Spring has sprung!  Summer is right around the corner.  The days are getting longer…and if the kids don’t get out of the house soon, our tempers will be getting shorter.   Enough playing video games and hacking away at tablets, it is time to get the kids playing outside.

Do the kids need a little incentive to go electronics free and get playing outside?  You have come to the right place oh weary parent, sit back and bask in the amazement that is…

The Complete Guide To The Best Outdoor Toys and Games for 2013

In this guide we will be covering the awesome top outdoor toys for kids of all ages (and even some for Moms and Dads) for 2013. As always, every toy and product in this guide has been subject to real world, hands-on testing by Moms and Dads. In addition, our reviews are completely objective, we never charge any money to do a review (see our Product Review Pledge).

Let’s not forget our past.  There were plenty of great outdoor toys in 2012 as well.  Click here to see our 2012 Guide to The Best Outdoor Toys!

Fun Outdoor Toys Keep Coming In and This Living Guide Keeps Growing

We are starting this guide in May, but we will keep adding toys as the temperature keeps rising. We are constantly testing out new outdoor toys and games and will be updating this guide every few days – so check back often. Have an outdoor toy, game or gadget you really want to see reviewed? Just let us know – we aim to please.

Enough of the idle chit chat, let’s get right into The Best Outdoor Toys for 2013…

A Super Scooter For Skiers Sans Ski Slope

Razor Trikke E2

What is not to love about a three wheel scooter that you can carve it up like skiing…or sit back and let the twin 12 volt batteries power the front motor that will scoot you along at a cool 9 MPH?  The Razor Trikke E2 is an awesomely fun new scooter from Razor for 2013.   The regular kick scooter just not doing it for your kids this year?  The Razor Trikke E2 takes scooting to a whole different level.  While the Trikke E2 is a made for kids, let’s just say I know of a Dad who has spent way too much time grinning like a mad man as his scoots around the driveway, only faintly hearing the screams, “Dad, can we have a turn now???”

Full Review (and video) of Razor Trikke E2

Price: Sells for About $250. Good for kids ages 8 and up.

Best Way to Actually Enjoy a Family Bike Ride

Burley Kazoo Trailer Bike

The Razor Trikke E2 is great for the 8 and up crowd, but what about the younger kids who still love the thrill of speed?  Sure the 5 year old can pedal all he wants, but a bike with training wheels just doesn’t exactly fly.  A better idea is to add a Burley Kazoo Trailer Bike to your bike and go out on a fun family bike ride that everyone will enjoy.  Your son/daughter can pedal to help you out, or just coast and enjoy watching Dad be his personal engine.  A patented hitch design makes the Burley Kazoo a safe and easy way to get everyone on bikes.

Full Review (and video) of The Burley Kazoo Trailercycle

Price: $299. Best for kids ages 4-10

Your Best Chance At Reaching a Cloud

Sky Ripperz from Zing Toys

Okay, so maybe Sky Ripperz from Zing Toys can not reach the clouds, but they sure come close!  Sky Ripperz are bungee launched rockets that can go over 250 feet high.  No batteries, no complicated setup, simply pull the Rip-Zip launcher back and watch the rockets fly.  As if high flying rockets were not enough, the Sky Ripperz rockets also whistle as they plummet back to earth.  Simply awesome outdoor fun.

Full Review (and video) of the Sky Ripperz

Price: $14.99. Ages 8 and up

Best Toy For Kids Who Love to Stomp

Zoom Rocketz From Zing Toys

As fun as the Sky Ripperz are, they do take some practice and coordination to get the release just right.  For younger kids that want the thrill of easy flying rockets, go with the Zoom Rocketz from Zing Toys.  Let us give you the full instructions… Place rocket on launcher and then stomp down on launcher!  Kids love to jump and stomp and they will love it even more when their jumping and stomping produces rockets that fly 200 feet!

Full Review (and video) of Zoom Rocketz

Price: $14.99 and Ages 6 and up

The Best Way To Be A Stunt Pilot…Without Getting Hurt

Air Hogs Sky Stunt Plane

The thought of my kids doing loops, dives and twists in a real stunt plane fills me with terror.  So I am hoping they will get their daredevil pilot feelings out of their system by doing loops, dives and twists with the new Air Hogs RC Sky Stunt Plane.  Normally RC planes require precision control, practice and patience, but not with the Sky Stunt!  The goal of the Sky Stunt is to stall the engines and do crazy cork screw dives.  If you have kids who like the idea of RC planes but have never had the patience to become a controlled pilot, the Air Hogs Sky Stunt plane is the toy they need.

