Ten Summer Outdoor Essentials for All Types of Adventure
Whether enjoying the wilderness or visiting a city beach, some of our favorite products to make the most of the warm weather
Summer has officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere—and not a moment too soon. For most city dwellers, the warmer weather means either getting out of town as much as possible or enjoying the outdoors whenever possible—be that floating down a river on an inflatable tube, camping in the mountains, sun-bathing at the beach, or grilling by a lake. In celebration of summer, we have selected a few of our favorite new products for outdoor adventures. From bug repellent to tents, towels and bike racks, we hope these items encourage you to get outside a little more this season—and to log off for longer.
Limited Edition Bottle + Ocean Plastic Sleeve
Soma, Parley and Starbucks have teamed up for an environmentally friendly and ultimately pragmatic product: a reusable BPA-free glass vessel ($30) and an accompanying sleeve made from recycled ocean plastic. Available at various Starbucks locations, the limited edition item is shatter-resistant and holds up to 17 liquid ounces. With a bamboo cap (made from renewable resources) and the special pale blue Soma/Parley sleeve, it’s clean, minimal and useful.
Quick Pack
Crafted to be worn across the body or around the waist, Topo Designs + FRONTEER’s new Quick Pack ($89) is made for summertime adventure. Complete with top carry-handles, this versatile bag can go from the great outdoors to the office. With a main zippered compartment and an outer pocket, it can carry up to six liters. Plus, for those biking around town, there’s a light attachment loop. And the super-durable materials keep everything safe inside.
Poolside Indoor/Outdoor Rug
Available in five different sizes, this indoor/outdoor rug ($65) can be a picnic blanket, living room tapestry, poolside rug and more. Crafted from 100% PET—a fiber made from recycled plastic soda bottles—it’s environmentally friendly and top quality. Soft and wool-like to the touch, it can be vacuumed, shaken or even hosed so cleaning is easy.
Bug + Bite Insect Spray
With warmer weather, mosquitoes and other insects begin their annual annoyance, but Apothecanna’s natural spray ($26) tackles it two-fold, it both repels bugs and relieves the itching associated with bites. Made with citronella (which is a repellent and antiseptic), eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint oils, the potion also smells lovely (citrusy and woodsy), unlike most insect repellents on the market. Best yet, it can be sprayed all over—from face to feet—and it won’t stain clothes.
Parks Department Cap
You can support NYC’s parks with this cap ($40) any time you head outside. Proceeds from the sale (as with all items in the Only NY’s NYC Collection) go to the City of New York, specifically to the Department of Parks. Made from 100% cotton chino twill and with an adjustable strap, it’s suited to all sizes and genders.
Fistral Tent
Made to fit two people, this inflatable tent ($570) is crafted from stiff, weather-resistant polyester. There’s also plenty of room for gear and cooking equipment—and a functional flow-through design means there are two entrances and two vestibules. This also helps with air circulation, furthered by two closable ventilation points. Weighing just over five pounds, it’s also easy to carry and set up. (Note that an air pump isn’t included in the kit.)
“Die Mosquitoes” Candle
Handmade in New Jersey, these “Die Mosquitoes” citronella candles ($25) offer some dark humor and retro styling along with their practicality. Made from 100% soy wax, each will burn for around 80 hours, so most summertime grilling and picnics should be bug-free.
Surfboard Bike Rack
Carver Surf Rack’s small block rack ($135) holds your surfboard to the side of your bicycle, without getting in the way of your pedals. It utilizes an unbreakable clamping system, machined in Loveland, Colorado. For those who bike to the beach, all the rack needs is human balance, a board and some enthusiasm.
Ultravid 10×42 HD Plus Binoculars
With 7×, 8× and 10× magnification, Leica’s Ultravid 10×42 HD Plus Binoculars ($2200) offer crisp viewing in many extreme conditions. They feature an increase in contrast performance in all viewing situations, particularly in unfavorable light. Shock-absorbent armoring lends much needed durability. But it’s the specially formulated SCHOTT prisms married with Leica lenses that make these binoculars the most impressive we’ve tested.
Cindy Sherman Oops Phone Pool Float
Artist Cindy Sherman’s motto “I’d rather be swimming,” takes on new meaning with her new collaborative pool float. This special metallic gold version of the inflatable iPhone-shaped design ($250) by Third Drawer Down was produced exclusively for MoMA Design Store. It features one of Sherman’s modified selfies, blown to epic proportion. It’s clever, playful and functional… if you’re interested in putting your art to use. Further, the overall project was done in partnership with + POOL, a non-profit building a river-water filtering floating swimming pool in NYC.
Images courtesy of respective brands
