Gear Our Editors Tested and Loved: June 2026

The “Summer Friday” is a sacred concept—a green light to slowly back away from the laptop and head into the sunshine. (Even if that sunshine lasts until midnight, as senior travel and culture editor Kathleen Rellihan experienced in Finland, below). For this month’s gear spotlight, we asked Outside editors and writers for the goods they recommend for any summer adventure, Friday or otherwise. Our testing grounds spanned from Idaho’s Lochsa River to the Swiss Alps and our own backyards.

What’s your ideal Summer Friday, and what gear gets you out the door and into the weekend? Let us know in the comments. And if you see our Slack statuses go inactive at 4 P.M…. no, you didn’t.

This is my first summer in a home (and garage) that’s big enough to store a full-sized hard cooler, and I’m taking full advantage. After thoroughly reading Graham Averill’s breakdown of YETI vs. RTIC coolers, I opted for the 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler. At first, I was skeptical of getting the 52-quart size, but my partner pushed for the bigger-is-better approach (I mean, it fits 78 cans). Kevin, if you’re reading this, you were right. This time.

While the size is daunting to someone as short as me, I’m still able to easily maneuver the cooler around thanks to the all-terrain wheels and shockingly light build. The cooler looks like a monster truck, but drives like a zippy sports car. It’s taken up permanent residence on our patio this summer, and I’m already depressed at the thought of storing it in the garage for the winter. —Kristen Geil, gear and affiliate director

Kitchen Cruiser Pro

A new addition to our camp kit this summer, the Kitchen Cruiser proved life-changing. The hardest part about family camping is keeping camp clean and organized. My favorite feature: the built-in sink and rechargeable electric faucet that pulls water straight from your water jug at the push of a button. The counter and storage keep cooking utensils and food corralled and accessible. The two-burner stove ignites at the push of a button—no matches required. The size of a standard camp gear box when packed, it unfolds to standing height in under a minute—and everything packs into the unit itself. At 43 pounds, it’s a beast to carry. But it could weigh 100 pounds and I’d still find a way to cart it to every campsite. —Jenny Wiegand, associate gear director

Helinox Chair Zero LT

As a weight-conscious backpacker, I’ve never been one for camp chairs. Nature is full of chairs. Rocks, stumps—really any patch of ground not covered in poison oak or soaking wet will do. Helinox’s Chair Zero LT changed my tune. On a recent birding trip with multiple educational stops, the Zero LT was a treat. The ripstop mesh sling held me in a comfortable, slightly-reclined position and kept me off the ground. The DAC aluminum pole set was speedy to assemble and disassemble, and the whole thing weighs a scant 1 pound, 3 ounces when packed, making it one of the lightest camp chairs on the market. —Benjamin Tepler, senior gear editor

Watershed Goforth Drybag

As soon as the snowpack melts, there is rarely a summer day that goes by when I’m not hanging out on the river. Whether it’s rafting the Lochsa River in Idaho or kayaking the Alberton Gorge in Montana, I bring my Watershed Goforth drybag with me on every adventure. At 9 inches high and 16 inches wide, the Goforth fits every item that I need in a pinch, from a rain jacket during an unexpected downpour to my cold cut lunch. Plus, the bag rolls up for those days when you need less on the river–and to conserve a little space. It’s totally waterproof, durable, and at just 1.5 pounds, easy to carry in the most remote places. —Madison Dapcevich, associate editor, Outside

Yeti Daytip 3L Lunch Box

When I was newly postpartum with my daughter, my colleague passed along a tip: the Yeti lunchbox is the perfect size and shape for bottles. She was right. Three nine-ounce bottles fit inside perfectly with a slim icepack. My family and I have used it nearly daily since. Like all Yeti lunch boxes and coolers, the Daytrip keeps things cool for the whole day, and then some. The zipper is durable, so I know it won’t break—even when my four-year-old tugs on it aggressively, trying to “help” get his sister a bottle. And the sturdy handle makes for an easy grab-and-go design. Now that my baby’s a 15-month-old toddler, we’re starting to mix in some snacks with her bottles, and when she starts daycare in another year, this will be the lunchbox she takes with her to “school” each day. —Abigail Wise, brand director, Outside

Snow Peak x KEEN Hyperport H2

When I’m not in flip-flops, I’m in these sandals. With socks or without, they’re my go-to summer footwear for easy gravel walks, quick errands around town, and afternoon trips to swim in the river. The rubber outsole and protective toe cap take the bite out of rocks and uneven terrain, while the mesh upper keeps my feet secure without rubbing or feeling restrictive. I sweat in them on the hottest days, but the strategically placed holes in the mesh vent heat effectively and dry quickly after getting wet. This summer, if they’re not on my feet, they’ll be waiting by the door. —Amelia Arvesen, contributing gear editor

Zeal Nucla Sunglasses

I’ve been wearing the hell out of my Zeal Nucla sunglasses for their high-quality polarized lenses and wrap-around style shielding my eyes from the summer sun. They’re made from Zeal’s plant-based Z-resin frame material, which is super lightweight and durable. (These weigh less than an ounce.) I wear these casually, to hike, paddleboard, travel, and can run in them if I don’t feel like wearing more techy-looking shades. Currently, I’m depending on them in Switzerland. —Lisa Jhung, Outside columnist and gear tester

The Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie

I spend a lot of time outside during the summer, but I’m allergic to most sunscreens, so that means I wear a lot of sun shirts. There are plenty of options out there, but Free Fly’s Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie is my go-to choice because it’s super thin and breathable so it doesn’t weigh me down in the oppressive Southern heat. It’s also made from bamboo, which has a buttery, next-to-skin feel that is somehow even softer than cotton. And I dig the crossover hood that helps cover more of my face and neck than most hooded sun shirts.

I live in these shirts all summer. I play golf in them, I ride bikes in them, I walk the dog and hike in them…I have a handful so I can wear a different one every day of the week. I’m not kidding. And Free Fly just released a collaboration with Reef that incorporates a fun floral camo print to the layer, so now I can look like I’m about to go duck hunting even though I’m just going to the grocery store. —Graham Averill, Outside magazine gear and travel columnist 

Norrøna Women’s Falketind Dri1 Jacket i

I recently traveled to one of my favorite countries, Finland, to see the midnight sun. After experiencing its dark winter days on my last visit, it was an absolute dream to hike and kayak during the endless daylight in Lapland and the “white nights” south around Helsinki.

I packed a new Norrøna Falketind Dri Jacket, the Norwegian brand’s lightest, most packable waterproof jacket. Even though I was at times right above the Arctic Circle, most days hovered around 75 degrees, so my jacket needed to be very light, windproof, and breathable. I wore this one kayaking and hiking, and it also provided great protection on a rainy day biking. I also wore the jacket on a June day hiking in the Catskills Mountains in New York, and the zippered chest vents allowed for a quick cooling off.

Honestly, I’ve never worn a waterproof jacket hiking that was as light and thin as this one. I particularly like the longer hem and arm fit, as I’m not a fan of the shorter cuts for women’s jackets.  I know this jacket will be my go-to for any trip. And I love that this Norrøna jacket is made out of recycled post-consumer fibers from previous products. Another reason to love the Nordics: their dedication to sustainability. —Kathleen Rellihan, Outside Senior Travel and Culture Editor