We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A smokeless portable fire pit for inside folks who think a campfire fire sounds nice, in theory. The 360-degree Airflow design guarantees a perfect flame, even if your fire-making skills aren't exactly going on your resume anytime soon.
I have a Solo Stove! It was one of the first things we got for our place after my husband and I bought our first house. We wanted to see if we'd enjoy having a fire pit in our backyard but our budget was exactly $0 for installation. We got this to see how often we'd go out by the fire and it is SUCH a hit! We also love that we can take it with us when we go camping. Don't hesitate...you want this.
Promising review: "As someone who has built hundreds, if not thousands, of fires – this fire pit is by far the least smoky and easiest to start!! I'm quite impressed." —Jason G.
Get it on sale from Solo Stove for $199.99 (originally $299.99; available in three styles).
2. A lightweight fast-drying towel – this repels sand instead of attracting it like most beach towels do! This towel is gonna make a day at the beach finally feel like, well, a day at the beach!
It's made of a polyester microsuede material that absorbs quickly and dries fast. It also has an anti-microbial finish to keep the towel clean longer.
This small business started SMALL (we're talking in the back of a van!) and thanks to founder and CEO Wylie Robinson, the Kickstarter success has become a go-to shop for nature lovers looking to stay cozy in the great outdoors. The company is now based in Portland, Oregon.
Promising review: "This towel dries better than a conventional towel! Not only that but it was completely dry and ready to reuse in about 10 minutes. Normally we'd go through a stack of beach towels in one day. The towel itself is big but it packs up compact leaving more room in your bag for other things. It's soooo soft, made very well, and the pattern is gorgeous. I will be replacing all of my towels with these!!" —Danielle W.
Get it from Rumpl for $50 (available in several styles).
3. A gas-powered pizza oven that'll reach over 900 degrees F and cook a 12" pizza in 60 seconds. Trick yourself into spending time outside by working on the perfect pizza. It's all about that leopard-spotted crust!
4. A lightweight parachute hammock for people who would spend time huffing and puffing on a hike *only* if it means snagging a nature nap in the most peaceful spot possible.
Promising review: "This is super comfy and light. It's very easy to put up and wide enough that I was able to have a sleeping bag, two blankets, and my pillow in it. I had room to actually roll around a little; I laid on my back and side very comfortably. I would purchase this item again and from this seller. The hammock arrived on time and in great condition!" —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.97 (available in nine colors).
5. A portable 120-inch screen that'll turn your family's regular movie night into a fun night out (at least, out to the backyard). This is lightweight, sturdy, and reviewers say it's a cinch to set up.
Promising review: "This projector screen is easy to set up and for the money, it is a great value. It is a stretchy material. The stakes are definitely needed if you set up outside as it is basically a big sail. When you have it strapped down, it does make it feel sturdy. So far we have used several times outside with no issues. It comes in a simple bag, which is nice to pack in the closet as well. This projector is worth the investment." —Kelly Wooten
Get it from Amazon for $105.99.
6. A Spikeball set you can play at home or take with you on vacation. Don't waste away your time on the lake, get in some outdoor family fun with this entertaining game!
7. A sailing ship kite — this is likely gonna make a windy day worth being excited about. Why? Because this thing is the ship!
Promising review: "This may seem like a goofy item for an adult to be excited about, but I have been eyeing this kite for a while and finally decided to go for it! I'm really excited to take this kite to the beach and see how it flies! It will definitely require strong winds to get it in the air, but until then, it also makes a nice decoration piece in our guest bedroom. BONUS, it was also fun and easy to assemble." —Sam
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $50.
8. A giant bubble kit with a two-handle wand for making eye-bogglingly big bubbles in your backyard.
The kit comes with the giant bubble wand, two pouches of bubble concentrate, and a booklet to help you become a skilled bubble creator!
