Best New Gear of the Week, Tested and Reviewed

Here at Men’s Journal, our team of editors and writers are constantly testing the latest gear and cool gadgets to find the best new products. This is the newest and best stuff out there that you should know about to take on your next adventure, use during a workout, add to your wardrobe, or simply enhance every other part of your life. That includes everything from the best new adventure gear and outdoor gadgets to the absolutely coolest home tech along with the latest and greatest in tools, electronics, and cookware.

Here, check out our writers’ and editors’ favorite picks for Gear of the Week. Come back each week to see an updated list of our favorite new products, along with a selection of the previous weeks’ gear picks.

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Week of August 5

When I first switched from the Garmin 45mm Instinct Solar to the 50mm Instinct 2X Solar smartwatch, my immediate and dubious reaction was: “Damn, this watch is huge!” But it didn’t take long for me to realize that the bigger face was exactly what I needed. The larger display made it so much easier to read the digits clearly, and the updated software now offers more functionality. I can more easily see my steps, battery life, sunrise and sunset times, calories, altitude, temperature, and date, all at a glance. There’s also the addition of numerous face options for customizing the display for highlighting different activities like working out, biking, or hiking.

One major difference—unlike any other smartwatch I’ve used—is the additional solar panel built into the face. The increased surface area keeps the watch charged for an incredibly long time. Seriously, I rarely need to charge it. If the battery is down to just two days, it can recharge to 30 days in less than an hour. It’s an incredible feature and one that makes the watch that much more useable on a daily basis.

I also love the Garmin Connect app that pairs with the watch. It provides detailed reports and tracks trends for weight loss, sleep and stress patterns, heart rate, and more—there are so many more features I still haven’t even had time to explore yet. You can control music, use Garmin Pay for contactless payments, send quick customizable responses to texts, view your calendar, mark waypoints with GPS, monitor blood oxygen levels, and more. The capabilities of the Garmin 2X Solar are just crazy. Writing this review makes me appreciate how awesome this watch really is. In my eyes, it has earned its smartwatch moniker—it is an advanced computer on your wrist.

And the best part is that Garmin actively sends updates whenever developers add new features or enhance existing ones. One last cool feature I use way more than I expected is the “torch” or light. You can quickly activate it with a double click and choose between a white light or a red light. The red light is there to keep your night vision intact, and it’s surprisingly bright at the highest setting. Nice job, Garmin!—David Farrell, contributor

[$450; amazon.com]

The barefoot shoe craze seems to have died down in the running shoe scene—most brands have turned toward maximalist designs like those pioneered by Hoka—but for lower impact pursuits like hiking, hunting, and backpacking, there’s a good variety of options to choose from. Vivobarefoot, who have been the standard-bearers of barefoot-style shoes since 2012 and haven’t let up. One of their newest, and most daring, pair of boots are the Jungle ESCs.

Specifically made for hot and humid environments, natch, these expedition-grade minimalist boots use mesh to allow fast drainage and quick drying without allow dirt or pebbles in. Though obviously not waterproof, they are made from water-resistant materials to limit water absorption. Other jungle-fighting touches include synthetic vegan materials made to resist decomposition, brass hardware that won’t rust, gusseted tongue to keep creepy crawlies out, and long Dyneema laces that you can wrap around your cuffs to further up pest protection.

I wore them over the hot and humid summer in North Carolina and Virginia, and though not technically a jungle, heat indexes hit near 110 degrees for a few days, along with lots of rain falling during that time. They performed well while hiking through in slippery pine plantations and mossy, fern-filled hardwood forests because the luggy Michelin outsole provided lots of grip with 7mm deep tread which bit into muddy spots and gripped slick logs.

I liked the looser fit of the upper which allowed for lots of mobility and breathability. The “bio-inspired” construction was comfortable enough for all-day bushwhacking and let my feet with a good, workout-like soreness that showed my feet were actually getting stronger, instead of the worn-out pain and soreness you get with heavy, inflexible boots with rigid soles. Walking through deep puddles or small streams did get my feet wet, which was to be expected, but they were still comfortable and didn’t cause any hot spots.