Full Review (and video) of Air Hogs Sky Stunt Plane

Price: $34.95 and Ages 8 and Up

Best Outdoor Toy For Kids Who Love Flying, But Hate Waiting

SkyTrix from Daydream Toy

The Air Hogs Sky Stunt is great, but when the batteries die you do need to wait while they recharge.  If you have kids who want to get a plane flying, without ever waiting for a recharge, go with the SkyTrix.  This brand new toy from Daydream Toy is part stunt glider, part kite, part Yo-Yo, part frisbee and 100% fun!  Whip the SkyTrix around with the included tether and then let it fly.  Watch the SkyTrix do stunts or play a game of catch with a friend.  A simple and fun way to enjoy time outside on those summer days.

Full review (and video) on the SkyTrix from Daydream Toy

Price: About $15. Great for kids ages 8 and up

The Best Toy To Prove That A Circle Is The Most Fun Shape

Fly Wheels from Jakks Pacific

Sure triangles can be cool if you are making a kite, but for high speed fun, what shape can top a circle? Jakks Pacific has rereleased the Fly Wheels line of toys and they are awesome.  The Fly Wheels After Burner is a tire and a launcher.  That may not sound like much, but pull the rip cord and watch the tire jump over a car (watch our video review).

If your kids are more into flying circles, go with the Fly Wheels Flight.  Pull the rip cord and watch the propellor fly into the sky.  No batteries, nothing complicated, just simple fun toys that will keep the kids playing outside until it gets dark.

Full review (and video) on the Fly Wheels

Price: About $8 and up.  Great for kids ages 5 and up

For Kids Who Want to Take Their Hoops Game to The Next Level

GameDay Scoreboad

Having a hoop in the driveway is a great start, but what about a scoreboard, a ref and of course the sounds of the crowd?  Well, now the kids can have all that in one simple package – The GameDay Scoreboard.  The electronic scoreboard attaches to any hoop and in addition to keeping score also has a number of different games that kids can play.  Somehow it just feels so much better when you beat your older sibling and have the electronic scoreboard to prove it!

Full review (and video) on the GameDay Scoreboard

Price: About $34.95. Great for all ages

Because Beverages Taste Better When They Are Not Spilled All Over The Ground…

The CanStand

This one is more for the Moms and Dads.  Do you really want to risk putting that frosty cold beverage on the ground where it may be overrun by ants or even worse, run over by your kids?  No, your drink deserves better, it deserves to stand up!  The CanStand is exactly that, a stand for your can.  In the back yard or at the beach, the CanStand is a fun way to keep your drink out of harms way…and just a little closer to your mouth!

Full review (and video) of the CanStand

Price: About $12.

Stay Tuned – Much More To Come…

We are just getting started with our fun outdoor toys for Spring and Summer 2013. We will be adding new reviews on a regular basis so check back often or follow us on Twitter or Facebook for the latest updates.

Now get outside and play!

Have A Question/Comment? Let Us Know!

As any parent of young kids can tell you, the idea of a fun family bike ride is often just that…an idea.  Sure, in concept, you all go out, have a beautiful ride and enjoy the day.  In reality, the 5 year old can’t keep up on his training wheels, so you end up walking your bike, pushing his and going home with a bad back.  However, if you put a Burley Designs Trailercycle in the equation, suddenly you can actually get that enjoyable family bike ride that you imagined!

Trailercycle Or Trailer Bike, Call It What You Want, We Call It Relief

A trailer bike (or trailercycle) is a one wheeled bike that attaches to the back of an adult’s bike.  This allows younger kids who may not know how to ride a bike, or can’t ride long distances, to trail along with Mom or Dad without much effort.  Kids can pedal along in back or just coast and enjoy the ride.  Kids learning to ride a bike get to experience the balance and flow of being on a bike, while the parent gets to have an enjoyable bike ride.

