There’s still plenty of time to seize the summer and all the outdoor adventures that go along with it. From hiking and camping to relaxing after an active day of fun, you’ll need the right gear to keep your summer kicking until the leaves start to fall. We’ve compiled some awesome gear—all tested and approved—to get you going (or to keep you going) on these long summer days.
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Image by White Duck
Here’s a sure-fire way to upgrade your campsite this summer: White Duck’s Sunshade tarp. This tarp is water-repellent, weather-resistant, configurable into three different shapes, and just plain good looking. It goes up more or less like a tent—loosely stake down the guy lines, position the poles, and then tighten the guy lines to achieve the desired shape.
Since it’s White Duck, you know this tarp is made of high-performance DYNATEK canvas. It also comes with everything you need in a nifty carrying bag, which includes a mallet, stakes, ropes, poles, and the canvas itself.
This shade works great with a matching White Duck tent (like the Rover Scout) or on its own. My family recently used the 170 to cover our dining area at our campsite, and it worked like a charm.
Image by Kelty
The search for the perfect camping chair is definitely over. Kelty now makes a three-person folding camp couch, and it’s fantastic. (As if they could do better than their Kelty Low Loveseat, am I right?) For families and groups, this camp couch is perfect for lounging at the campsite. Three of you can share the same chair as you chat, read, roast marshmallows, or drink a beer.
Like Kelty’s Low Loveseat, the Kelty Lowdown Couch has a low base and a relaxed design. It folds up easily and stores in its own carry bag. It has adjustable cup holders and even adjustable arm rests.
Image by Klean Kanteen
Image by Klean Kanteen
Hydration is key all summer long, so why not upgrade your water vessel? I really like Klean Kanteen’s 20-ounce TKWide insulated water bottle for keeping water cold and accessible during warm days. The unique Twist Cap is leak proof and tucks the straw away when you’re not using it, so it stays clean even if you’re kicking up dust. I appreciate that this tumbler comes with a reusable steel straw inside.
Klean Kanteen also offers excellent kid-sized tumblers. The Insulated Kids’ Classic 12-ounce water bottle is made with certified 90% post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel. It’s lightweight and easy to hang onto (even with the littlest of hands), and it keeps contents ice cold for up to 40 hours.
Image by YETI
If I had to pick my favorite piece of summer gear for 2025, it’d be this—the new YETI Camino Carryall tote bag. I have the 35-liter version, and it’s such a wonderful solution for hauling gear around for creek days, beach days, pool parties, swim lessons, swim meets, and beyond.
The YETI Camino is durable and waterproof, it has deployable dividers (these are so helpful), and includes two zippered interior pockets. The molded bottom keeps the bag upright, and the waterproof material is super easy to clean.
If, like me, you’re seeing Bogg Bags everywhere this summer, get yourself a Yeti Camino instead and thank me later.
Image by OGERY
Camping during the summer is better with a battery-powered outdoor-grade fan. Perfect for use inside the tent or camping trailer in the heat of the day or to cool you off as you eat lunch after a mid-day hike, OGERY’s F21 is the portable, adjustable fan every camper needs. It even doubles as a power bank to charge other devices!
The F21 comes with a foldable tripod, it oscillates up to 120 degrees, and it has a built-in LED light with three levels of brightness. The battery life on this camping fan is impressive. We once accidentally left it on all night during a camping trip, and it was still going strong in the morning. Depending on the setting you’re using, OGERY advertises its fan’s battery life as between 12 and 138 hours of cooling or lighting.
Image by Wise Owl Outfitters
When it’s time to relax, setlle into a hammock and let your cares melt away. I love Wise Owl Outfitter’s double hammock; it’s a great value at less than $50. Wise Owl’s double camping hammock offers quick-dry, parachute-grade, breathable nylon weave, which can support up to 500 pounds without stretching or tearing.
The kit comes with everything you need to set up your hammock—9-foot tree straps, carabiners, and a stuff sack. It takes just minutes to set up and has five loop straps to help you get it exactly where you want it.
On warm summer nights, use this hammock as your bed. Accessorize with Wise Owl’s portable camping pillow and rain tarp/outdoor shade, and you’re good to go! It weighs just 24 ounces, so it’s super easy to pack.
Image by BUG BITE THING
According to the CDC, tick exposure is a risk year-round, but ticks are most active during the warmer months of the year, from about April to September. Add some peace of mind to your camping gear this summer with BUG BITE THING’s new Tick Testing Kit, powered by TickReport.
If you, a family member, or pet are bitten by a tick, this Tick Testing Kit makes it truly easy to gain critcial insight into the specific tick that just wreaked havoc. This insight can then help support decisionmaking for the affected person.
To use, you must first properly remove the tick (you can use the BUG BITE THING Tick Remover Tool to do this). Next, place the tick into the provided specimen bag and seal it. Then, scan the QR code inside the kit and answer a few questions. Finally, place the specimen inside the prepaid mailer and drop it in any USPS mailbox. Results come back in 1-3 days.
Image by JMGO
Whether you use it for a summer movie night in the backyard or for playing music around the campfire, JMGO’s PicoPlay smart portable projector is just pure fun. This little unit packs a punch; it offers crisp 1080P resolution and 400 ISO Lumens brightness, plus 8W Dolby Audio speakers.
The streaming experience is simple, thanks to built-in Google TV. There are also little touches that make it so nice to use, like the auto-dimming feature in case someone walks into the projected light and the auto screen alignment that adjusts the projection to the size of your screen area all by itself.
At just over two pounds, the PicoPlay is perfect for on-the-go entertainment this summer and beyond. You can even use it as an ambient light, if you want!
What summer gear are you not leaving home without?
The post Seize Those Summer Days: Outdoor Gear to Get You Going appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.
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