If you want to try out the barefoot boot experience but want something a little closer to a traditional hiking boot, try out the Tracker II FGs or Tracker Forest ESCs.

[$280; vivobarefoot.com]

If you’ve shopped around for a laptop recently, you’ve probably noticed that they seldom come with enough storage to house all your files unless you pay a premium for marginally more storage. SanDisk recently came out with their all new Desk Drive that aims to solve this issue with one single high performing solid-state drive (SSD) that can fit in the palm of your hand.

The processing speed on this piece of tech has blown past most other external hard drives on the market and makes you feel like the additional storage space is a part of your computer’s hardware with the added benefit of portability. This device is compatible with both Windows and Mac via USB-C and comes in a 4TB or 8TB capacity providing ample storage for all your data in one of the most secure ways of storing your files remotely.

While the desk drive does need to be plugged into a power source to operate, it runs completely silently, a feature not commonly found in other powered drives. The desk drive takes mobile workstation to a whole new level and is perfect for photo or video enthusiasts who want to store their content libraries separately from their computer but still be able to work on them with lighting fast speeds.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$380; westerndigital.com]

If you’re in the market for a sturdy shelter that can serve as an outdoor lounge or large sleeping quarters, the Rover Scout Tent from White Duck is one of the best we’ve tried. We got our hands on the 8×13-foot model which can easily house a picnic table or five to six people with chairs while still leaving room for coolers and totes. This shelter can also be used as a tent and comfortably accommodate three to four sleepers plus a small lounge area for sheltered relaxation not to mention the roof extends well over 6 feet tall which makes it feel quite roomy. The Rover Scout also comes in a 8×9-foot footprint if you don’t need that extra square footage.

The fabric is made of Dynatek canvas which is nice to the touch while also being able to repel water effectively. If temperatures rise and you need a break from the sun, the Rover Scout can be a shade solution that still makes you feel like you’re outside thanks to its ability to roll up all four walls and take full advantage of a passing breeze.

The design is not only aesthetically pleasing and a nod to old military tents, but it’s also built like a tank. The flooring is made of a heavy-duty thick tarp like material so if you bring your furry friend along on your camping trip you have nothing to worry about. The tent comes with a well-stocked toolkit and an oversized stuff sack that makes set-up and take down organized and easy. While I didn’t have the chance to test it, there’s also a stove jack so you can really turn up the cozy factor when it gets cold.

The only drawback with this large tent is it’s a little on the heavy side. However, if you are car camping or setting up camp with a small approach the carry bag is still manageable to handle solo and quite easily with two people. One of my favorite parts about this tent is how easily air flows through it so it never feels stuffy and gives you the sensation of truly sleeping outside. The Rover Scout tent allows for ample flexibility for small or large parties while providing all the space you need to create the perfect outdoor living area or bedroom.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$670; whiteduckoutdoors.com]

Furniture assembly no longer needs to be cumbersome and what if I told you, it can even be an enjoyable experience. We recently tested Silk & Snow’s wooden bed frame and it’s an absolute stunner in person. Made from solid and sturdy rubberwood and acacia wood, this bed frame has a rich wood grain tone that pops and a nice smooth to the touch finish. This model came with a matching headboard, though you can order it without one if you prefer.

After several weeks of use, there is very little noise at all when moving around at night and all the components still feel very solid. With six points of contact on the floor with built in rubber beneath each leg the entire bed feels well balanced and supported. The bed frame arrived in just a few boxes and was extremely satisfying to set up thanks to the use of Japanese joinery to stitch it all together. There were no wrenches, screws or nails used during the process and on top of that it took under 10 minutes from start to finish. There’s also something oddly satisfying about putting together your bed with just your bare hands.

