Safari Backyard Outfitters

Backyard Safari Outfitters equips young explorers like my sons with all the essential field gear they could possibly need for scoping out wildlife in their backyard or local park! From tools to catch insects, to binoculars for bird-watching, the collection includes more than 30 different products, including the practical Cargo Vest, the cool Bug Vacuum, and Mega View periscope shown in the photos below.

Now that we have this VERY fun set, my sons don't go outside without all their "explorer supplies"! Made of a rugged poly-twill fabric, it’s really good quality, and has held up to both of my sons sharing it on all kinds of outdoor play. There are plenty of cargo pockets, as well as six D-Rings and two shoulder pieces with snap closures that let you clip and hang all kinds of stuff! The large pocket is perfect for storing binoculars, and the clear-view chest pocket for the Pop-Up Field Guide, which comes with each Backyard Safari Outfitters product. It’s full of rich illustrations and ideas to inspire backyard exploration. The vest is a little big on my 2 year old, but on my 4 year old it is a comfortable fit. I’d say it easily fits a 5-9 year old and you can buy it for $19.99.

My favorite item from Safari Backyard Adventures? The Bug vacuum! It allows you to capture bugs without ever touching them! And for a mom of two little boys that LOVE to capture bugs, this is quite the lifesaver for me! Now I don't have to be scared of the bugs my kids want to catch-and they can build the confidence in catching the bugs themselves!

Both of my sons started capturing little, defenseless creatures like roly polies and then quickly moved up to bigger, scarier insects. I’ve also found it to be very handy myself, to get rid of spiders and crickets that I sometimes find in the house. I also love that they can catch a bug, observe it for a bit with the built-in magnifying glass, and release it outside. The Bug Vacuum retails for $19.99 and requires four “AA” batteries for operation.

The Mega View Periscope is very cool! 3 nested sections telescope for a reach of over four feet! This allows for stealth viewing over high bushes, backyard fences, and around corners. The water feature is neat. Flip the periscope upside down and a full 16 inches of it can be submersed into a pond, lake, or pool for under-water viewing. It would probably be fun to take to the beach as well! The wide-view face is easy to look through and the hand grips are comfortable, making it easy to hold. Indoor fun is enjoyed on the boy's bunkbeds too-they pretend it is a submarine and use the periscope for "observing" underwater fish and "bad guys". They both LOVE this toy. You can buy the Mega View Periscope for $24.99.

What I Loved:
Everything. I have no complaints about any of their products. I even loved them so much that I went and bought a second set so the boys don't have to share anymore and can now both be "explorer men". They LOVE this stuff.

What I Hated:
Nothing. I think this is the perfect set for a boy or girl to really get out and enjoy observing nature. Hands down some of the best toys I've reviewed. We have had these toys for months now and the kids are still so into them.

Backyard Safari Outfitters allows kids to not just walk through nature, but experience it with these products that encourage kids to get active, play outside, and explore! Best for kids ages 5 and up, this essential field gear is available now at Toys ‘R’ Us, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and Target. For more information about Summit Toys and a complete list of Backyard Safari products, please visit www.summittoy.com.

We were very excited to try out the Backyard Safari Outfitters cargo vest & bug vacuum!Backyard Safari Outfitters periscope thanks to Team Mom.