Outdoors

Looking for outdoor gear to get lost with? We’ve researched and tested the best outdoor accessories to help make any excursion more enjoyable. Explore new trails with our pick for the best hiking boots, head for the shore with our favorite beach towel and umbrella, or light up your campsite with the brightest inflatable lantern.

Apparel

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  • A person's feet in pink hiking socks.

    The Best Hiking Socks

    by Ebony Roberts

    After hiking 160 miles in 18 pairs of hiking socks, we chose the men’s and women’s Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew as the best hiking socks for most people.

  • The writer wearing a sleeping bag and sitting up on a beach.

    The Best Wearable Sleeping Bags to Keep You Warm

    by Annemarie Conte

    Wearable sleeping bags are the perfect way to keep your arms free and your core warm while hanging outside or even working a desk job in an underheated room.

  • Nine pairs of sunglasses of varies colors and styles, neatly arranged in three rows.

    The Best Cheap Sunglasses

    by Zoe Vanderweide

    The right pair of sunglasses will protect your eyes while broadcasting your own personal style. We found seven high-quality pairs that won’t break the bank.

Camping

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  • A gray camping tent outside on top of a wooden platform.

    The Best Camping Tents

    by Claire Wilcox, Kit Dillon, and Kalee Thompson

    After sleeping in 51 tents, we think the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 is the best for two people and Kelty’s Wireless 6 is best for most families.

  • Our four picks for best headlamp placed next to each other with their lamps turned on, in front of a sand-colored background.

    The Best Headlamp

    by Jenni Gritters

    For late-night hikes, evening runs, and stargazing sessions, we think the comfortable and durable Black Diamond Spot 400 is the best headlamp.

  • A rolled sleeping bag next to a portable butane stove and tumbler, mug and some snacks.

    The Best Sleeping Bag

    by Claire Wilcox and Sam Schild

    The plush, cozy REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 Sleeping Bag is our pick for car campers. We also have picks for backpackers, couples, and more.

Hiking

See all Hiking reviews
  • Three first aid kits sitting next o each other amongst scattered first aid supplies.

    The Best First Aid Kit for Hiking and the Outdoors

    by Kyle Fitzgerald

    After 22 hours of researching and testing 12 wilderness first aid kits, we think Adventure Medical Kits’s Mountain Series Backpacker Kit is best for most weekend warriors.

  • Our pick for best hiking boots, the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex, next to a headlamp and insect repellent spray.

    The Best Hiking Boots

    by Ebony Roberts and Jenni Gritters

    The Salomon Quest Gore-Tex boots (in men’s and women’s) are our top pick due to their solid traction, support, and comfort for many foot shapes.

Outdoor gear

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  • Five different dry bags that we tested to find the best, shown with a water bottle, flashlight, and sneakers.

    The Best Roll-Top Dry Bag

    by Nicole Gull McElroy

    After we tested 15 models on land and water, the durable and watertight Ortlieb Dry-Bag emerged as the standout winner.

  • A person riding an electric scooter on the sidewalk in a downtown area.

    The Best Electric Scooter

    by Nick Guy

    If you’re looking for a fun way to commute or do light errands, we recommend Segway Ninebot’s KickScooter Max G30LP electric scooter.

  • Two metal detectors hovering over a pile of sand containing metal debris.

    The Best Metal Detector

    by Tim Heffernan

    You might strike gold. But you should know what you’re getting into first.

Snow

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  • The Best Thermal Underwear

    by Trey French

    We sent 13 testers out to hike, ski, shovel snow, and run. And we found base layers, in a variety of styles and fabrics, that will keep all types of bodies warm.

  • A selection of our picks for the best winter boots, lined up side-by-side.

    The Best Winter Boots

    by Trey French and Eve O'Neill

    After trudging through snow and ice in 30 pairs of boots, we’ve chosen 11 that will keep you warm, dry, and stable all winter long.

  • One of our kid testers trying out the the L.L. Bean Sonic Snow Tube.

    The Best Sleds

    by Doug Mahoney

    Looking for a fast-flying snow tube? A plastic toboggan that’ll hold up for years? A minivan-like sled capable of holding the whole clan? We have suggestions.

Swim

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More Outdoors Posts

  • A trail camera strapped to the trunk of a tree

    The Best Trail Camera Under $100

    by Sarah Witman

    We think the Wildgame Innovations Mirage 18 is the best trail camera if you want something to monitor wild critters and game.

  • The Guardian Ethos 16 Inch Bike, our top pick first pedal bike, shown leaning on its kickstand with a water bottle and bucket of chalk next to it.

    The Best First Pedal Bike

    by Laura Motley

    Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage. Depending on the bike, the process can be either unnecessarily frustrating or, well, like a ride in the park.

  • The Nebula Mars 3 Air (right) sitting on a rock, an orange lantern and a smaller rock (left), and the Nebular Mars 3 resting in the middle.

    The Best Outdoor Projector

    by Adrienne Maxwell

    If you’re looking for a more rugged, portable projector to take outdoors, the easy-to-use Nebula Mars 3 offers good brightness and a long battery life.

  • Various outdoor lighting options including lanterns, flameless candles and string lights on a wood table with plants.

    Outdoor and Backyard Lighting We Love

    by Sarah Witman

    Whether you’re looking to illuminate a backyard or balcony, or a picnic table or tent, we have recommendations for 8 delightful and weather-safe options.

  • Two hybrid bikes, on from Jamis and one from Fuji, shown facing each other in front of a hilly landscape.

    The Best Hybrid Bike

    by Christine Ryan

    After riding more than a dozen hybrid bikes in hilly San Francisco, we’ve pegged the Marin Fairfax 1 as our favorite (and most affordable) bike for commuters.

  • All five of our picks for the best bike handlebar bag posed together in a group.

    The Best Bike Handlebar Bag

    by Sam Schild

    After testing dozens of bike handlebar bags, we’ve chosen six that can carry all your riding essentials, no matter where you’re headed.

  • A person shown standing infront of a brick wall holding a Dahon Mariner D8, our pick for the best folding bike.

    The Best Folding Bike

    by Amy Roberts and Duncan Niederlitz

    After 85-plus hours of pedaling, shifting, folding, and unfolding, we’re convinced that the Dahon Mariner D8 is the best folding bike for most commuters.

  • A person's hand wiping down the outside of a fire pit with a blue sponge.

    How to Clean a Fire Pit

    by Christine Ryan

    Fire pits (smokeless or otherwise) don’t require much maintenance. To keep yours burning brightly, go easy on the water, and follow these simple steps.

  • The Ortlieb Twin-City Urban pannier on the back of a bicycle.

    The Best Bike Panniers

    by Eve O'Neill

    After spending five years testing dozens of panniers, we’ve chosen five that’ll be great for daily duty no matter what you’re toting or where you’re going.

  • The Best Bike Racks for Small Homes and Apartments

    The Best Bike Storage Ideas

    by Christine Ryan

    After 30-plus hours of research and testing, we think the Delta Cycle Michelangelo Gravity Stand is the best bike rack for storing bikes in limited-space homes.

  • Three standing bike pumps on a cobble stone backyard.

    The Best Bike Pump

    by Eve O'Neill, Matthew Edwards, and Dave Yasuda

    After seven years of tests, we believe the Lezyne Classic Drive 3.5 is the best floor pump for most commuters, and the Lezyne Pressure Drive is the best handheld.

  • The five bike helmets we recommend for commuters situated near each other in a circle.

    The Best Bike Helmet for Commuters

    by Lindsay Warner

    In our tenth year of testing bike helmets, we recommend the Met Downtown Mips for most commuters. We also have other picks for other needs.