Outdoors
More Outdoors Posts
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 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.
Beach Umbrellas Are Dangerous and Inconvenient. I Love This Majestic (and Safe) Alternative.
by Kit Dillon
The Shibumi Shade is a lightweight, nimble beach shelter that works better than most umbrellas.
I Used to Hate the Beach. Then I Got This Sturdy Umbrella.
by Annemarie Conte
This rock-solid beach umbrella won’t fly away in the wind.
The Best Sunscreens for Your Face
by Caira Blackwell
Sunscreen is personal, and the one you choose to slather on your face is even more so. Here are 10 options to suit different preferences and budgets.
The Best Kids Water Bottles
by Ellen Lee
Our picks include metal and plastic water bottles that are easy to use, a cinch to clean, and the least likely to leak.
The Best Basic Snorkel Set
by Paulette Perhach
After testing eight snorkel sets in Central Florida and Key West, we think the Cressi Palau LAF Set is the best snorkel set for most people.
The Best Hurricane Preparedness Supplies and Strategies
by Doug Mahoney and Ellen Airhart
How to plan and protect yourself in areas at risk of hurricanes.
The Best Beach Umbrella Is Not Actually an Umbrella
by Kit Dillon
A sunshade can give you a lot more shade than an umbrella, with a lot less drama. We like the four-person Sun Ninja shade best, but we have other options, too.
How to Pack a Cooler So You Don’t End Up With Soggy, Spoiled Food
by Rose Maura Lorre
Easily pack food and drinks in a cooler so that everything stays chilled as long as possible, no matter how hot it is at your campsite or cookout.
Ask Wirecutter: I’m So Bad At Drinking Enough Water. Help!
by Annemarie Conte
Make drinking water fun! Or at least less of a drag.
The Best Beach Bag
by Kit Dillon
After testing beach bags in Northern California and Hawaii, we’re convinced that the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote is a classic for very good reasons.
The Best Beach Towel
by Kit Dillon
After testing beach towels all over the country, we have four great options—plus a towel alternative that’s ideal for families with babies.
The Pizzas I Made When I Lived in Italy Were the Best I Ever Had. This Outdoor Oven Transports Me Back.
by Katie Quinn
The Ooni Koda 16 Gas Powered Pizza Oven lets me cook pizza that tastes like the brick oven pies I made with locals in Puglia.
The Best Thermos
by Trey French and Jordan McMahon
The Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle 2.5 QT is the most comfortable thermos to carry and pour from, and it keeps your drinks hot over a long workday.
The Best Bike Lock
by Duncan Niederlitz and Eve O'Neill
We tested 35 bike locks, and the Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 is the most affordable lock that will most likely need a power tool to be defeated.
The Best Bug Repellents
by Doug Mahoney
Our repellent recommendations are EPA approved, backed by experts, and tested by us.
The Best Kids Scooters
by Katharine Gammon
We’ve compared 19 kids scooters over the past six years, and we’re confident that the popular Micro Maxi is a worthwhile investment in longtime fun.
The Best Pocket Knife
by Doug Mahoney
After testing 28 pocket knives in over 60 hours of research, we found the Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) Drifter is the best for most people.
40+ Wirecutter-Recommended Sun Protection Picks
by Gabriella DePinho and Wirecutter Staff
A robust selection of gear we like that’ll help stave off sun damage all summer, including sunscreens, sunglasses, children’s beachwear, and UPF clothing.
4 Simple Tips to Keep Your Tech Safe and Dry This Summer
by Rose Maura Lorre
Here’s how to make sure your phone, tablet, smartwatch, or portable speaker don’t get ruined this summer, no matter how wet they get.
The Best Binoculars for Birds, Nature, and the Outdoors
by Daniel S. Cooper
A professional ornithologist tested 25 field-ready binoculars against his $2,500 Leica Ultravids and picked the Athlon Optics Midas ED pair as the best.
What to Pack for Summer Camp
by Kalee Thompson
Summer-camp packing lists can be long—and sometimes intimidating. Here’s how to choose fun but practical gear that’ll last for many seasons to come.
The Best Trekking Poles
by Ryan Bradley
After 40 hours of testing on trails, streets, beaches, and more, we’re determined that the Montem Ultra Strong Trekking Poles are the best for nearly everyone.
I Hate Hats. But I Love Wearing This $20 Sun Visor All Summer Long.
by Rose Maura Lorre
Hats are one of the best forms of sun protection—but if you can’t stand wearing one, here’s why you may prefer this roll-up hat-visor hybrid instead.
The Best Umbrellas for Wind and Rain
by James Austin, Daniel Varghese, and Sarah J. Robbins
Through rain, wind, and snow, we tested 48 umbrellas until we found the six best.
