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1. A pack of waterproof cards so you can play poolside with no worries. Winning a game of rummy is gonna feel even better when you're splish-splashing away at the same time.
2. A pair of Altra Lone Peak 6 trail runners whose wide toe box, quick dry time, and great grip and support will likely have you ditching hiking boots for good. The older model of these shoes totally changed my life — backpacking miles came easier, blisters and foot pain on trail nearly disappeared, and my boots went bye-bye.
3. An Aeropress coffee and espresso maker that brews top-notch coffee anywhere boiling water is available. It's also small, durable, and easy to clean, so bringing it to the ends of the Earth with you is a no-brainer.
4. An Osprey Daylite pack so you can carry all of your outdoor essentials comfortably and conveniently for almost any activity. Its 13-liter size should be just right for plenty of water, snacks, emergency first aid, and maybe even a game or two. Cards, anyone?
5. A set of string lights that are a staggering 48 feet long so you can transform your patio space into a private outdoor bistro. Nothing will get your booty outside faster than the casually chic promise of dining al fresco.
6. A tiny tube of Blister Balm to avoid any dreaded foot pain caused by friction. Even with outdoor shoes that really work for me, I always swipe some of this on to make doubly sure my feet stay A-OK.
7. A set of extendable skewers so no knuckle hair is harmed in the making of scrumptious s'mores. Gathering around the fire just got even better (aka tastier).
8. A Lifestraw personal water filter for a little peace of mind if you ever find yourself in need of a "just in case" water filtration situation. This little device allows you to safely drink from any water source and is small enough to tote along anywhere.
9. A Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 firepit which is a smokeless bonfire ring that burns wood super efficiently using vent holes that direct oxygen right into the flame. I have this model and absolutely adore it, especially for hosting backyard hangs without bothering my neighbors with an intense smoky smell.
10. A Kelty Lowdown Couch that seats three. Just one foldable camping chair is a luxury, but three smooshed into one is such a fun idea! It's perfect for gathering around the campfire with pals and pups alike.
11. A Goal Zero Flip 24 Power Bank so you can charge your devices, no problem — from phones to navigation to headlamps, it'll be a relief to know you won't have any essential electronics poop out without a backup battery.
12. A 32-ounce lightweight Nalgene that's a super simple and lightweight way to carry just the right amount of water with ya wherever you may roam. My love of Nalgenes is well-documented, and this particular one fits the bill for utilitarian water storage while hiking.
13. A few backpacking meals for a hearty, low-effort meal to refuel on longer trips. Nothing like a bag of freeze-dried meat, carbs, and sauce to put a smile on your face after a day of trekking through the rain (but really, these are a real treat)!
14. And a long-handled spoon so when you have to reach deeeep down into those backpacker food pouches, you don't get your hands covered in sauce. An ultralight fancy-schmancy spoon is one of those luxury items scoffed at until I tried one and was like, "...OK yeah, that rules."
15. A Helinox ultralight chair, because after a long day of putting on the miles, playing sports, or enjoying other outdoor fun, the last thing anyone wants to do is perch on a rock or lug around a heavy chair. This seat weighs just over a pound, packs down super small, and is mighty comfy!
16. A Coleman three-burner camp stove perfect for whipping up a full meal in the great outdoors. It has two burners and heat control, so let me go ahead and put my order of backwoods steak and eggs in now.
17. An inflatable lounge chair that will make a sunny outdoor nap feel like the height of luxury. You inflate it just by whipping it in the wind, meaning no pesky hand pumps or electricity needed!
18. A Biolite 325 headlamp so you don't have to hold your bulky flashlight in order to see when camping. This one is super slim and unobtrusive and even tilts downward so you can have a better view of right where you're walking.
19. A puffy Rumpl indoor/outdoor blanket whose smooth surface is water- and dirt-resistant, so there are no worries about exposing it to the elements. Use it to keep you warm around a campfire on a chilly night or as a picnic blanket in your own backyard. I've personally done both, and love it!
20. A Yeti Rambler mug with a lid whose double-wall vacuum-insulated construction has a single-minded focus on keeping your hot beverages hot. Coffee outdoors on a brisk morning just got even better.
21. A portable and waterproof Bluetooth speaker to pump up the jams during summer pool hangs with pals without worrying that you're gonna break it with the splash from your mighty cannonball.
22. A Deuce #2 which is a lightweight trowel for digging cat holes, aka holes to poop in. Hey, it's a backwoods necessity when you're backpacking, and in my experience, using this trowel is preferable to using a stick or a beloved trekking pole to dig. And by preferable I mean makes it 1000% less terrible.
23. A pair of Injinji sock liners that may look silly at first but will truly help keep your feet *so* much more comfortable on hikes of any length (or just in regular life, tbh!). They prevent blisters, wick moisture, and give your toes their full range of motion so you can rock scramble with the best of 'em.
24. A printed double nest hammock for relaxing amongst the trees. I literally can't imagine anything I'd like to do more than chill in a hammock every day.
25. A Sea to Summit roll-top dry sack...or two...or five, because knowing your important gear is safe from water is a HUGE weight off your shoulders, and the uses for these bad boys are pretty much limitless.
26. A Coleman camping chair that has its own side table (with a built-in cupholder!) so you can keep your drinks, snacks, and speaker on hand while you kick back and bask in the natural ambiance.
27. A pack of Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes so you can freshen up a little bit between showers when camping or even after a sweaty sports game. These specific wipes never dry out my skin and the resealable packaging really does stay closed in my experience, keeping the remaining wipes moist and ready to use whenever you need 'em.
28. A pair of Smartwool Mountaineer Maximum Cushion crew socks so you have the perfect pair for day hikes out of camp *or* some snuggly sleep socks. I love my Smartwool socks and highly recommend getting a few pairs of outdoorsy socks for any major trips you have coming up.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.