Promising review: "Love this!! Easy for kids to use — my six-year-old son figured it out pretty quick — and fun for adults as well (my husband and I might have played with it as much as our son did...) Makes amazing bubbles. The bubble mix it comes with is fantastic."—Thomas Durant
Get it from Amazon for $15.95+ (available in six styles).
9. A portable instant photo printer — this is gonna be the *picture* perfect gadget if you want proof you actually spent time outside while on vacation.
Promising review: "I originally purchased this product for my 11-year-old granddaughter who's always taking pictures. This is the absolute best gift I could have ever given her. It is compact, easy to use, and takes great quality reproductions of pictures in sticker form — how fun. I would recommend this product to anyone who wishes to give an out-of-the-ordinary gift." —Bianca Trevino
Get it from Amazon for $77.98.
10. A SunPrint paper kit sure to spark the interest of artistic souls and clever kiddos. Gather leaves, flowers, and the like on your next nature walk and set them up on this kit while it sits in the sun. Then watch your natural craft come to life!
11. A remote crocodile boat that'll scare the dickens out of your cousins during your family reunion. This is the year YOU finally win the prank wars. Celebrate with the wide crocodile smile you deserve!
Promising review: "This was so much fun to play with. I tricked my kids when we went kayaking and they were so surprised to see an alligator in the water. The remote is easy to use and it comes with two battery packs and a screwdriver to get into the battery compartment. It lasted about 20 minutes per battery, which is about average for the remote control things I’ve bought in the past." —Tea
Get it from Amazon for $35.99.
12. A campfire fishing pole so you can ~fish~ for a laugh while cooking up dinner and dessert during a camping trip or bonfire night.
Promising review: "This has been a hit for years, so I bought another one for my son. It is actually more functional than any of the other styles that are way boring! I take it camping and even strangers are entertained. It takes a little practice to get the fish to flip the hot dogs over but it is so worth it and fun once you get the knack of it. My 6-year-old granddaughter loves it because the hot dogs don't fall off." —Pony Expressed
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in four styles).
13. A retro number to help you spend a beach vacation looking your best even if your perfect day is usually inside, in sweats, hiding from the sun.
Promising review: "This suit is great. I was worried about the sizing, but took measurements and read a bunch of reviews, and it ended up being just right. This is the first swimsuit I have actually liked in a long time." —Rachel S.
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in women's sizes S–4XL and 27 colors).
14. A gardening kit so you can plant vegetables as fun and funky as you are if you've decided gardening might be a good thing.
The kit comes with five biodegradable pots, five peat discs, five plant markers, and five foil sealed seed sachets. Now they can grow purple carrots, striped tomatoes, red Brussels sprouts, rainbow chard, and more.
Promising review: "I love this little kit so much. It has everything you need. It would make a super cute gift! My Brussels sprouted first then the chard, squash, carrot and then finally a tomato sprout! Super cute and very healthy activity. Highly recommend! Love my funky veggie sprouts!" —S. Stevens
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two styles).
15. A four-person waterproof tent that'll keep rain, wind, and flying bugs out of your cozy "home" on your next camping trip. If you would rather avoid the great outdoors as much as you can...while in the great outdoors...you need this.
Promising review: "Our family has a lot camping experience. We have used many tents and, comparing other tents we have used, I can say that this family instant tent is really a good product with good materials and multi-functions. We are able to fit two full-sized air mattress and still have space for bags. It's super easy to setup and breakdown! The frame is very stable: there are very strong aluminum poles to support the frame. Airflow is good thanks to many screen windows in the interior tent – the rainfly also provides two large windows with flaps. It has protected us well on rainy days. And it has an extra pair of supported poles, which could make a sunshade when you support the front door." —Qunli Qiang
Get it from Amazon for $129.90+ (available in six colors).
16. A cot and air mattress if the thought of sleeping on the hard ground instead of your cozy bed is gonna be a hard pass from you.