If you’re in the market to upgrade your bed frame to one that looks and feels a lot more expensive than its retailed price—this model is worth checking out.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$1,170; silkandsnow.com]

Week of July 29

People have a lot of different feelings about soft surfboards. If you learned to surf and ride competently on a straight-up fiberglass board, you undoubtably see them as a toy used by people who tend to get in the way. However, they serve a purpose. And if you’re a parent and your kid is surfing in a group where every set is a party wave, a soft top has saved you trips to the ER.

But it’s important to note that they’re not all the same. There are certain soft tops that are basically a block of foam and plastic. They aren’t made well and they don’t ride well. The Isle Coronado longboard falls into the category of soft tops that do ride well. They’re going to serve a purpose for helping beginners learn to surf safely. And when its lying on the beach, an experienced surfer will be able to glide along just fine. It’s the largest of Isle’s surfboard at 7’6″ a stable squash tail funshape.

Isle has made its mark in the outdoor world by creating a good inflatable SUP board—easy to pack and store with a rigidity comparable to a fiberglass board. The Coronado, while not inflatable obviously, has a similar solid feel, where other SUPs bend and flex.

They’ve used their PowerFuse construction for performance but also to keep it lightweight. It’s made of two layers of 6 ounce fiberglass on top and one layer of 4 ounce fiberglass on the bottom, underneath the EVA foam. The bottom is a durable 1.3mm polycarbonate skin. The entire deck is an EVA pad that offers traction, though you still might want to rub a little wax on there,

The Isle can be ridden as a singlefin or a 2+1 (center fin with two sidebites) all included as well as a leash. If you’re adding a softie to the quiver or looking for a board to learn on, the Coronado is a good choice and far better than the big box store offering.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$495; islesurfandsup.com]

There was a time when plug-in electric pressure washers had a bad reputation. Perhaps because they were lumped in with early versions of battery-powered pressure washers, which had anemic power and runtimes—although that category is getting better too. If you have routine cleaning tasks around the house, from your car to a patio, this Greenworks 3000 PSI pressure washer with 2 GPM (gallons per minute) of flow is all the power you need. Are there some with higher PSI at the home center that run on gas engines? Yes—but not many, and those all come with far more maintenance.

Here’s our take on the convenience of a cordless pressure washer powered by gas or batteries: You’re already tethered to the house through a garden hose so chances are a power outlet is nearby. Using an electric pressure washer isn’t as restrictive as you think. And while this Greenworks had all the power we needed this summer, the PSI and GPM listed on the box are maximum numbers and not likely what you’ll experience all the time. Marketing the max performance is something all manufacturers do and is worth keeping in mind.

We worked with the 48½ pound Greenworks to blast winter crud off a concrete patio, outdoor furniture, bricks, grills, vinyl fencing, and siding. The cord gives you about 35 feet of length to reach an outlet and the steel-braded hose—a step up from what you normally find with pressure washers—adds another 25 feet of reach. If you need more you can upgrade to longer hose as an aftermarket part.

Operation is one button simple and, maybe even better than the effortless power and not having to yank a ripcord to start it is not having to listen to an idling gas engine. The steel frame and big wheels make this unit easy to move around, especially over grass, and you can store it vertically against the wall in a garage or shed to save floor space. Along with the standard rainbow of spray tips for 15 (yellow), 25 (green), and 40 (white) degree tips, along with the black soap dispenser, Greenworks includes a longer turbo tip, which spins the water as it exits the machine cleaning a wider surface area without having to move the gun back and forth. This is the tip you’ll want to use to clean large horizontal or flat surfaces, like a patio, deck, or fence.

The flow rate is closer to 1.1 gallons, which is still enough volume to move crud away, and the soap tank holds about a gallon of cleaner with a secure lid. The Greenworks only calls for detergent when it senses the low pressure called for by the black soap tip. While we don’t always put them in the correct spots, we appreciate dedicated storage for the cord and the hose.—Sal Vaglica, contributor

[$450; amazon.com]

Benchmade inarguably makes some of the best mass market knives around—they are constantly breaking out new styles and models, while continually refining their current blades. This new version of their Osborne (in regular size and the Mini featured here), which has been a longtime EDC fav, ups their game again by adding 6061-T6 aluminum scales anodized in a eye-catching Burnt Copper color.

