Summer is right around the corner, so here are two ways to ensure it’s the best one yet.
1. Kick off summer with the 2025 Outside Festival, May 31 and June 1 in Denver, Colorado. The event blends music, film, keynote speakers, outdoor brands, and great food in the ultimate celebration of adventure. Last year’s inaugural event drew nearly 20,000 people, and the festival will be even bigger and better this year, with Khruangbin and Lord Heron leading the musical lineup and legends like Diana Nyad and Alex Honnold headlining the speaker series.
2. Spend more time outside. Warm weather and long days serve up the perfect conditions for camping, hiking, paddling, and more. Make summer’s precious days count by putting more adventures on the calendar and equipping yourself with the best gear.
Below are ten products guaranteed to upgrade the season. They’ll help you sleep more comfortably outdoors, elevate your camp cooking with family and friends, and maximize fun on the water. Gear up and get out there.
Camp
REI Co-op Campwell 6 Tent
Got a big crew? Get a big tent. This cabin-style tent sleeps six comfortably with a spacious interior and elevated peak height (over five feet), so everyone can spread out and relax. Clear night? Roll back the fly and enjoy stargazing through the full mesh ceiling. It’s the perfect summer home for adventure-loving families and friends.
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Exped MegaMat Sleeping Pad
When it comes to sleeping well outdoors, a key consideration is what you put between you and the ground. For a solid night’s rest, you want a pad that’s thick for maximum cushion and insulated for warmth. The MegaMat delivers and then some. It offers four luxurious inches of cushion, enough insulation for winter weather when paired with a winter bag, and easy inflation/deflation. Bonus: The surface fabric is soft against skin and made with 100% recycled material.
REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 Sleeping Bag
If you’ve ever felt cramped by a too-narrow mummy bag, get ready for a revelation: The relaxed rectangular fit of this cozy sleeping bag offers plenty of roll-around room for a comfortable night’s sleep. The 20-degree temperature rating can handle the chillier side of mountain summers, and the two-way zipper lets you open the bag completely or even turn it into a quilt in warmer weather.
Hest Camp Pillow
They may look similar, but not all camp pillows are created equal. This one stands apart for its ultracomfortable memory foam, dirt- and water-resistant fabric, and removable/washable cover. Take it everywhere this summer, from camping to meadow napping to festival lounging.
Cook
AeroPress XL Coffee Press
If camp coffee—good camp coffee—is one of your nonnegotiables, get the XL Coffee Press from AeroPress. It can brew up to six shots of espresso or two cups of coffee at a time, keeping you on your morning game. To brew, just add your coffee grounds and water, then stir and press. It’s that simple.
REI Co-op Graphic Camp Mug
What’s a pot of coffee without a mug to match? The REI Co-op Graphic Camp Mug is made of high-quality stainless steel, features an easy-sipping lid, and is double insulated to keep your drinks hot (or cold). Plus, you can match it to your personal style with a choice of eight colors and designs.
YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler
This cooler is as close as it gets to summer on wheels. It chills up to 76 cans of your favorite beverage, and the PermaFrost insulation can keep ice frozen for days. But this is a Yeti cooler, so top-notch insulation is just the start. The whole thing is tank tough, and the NeverFlat wheels and telescoping handle make it easy to maneuver through festival crowds and over rough terrain.
Lodge Deep Camp Dutch Oven
Nothing says summer like cooking over a campfire. This cast-iron beauty is the way to do it for soups, stews, meats, and more. The deep eight-quart Dutch oven is preseasoned using a hot industrial oven so the oil is baked in, making it hand-me-down durable. That and the cast iron’s even heat distribution make the Deep Camp Dutch Oven a welcome addition to any camp kitchen.
Float
Bote Breeze Aero Bloom Inflatable Paddleboard with Paddle
Get on the water this summer with a limited-edition paddleboard from Bote. The Breeze Aero Bloom is inflatable and lightweight (just 20 pounds), so it’s easy to pack on road trips. Eco bonus: The deck pad is made with an environmentally friendly material sourced from harmful algae, removing it from the environment and returning clean water to the ecosystem.
Bote Highwater Hitchhiker
Whatever kind of paddling or boating you do, keep your valuables dry with the hip-pack-size Bote Highwater Hitchhiker. The TRU Zip zipper is fully waterproof, dustproof, airtight, and submersible, so you can focus on the water fun, not the risk of getting your stuff wet.
REI is the nation’s largest consumer co-op, with a growing community of 24 million members who expect and love the best-quality gear and outstanding customer service. The co-op is a purpose-driven and values-led company dedicated to enabling life outside for all.
The post Make It a Camping Summer appeared first on Outside Online.