Promising review: "This is the most AMAZING camping bed I've ever used, and I've camped my entire life. Not only is it up off of the ground, so my 36-year-old self doesn't have to cry every time I get in and out of my sleeping bag, my suitcase FITS UNDERNEATH THE BED. Then, there's the cot itself. Mmm...comfy. There's an included air mattress! But won't that just fall off of the cot? That's where the Genius of Coleman comes in, kids. They added a pocket made out of super soft microfiber material that feels like your favorite Grandmammy's sheets and zippers open to slide the PREMIUM COLEMAN AIR MATTRESS WITH DOUBLE AIR LOCK MAGICALNESS inside and then you ZIPPER IT SHUT AGAIN. But wait. There's more. HOW CAN THERE POSSIBLY BE MORE?! YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN US SO MUCH, COLEMAN! MotherLoving Side Tables, Batman. They snap on right where you want them. With holes for all of your beverage-holding needs. And just enough room for a Kindle, a phone, and an adult beverage." —LieslGeneva
Get a queen size from Amazon for $186.99.
17. A bottle rocket launcher that'll launch soda bottles up to 100 feet in the air and encourage your kids to spend the entire day outside *even* when there are video games just inside the patio door.
Promising review: "What fun – I bought this for a week of summer camp. It performed perfectly and survived for another year. The product has a built-in pressure relief. This is an important safety feature. It prevents over-pressurization and the potential of an exploding bottle." —K BREDAHL
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
18. A pool water fountain to make your pool a show-stopping slice of paradise.
Promising review: "This is a nice fountain with a great design. It's very easy to install and maneuver to have the fountain go in whatever direction or height you want. We were concerned that it might lower the temperature of the water too much, as we like the water to be warm, but it has not been lowering the water temperature since we only run it during the day." —Mr. Ed
Get it from Amazon for $31.97.
19. An inflatable couch – this is gonna be a backyard and camping essential if you are more couch potato than outdoor adventurer.
To inflate, open the zipper end wide and quickly whip it around to fill it with air. Then close it up. It's that easy!
Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my girlfriend. We both liked it so much we got a second one! We both enjoy hammocking but sometimes there are no trees close by so this gives a very similar comfort level for outdoor reading or naps. I definitely recommend getting this product." —Jonah Hohner
Get it from Amazon for $38.99 (available in 12 colors).
20. A leather-bound hiking journal so you can record inspiration gained from the rare times you enjoy the great outdoors.
Artist Ty Bowman creates these quality leather goods in San Tan Valley, Arizona. You can find purses, wallets, trinket trays, and more in the shop.
Promising review: "I just received this and I absolutely love it! The leather is wonderful quality. It is soft with a nice distressed look to it. The design and name are exactly as I ordered. Shipping was very prompt. I can tell this will last forever and just look even better as it ages. Thank you!" —Elizabeth Resendes
Get it from San Tan Leather on Etsy for $34.49+ (available in 10 colors and imprint designs).
21. A pack of rock climbing holds – a great idea if convincing your kids to actually play outside is an adventure in itself. Honestly, these rock.
These are weather resistant and designed with grip to prevent sliding or slipping. The hardware needed to assemble these is included and they're all sturdy enough to hold up to 230 pounds.
Promising review: "This is a quality product at a good price! I love the bright colors and sturdiness of the handles. I would highly recommend this product to others. It made our project easy to complete!" —Becky
Get a pack of 25 from Amazon for $39.99.
22. A pair of binoculars for scoping out some fun feathered friends way up high, or for getting a glimpse of the view ahead if you get too tired to finish the hike your friend convinced you to go on.
Promising review: "I use these for hiking, exploration, and just overall when I am camping or walking around somewhere and want to see things far away. I really think the compact size, and the quality of the image is unparalleled. Definitely worth the price for me." —Kyle Giffin
Get them from Amazon for $20.78.
23. A wavesurf shaper that'll turn rocky, uneven lake waves made by your boat into smooth, curved, and *perfect* ocean-like waves that are primo for surfin'.