The aggressive tanto-style CPM-MagnaCut—laser cut from high-grade steel—blade also gets an upgrade with a more durable (and handsome) DLC Battlewash, stonewash-like finish, and the hardware is black oxide-coated. All blades and knives are put together by hand and sharpened in their factory in Oregon.

I was lucky enough to try out both the normal-size Osborne and the Mini, but ended up gravitating more toward the easily everyday-carried smaller blade. Fit and function is excellent, which is the norm on most Benchmade knives, and though the pivot screw was a little stiff out of the box, a quick tweak with a Torx bit and I had the blade flipping in and out effortlessly. As an EDC knife, the Mini was a treat, being light enough (2 ounces) to not notice in your pocket and felt deft and nimble in my hand when performing regular chores like breaking down cardboard. In the woods, it also performed admirably, with the sharp, 2.92-inch reverse tanto nicely handling outdoor tasks like making feathersticks, slicing meat, and cutting cordage. All in all, this upgraded Osborne with copper scales is a welcome and robust addition to the long-revered knife model.—Adam Bible, Gear Editor

[$261; bladehq.com]

There’s nothing quite like a duffel that delivers additional organizational features beyond its main storage compartment. We tested Peak Design’s all new 50L travel duffel and it’s a one of a kind bag that marries durability and versatility quite flawlessly. Whether you’re using it as a weekender bag or a larger pack for all your tech gear, this duffel can handle the elements with its weatherproof zippers and 600D nylon shell which as a bonus makes it easy to clean.

This 50L duffel is rigid yet soft enough to pass most carry-on regulations making this a great choice for travel. This duffel has external side pouches to store easy to access essentials while the interior has mesh pockets on either side to stay organized and conceal more important belongings. Being a big fan of high-density nylon bags this duffel feels as premium as many other backcountry grade duffels we’ve tested and alleviates the worry of whether your gear will be protected on your next journey or adventure.—Peter Matlashweski, contributor

[$155; peakdesign.com]

Towels make OK pillows when you’re camping. So does the folded over end of your ground pad or a hoodie crammed into an empty stuff sack. But you’re not sleeping on any of those in your bed at home. And an inflatable camp pillow isn’t a whole lot more comfortable than any of the above mentioned.

Luno is a brand that specializes in car camping gear, understanding that if you’re doing more than one night in a vehicle, it’s a much different thing than backpacking where every ounce matters, or even tent camping.

When you aren’t carrying your gear on your back, there is less worry about weight. But it still has to be packable. The Luno Camp Pillow weighs 2.8 pounds. And for the small amount more space it takes up, it’s a whole lot more comfortable. Really, it’s a travel pillow more so than just a camp pillow. Made of plush memory foam fill, it’s close to the size of a regular pillow, easily packable and super comfortable.

There is literally always “the other side of the pillow” too. One side is spandex to keep cool in the heat and other is a poly jersey blend for a cozier feel on colder nights. The cover is easily removable for easy washing. This is a pillow you would actually sleep on at home.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$70; luno.com]

Week of July 22

If you’re looking to take your fishing to the next level, the Garmin Echomap Ultra 2 chartplotter is one of the most capable sonar devices on the market that will no doubt enhance your odds of putting fish in the boat. Having used multiple fish finders over the years, none come close to the clarity, processing power, easy to use interface and high end features this model has to offer.

The Ultra 2 is compatible with forward facing sonar, has a 10-inch high resolution touch screen display that can remain crystal clear in full sun and for those who run multiple units, it can be paired wirelessly to other Gamin devices on your boat. The Echomap Ultra 2 delivers some of the best SideVü and ClearVü data I’ve come across which allows you to make out with precision what type of structure lies beneath the surface. That data alone has increased my catch rate significantly and more importantly helped me better understand fish behavior in relation to bottom structure.

