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Rolling Stone Summer Essentials 2021: The Best Outdoor Gear for the Season
From car camping tents to portable grills, outdoor speakers and accessories, our product editors break down everything you need for summer fun
By
June 29, 2021
Photograph Courtesy of Sonos
Products featured are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission from purchases made from our links; the retailer may also receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
After the longest year of our lives — a heck of a lot of it spent inside — summer has maybe never been so welcome as it is in 2021. To celebrate the return to the outdoors and, slowly but surely, to life as we once knew it, we’ve gathered a group of must-have products for long, lazy days at the campground, the festival, the beach, and anywhere else your wanderlust takes you. We’ve done the grueling work of testing each and every one — all you have to do is pack them up, slather on some SPF, and head out for the next adventure.
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Sonos Move Speaker
Image Credit: Courtesy Sonos
Soundtrack all your summer moments with this weather-resistant, wireless Bluetooth speaker. It doesn’t need to be plugged in, making it a true essential for blasting “Good 4 U” poolside or next to the AC. Bonus: It pairs with all Sonos speakers.
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Garrett Leight Navarre Sunglasses
Image Credit: Courtesy Garrett Leight
A softer, modern take on Sixties-inspired rectangular frames, these sunglasses boast anti-reflective, UV-blocking lenses in “Dreamboat Blue” and built-in nose pads for long-wearing style.
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Priority Current E-Bike
Image Credit: Courtesy Priority
From the bike path to the boardwalk, cruising has never been more fun than on Priority’s Current E-Bike. The sleek two-wheeler takes the work out of pedaling thanks to a built-in motor. And hang on tight — it can zip up to 28 mph!
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Yeti Tundra Haul Hard Cooler
Image Credit: Courtesy Yeti
Cult-favorite cooler maker Yeti has one-upped itself with its first-ever case on wheels. The rugged Tundra Haul Hard Cooler has enough space for a weekend getaway’s worth of beer (45 cans), plus tight-locking latches, puncture-resistant tires, and an aluminum handle that makes steering a cinch, even over gravel or sand.
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Anker Nebular Solar Portable Projector
Image Credit: Courtesy Anker
Forget the drive-in — your own backyard is the hottest movie-night spot with this projector. Despite its slim design, the video resolution is a clear 1080p, so blockbusters look crisp even when blown up against a bedsheet. With smartphone pairing to apps like Hulu and YouTube, you can stream all night long.
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L.L. Bean Katahdin Bean Toss
Image Credit: Courtesy L.L. Bean
Named for the highest mountain in Maine, Katahdin, these cornhole boards have foldable legs and otherwise come with no assembly required. Fill up your rosé glass, toss the 14-ounce bean bags, and repeat.
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Rumpl Original Puffy Easy Rider Blanket
Image Credit: Courtesy Rumpl
Toss that old throw you’ve been taking to the park. This water-resistant, machine-washable blanket is made from 100 percent recycled fabric with a groovy pattern that gives us major Seventies nostalgia.
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Hunu Pocket-Sized Cup
Image Credit: Courtesy Hunu
Upgrade your coffee-on-the-go experience with this leakproof, nine-ounce, BPA-free cup from Hunu. When it’s not holding your morning joe, the container flattens to about the size of a burger — perfect to drop inside a backpack for a flight or a bike ride to the park.
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Hydro Flask MouthTrail Series Bottle
Image Credit: Courtesy Hydro Flask
Hydro Flask’s insulated, stainless-steel canteen is 25 percent lighter than most 21-ounce bottles, and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Plus, it’s BPA- and phalate-free.
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Helinox Sunset Chair
Image Credit: Courtesy Helinox
With its high back and headrest, the Sunset Chair, which supports up to 320 pounds, is a nap-worthy resting place after a long hike. And at just three pounds and 18.5 inches long when packed up, it makes the schlep to campsite or beach a breeze.
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BioLite FirePit+
Image Credit: Courtesy BioLite
A Bluetooth-controlled electric fan lets you whip up flavorful grub on this hibachi-style charcoal grill without smelling like fire for hours. Or, drop in wood and use it as a fire pit for toasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories.
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GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cookset
Image Credit: Courtesy GSI Outdoors
Prep a hearty meal for your entire group without weighing down your backpack. This Teflon-coated, nonstick cook set nests into the size of a soccer ball and includes all the essentials: two pots, a nine-inch skillet, plates, mugs, and bowls.
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REI Co-op Grand Hut 4 Tent
Image Credit: Courtesy REI
The roomy, durable Grand Hut 4 will make you feel like you’re pitching a cabin instead of a tent. Near-vertical walls provide lots of space up top — and while bug-proof mesh panels prevent unwanted guests, this tent easily sleeps up to four people. So feel free to spread out.
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ROC SUP Co. Alliance HD Pack Paddleboard
Image Credit: Ben Nachlas / ROC SUP Co.
No more renting bulky gear — Roc SUP Co.’s inflatable paddleboard comes with a speedy, dual-action air pump and collapsible paddle that all fit neatly into a heavy-duty backpack with comfy padded straps. Your overstuffed car trunk and overworked shoulders will thank you.
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The North Face Class V Bucket Hat
Image Credit: Courtesy The North Face
From music fests to the campground, stay cool and block out the sun with this stylish North Face bucket hat with UPF protection.
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Grillbot Automatic Grill Cleaner
Image Credit: Courtesy Grillbot
Like a Roomba for your grill, the Grillbot is a motorized grill cleaner that takes all the elbow grease out of brush-scrubbing. BBQ cleanup has never been easier (or more automated) — just place it on the grate, set the timer and a push a button to let the three nylon brushes scrub off all the burnt-on gunk for you.
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RoofNest Falcon Rooftop Tent
Image Credit: Courtesy RoofNest
Stargazing on a road trip just got easier. This 60-inch-wide tent with interior LEDs and padded mat comfortably sleeps two, then folds down flat for the next leg of your journey. For something so compact, the RoofNest is surprising roomy; multiple zip-around openings let you open up a “window” to let the breeze in, or for a perfect sunrise view. This set includes the pop-up tent and retractable ladder.
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Patagonia Arbor Linked Pack
Image Credit: Courtesy Patagonia
Upgrade your summer hiking or commuter pack with this versatile 25-liter Patagonia Arbor Linked bag, which can fit a 15-inch laptop in a padded sleeve and features a water-repellent outer shell for extra protection when you’re outdoors.
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RoverTac Camping Multitool
Image Credit: Amazon
A must-have for any camping kit (or for dads who want to play survivalist for the weekend), this RoverTac multitool gives you a whopping 14 tools in one, including a dual-sided hammer and axe. It won’t add bulk to your pack, either, since all the tools tuck safely and easily into the handle, whether you’re widdling some sticks or hacking away at larger logs.
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Breeo Outpost 24 Grill
Image Credit: Breeo
Let’s face it—when you’re driving long stretches for a road trip, or camping out in the middle of nowhere, there’s not always going to be time to stop for food. Breeo’s Outpost 24 Grill is a simple, portable solution — just stake the anchorpoint into the ground, or even the sand dunes at the beach, and light up some tinder underneath to get that wood-fired taste on the go.
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