Promising review: "Wow, just wow. Surfing with this has made a huge difference!!! I use this on my 2014 Moomba Mobius LSV. I now fill both the rear bags even to 900 lbs. each on both sides and this thing throws a clean long wave to whichever side its not mounted to. I don't have to list the boat anymore, making it much easier to drive and so much faster to switch riders from different sides. It looks the exact same as the picture shows, and it floats. I've never had it fall off during surfing and even forgot to remove it once and came up to speed 20+ mph before I realized it was still on and it never came loose. It floats so if you accidentally drop it while mounting it you don't have to worry about it sinking to the bottom of the lake. I wish I had bought long ago!" —Joel
Get it from Amazon for $249.96.
24. A cast-iron Dutch oven for preparing meals outside that are sure to taste especially good inside...your stomach.
25. And The Camp Dutch Oven Cookbook – a book filled to bursting with drool-worthy recipes your kitchen simply can't compete with. Your cobbler is gonna be so much more delicious when made over a fire, trust me.
Promising review: "As a novice Dutch oven chef, I found the intro sections very useful (how many coals for a given temperature, how to season, even a suggested camping menu). More importantly, though, the recipes are easy to follow and prepare, and the food turns out great. I've cooked my way through many (but not all) of them and have yet to find a dud. Depending on the setting, I've used charcoal, a campfire, and the oven in my kitchen, and despite my mediocre abilities, the output has been good." —G. Burnett
Get it on Amazon for $14.52.
26. A cooler backpack – this'll be *far* easier to carry long distances than a traditional cooler. Keeping yourself hydrated (or full of spiked seltzer) might be the only way to keep yourself out in the sun on your next family vacation.
Promising review: "This cooler backpack is absolutely perfect. I plan on bringing it to the beach every time we go. It's actually very comfortable on my shoulders. No leaks and it keeps our beverages and snacks nice and cool! Would 100% recommend." —Anjel
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in seven colors).
27. An LED light rope to create some (battery powered) ambiance when dining outside. This is lightweight, easy to store, and totally bright – it clearly has ~glowing~ reviews for a reason!
Promising review: "This is very cool. In this pack, there is a rechargeable battery that doubles as an LED light – it's very bright and perfect for tents and camping. The rechargeable battery can be used to recharge other items, like your phone, etc. There are five magnets along the strip and you can slide them up and down to stick the strip on metal objects. It's very cool! I can see how this would be great if you were working in an area and needed light. You can turn the LED and the light strip on, slip it into the bag, and carry it like a lantern. I'm very happy with this purchase because it's versatile and each item can be used in more than one way. I'm taking it on camping trips." —Ruth Jones
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in six styles).
28. Or a set of outdoor string lights — these'll be a particularly *bright* idea if your goal is to dazzle everyone who steps into your yard at night.
Promising review: "These are so cute and perfect! I have a decent-sized balcony and have been looking to turn it into a relaxing area. I got my lights within a few days and I immediately opened up my package, everything was there, no broken bulbs and a spare bulb. I then tested out the power and these lights are perfectly bright and still set a very calming and intimate scene." —Amazon Customer
Get them from Amazon for $16.95+ (available in four lengths and six colors).
29. A canvas backpack you can put on your pooch if you decide it's *their* turn to hold their own poop bags for once. TBH this thing has so many pockets they can carry just about anything they'd need! They'd probably suggest treats. Lots of treats.
Promising review: "This is an awesome pack! It looks fantastic and it's good quality — the zippers aren't weak and it has wide pockets. Our foster boy was happy to have this on. The straps were a little long but once adjusted we just tucked them in and...voila! I've had both strangers and friends constantly ask where we got it because it looks so great!" —DelgadoATX
Get it from Chewy for $35.98.
30. And a leakproof dog water bottle with a brilliant bowl you simply tip to fill. Did you just find something that's gonna be easy to carry *and* keep your pup hydrated when you're both out all day? You sure did.