While there are a number of different trailer bikes, we recently got a chance to check out the Burley Designs Kazoo Trailercycle.   The Kazoo is a single speed trailer bike with a number of safety features to ensure a smooth and uneventful ride.  Here are the main features of the Kazoo -

• Weighs 16.5 lb/7.5 kg
• Lightweight aluminum frame for durability, high performance and a solid ride
• Single speed
• Front splash guard
• Innovative Burley patented hitch system with ball-bearing guided pivots to provide shimmy-free performance
• Hitch sits perpendicular to the ground, providing superior handling and stability
• Double locking mechanism for extra security
• Stable and snug in-line handling with over-axle pivot attachment
• Includes Burley rack
• Adjustable handlebar and seat post
• Safety flag and both wheel and rear reflectors for visibility
• 20-inch wheel for smooth rolling
• Recommended for children 4 to 10 years old and up to 85 lb/38.5 kg, with a recommended 2-1 adult weight-to-child weight ratio

Here is a quick video that shows the Kazoo and the Piccolo in action.  The Piccolo is basically the same as the Kazoo but has 7 speeds -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbuTWEUBKOg

The Burley Rack, A Pain To Get On, But Worth the Effort

We have used trailer bikes before that attach to the seat post.  These work fine, but it is not the most comfortable or secure ride for the child.  The Burley Kazoo comes with a rack that you need to mount on your bike.  In all honesty, the rack is a bit of a pain to install and involves taking a hacksaw to some metal bars.  If you are handy with tools you can do it yourself, but if you run into trouble you can bring it to a bike shop and for a few bucks have them do the initial installation.  Our advice, let a bike shop do the install.

While getting the rack on your bike can be a pain, it does provide for an excellent ride once it is in place.  The Kazoo trailercycle uses a patented double hitch system to quickly and securely attach to your bike.  Due to the perpendicular connection of the trailer bike, your child gets a very stable and comfortable ride.

But What About When Your Kid Is Ready to Ride On His Own?

The Burley Kazoo sells for about $299, so it is a large investment.  What happens if after a year of riding on the trailer cycle your son or daughter is ready for their own bike?  Does the Kazoo just rust away in a corner of the garage?  Not if you get The Burley Plus…

The Burley Plus (the white part of the bike in the above picture) is an add on front wheel that turns the Burley Kazoo or Piccolo from a trailer bike to a fully functional standard bike for kids.  Now when your kids outgrow the need for a trailer bike, you can protect your investment in the Kazoo by turning it into a pretty cool stand alone bike.  Here are all the specs on the Burley Plus -

• Lightweight aluminum frame for durability, high performance and a solid ride
• Front and rear brakes provide stopping power and control
• Styling is consistent with Piccolo or Kazoo
• Sells for about $159

Conclusion: The Burley Kazoo Trailer Bike and Burley Plus Make Family Bike Rides Fun

If you are looking for a high quality, well made and stylish trailer bike, the Burley Kazoo is an excellent choice.  At $299, the Burley Kazoo is definitely not the cheapest trailercycle, but you do get a more stable ride than the cheaper, seat post attached trailercycles.  The Burley Plus is a good way to get a few more years of use out of the Kazoo, but you will have to invest another $159 into the system.

Beyond the price, the only real negative we had with the Burley trailercycle was the assembly.  There is not a great deal of assembly required, but unless you are very handy, it can be a challenge to get it all setup.  Of course, if you buy the Burley Kazoo at a bike shop, they can take care of the assembly for you.  Overall, the Burley Kazoo and Burley Plus are well made and provide a great ride for the kids.  If you are serious about biking and want to find a way to make family bike rides as enjoyable as possible, the Burley Kazoo is the way to go!

More Information:

The Burley Kazoo Trailercycle Retails for $299

The Burley Plus is about $159

Just when we think we have seen everything when it comes to outdoor toys, along comes SkyTrix.  Part stunt glider plane, part kite, part boomerang – the SkyTrix by Daydream Toy, is all fun!  As regular readers of Dad Does know, we love anything that flies.  We have a blast with RC helicopters and planes, but the one major negative to those toys is the constant recharging of the batteries.  Thankfully, SkyTrix uses no batteries, just whip it into the air and let the aerodynamics of flight takeover!

Let’s Look At Our Video Review of the SkyTrix -

SkyTrix, Further Proof That Simple Is Better

The measure of a great outdoor toy is, can kids pick it up and in a few minutes be laughing, running around and having fun?  SkyTrix absolutely meets this measurement.  You basically fling the SkyTrix around on its teether and then just let it fly.  Here is some more info on how the SkyTrix pulls off its flying magic -

“The worldwide patent-pending SkyTrix glides like a plane, soars like a kite, performs tricks like a yo-yo, and plays catch like a flying disc. The concept is simple – a plane on a tether. But the design and performance are anything but ordinary. In fact, SkyTrix is so responsive that people who see it are amazed to learn that there are no batteries or gyroscopes keeping it in flight and balanced. It is simply people-powered.

SkyTrix gets kids and adults outside and playing. Great for a long-distance game of catch between multiple people or a game of boomerang when on your own. As you get the feel of the tether, you can start showing your skill by doing tricks such as casting, snap backs, and loops.”