Navigating new waters has never been easier thanks to Garmin’s Navionics mapping network which delivers all the data you’d ever need to map out points of interest while giving you the peace of mind of knowing where you can safely navigate. With the depth range shading feature turned on you can set colors to corresponding depths so you can target areas that might hold fish much more easily.

This unit is not necessarily meant for the entry-level fisherman but more for anyone who is looking to upgrade their current sonar device to one that has state of the art mapping and imaging technology while also being as future proof as it gets. The Echomap Ultra 2 will not catch the fish for you but it will certainly help you find where they are, teach you a lot along the way but most importantly make for a great day on the water.—Peter Matlashweski, contributor

[From $1,899; basspro.com]

There are lots of choices for chainsaws these days, including quite a few stellar electric saws that can perform as well as some of the best gas saws. But there’s still no substitute for a well-made gas saw to really rip through a day’s work felling trees and processing wood. Stihl’s new MS 212 C-BE saw is one of the best mid-range, all-around choices for the tasks most homeowners or small farmers/ranchers will need.

The 212 hit the sweet spot for me while dealing with downed trees on ATV trails around my friend’s farm, cleaning up multiple trees felled by storms, and making sure wood for the fire pit was cut and stacked for future bonfires. It’s light enough (10.8 pounds for the power head) to be easily toted around—whether on an ATV, in the back of SXS, or walking through the woods—but its punchy, 38.6cc two-stroke engine provided me plenty of power to quickly slice through a thick bough junction of a downed tree. The 18-inch bar is also made to be extra lightweight but still durable.

Modern features like Quickstop chain brake helps cut the risk of injury from kickback by stopping the rotation of the chain within fractions of a second if you hit it or it will also activate by inertia if the saw kicks back hard enough, which I didn’t have to experience, thankfully. Anther great feature is the the built-in anti-vibration system, which made it comfortable to use of extended sawing sessions throughout the days.

Tops on the list though is the Easy2Star system, which makes starting the 212 super easy. All you have to do is switch on the choke, pull the cord out a bit, until you feel tension, and then just lightly pull. One cough, then turn off the choke and pull the cord the same way and the 212 started up every time for me. (You do have to remember not to crank down on the cord like you’d usually do for older saws, it won’t start with that much force.)

Other great additions that make modern saws like the 212 a no-brainer for those who need a robust but idiot-proof saw is the IntelliCarb carburetor which will automatically adjust the air/fuel ratio to maintain the correct RPM at all times. You don’t have to fiddle with idle adjustment screws (and you can’t as there are none) to keep performance up when the air filter gets dirty or clogged. And for those of us that hate the balancing game that comes with adjusting and tightening the chain with an old school wrench, the Stihl comes with a Quick Chain Adjuster—similar to some new electric saws—that lets you dial in the chain with a dial, no tool needed.—Adam Bible, Gear Editor

[$360; acehardware.com]

21st-century golf shoes ain’t what your daddy used to wear, with or without green-destroying metal spikes. These days, forward-thinking companies like TRUE Linkswear blur the line between an athletic shoe specific to golf, and a casual sneaker you can walk right off the course and into the 19th-hole lounge for cold beer and squabbling over bets with your mates.

Putting innovative materials to use, the new Lux G is waterproof and easy to clean, as well as lightweight and breathable. Comfort is a big deal in a golf shoes—especially for us Luddites who still walk instead of ride—and these kicks are beyond gentle on your heels and toes alike. Too often, I’ve finished a round in actual pain from an ill-fitting shoe, but TRUE’s shoes can be worn all day without need of pharmaceutical intervention.

