From last-gasp-of-summer slides to first-taste-of-fall hiking boots, here’s what readers actually bought this month.
(Photo: Canva)
Published September 29, 2026 04:40AM
September is shoulder season, and nowhere was that clearer than in this month’s clicks on Outside. Readers were split between gear for the last gasp of summer (comfy slides, budget-friendly coolers) and gear to fuel their excitement for the fall adventures ahead (hiking boots, sleeping pads, and gear boxes to haul it all in). Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what Outside readers couldn’t stop clicking on in September—the list might just spark some inspiration for your own adventures.
Hoka Ora Recovery Slide 3
What We Said: “The Ora Recovery Slide 3s were cushy as hell—just as you might expect from the brand that made us fall in love with maximalist shoes. The dual-density foam layup is made from a soothingly soft, sugarcane-based EVA midsole and a sturdier, more supportive EVA outsole. The shoe felt truly therapeutic during my sorest steps around the neighborhood. But it was actually the way these slides helped inform my steps that made me fall in love with them.”
Read the full story here.
Arc’teryx Kopec Mid GTX Hiking Boots
What We Said: “’The Kopec felt like an extension of our bodies,’ our lead tester gushed. ‘The canvas-like Cordura upper conformed to our foot shape, the midsole was both responsive and supportive, and the twelve-ounce (per shoe) weight lent a barely-there feel. Add it all together and the Kopec Mid GTX inspires confidence to move faster, take chances, and wander off trail.’ Other pros included a firm, stable midsole; primo traction with Vibram Megagrip lugs; and a mightily durable upper that, when combined with the Gore-Tex liner, kept feet dry even during winter testing.”
Read the full story here.
Silky Nata Professional 240 mm Outback Edition
What We Said: “The Nata isn’t a traditional hatchet. It’s a Japanese ‘nata-bocho,’ or field hatchet/machete hybrid. While it doesn’t fit cleanly into the article title, I’d be remiss to leave this gorgeous kindling-making machine out of this update. The Outback Edition features a black-oxide coated mono-steel blade that was so sharp, I could shave off cheese-like slivers of madrone and fir for firestarter along the entire 10-inch blade.”
Read the fully story here.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
What We Said: “’With an R-Value of 4.5 and a weight (in regular mummy size) of 13 ounces, [the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT] is still one of the lightest three-season pads available,’ says our lead tester. It also packs down as small as any of its competitors—about the size as an overstuffed Chipotle burrito. Our testers routinely say that the NeoAir XLite’s warmth compares favorably to pads with R-values in the 5-6 range.”
Read the full story here.
RTIC Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro
What We Said: “A durable, welded, leakproof construction makes this buoyant beverage container a river trip essential, while two inches of closed-cell foam keep contents chilled. Apparently, RTIC doesn’t drive a hard bargain on soft-siders, because this cooler also comes with two gratis 30-ounce Essential Tumblers.”
Read the full story here.
Adidas ADI365 Climacool Iconic Tee
What We Said: “One thing that becomes crystal clear when you test as many running shirts as we do is the stark difference between budget and premium-priced shirts in fit, comfort, wicking, and drying performance. Priced at $36, Adidas’ ADI365 Climacool Iconic tee is the exception, performing like a shirt twice as expensive. The soft, single jersey fabric is made from recycled polyester, and, despite its medium weight, was one of the airier materials we tested.”
Read the full story here.
Danner N45 Mid GTX Hiking Boots
What We Said: “’While the N45 Mids are the sharpest (dare we say coolest?) boots we tested, with a sleek, futuristic upper, they feel old-school in the best of ways: tough, supportive, and resilient enough for multi-day trips with a 40-plus-pound pack,’ says our lead tester.”
Read the full story here.
Yeti LoadOut GoBox 30
What We Said: “The GoBox is built from a thick, Defender Material polymer that feels closer to a rotomolded cooler than a traditional plastic bin. Weighing in at just over 11 pounds empty, it’s substantial but still portable thanks to well-placed side handles. Design touches like the gasketed lid, tie-down points, and non-slip feet make it equally at home strapped into a raft, sliding around a truck bed, or posted up at a windswept sandy campsite.”
Read the full story here.