If You Actually Practice, You Can Do An Artistic Dance With The SkyTrix

When we shot our video review, we wanted to show how the SkyTrix performed just moments after pulling it out of the box.  As the video shows, you can easily get the SkyTrix flying with very little practice.  However, if you want to spend some time practicing with the SkyTrix, you can start to perform some pretty amazing tricks, it almost looks like an artistic dance or form of martial arts.

Here is a much more impressive video of the SkyTrix from Daydream Toy -

Conclusion:  SkyTrix, A Whole New Way To Have Fun Outdoors

As a parent you probably have Yo-Yos, Frisbees, kites, boomerangs, gliders and balls scattered around your garage, but I doubt you have one toy that incorporates play elements from all these toys.  The SkyTrix is a brand new toy (due out June 2013), but after playing with it it feels familiar due to its connection to all the other play toys you have in your garage.

The kids had a great time flinging the SkyTrix and trying to catch it (not as easy as it looks).  As a parent I loved never having to charge batteries or set anything up.  In addition, the SkyTrix works great if you have some wind, so unlike with the RC helicopters, you don’t need perfect weather conditions to play with it.  One concern we do have is durability, but so far, so good – plenty of rough landings and the SkyTrix is still in one piece.  If you are looking for a fun, new outdoor toy for 2013, the SkyTrix is an excellent choice.

More Information:

The SkyTrix From DayDream Toy, Ages 8+, $15.99 Retail, Available in 3 Designs

Mother’s Day is like a big fat pitch, right over the center of the plate, waiting for a Dad Blogger to smash it out of Hallmark park.  A Hallmark created holiday, just another way to sell cards, flowers and chocolates…oh man, we should be able to clobber this one with mockery!  Yet, every year I swing and miss at any attempt to poke fun at Mother’s Day.  Mother’s are just too filled with complete awesomeness to poke fun at on their special day.  Which brings me to my major point…

Why I Hate Mother’s Day

There are two things I am good at – talking (or writing) endlessly and making fun of people, places and things.  Which of course makes Mother’s Day my kryptonite.  I have already established I can not bring myself to make fun of Mother’s Day due to the awesomeness of every Mom I know, but Mother’s Day also leaves me speechless, because how could I ever express my feelings to the Moms in my life?

My mother, who is in heaven now, was the most amazing mother a son could ever ask for.  Actually, that is wrong.  How would any son ever know he could ask for so much?  Who could even dream of a mother as wonderful as my mother?  My mom was more than I could have ever hoped or asked  for, she was like an infinity Mom, here love never ended.  My Mom, passed too soon, but she could have lived a thousand years and I still would never have had enough time to find the words to express how much she meant to me.  Sometimes, there are no words.

Then there is my wife and mother to our two incredible kids.  What words do you possibly use to express your love and gratitude to a Mom who every single day, makes every single moment of our lives better?  What do you say to the Mom who has played the major role in making our kids the most incredible beings to ever grace this planet (no, I am not subjective at all)?  She never asks for any praise, she simply gives to all of us, all of the time, in the most loving and caring way.  How do you express your love for a Mom like that?

The incredible thing is, the list of incredible Moms just keeps going!  There is my sister, sister-in-laws, Mother-in-law and more.  All such loving moms, that words fail me.  Here is the thing, I am guessing I don’t have a monopoly on knowing all the best moms in the world.  My guess is you have the same situation – incredible moms, all around you, that defy words.

When Words Fail You, Turn To Hugs

When words fail me and I lose the ability to poke fun at things, I have two options.  Option one is to curl up in the fetal position and start to cry… but that just doesn’t feel right for Mother’s Day.  I think I will go with option two and hug my wife, tell her I love her and that words could never express what a wonderful Mother she is.

We Wish Every Mom a Very Happy Mother’s Day

Does it get more boring than a bottle opener?  Sure, they serve an absolutely essential purpose of opening that fine micro brew, but when is the last time you have heard these words come out of a friend’s mouth – “Check out this really fun and cool bottle opener I have!”

Well, the times, they are a changing.  The Footballer is a patented Mini-Replica Football (World’s Smallest Football) that is a hand held bottle opener and fridge magnet.  The Footballer is no generic mini football either, with official licenses from the NFL and NCAA you can get an exact replica football from your favorite team.

