While it’s great to try to get outdoors all year long, spring is often the start of “outdoor season,” because it marks a change in the weather and promises warmer days ahead. Summer vacation is just around the corner, and if you’re planning some fun outdoor adventures for the next several months, you’ll need some great gear to get you there.
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I’ve tested all the following items, which will make your camping trips, hiking excursions, beach visits, and SUP outings better. From the best dry bag I’ve ever tried to a killer tent, check out these recommendations for this year’s “outdoor season” gear upgrades.
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Laek 30L Seafield Waterproof Backpack
You know how dry bags are kind of the worst? Well, I felt that way too until I tried this one. Laek’s new Seafield waterproof backpack is so great you’ll want to use it even if you’re not doing water sports. During a recent trip to Catalina Island, my husband and I brought this as one of two bags that we planned to carry around as we adventured on the island with our kids. On the days we were kayaking or in a boat, it kept everything perfectly safe and dry. On the days we hiked and did other land activities, this bag came along, too.
My biggest beef with most dry bags is that they’re just huge waterproof sacks that are uncomfortable to carry and impossible to organize. Laek solved this problem. The Seafield bag has plenty of pockets, including mesh water bottle pockets, and padded straps, making it super functional for so many activities. There’s even an extra organizer accessory for the inside of this pack, if you want some more pocket options. For warm-weather water activities, this bag is a must!
Gerber Stakeout Spark
If you want to take your camping gear up a couple of notches with one single purchase, consider Gerber’s Stakeout Spark multi-tool. It’s called “Spark” thanks to the included ferro rod, which will help you start up a campfire in no time.
But that’s not all you can do with this heavy hitter. Featuring 10 tools in one compact package, the Stakeout Spark is an excellent companion for all of your outdoor adventures this spring and summer. The 10 tools are: needle-nose pliers, standard pliers, wire cutter, tent stake puller, bottle opener, plain-edge blade, ferro rod, ruler, saw/ferro rod strike, and awl. It folds up small and hooks to a carabiner for easy carry. My only complaint is the ferro rod isn’t easy to remove.
Ruko R299 Portable Power Station
If you’ve ever felt like moving a battery pack just might throw out your back if you’re not careful, you too will appreciate the Ruko R299 Portable Power Station, which packs a powerful punch without being excessively heavy. The R299 offers 288.6Wh lithium battery capacity, which is enough to power small devices while you’re camping.
I appreciate that this device is just easy to throw in the trunk and bring wherever you’re going. It weighs less than nine pounds and has a nice handle on top. I also love that I can set my phone right on top for fast, wireless charging. The Ruko R299 also has some nice extra features, like a built-in flashlight.
We use this power station with Ruko’s RK100 100W Portable Solar Panel, which we love thanks to wonderful features like easy set up, easy carry thanks to built-in handles, and a zippered pouch to store charging wires.
Bob and Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun
It may not be a typical piece of outdoor gear, but this massage gun is great, and if you adventure hard, it could be a game changer for you. Bob and Brad products are designed by physical therapists Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck, and they focus on ergonomics and therapeutic benefits. This is clear in the design of the Q2 Mini Massage Gun, which is compact enough to grab and go for road trips, vacations, and camping trips.
The pocket-sized massager offers five speeds and five interchangeable massage heads—each one serving a different purpose. I appreciate that when you’re massaging someone else, this device doesn’t make your hand hurt after just a few minutes like others I’ve used. I also like that it’s quiet and comes with a handy carrying case to keep everything together.
YETI Hopper M12 Backpack Soft Cooler
This outdoor season, one of the best pieces of gear you can pick up is the YETI Hopper M12 Backpack Cooler. It’s fantastic! I didn’t realize how much I needed a hands-free cooler until I got one. For beach days, lake trips, and SUP or kayaking adventures, YETI has you covered with this 12-liter cooler that’ll keep your food and drinks cold all day long.
Features I appreciate include the unique Magshield access, which creates an easy-open, leak-proof seal, a small kangaroo pocket on the front for storage of small items like keys and phones, and the padded straps. I also just like the way this product looks. It’s probably not easy to design a backpack cooler that isn’t insanely bulky, so kudos to YETI.
ThermoFlask 16oz Sip-N-Lok Travel Coffee Tumbler
No spills, no fuss—yes, please. ThermoFlask’s Sip-N-Lok Travel Coffee Tumbler is your new favorite camping tumbler for keeping drinks whatever temperature you want them to be. The Sip-N-Lok will keep warm drinks warm for hours, and the best part is that it won’t spill. In fact, just a few minutes ago, I accidentally knocked mine over on the very laptop I’m using to type this, and not a drop of coffee spilled out. (Phew!)
The tumbler feels soft to the touch and comes in cute colors, which are two perks that add to the cup’s great functionality. I like the opening mechanism (which only requires one hand to use) and the fact that it has a lock switch. It also fits in all my bags and vehicle cup holders. I didn’t expect to love this tumbler as much as I do!
White Duck Rover Scout Tent
The ultimate outdoor-season activity is, of course, camping—and the ultimate camping gear is, of course, a tent. If you need a versatile, high-quality tent, consider White Duck’s Rover Scout, a weather-proof, water-repellant home away from home.
The Rover Scout comes in two footprints: 8’x9′ (72 square feet), which will comfortably sleep three people, and 8’x13′ (104 square feet), which will comfortably sleep four people. It also comes in two colors—sandstone beige and forest green.
I set our Rover Scout up for the first time with my young kids and found it quite simple. The tent comes with a handy toolkit, including a rubber mallet for staking down, which means there’s one less thing we need to remember to bring. It’s also easy to break down and fit back into its storage bag, which every camper knows is not always an easy task.
The tent offers plenty of stand-up space and lots of ventilation, which can be zipped up completely in the event of rain. It also has a stove jack, in case you want to use a stove to warm the inside of your tent.
For glamping as a couple or going off grid with a family, this tent is a great option. It’s roomy, easy to set up and break down, and functional in all kinds of weather.
What essential gear are you picking up this outdoor season?
Great gear!! Thanks for the tips!