How they achieve the stability necessary for a vigorous golf swing and still remain comfortable is owed to a rubberized saddle and a mountaineering grade tread system working in tandem. The new upper is designed to remain flexible, and the Wanderlux midsole makes for a supportive and cushiony feel. Add to that a padded heel lock system and an Achilles heel pad and you’ve eliminated the enemy: friction. Last but not least, Lux G’s are style-forward—even in the potentially squaresville saddle shoe, black and white motif pictured here. Better to feel good than look good but these achieve both.—David Weiss, contributor

[$175; truelinkswear.com]

Week of July 15

Nowadays, the idea of developing one’s golf game without high-tech gizmos seems terribly retrograde. Data is king in the new millennium, whether you’re running for political office or trying to nudge your handicap down a few digits. The good news is that the price of participation in this brave new world keeps getting more affordable–what used to cost $10K is down to a reasonable entry fee: The Garmin Approach R10 launch monitor is a number-crunching marvel at less than $600.

Even better news is the reliability and accuracy that Garmin offers, as well as a smallish footprint given its ability to collect and store an immense amount of data points. Paired with Garmin’s proprietary app and a handy-dandy smartphone, the R10 is a true unbox-and-swing bit of technology: fire up the power, pair with your iPhone or Android and sync the monitor with the app. After doing the setup routine once, the rest is automatic.

The following metrics are available seconds after setup. Distance (both carry and total), club speed, ball speed, launch angle and direction, club face angle and path, backspin and sidespin, spin axis and rate, attack angle, apex height, and smash factor. Of course, if you’re human and subject to slight user error now and again, it will also track total deviation measured in yards, as well as carry deviation in degrees and yards.

Not only is the R10 affordable, it is consistent and accurate enough to warrant everyday use on the driving range, or at home if you’ve got the room for a full simulator experience.—David Weiss, contributor

[$600; amazon.com]

Just when disappointment and despair were curbing my zeal for golf, along comes Callaway with their new Paradym Ai Smoke HL irons, tailor-made for players who pray for higher launch, more distance and consistent ball-striking. Along with a realization that my preference for stiff shafts no longer matched my diminished swing speed, I’ve recently started using the Smoke HL’s with a Project X Cypher graphite shaft and dramatically changed my ball flight and carry overnight. Hallelujah.

The Smoke HL’s are definitely a game improvement design, but without apologies: The company used data collected from thousands of real golfers to incorporate face orientation, swing speed and club delivery, resulting in a face that launches higher and with more spin. As a result of all that number-crunching, Callaway increased the club length in the long and mid irons without giving up control. When the clubs are even a half-inch longer, distance follows, aided by the Ai Smart Face and a deep cavity-back construction to aid and abet tight dispersion.

Give credit to the sci-fi eggheads in Callaway’s R&D department for the design of the Paradym HL’s, but also their handy supercomputer that simulated untold thousands of impacts to create a face that improves launch and spin and thus keeps the ball in the air longer. For those of us who dream of hitting high, feathery shots into Augusta’s unforgiving greens, these irons are heaven-sent. Forgiveness, distance and more spin? Yes please!

For the record, the Smoke HL’s have restored my faltering faith in the game, and addicted me to the pleasures of golf once again. Will wonders never cease?—David Weiss, contributor

[From $1,000; callaway.com]

Montana Knife Company has been turning out some of the most-sought-after hunting, fishing, and outdoor knives since their founding by Josh Smith in 2020. Adhering to a small-batch, hand-crafted ethos that resonates with most outdoorsmen, whether hunting or not, they’ve built up a cult-like following that eagerly awaits their website-advertised countdowns that drop every week or so. And they are so in demand that MKC has to have a separate page for the knives that actually in stock, since so many get snapped up in minutes after going live.

MKC’s latest venture in the knife world is called MKC Tactical, which takes the same small run, extremely well-designed blades to the world of the military and law enforcement, and for those who want a blade that can help defend their lives. The first knife in that line up is called the Wargoat—a variation on their nimble Speedgoat 2.0, which is a ultralight hunting/fishing/skinning knife. The new blade is near-identical to the Speedgoat, with a barely shorter length (3.5 inches vs. 3.6), but is slightly thicker (0.125 vs. 0.095) to increase its robustness in the field, plus they added jimping and a choil to the Wargoat. (Bonus: if you already have a Speedgoat, the Wargoat will fit perfectly into your Kydex sheath, only a slight adjustment in tension needed.)

