Outdoors

More Outdoors Posts

  • Our two picks for best Portable Solar Battery Charger, displayed next to each other in front of a purple background.

    The Best Portable Solar Battery Charger

    by Sarah Witman

    The Allpowers SP012 Solar Panel 100W is the best choice for charging a phone and other essential devices in the great outdoors.

  • Our pick for best cooler for casual adventures, the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler, alongside chilled drinks.

    The Best Coolers

    by Kit Dillon

    After years of research and gallons upon gallons of melted ice, we have picks for hard and soft coolers, plus backpack and high-end roto-molded options.

  • A person floating in a pool on a green inflatable while watching Ursula from The Little Mermaid on an outdoor screen.

    The Best Outdoor Projector Screen

    by Adrienne Maxwell and Geoffrey Morrison

    If you want to get the cleanest, brightest picture for your outdoor movie night, use an outdoor projector screen like Elite Screens’s Yard Master Series.

  • Black collapsible wagon with its front wheels on a pile of sand, with children's multicolor plastic beach toys.

    The Best Collapsible Folding Wagons

    by Katharine Gammon

    ​​Whether you’re headed to the beach or hauling groceries, we’ve found the folding wagons to best help you lug your gear.

  • The best picnic table camp stove, the Coleman Classic, shown with a cast iron skillet and a moka pot on the burners.

    The Best Camping Stove

    by Kit Dillon

    Whether we’re making a morning cup of coffee or grilling up burgers, the Coleman Classic Propane Camping Stove is our choice for campfire cookouts.

  • Two different hydration packs pictured together.

    The Best Hydration Packs for Day Hikers

    by Jenni Gritters

    After seven years of hikes, we still recommend the Osprey Skarab 18 and the Osprey Skimmer 16 to stay comfortable and hydrated. 

  • Our four picks for best action camera, laid out on a green surface next to a passport, foreign currency and some credit cards.

    The Best Action Camera

    by Geoffrey Morrison

    If you want to take photos and videos in any situation, even extreme weather, the GoPro Hero12 Black is the best option for most people.

  • A person looking through a telescope in a field.

    The Best Telescopes for Beginners

    by Signe Brewster and Colin Rosemont

    We’ve tested 14 top-rated telescopes over the years, and we’re certain the Celestron NexStar 5SE provides the best functionality for a dedicated beginner.

  • Two of our testers walk on a trail while wearing rain pants.

    The Best Rain Pants

    by Jenni Gritters

    The Marmot PreCip Eco Pants, which come in men’s and women’s sizes and multiple lengths, are the pants that kept us comfortable and dry through wet weather.

  • The contents of a bike patch kit spread on a work table.

    Build a Bike Patch and Flat Kit

    by Eve O'Neill

    If you own a bike, you need a patch kit. After 96 hours of testing, here are our picks for the best levers, patches, hand pumps, and more for most bike owners.

  • The Best Portable Hammock

    by Colin Rosemont

    We spent 35 hours testing 10 packable camping hammocks on hikes and in the park, and found that ENO’s SingleNest Hammock is the best choice for most people.

  • The Best Bike Repair Stand

    The Best Bike Repair Stand

    by Christine Ryan

    If you want to repair your bike at home, a sturdy, easy-to-use stand helps. After testing 12 stands, we recommend the Feedback Sports Sport Mechanic Bike Repair Stand.

  • sun-hat-our-pick-sunday-adventure

    The Best Sun Hat for Hikers

    by Liz Thomas

    Our testers hiked 200 hours to find an effective sun hat for outdoor activities. The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat is their unanimous favorite.

  • Food and drink arranged on a striped blanket laid on the grass.

    The Best Picnic Blanket

    by Kit Dillon and Dorie Chevlen

    After lounging on 19 top-rated picnic blankets, we found that the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket offers the best combination of comfort, durability, and easy cleaning.

  • A tube of Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50 sunscreen pictured with a tube of Thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50+.

    The Best Reef-Safe Sunscreen

    by Nancy Redd

    Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50 is our favorite reef-safe sunscreen. It’s also a great option for anyone who prefers sunscreens without chemical UV filters.

  • The Away The Packable Backpack, one of our picks for best packable daypacks for travel.

    The Best Packable Daypack for Travel

    by Kit Dillon

    We chose four packable daypacks that you can keep on hand, whether you’re trekking across the globe or just on your daily commute.

  • A selection of our picks for best camping chairs on a yellow background.

    The Best Camping Chairs

    by Kyle Fitzgerald and Kalee Thompson

    The Coleman Cooler Quad Chair is a classic camping chair to keep you comfortable in most situations. But we recommend other seating options too.

  • An assortment of sandals, in a wide variety of colors and styles, that we tested to find the best sandals.