Let’s Take a Quick Look At Our Video Review of The Footballer -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unAYxFK8Sz8

The Footballer Is Actually Fun To Throw

Look, we are not claiming The Footballer is a throwing toy, but when someone says, “Can you pass the bottle opener” it takes on a whole new meaning.  Now you can feel the laces, get the proper grip and then fling The Football Bottle Opener across the room to your buddy running a cross slant to the open cooler.  Since YouTube has not invented touchvision yet, you really can’t get a sense for how authentic The Footballer feels from watching the video.  Here is more info -

“The product details have Genuine LOOK and FEEL! Just like the REAL Official Game Balls used on the NFL and NCAA fields. Leather color pigskin dimples, white ribbed laces, black stitched threads, black rubber air valve and half white stripes for College version. The outer material is soft PVC to replicate the FEEL/GIVE of a Real Football. Each Football is decorated with a team logo and team name.”

The Perfect Gift For the Football Fan In Your Life

I generally hate buying gifts for adults.  What are you going to get someone that they couldn’t just buy themselves?  I try to find gifts that are a little different and in some way connect with the person I am shopping for.  Due to its new, different and team specific design The Footballer makes a great gift for the football fan in your life.  Give them the football opener of their favorite team and if you really want to do it right, throw in a case of their favorite micro brew!

More Information:

The Footballer, The Football Bottle Opener Sells for About $12.99.  Click Here To Learn More

Today, May 8th, 2013 is National Bike to School Day – a totally awesome way to express all the benefits that come from kids riding their bikes.  All of May is National Bike Month, a month long opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.  Everything about this month should create a super positive vibe for bike riding, but as a Dad, one statistic keeps bringing me down…

About 44% of children in the US don’t wear helmets when riding bikes, and 91% of bicyclists involved in fatalities in 2009 did not wear a helmet.

- Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute

How Can We Get Our Kids To WANT To Wear Bike Helmets?

What if someone took a boring bike helmet and figured out a way to make it exciting, expressive and personal for each child?  This is exactly the idea behind the Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet from Triple Eight.  The name really says it all, the Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet is a bike helmet that kids can draw on with dry erase markers and when they want a new design, just wipe it off and start again.

Let’s take a quick look at our video review of the Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn8NLl9_SmQ

Don’t Let The Fun Factor Fool You, This Helmet Is Still Built For Safety

As a Dad, the first concern I had when I saw the Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet was, is it built as safely as other bike helmets?  Sure, it looks great and the kids love personalizing their helmet, but as parents, we want the helment to be as protective as possible.  Luckily, it turns out the Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet is super safe -

Wipeout™ Dry Erase Helmets meet key industry safety regulations:

• ABS hard-shell construction for durability
• Dual certification for bike AND skate use ensures true multi-sport protection
• Complies with U.S. CPSC and ASTM safety standards for bike helmets, skateboarding, and trick roller skating

Don’t Like a Black Helmet?  Pick Another Color

In the video we review a black helmet, but Wipeout Dry Erase helmets come in a number of different styles and colors.   Parents, you also don’t need to worry about digging up markers, everything the kids needs is included in the Wipeout Dry Erase box -

• A sturdy and stylish helmet available in a variety of colors: Black, White, Pink Neon Green, Neon Orange and more colors coming soon
• Five dry erase non-toxic markers in assorted neon colors
• Stencil kit with 8 awesome shapes
• Dual certified for kids ages 3-to-11 for use on bicycles, skateboards, roller blades and scooters
• Available in 3 sizes: 3+ fits 47-49 cm; 5+ fits 49-52 cm; 8+ fits 50-54cm

Conclusion: Wipeout Dry Erase Helmets, A Simple Idea That Simply Works

The Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet is such a simple idea, you can’t believe it wasn’t already invented.  Here are the facts, most kids don’t love wearing a helmet.  The most serious bike accidents involve kids who were not wearing helmets.  As a parent, anything that will make it more likely for my kids to wear a helmet…is a potential lifesaver.

If your kids are always “forgetting” their bike helmet, get the Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet, let the kids go crazy with designs and watch them proudly ride off, helmet on head, as they show off their cool bike helmet to their friends.

More Information:

Visit Triple Eight To Learn More About The Wipeout Dry Erase Helmets

Purchase the Wipeout Dry Erase Helmets For About $29 on Amazon.Com

Let’s be honest, nobody wants to be the third wheel.  The Urban Dictionary defines Third Wheel as “One who deters the socialization of a couple, perhaps when being invited out of pitty or through a feeling of duty“.   Yikes, nothing good could possible come from a third wheel…unless…what if you added that third wheel to a scooter, strapped on two 12 volt batteries and let kids go 9 MPH, for up to 40 minutes, all while carving it up like they were on the ski slopes?