The most radical change is the addition of a ring at the rear to help with deploying the knife quickly from the included Kydex sheath and to help maintain control of the knife in dicey situations. It also has a bit of jimping on the back of the outer ring to help with control and defense. And instead of a paracord-wrapped handle, MKC upgraded to a super-grippy G-10 that feels great in your palm.

I’m not an operator or involved in law enforcement, but to me, this knife is just as well suited to the life of an outdoorsman. You get all of the benefits of the Speedgoat, plus added enhancements that can only help when in the woods—whether skinning an elk, cleaning a fish, or even defending yourself from man or animal. It served me well during a weekend in the forest at my friend’s farm, completing all manner of tasks—including a few fish filets—quickly and deliberately. I like the ring for its sure-handed deployment compared to my usual dangling lanyard, no matter the situation. I’m looking forward to the upcoming hunting season to put it further to the test.—Adam Bible, Gear Editor

[$325; montanaknifecompany.com]

A pool is many things: a place to cool off during this infinite summer heatwave of 2024, a great source of entertainment for families, and a good reason to host a party. A pool is also absolute misery to maintain. Pricey pool robots can help you keep an already relatively clean pool looking tidy between dips by scrubbing the floor and walls in a random pattern.

But the Beatbot AquaSense Pro promises to go beyond that. It includes a mode called surface cleaning, which is why we wanted to test it. Skimming the surface of a pool is something, if you have leaf-dropping trees nearby, that happens before you get into the pool. There are always leaves or other debris to fish out before your first cannonball. And since the leaves that end up on the floor of your pool where they are harder to clean were, not too long ago, ones that rested on the surface (ignored), it pays to get to them early.

To see if the Beatbot is worth the steep price tag we charged it with cleaning our suburban New York pool, which is right underneath a neighbor’s leaf-dropping birch tree.

Beatbox claims it’s the first 5-in-1 cleaning robot with the ability to help with walls, floors, waterline, surface, and clarification (though the cleaning bottles range $30 to $40 depending on what they resolve). Nearly all robots handle the first three, and we have a filter and chlorinator to handle clarification once the chemistry is balanced, so we were most interested in overall cleaning ability and surface cleaning.

The AquaSense acts more like an indoor robot vacuum: Instead of a random pattern, it runs across the floor back and forth, the way you’d mow a lawn. That’s much different than the random pattern most pool vacuums clean—and kind of fun to watch. In surface cleaning mode the bot cruises around the pool, with about a quarter of the machine sticking out above the water line as you see a stream of water pushed out a bubbling stream of water. It didn’t get every leaf in our oval pool, but it did nab most of them.

When it comes to cleaning surfaces, the four brushes clean more effectively than bots with only two brushes. Unlike robots that are tethered to a cord, which you use to yank the bot up, you’ll need to fish the AquaSense out of the water when the cleaning is done with a hook, we attached ours to the end of the skimmer poll.

The app shows the mapping of your pool, which is cool, but it won’t let you surface the robot once it’s underwater, which is a handy feature to have—you either have to wait for the robot to finish or chase it down with the hook. Also, the setup can be tricky if your home’s Wi-Fi network does not prioritize 2.4Ghz, which is what the Beatbox wants to pair to.

If you loathe pool maintenance, this one robot might be able to handle most of what you need cleaning.—Sal Vaglica, contributor

[$2,200; amazon.com]

Having just moved into a new home a few weeks ago that had been neglected over the years, we found ourselves in the best environment to test the Coway Airmega 400 air purifier. This machine can handle up to 3,120 square feet of coverage but worked wonders as we tackled the entire home room by room removing dust, cat odors, and other VOCs from painting. This model has a powerful air pull that can propel and circulate air very efficiently, even in a room with high vaulted ceilings.

The Airmega 400 is also equipped with various smart settings that make it easy to keep up with routine maintenance that ensures its always running at optimal efficiency. There is a light on the front of the unit that indicates air quality and can be programmed to turn on only when it senses purifying is needed. The Airmega 400 comes with two sizable replaceable filters on each side of the unit and each has two layers of filtration. The initial layer is a true green HEPA filter that traps bacteria, pollen and other airborne particles while the active carbon filter component targets food smells, pet odors and other VOCs.