    The Best Sandals

    by Dorie Chevlen and Zoe Vanderweide

    Whether you’re hitting the beach or heading out for a night on the town, we found nine pairs of comfy, well-made sandals to suit a range of styles and budgets.

  • A selection of our picks for best swim goggles for adults and kids displayed on a yellow background alongside a colorful beach towel.

    The Best Swim Goggles for Adults and Kids

    by Seth Berkman

    A great pair of swim goggles can make your time in the water safer and more enjoyable. Our picks include effective, highly adjustable pairs for adults and kids.

  • Two people stand under the stars next to two camping tents.

    What to Pack for Camping Trips With Kids

    by Kalee Thompson

    Investing in some high-quality basics can get kids excited about camping out—and help you avoid a mid-trip detour to the nearest big-box store.

  • Four people linger outside around a table and chairs on a gravel patio at the edge of a woodland.

    How to Stop Mosquitoes From Multiplying

    by Rose Maura Lorre

    To keep mosquitoes at bay, you have to take away their preferred breeding grounds. Here are several Wirecutter-approved ways to do just that.

  • two people standing side by side wearing our pick for the best leggings, the Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Legging.

    The Best Leggings

    by Ingrid Skjong

    We assessed the fabric, fit, performance, and style of an array of workout leggings to find six excellent pairs for whatever moves you.

  • Three commuter bike lights attached to the handlebars of a bicycle.

    The Best Commuter Bike Lights

    by Lindsay Warner

    After testing some 115 lights over the past 10 years, we can recommend the best headlight and the best taillight for most people who commute by bicycle.

  • A bicycle next to our four best bike seats the Thule Yepp Maxi, Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi, Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini and Burley Dash.

    The Best Kids Bike Seats

    by Caitlin Giddings

    A kids seat mounted to your bike is a good way to begin to nurture your child’s own love of riding for transportation—or just for fun.

  • A person walking on a paved walking path in a park filled with trees and wooden benches.

    The Best Gear for Going on a Walk

    by Elissa Sanci

    Take a walk. No, really—it’s good for you. And these Wirecutter picks will make it even better.

  • A few people flipping burger patties on charcoal grills.

    The Best Charcoal Grill

    by Tim Heffernan, Lesley Stockton, and Michael Sullivan

    The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22″ has been our pick since 2017. It’s solidly constructed and easy to control, offering great value.

  • Three balance bikes next to each other.

    The Best Balance Bikes

    by Jenni Gritters and Chris Dixon

    We subjected a fleet of balance bikes to cadres of kids and found the best bikes for different budgets and ages.

  • Several different dinnerware plates in multiple colors and patterns.

    The Best Outdoor Dinnerware

    by Dorie Chevlen

    From festive melamine and bamboo plates to classic enamelware, our favorite outdoor tableware pieces are perfect for taking dinner outdoors.

  • Three of our picks for best sleeping bag for kids, unfurled and placed one on top of each other in front of a lavender background.

    The Best Kids Sleeping Bags

    by Kalee Thompson

    The right sleeping bag will keep a kid warm and comfy, and it will be a longtime companion on camping trips and at sleepovers.

  • The corner of a hot tub, shown filled with water and with the jets on.

    How to Shop for a Hot Tub

    by Tim Heffernan

    This guide will help you plan out the purchase for the hot tub of your dreams.

  • The Best Puffy Blanket

    by Hannah Weinberger

    After wrapping ourselves in thirteen different puffy blankets, we found the Rumpl Down Puffy is the best insulated blanket to take outside.

  • A person wearing jogging equipment, stretching their leg in a park as they get ready to run.

    The Best Running Gear

    by Ingrid Skjong and Wirecutter Staff

    The right running gear can help you make the most of your training. After extensive research and testing with passionate runners, here’s what we recommend.

  • A group of people wearing our picks for best sports bra in front of a blue background.

    The Best Sports Bras

    by Christina Colizza, Anna Perling, and Ingrid Skjong

    To find the right sports bra, your best bet is to try as many as possible. We recommend 13 options to kick-start your search.

  • Our three picks for best stroller wagon, shown side by side in front of a pink background.

    The Best Stroller Wagons

    by Liz Iversen

    Got kids and gear you need to schlep to the soccer field, the beach, or the neighborhood block party? A stroller wagon might be for you.

  • Two people in Montbell Alpine Light Down Jackets.

    The Best Down Jacket

    by Catherine Harnden and Jenni Gritters

    The Montbell Alpine Light Down Jacket (in women’s and men’s sizes) has a lightweight yet toasty fit to keep you cozy in snow, rain, and cold.

  • Four filtered water bottles along with replacement filters and straws.

    The Best Filtered Water Bottles

    by Tim Heffernan

    You can get cleaner, better-tasting water with a filtered bottle that can travel with you—but other filtered water options may be more convenient overall.