Say Hello To The New Razor Trikke E2 Electric Scooter

The Razor Trikke E2 is of course a trikke, meaning it has three wheels.  By simply carving back and forth, as if you were skiing, you can get the Trikke moving.  Of course, the real fun comes when you twist the throttle on the handlebar, the two 12 volt batteries kick in and the motor on the front wheel gets you cruising at 9 MPH.  We first saw the Razor Trikke E2 Electric Scooter at Toy Fair 2013, but we have now had a chance to review the Trikke E2 in a real world setting.

Please Watch Our Video Review of the Razor Trikke E2 Electric Scooter -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbgZ3NF7xEE

Carve It Up, No Snow Necessary

Yes, the Trikke E2 is electric powered, and we will get to that in a second, but the cool thing is that you do not need a motor to get the Trikke E2 going.  By leaning left and right, you can carve with the Trikke E2 and get moving as if you were skiing.  If the kids are looking for a workout, they can carve for a while and then just twist the throttle when they need that extra speed boost.

What Kid Wouldn’t Love An Electric Scooter?

All the kids (and adults) who tried the Trikke E2 had the same reaction when they twisted the throttle and the electric motor kicked in – a big giant grin!  9 MPH is not super fast, but it is fast enough for kids to feel the rush of being on an electric scooter.  Thankfully for us parents, there is a safety feature so the motor will not start until you are going 3 MPH.  This means if the kids turn the throttle while standing still the scooter will not take off on them.  As the video shows, you just need to do a kick start, then once you are rolling you can hit the throttle and engage the motor.

Here is the full feature list for the Razor Trikke E2 -

• Speeds up to 9 mph (13 kmh)
• Up to 40 minutes of continuous use
• Twist-grip acceleration
• Push start system
• Dual rear brakes
• 6” urethane wheels
• High torque motor
• 24 volt (two 12V) rechargable battery system

Please Kids, Ride Safe and Have Fun

The fact that the Trikke E2 has three wheels makes it a very stable scooter.  You really need to be slashing left to right to manage to tip this scooter…but it can be done (just ask my son).   If I can just be that annoying super safety conscious father to everyone for a moment and say – wear your helmet and be safe!

Conclusion: The Razor Trikke E2 Proves Three Wheels Can Be Better Than Two

The Razor Trikke E2 is everything a scooter should be – fun, fast and easy to ride! The only real negative to the Trikke E2 is the 10 hour recharge time, which can be a drag.  The good news is you get about 40 minutes of drive time and you can always do some carving if the battery dies.   It also would be nice if the height of the handlebars were adjustable, but that is a minor point.  If you have kids who enjoy scooters, but have grown bored of the traditional two wheel kick scooters, the Razor Trikke E2 may just be the thing to rekindle their love of scooters!

More Information:

The Razor Trikke E2 is For Ages 8+ and Sells For About $250

Purchase the Razor Trikke E2 For $229 From Walmart.Com

The sun is finally shinning, the snow is becoming a distant memory, time to get outside and play catch, throw a ball, hit a ball and do amazing stunts with a Micro Drone RC Quadcopter By Extreme Fliers.  You do have a Micro Drone Quadrocopter, don’t you?  What, you don’t???  Let’s see if we can rectify that situation…

On 5/10/13 We Are Giving Away A Brand New Micro Drone Quadcopter

The Micro Drone is a totally awesome four propellor, flipping, flying machine.  In case you missed it,

Let’s look at our video review of the Extreme Fliers Micro Drone Quadrocopter…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lALgLsncJJE

Please also read our full review of the Micro Drone RC Quadcopter to see how awesome this $110 toy really is.

On May 10th, 2013 at 6pm EST We Will Randomly Pick One Winner For the Micro Drone RC Quadcopter ($110)

Do I Have to Give Up My First Born to Enter?

Not only do you not need to give up your first born to enter, you can even keep your 2nd and 3rd born as well! We tried to make this as easy as possible, so here is the 3 Step Process…

Step 1 – Join Us (Mandatory)

If you clicked that nice little Join Us button in the past – you’ve already got a ticket in the Micro Drone Giveaway Lotto! Any member of Dad Does is automatically entered into any giveaway we do. Not a member yet? No problem, all you have to do is Join Us – requires just your email, 100% free and takes about 6 seconds. So, just Join Us once and you are automatically entered in any giveaway we ever do – simple – right?

Step 2 – Leave a Comment Below And Increase Your Odds of Winning by 10x (Optional)

If you are reading this post, you deserve a better chance to win. So, just leave a comment below – say anything you like, and we will give you 10 additional entries into the giveaway.

