Sure summer may have officially kicked off at the end of June, but the thermostat is telling us there’s still plenty of time left for your warm weather adventures. Towards those ends, our editors share some of their favorite gear for this summer and beyond.
Freewaters GPS Sandal
Find your way to the beauty of summer, in the Freewaters GPS Therma-a-Rest Flip Flop. The Hovercraft Midsole floats over all terrain whether you’re wandering around town, down the beach, or up to the bar for another round. And since comfort is a mandatory item for any summer day, the Therm-a-Rest footbed is ready and willing to cradle your feet in plush luxury.
Zealios Sun Barrier
Like an army of zombies, the warm glow of summer lures the winter-weary masses out of their hibernation and on to the sun beaten trails and swimming holes exposing sun-starved skin to the sun’s damaging rays. Go with the ultimate protection of Zealios sun barrier (SPF 45). This high performance, oil-free zinc oxide based sunscreen goes on easy, never feels greasy and let’s you chase adventure without the fear of the dreaded ‘sunscreen eye sting’. In our opinion, it’s the best stuff on planet earth.
Innate Gear Saison Beer Sleeve
Let’s be honest, the cornerstone of any worthy summer involves plenty of backyard BBQ sessions and a few ice cold brews. Designed in homage to the Belgian farmhouse-brewed beer enjoyed by field workers during the summer months, the Saison Beer Sleeve is ready for summer action. To ensure your beverage of choice stays as cold as a mountain stream, Innate Gear employs a unique double-wall vacuum construction. BPA free means it’s good for the body, and the Stainless Steel construction means less red cups in our landfills. See… everyone wins!
Icebreaker Sonic Tank
How do you stay dry, cool, and completely comfortable during those rigorous activities you just can’t get enough of in the summer? Slip into the Icebreaker Sonic Tank and carry on with your duly appointed summer rounds. The technical Sonic tank is made from 150gm merino to keep you cool during your warm weather workouts, and if by chance your summer takes a wrong turn, take heart my friends because the Sonic Tank works as an ideal base layer in cooler conditions.
Granite Gear Sawtooth Pack
Sure, it’s listed as a ‘campus pack’ but don’t let the label fool you. Super-tough construction and features that other companies’ technical backcountry packs would be proud of make the Sawtooth Pack the perfect summer companion. Part of Granite Gear’s new line of barrier backpacks, this pack is up to the task whether the adventure at hand involves summer school, a day hike, or jumping a flight to Hawaii for a long weekend… a very long weekend.
Merrell All-Out Blaze
We all know that summer adventures come in different forms. For some it means heading towards isolation and solitude in the undomesticated playground of Mother Nature. For others, it’s a day of meandering with the family along the local levee. No matter how you define it, the All Out Blaze puts insightful design at the forefront of your summer hiking adventure translating into better fit and feel on the trail. The All-Out Blaze is our Editor’s Choice for those who like to go all-in.
ENO Hammock
It’s no secret. In the backyard, at the riverbank, in the forest, or for a little lunchtime snooze in the office, life is just better in a hammock. Sporting upgraded aluminum wiregate carabiners, updated buckles and new cord locks the line up of ENO Hammocks is better than ever making it a mainstay on our adventures. Factor in the featherlight weight, and these backcountry luxury dream machines are ready for any road trip.
Rugged Tec RoqBloq
Quality tunes make every summer party better. Enter the RoqBloq from RuggedTec which wirelessly fires clear, crisp sound from any Bluetooth-enabled devices. Whether your shin-dig takes place at the beach, on the mountain, or in the backyard the RoqBloq fends off dust, water and bad cases of the ‘dropsies’. Its battery lasts as long as any backyard BBQ, and let’s you take calls from your crew while the party rolls on. Even better? At only $69 it won’t cut into you summer adventure budget.
KUHL Mutiny Shorts
Since you practically live in flip-flops, it’s only natural that you wear the Kuhl Mutiny Shorts in conjunction. Kuhl brings their mountain sensibility and style into a board short for both men and women. The 3-D textured non-stretch nylon with DWR leaves the water in the waves and offers desert-fast drying. These feather-light shorts feature KUHL engineered precise anatomical fit that’s up to the task whether you’re swimming, surfing or sneaking in some bouldering on the way to the summer swim hole.