The adventure market is full of buzzwords: “military-grade,” “expedition-proven,” “built for the harshest environments.” Many of these claims make very little sense. After all, a cooler that maintains ice for five days sounds great until you realize you’re carrying an extra 15 pounds to achieve this goal. This guide not only cuts out the hype and focuses on the gear that will serve you well in a pinch, but it also ensures you have as much fun as possible while enjoying the open skies, tree-lined trails, and sandy beaches.
Here’s our selection of flashlights, tents, kites and cookers, not to mention a few surprises (a wheelchair-friendly shelter and a Frisbee game from Camping Chair Brand). Good gear doesn’t make you a better outdoorsman. It just gets out of your way. These picks do just that.
a 3-person tent
the North Face
Universal Collection Wavonah 3 Tent
Consisting of an innovative magnetic-closure sleeping bag, a self-standing, easy-to-open daypack and a stylish three-person tent, this lauded, inclusivity-focused collection from The North Face is designed to remove the friction points that can prevent people with disabilities from enjoying life outdoors. The freestanding tent is a generous size for a three-person design and comes with equal length poles for fast, mistake-free pitching. The zippers also have extremely discreet oversized pull tabs, while the low threshold and spacious 68.2-square-foot vestibule are large enough to keep two mobility devices safe, dry, and nearby.
a light stove
Courtesy of Katadyn Products
Traditional compact camping stoves heat water easily, but when you want to do more than survive on rehydrated food and instant noodles, this twin 4,600-watt burner setup gives you the freedom to get creative in your camp kitchen. Weighing just 1 pound, 10 ounces and measuring 12 x 2.76 x 4.14 inches when folded, it’s easy to transport, the piezo ignition is highly adjustable, and thanks to serious power, you can boil a liter of water in just four minutes, or simmer your gnocchi and reduce the Parmigiano Reggiano and sage cream sauce in seconds.
A 3D-knit windbreaker
In a sea of Arc’teryx shells and Salomon hiking boots, Vancouver-based Uppervoid offers a fresh take on the gorpcore aesthetic. For something impressively original, check out the color grading on its new hardshell jackets, but for the warmer months, this ultra-lightweight windbreaker ticks our trail running box. Made from 3D-woven Toray Airtastic 7D fabric, it’s impossibly soft and thin, weighing just 2.8 ounces, yet it feels reassuringly durable on the trails. Underarm venting helps heat escape when you start going hard, and it’s small enough that you’ll forget it’s even in your pack.
a hard-sided cooler
Courtesy of Newell Brands
COLEMAN
Snap ‘n Go Collapsible Hard Cooler
Available in 35-, 45- and 55-quart versions, Coleman’s ingenious collapsible hard-sided cooler expands or folds in seconds and elegantly shrinks to a third of its size for easy storage. Unlike most soft coolers, it still works properly, promising to retain ice for up to 64 hours. Coleman also includes an antibacterial removable liner to keep your cooler stink-free, though be warned, without any wheels on the bottom, once the larger size is filled with ice and drinks, it’s just as heavy as the competition to maneuver.
a mini truck
oil
MT1 Electric Mini Truck
Offered with the Toyota Tacoma Capability, Tesla range and Mini Cooper footprint, this 5-seat EV truck designed by Yves Behar accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds and carries a payload of 2,000 pounds. Its towing capacity is up to 6,600 pounds, while the configurable mid-partition can increase the bed size to accommodate a 4 x 8-foot plywood sheet (or, indeed, an 8-foot surfboard when the swell calls). Dual-motor versions aim for 0 to 60 mph in about 4 seconds, while the largest battery option estimates up to 350 miles of range.
If you’re concerned about performance off asphalt, the MT1 has 10 inches (25.4 cm) of ground clearance and independent suspension, meaning this compact EV carrier should have real off-road capability.
a field watch
enmity
C3 Korean Field Watch
With origins in rugged, “no-frills” military watches, field watches are ideal for the outdoors. This US-made 36-mm Vair is rated for 100-meter water resistance, and with a durable single-dome sapphire crystal and 316L stainless steel casing, it’s appropriately durable rather than merely military-inspired. It’s also available in 40mm, and if you don’t like this khaki NATO, there’s a solid collection of straps, including rubber, stainless steel, and leather, that can easily transition it from the backcountry to the boardroom. Its outdoor credentials are sealed by the fact that this watch is solar powered: just six hours of sunlight will provide six months of power reserve, and it draws power from any light source (even candlelight).