Step 3 – Complete Your Entry Using The RaffleCopter App

To help us randomly pick the winners and keep track of the entries we are using a cool little app called Raffle Copter. Once you have Joined Dad Does and left a comment on this post, just complete your entry by using this RaffleCopter app -

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It is very important you record your entries in the above app, as it is how we will notify winners.

To recap, you Join Us, that gets you 1 entry. Already a member? You already have your first entry (but please still complete the info on Rafflecopter). If you want, leave a comment below, that gets you 10 more entries (giving 11 entries as the maximum anyone can get). Record your entries using the RaffleCopter app on this page. If you win, tell us where to ship it. Pretty darn easy, no?

We will randomly pick one winner on Friday May 10th, 2013.

Let The Fun Begin!

Join Us – takes about 6 seconds and gets you an entry in this contest and all other contests we ever do. If you want to increase your odds, just leave a comment below – that gets you 10 more entries (maximum of 11 entries per person).

Rub a rabbit’s foot and let the fun begin!

More Information:

Read More About the Extreme Fliers RC Micro Drone Quadrotocopter

Leave A Comment Below For 10 Extra Entries and Good Luck to All!

Crowdsourced.  Talk about an internet buzz word, it now seems that just about anything you can imagine is being crowdsourced online.  Well, not anything.  If I lose my keys, my dog, my wallet or anything else, there has not been a way to crowdsource a search party to find my lost goods.  Thanks to BlueBee that could all be changing very soon.

What is BlueBee?

Bluebee is a small device that you clip onto anything you might lose – your keys, your wallet, your pets…your kids.  The BlueBee uses Bluetooth 4.0 to communicate with an app on your iPhone or Android device.  If your object is within 50 meters, Bluebee will show up on a map on the app and you can easily locate the device.

What if the opposite happens, you have the BlueBee safely clipped to your keys, which are in your hand, but now you can’t find your phone?  Simply press a button on the BlueBee and your phone will start to ring.  Which has the benefit of removing this line from your life, “Honey, can you call my phone, I can’t find it again?”  In fact, clicking the BlueBee is even better than calling your phone, because the BlueBee can make your phone ring, even if it is in vibrate mode.

Haven’t We Seen These Location Devices Before?

Sure.  In our article on the 39 Best Gadgets For Parents From CES 2013 we talk about tracking devices like the StickNFind, BlueTracker, VIVOPlay, LifeComm and TrakDot.  These devices all offer some form of tracking and assistance in locating lost objects.   Like the BlueBee they tend to work with some combination of Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and an app on your phone.  However, there is one thing that makes the BlueBee stand out from the pack – The Blue Crowd Search.

No, The Blue Crowd Search Is Not About Finding People Dressed in Blue

The truth is, most of the tracking devices on the market are limited because of their range.  Sure, if I can’t find my keys in the house, a tracking device can help me locate what room they are in.  The problem comes when I lost my keys at the mall, which is 20 miles away and these trackers just have a range of a few hundred feet.  This is where the potential game changing Blue Crowd Search feature on the BlueBee comes in.

Everyone who owns a BlueBee becomes part of the Blue Crowd Search network.  So, if I have lost my keys (with the BlueBee attached), I just click in the app that they are lost.  Now, anyone who has the BlueBee app and happens to walk within 150 feet of my keys will “locate” my keys.  For security, the stranger who just walked by my keys at the mall and located them has no idea that this action happened.  On my end, I get an alert with the GPS location of my keys.  Now, this is some crowdsourcing I can get behind.

Here is more info from X6, the makers of BlueBee -

“With “BlueCrowdSearch” you can find your things with the help of other BlueBee users. Wherever your lost valuables are, it can be automatically detected by the smartphone of another BlueBee user passing by, and it will notify you with the exact location. Of course, everything is automatic; other users don’t even know their devices are looking for your stuff!

This passive and fully automated user collaboration network is the first cloud-based « lost-and-found » service, and fully owned and operated by X6 Innovations. And in a near future, tens of thousands of « moving radars » will be able to help everyone find their lost property, every day.”

Why Does the BlueBee Look Like a Tape Cassette?

Here is an image of the BlueBee -

It looks like a miniature (8 mm x 27 mm x 47 mm) tape cassette.  Why does it look like a tape cassette?  We have no idea.

What About Battery Life on The BlueBee and On My Phone?

