Gear To Help You Be Active This Summer
Whether you’ve been staring out the window for the past six months waiting for the skies to clear and the sun to shine, or you live in a place where summer reigns all year long—summer is the season of adventure. From epic hikes to camping out on starry nights (even if it’s just in the backyard). And if you're anything like us, you've been itching to get out of the house (responsibly) now more than ever.
Which is why we’ve partnered with REI to bring you this list of gear to help you be active this summer. Of course, everyone is different, and what works for us may not work for you. So, we’ve broken this list up into five general categories of gear (think water bottle) that we find handy to have when the days get longer and hotter, with a few specific recommendations we think are worth checking out within each category (think Nalgene water bottle).
And, best of all, REI is having its massive, biggest-sale-of-the-year, Anniversary Sale from May 15-25. There are a lot of great brand deals going on at the time of this post. REI is also offering:
- 20% off one full-price item for Co-op members
- An extra 20% off one REI Outlet item for Co-op members
So, yeah, it may be a great time to grab some summer gear while still saving your money. Let’s dive in, shall we?
It goes without saying that reusable water bottles are a must for summer, but we’ll say it anyway. Reusable water bottles are a must for summer. Whether you’ll be lounging on your back patio soaking in the sun, hitting the trails for an epic 20-mile run, or anywhere in between. (And there’s no rule that says water bottles have to be used for water…say for those backyard camp outs.) Here are some reusable water bottles we think are worth checking out:
Unless you’re a fan of stuffing your pockets and/or hands with sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle, wallet, phone, snacks, and all of your other summer adventure essentials, daypacks are a must. They’re ready to hold all of your gear as you enjoy what the summer season has to offer. In fact, we think they’re so awesome we wrote a beefy guide on the subject (so head over there if you want to learn everything there is to know about daypacks). Keep in mind that what works for you may not work for someone else. Maybe you want a small, simple pack without any organization. Maybe you want a militaristic pack that has a spot for everything. Luckily, there are nearly as many daypacks as there are personalities in the world, so you should be able to find one that fits the bill. Here are a few suggestions:
Sling bags are the middle ground between pockets and a daypack, so they’re perfect for those adventures when you want to bring more than your wallet and phone, but don’t have a need to throw an entire backpack on your back. (They usually cause less of that dreaded swamp back too.) As with daypacks, we are so fond of sling bags that we’ve written a massive guide on the subject. And there’s a huge diversity of sling bags on the market. Here are a few worth checking out:
While there’s something fun and almost sentimental about going barefoot in the summer, most of us can’t do that 100% of the time. So, yeah, shoes are a necessity. For summer, we enjoy shoes that are breathable and versatile. We also look for grippy outsoles that will keep you upright on rocky trails, slippery sidewalks, and muddy backyards. Bonus points if the shoes work well in water. Here are a few of our picks:
Long, hot summer days can frequently end in chilly nights. And long, hot, sweaty hikes can frequently end at chilly peaks. So, a packable jacket is great to have on hand in all seasons, including summer. The compressibility means you can easily toss it in your daypack or throw it in the trunk of your car. Plus, the warmth-to-weight ratios of packable jackets tend to be great (as long as you choose a high-quality brand). A few of our top picks to check out include:
Soak up the Sun
So there you have it, folks, some of our favorite gear to help you have an awesome, active summer this year. Thank you to REI for partnering with us and inspiring us to get outside even when it feels like we may melt. Remember, gear isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. If you want/need more suggestions, check out our gear reviews and YouTube channel. Also, be sure to peruse the online aisles of REI and take advantage of their epic Anniversary Sale from May 15-25. (We know we will.)