Promising review: "This water bottle is truly a godsend! I cannot imagine using any other travel water bottle for my pups! It is slim, fits perfectly in a bottle slot in my travel bag, it is lightweight, and it has a loop to put around my wrist when I walk with my pups. It is extremely convenient on car rides, when my pup is thirsty and needs a quick pick-me-up! I especially love the fact that it sucks the water back in, so that I am not wasting unused water. The 12-oz bottle is perfect for tiny dogs. Any pet bigger than 10 pounds, I would recommend you purchase the larger bottle." —LV4LNMS
Get it from Amazon for $13.29+ (available in two sizes and colors).
31. A box of rainbow fire packets that just might convince your kids to look at something other than their phones when you accidentally picked a campsite for your family trip that has, sigh, cell service.
Promising review: "These things are so awesome! HUGE hit with the kids. I can't wait to take some camping — the colors are gorgeous! We've been using them for about a month now. Teals, greens, and blues are visible toward the top parts of the flames, and in the innermost parts of the fire, you can see ultraviolet and deep pinks. Ordering two more right now and will be using these all summer!" —VWatson
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $11.25.
32. A pack of SPF-sensing stickers to save your skin from the summer sun if you avoid outdoor activities because your skin is basically allergic to sunshine.
Promising review: "I'm multi-racial with tan skin. I burn when it's intense, but I get a great tan otherwise. My 9-month-old is fair, fair, fair. Blue eyes and porcelain skin fair. I reapply my own SPF 50 after a few hours, but I'm not consistent. I've never been great about sunscreen, but I was not going to let my daughter get burned. We live in South Florida and just a walk or park time is a potential burning hazard. This is a great visual for me to reapply her sunscreen or make sure she gets in the shade. They're an absolute essential for parents, especially the 'sun goddess' type." —FlightLife
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two pack sizes).
33. A flexible adjustable mister that'll help you keep your cool when some sun would do you good, but the heat makes you hide inside.
The mister will cool the surrounding area by 20 degrees, and it comes with an interchangeable flower-shaped misting head for a fun, whimsy detail.
Promising review: "Works exactly how I want it to. Provides a fine, cool mist on the patio, allowing us to enjoy the backyard until sunset without breaking a sweat. Easy to set up. It was out of the box and cooling us off within minutes." —Debra L. Kusek
Get it from Amazon for $32.63.
34. A pair of adjustable hiking poles – they're gonna make you the most agile four-legged creature on the forest floor, even if hiking is your kryptonite.
These are made with lightweight aluminum. They have anti-shock features and padded wrist straps for comfort. BTW, each pole comes with two rubber tips, two spares, a carbide tip (built into each pole) and two mud baskets — you're gonna be covered no matter the terrain!
Promising review: "I am so glad I bought these. I'm fairly new to hiking and now understand why so many people use these. I did a hard hike before buying these and overworked my knees climbing up/down and over rocks on the mountain. I then went on a hike after buying these and I'm so glad I did. These were very helpful in taking the pressure off my knees. The spring function they have is nice. I also like the different attachments for different types of ground that come with it." —Cathleen
Get them from Amazon for $21.99 (available in three styles).
35. A hammock chair sure to make your backyard look lovely and become your favorite reading "nook" in no time.
This comfortably holds up to 320 lbs. BTW, If you don't have a tree or structure to hang this on, you can pick up a stand separately.
Promising review: "No assembly required; super easy to put up and adds so much character to our backyard. It's also very comfortable to sit in. I'm only 5 feet tall, so I'm able to sit cross-legged with extra room." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $43.99.
36. A hiking scratch-off poster that just might encourage homebodies to tell their couch-potato lifestyle to take a hike...and start sight-seeing in every state.
This small biz is based in Cleveland, Ohio and has scratch off posters for all kinds of experiences! Browse their Etsy site and find posters related to food, fishing, drinking, date nights, and more!
Get it from Scratch Off Works on Etsy for $29.95.
Now you won't just be imagining what it's like to spend time outside.
