Gear Reviews

Here we are once again, with football season in full swing. It’s time to break out chicken wing recipes, play cornhole, and find other ways to stretch a three-hour game into a ten-hour venture. To help you prepare for the season and beyond, we’ve (fondly) looked back on our favorite tailgate experiences and considered the gear that made their preparation so seamless and fun.

Our crew at Gumption Gear has tested the following products and consider them to be some of the best tailgating essentials available. So whether it’s College game day, NFL Sunday, or a rowdy kids soccer weekend, it’s time to pack up the car, put your jersey on, and get ready to crack open a beer before noon in a stadium parking lot. We don’t get to do it often enough.

Ah, the venerable duffel bag.  The quintessential travel companion, embodying versatility, grit, and durability. While Eagle Creek may not have invented the duffel – the duffel was originally invented by a Canadian fur trader by the name of James D. Duffel – there’s little doubt that the Eagle Creek brand has perfected it.  

For generations, the strength of our country rested on the power of our factory floors, both the machines and the men and women who worked them. Our country’s identity was forged and stitched by generations of makers. American factories were the place where doers and dreamers came together to forge products of legendary status. 

What’s true is that America is still the strongest place for engineering, manufacturing, and design.  Both here and abroad “Made in America” still means something special: quality, dependability, ingenuity, and reliability—products that feature cutting-edge technologies and innovative styles.

Few products have revolutionized the outdoor industry like GORE-TEX.  From its humble beginnings in a Bob Gore’s basement, GORE-TEX has become synonymous with adventure.  GORE-TEX has revolutionized the outdoor marketplace by providing innovative waterproof and breathable technology that enhances comfort, performance, and protection for outdoor enthusiasts across various activities and conditions. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, the proof is in the products you buy – quite literally.

Spend any time online, at the park, or the grocery store and you’ll quickly realize that America has a new obsession: Double-walled, insulated, mega-sized tumblers.  And since it’s 2024, there’s no shortage of options from which to choose. However, there’s a new stand-out that deserves your attention: The MiiR All Day Straw Cup. 

The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. – Chuck Palahniuk  

The legend started back in 1913, in Great Barrington, MA. Through the fusion of vacuum insulation and the strength of steel in one portable bottle,  William Stanley Jr. forever changed the way hot drinks were consumed. Legendary status pursued, and now, more than a century later, the company he founded continues to create legendary technology to serve the all-day food and beverage needs.

Building on the success of the brand’s existing Outdoor Living collection, YETI has unveiled it’s own 12″ Cast Iron Skillet Kit. Billed as “the last skillet you’ll ever need, Yeti’s new offering carries a $400 price tag. More expensive than a 36” Blackstone grill, this is the most expensive cast iron skillet we’ve ever seen. Which begs the question: Is the new YETI Cast Iron Skillet worth the price tag?

Newsflash, offspring of America: Father’s Day is once again rapidly approaching, and if you don’t have anything for the big man, you’re going to need to figure it out fast! The good news is that we’re here to offer some quality assistance. First-hand experience tells us that it can be slightly intimidating trying to find the right outdoor gear for the Dad that already has everything. But there’s no need to get overwhelmed.

After putting an array of gear through the paces ourselves, we’ve got a list of gear and gadgets to adorn almost any dad that revels in the outdoor lifestyle. We’re excited to let you know that this is one of our most extensive gear guides to date! Act quickly and everything on this list can arrive at his door ahead of Father’s Day. Here’s hoping you can be there to watch him unwrap it in person.

Your duffel bag is the true unsung hero of your gear. It gets to travel, but it never gets to really come out and play. Even so, it bears the enormous responsibility of taking care of your gear, even when it’s in the hands of not-so-gentle baggage handlers. You can’t trust just any bag with this responsibility, but you can definitely put your trust in the updated family of Migrate Duffels from Eagle Creek.

A Limited Edition Hydro Flask Collaboration is always cause for fanfare, and the latest release from the iconic brand is no different.  Hydro Flask® and Vans® have come together for a special collaboration celebrating the culture of surf and skate. As the newest line from Hydro Flask,  the Vans Collection integrates the designs from the all-time classic skate shoe company directly into Hydro Flask’s coveted water bottles. And yes… it really is that awesome.