outdoor games
Helinox has taken the same lightweight aluminum engineering that made its camping chairs famous and applied it to a range of fun and portable outdoor games. Packaged in a small, transportable case, you’ll get two straight poles with stable, folding bases, two targets, and a flying disc. It’s simple, addictive campground entertainment built using premium materials. Other games in the Play collection include the beanbag target game HeliDrop and StringTrees – HeliNox’s backcountry twist on shuffleboard that gets suspended between tree trunks.
a pocket knife
In a limited-edition colorway that evokes “the cool power of an Alpine glacier,” this 6.3-ounce, classically styled but pared-back Swiss-made knife outdoes dozens of tools, including thingamajigs for scraping the stuff out of horse hooves. Instead, it focuses on a single, lockable 3.9-inch martensitic (highly magnetic and ultra-hard) stainless steel blade. You can easily open the blade with one hand, and the handle is made of ribbed aluminum for a better grip, while a practical belt clip adds simple functionality.
The paracord pendant is a real outdoor boon: It can be taken off and used to secure anything from animal traps to shelters, lash rafts, or, in a pinch, a tourniquet. When further unraveled, thin nylon threads make good fishing line, sewing thread—even dental floss.
a powerful flashlight
When you’ve eaten all the carrots but still want to see better at night, you need this extremely powerful flashlight with a 23,000-lumen output from 16 LED emitters. With a range of nearly a mile (1,553 meters), this is a flashlight that’s better suited for search and rescue teams than casual dog walks, but we’d be lying if we didn’t say we wanted it just for outdoor fun. An OLED display provides detailed battery and output information, while USB-C charging and IP68 water resistance make it more practical than many.
a funny kite
Courtesy of Prism Design
Imagine the look on Peggy Jean’s face if Charlie Brown had hit the park with this high-performance, dual-line stunt kite. Designed for precision and speed rather than simple flight, it has a lightweight carbon-fibre frame and highly responsive sail geometry, capable of sharp turns, controlled maneuvers and impressive stability in 3 to 25 mph winds. At 93 inches in width, it’s a statement in the sky, but rest assured, no matter the quality of Charlie’s aerial showboating, Snoopy will be completely indifferent.
perfect shoes
Courtesy of Keen Footwear
Positioned between an approach shoe, a lightweight hiker, and a lifestyle sneaker, the Jasper Zeonik is having a moment. Cool collaborations with Gramici, Snow Peak and most recently Pilgrim Surf + Supply have given it a fashion boost. But seriously, it’s an extremely reliable, extremely comfortable design, whether you’re out in the woods or headed to Whole Foods. Sustainable credentials are also on point, with a PFAS-free waterproof, ethically sourced suede upper and outsole made from post-consumer plastic and agricultural waste.
a hiking pack
Courtesy of Mountain Hardware
mountain hardwear
Alakazam 45 Ltr Backpack
It’s one of the first mainstream hiking packs to use Alula, an ultralight waterproof material that’s better known in niche thru-hiking circles than the major outdoor brands. Weighing in at less than 2 pounds, this is a great roll-top bag for those who want to travel light, and thanks to the V-shaped aluminum frame and padded hip straps, the weight is evenly distributed for comfort. The waterproof bonded construction eliminates the need for a rain cover, while the GiddyUp compression system lets you close different sections when you don’t need it, even when wearing it.
an electric wagon
Courtesy of elevatorwagon
Don’t let small children or heavy luggage stop you from exploring further along the beach. This 110-pound capacity twin-motor electric buggy has a range of up to 8 miles, a top speed of over 4 mph, plus the assurance of downhill braking to avoid potential dune-related disasters. All controls are handlebar-mounted, and thankfully, given its heaviness, the front wheels are removable, and it folds down to 37 x 27 x 17 inches for easy transport.
water bottle
This is a clever hybrid bottle designed for those who want hydration-packed convenience without having to wear a full hydration jacket every time they leave the house. This clip-on sleeve holds a soft 17-fluid-ounce flask, but it’s also engineered to easily attach to your backpack straps for hands-free drinking on the go. At 2.8 ounces when empty, it adds barely any weight, while the neat compressible design shrinks as you drink, minimizing dilution of liquids.
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