The Best Sunscreen
by Nancy Redd
It takes a shot glass’s worth of sunscreen to adequately cover a body in a swimsuit. Look for broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and a scent and feel you like.
Sun-Protective Clothing Is a Reliable UV-Blocker. Here Are Some Options We Love.
by Sarah Gannett
Covering up is a great way to protect yourself from the sun. But you can do better than a white linen shirt.
All of My Picnic Guests Ask Me About These Dreamy Tumblers
by Marguerite Preston
Falcon Enamelware’s stylish, durable tumblers have eliminated plastic cups from my summer picnic setup.
Lots of People Apply Sunscreen Wrong. Here’s How to Do It Right.
by Rose Maura Lorre
For optimal sun safety, you need to apply (and reapply) sunscreen to uncovered skin. Most people don’t use nearly enough. We’ve got you covered.
The Best Waterproof Tough Camera
by Phil Ryan
If you want to take pictures underwater, while you’re out skiing, or in other tough conditions, the OM System Tough TG-7 is the best choice.
This Super-Light Camping Chair Comes With Me Everywhere
by Hali Potters
The Helinox Chair One folds down smaller than a bottle of soda, sets up in under a minute, and weighs less than my filled 32-oz. tumbler.
How to Clean a Smelly Camping Tent
by Elissa Sanci
Here’s what you need to hand-wash your tent and fight the funk that builds up after a long time in storage—and what to avoid (like top-loader washing machines).
We Tested This Viral Sand-Removing Pouch. You Don’t Need It. Just Use an Old Sock.
by Annemarie Conte
Sand can be a pain to remove from your skin after a beach day. We tested solutions that help make it easier and less annoying.
We Hate Ticks, Too. Here’s How to Protect Yourself and Prevent Bites.
by Annemarie Conte and Doug Mahoney
Support our vendetta against deer ticks and Lyme disease by not getting bitten. Use permethrin, picaridin, and common sense. But if you are bitten, don’t panic.
The Best Kids Hiking Backpacks
by Jenni Gritters and Kalee Thompson
A great outdoor pack should be comfortable to carry, durable, and designed to offer easy access to hydration. Here are five backpacks we think kids will love.
The Best Flea and Tick Treatments for Cats and Dogs
by Mel Plaut
Treating your pets for pests isn’t cheap or convenient, but it’s necessary.
The Best Outdoor Speakers
by Brent Butterworth
A good set of weather-resistant outdoor speakers can bring year-around delight to a backyard or patio.
The Best Water Shoes
by Zoe Vanderweide
Water shoes keep your feet safe when you’re splashing around. But they can be stylish, too. We’ve found five great pairs to suit a range of tastes and needs.
The 8 Best Water Bottles
by Eve O'Neill and Sam Schild
We’ve found eight different picks—water bottles suited for everyone from gym rats to frequent travelers.
5 Offline Games We Love for Camping (That Are Also Great for the Backyard)
by James Austin
Camping has many joys—hiking, relaxing by a fire, appreciating trees—but sometimes nature’s inherent entertainment needs an assist. We have five great games to do just that.
The Best Mosquito Control Gear for Your Patio or Yard
by Doug Mahoney
Create a bug-free bubble outdoors with these spatial insect repellents.
There’s Basically No Difference Between Baby Sunscreen and Regular Sunscreen
by Rose Maura Lorre
There are few—if any—differences between regular sunscreens and those marketed for babies or kids. Here’s what you need to know.
This Surfer-Approved Sun Hat Always Gets Me Compliments
by Samantha Schoech
This cool, handmade African straw hat has lasted six years so far—and survived being dunked in a river.
The Best Smart Bird Feeders
by Rachel Cericola
Delight the bird-watcher in your life with a smart feeder that captures close-up videos and photos and can even identify what species visit.
The Best Gear for Cornhole, Bags, Sack Toss, or Whatever Y’all Call It Where You’re From
by James Austin
After surveying professionals and tossing their recommendations around ourselves, we chose the GameChanger Steady 2.0 Cornhole Bags for our own backyard games.
Putting Sunscreen on Squirmy Kids Is Hard. And This Viral Doodad Doesn’t Really Help.
by Annemarie Conte
Is the viral sunscreen applicator the key to kid-friendly SPF application?
The Best Smokeless Fire Pits
by Kit Dillon
On a chilly evening, we like to cluster around the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 (for smaller yards) or the Tiki Fire Pit (for larger yards).
How to Choose the Best Running Shoes for You
by Seth Berkman and Ingrid Skjong
The best shoes for you are the ones you won’t think about much once you’re on the road. Finding them may involve trial and error. Here’s how to get started.
This Legless “Chair” Is My Solution for Uncomfortable Summer Seating
by Elissa Sanci
The ALPS Mountaineering Weekender is the perfect chair for outdoor lounging, bleacher seating, and any other situation where your back or butt might need some support.