a series of useful features, like the built-in compass, LED light, flint fire starter, and whistle, plus nine feet of paracord in a pinch. The Arete is a lighter, faster version of the folding knife I featured back in June. You can always use a good knife while camping, that’s for sure.

Blue Moose Coffee House

Blue Moose Coffee House has quickly become an institution in Hope, BC. I first learned of the place through Stacey, who frequently travels through the Fraser Canyon during summer. And indeed, last year’s Five Dads Go Wild was the first time I visited the coffee shop. Now, I totally get why everyone loves it.

We stopped by Blue Moose both on our way in and our way out of Manning Park. The staff are always super friendly, the coffee is always hot, and the expanding menu continues to impress. I had a breakfast wrap on our way there and it was definitely top notch. And they’ve got kombucha on tap too!

Stanley-PMI

Stanley PMI, who you may know more simply as Stanley, has been offering quality products for a great number of years. If you want quality food and drink containers that actually keep your food and drink the temperature you like it, you can’t go wrong with Stanley. That’s perfect for lunch at a work site, just as much as it’s ideal for beef stew in the frigid forest.

If you were following along on social (or you watched the vlog), then you’ll know that Stephen joined us a little late. He hit up Blue Moose on Saturday around 3 p.m. for some coffee, storing it in a Stanley vacuum bottle. That coffee was still steaming hot the next morning at 8 a.m., some 15 hours later. Impressive, right?

Farm Town Meats

Farm Town Meats in Burnaby was a bit of a last minute addition to our trip. We knew we had to pick up a few things. What we didn’t know was that Farm Town Meats would gladly supply us with all the meat we could need!

Our first taste came by way of this thick cut double smoked bacon for breakfast. We followed with honey ham and Montreal smoked meat sandwiches for lunch. And then we had breakfast sausage to go with our crepes the following morning. Really good stuff all around.

Thank You for Supporting Our Adventure!

We are so thankful and grateful for the generous support of our sponsors. Fostering friendships and finding time for self-care can be increasingly difficult for busy parents. For us, Five Dads Go Wild represents so much more than just a “guys weekend.” It’s about coming together, sharing our stories, and providing a platform where we can promote a positive image of engaged fatherhood.

And, in case you missed it earlier this week, here’s the vlog from our Five Dads Go Wild camping trip… where my tent collapsed under all the snow! Maybe we should pick a warmer date next year, huh?

Disclosure: The brands featured in this post provided sample products and/or other compensation in support of the #5DadsGoWild camping event. These products were provided in exchange for coverage by the five dads. We chose to partner only with companies that align with our core values. All opinions expressed are wholly our own.