We were sure this was going to be the deal breaker, but according to X6, the BlueBee tracking device needs to be charged about once a year.  That is not a typo – once a year!  What about the drain on your smartphone?  X6 is claiming the BlueBee will only use 1/500 of your phone’s battery power each day.  Bluetooth 4.0 is low power Bluetooth and is much more friendly to your phone battery.

This Is a Cool Feature As Well…

What if no one in the Blue Crowd Search Network ever walks by your lost keys in the mall? You are not completely lost (could not resist).  When you pair your BlueBee with your smartphone, BlueBee constantly checks if the connection is maintained with the phone.  If the signal between your BlueBee and phone are lost, the smartphone will automatically memorize the location and the time when BlueBee went out of sight.  This way you know when and approximately where you dropped your keys.

Sounds Great,  What is The Catch?

There is one tiny catch to the BlueBee…it does not exist.  Wait, don’t kill us yet, this is not some April Fools joke, it is just that the BlueBee is still being funded via Indiegogo.  Indiegogo is a crowdsourced fund site where companies can try to raise money to help bring products to the market.  Go ahead and take a look at the BlueBee campaign on Indiegogo.

As you can see, for a $25 pledge you can be one of the first to get a BlueBee and a lifetime membership in the Blue Crowd Search network.

Should You Invest In BlueBee?

Yes…No…Maybe???  We are not big believers in promoting Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaigns, because often the product sounds great but then it never materializes and everyone gets upset.  We obviously have never used BlueBee and know nothing about X6, so you will have to make your own decision after reading their page.

We do think the idea of crowdsourced lost and found is a brilliant use of technology.  Imagine your dog has a BlueBee collar and takes off from your backyard.  If he runs within 150 feet of another BlueBee user, you get an exact location on Groover.  Of course this is the classic chicken and egg scenario, the more people who have BlueBee the better the Blue Crowd Search will be.  On the other hand, people may be reluctant to get BlueBee if very few other people have it, since the Blue Crowd Search  will be limited.

We will keep an eye on BlueBee and try to do a full review as soon as units are available.  In the meantime, has anybody seen where I put my son?

More Information:

Learn More About BlueBee on Indiegogo

Here is a quick video about BlueBee -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ9A72elhfA

The sun is shining, the temperature is perfect…so why are the kids still sitting inside playing video games.  After the long winter, it may take some extra motivation to get the kids to put down their electronic devices and actually play outside.  Luckily, Zing Toys has some awesome outdoor toys for 2013 that will have the kids playing outside until the sun goes down.

Sky Ripperz, Pull Them Back and Let Them Rip

What is better than a rocket you can launch by hand and flies 250 feet?  A rocket that you launch by hand, flies 250 feet and whistles on its way down!

Let’s take a look at the Sky Ripperz in Our Hands-On Video Review -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lso2bG2HweM

As the video shows, the Sky Ripperz is just good, simple outdoor fun.  No batteries, no complicated setup, just pull the rockets back and watch them fly.  For about $15 you get 2 whistling rockets and the rip-zip launcher.   The kids loved playing with these bungee launched rockets and came up with all types of games.  Sky Ripperz from Zing Toys is recommended for ages 8+, which makes sense since it takes some skill to pull the rockets back and launch them without hitting your hand.  Younger kids could experience some frustration with the launcher, but kids ages 8 and up should not have any problems.

Zomp Rocketz, Kids Stomp and The Rockets Fly

The only confusion thing about the Zomp Rocketz from Zing Toys is figuring out the name!  Our packaging says Zomp Rocketz, but the Zing site says Zoom Rocketz…regardless of what the name is, this toy is absolute fun!

Let’s Take a Look At Our Video Review of the Zoom Rocketz -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIbT6UNb8JU

Here is a quick formula for outdoor fun -

Stomp on Pad + High Flying Rockets = Hours of Outdoor Fun

As the video shows, the Zoom Rocketz give your kids what they need to have a blast while playing outside.  We have always been big fans of Stomp Rockets and love how Zing has improved on the design by allowing you to alter the angle of the launch tube.

The Zomp Rocketz are rated for ages 10+ but we actually think this is the easier of the two Zing toys for younger kids.  The Sky Ripperz requires some strength and skill to get the bungee launcher to work exactly right.  On the other hand, all kids need to do with the Zoom Rocketz is stomp on the pad…which pretty much anyone can do!  If you are looking for an easy way to get the kids to launch some rockets up to 200 feet in the air, the Zoom Rocketz is the way to go.

More Information:

Visit Zing Toys To Learn More about the Zoom Rocketz and Sky Ripperz

Purchase the Sky Ripperz ($14.99) and Zoom Rockets ($14.99) at Toys R Us