The overall design is quite sleek, making it easy to blend into most rooms without standing out too much. Depending on the setting, it can be hardly noticeable when in operation especially if you program it to run at night. With the previous owners of our home having two cats and my wife being allergic, the odds were stacked against us but with a bit of cleaning paired with the Airmega 400 there are no longer any traces of cats to trigger her allergy.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$339; cowaymega.com]

Week of July 8

I once slept in a fishing net hammock in a little shack on a remote beach in Mexico. We’d surfed all day and driven half the night in search of a wave that we never found. We did find this little shack and decided to crash there for the night. Not that comfortable but I had no trouble sleeping. The fishermen made us coffee in the morning. Good memories.

If you’re going to buy a hammock, it better be comfy. Yellow Leaf handcrafted hammocks check every box for a good lounging—perfect after a long day of building a shed or ripping two surf sessions.

I dig these because they are 100-percent handwoven in a community in Thailand. Each hammock is hand signed by the actual weaver. The Vista is super comfortable, specifically far softer than your standard big box store yard hammock with a lush weave. You won’t wind up with crisscrossed lines on your back like a fishing net in Mexico. There are over a dozen fun colors and patterns to choose from and the Weathersafe performance yarn won’t fade, even in the tropics where the sun blazes all year. It also stands up to moisture and won’t rot or grow mildew. They’re also designed to not flip or wobble, which makes for less adult stress at the next party in your yard when the kids are swinging it back and forth all hopped up on sugar.

Ideally, this would hang between two trees at your beach or lake spot. But it’s easy to hang in the yard too, if you have ample trees or fence posts. Yellow Leaf also has a few options of hangers you can buy separately to fit your rooftop, deck, lanai, etc.

I may or may not be writing this review from the Yellow Leaf.—Jon Coen, contributor

[From $399; yellowleafhammocks.com]

Benchmade just launched a Water Collection that is made in Oregon and I don’t know that there is a finer knife than the Fishcrafter 7-Inch out there for salt or freshwater anglers. You pretty much just hold it next to the fish and the filets just fall right off.

When gear is made in the U.S., you can certainly tell the difference. This is made of ultra-premium corrosion-resistant CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel and it’s simply a joy to clean fish with. The 7-inch is a perfect size for smaller- to medium-sized catch and the trailing point blade has an incredible flex to move across bone and separate with ease.

Imagine a knife that won’t ever corrode. It’s almost hard to believe—especially in salt water communities—you could literally be using it for the rest of your fishing life.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$240; bladehq.com]

It is truly baffling (no pun) how warm Rab down jackets are. The Mythic Alpine Down Jacket is ultra lightweight for its warmth and packs down into a very small pouch. Filled with 900FP European goose down with a Nikwax fluorocarbon-free, hydrophobic finish, each baffle in the Mythic Alpine Down jacket packs a punch of heat above most jackets in its class. Also, the 10D recycled Pertex Quantum nylon ripstop outer fabric makes this jacket more durable than other down jackets that rip by just looking at them.

However, what is often the most overlooked feature of the Mythic Alpine Down jacket is its breathability. It is surprisingly efficient with temperature regulation and moisture management, meaning you can ski or do other higher output activities and it doesn’t get too hot but is a perfect layer for cold conditions when you take a break. Last but not least, the comfort factor is off the charts with nice big square baffles that are just downright cozy.—Kate Erwin, contributor

[$330; backcountry.com]

Lightweight and fully functional. Mystery Ranch has really hit its stride in the outdoor world by not only telling good stories but making quality gear. First off, note that the new backpacking pack, the Radix, comes with men’s and women’s harness options for a more ergonomic fit.

We recently did a few miles on and around the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey (don’t laugh, some through hikers say it’s one of the nicest stretches of the whole 2,190-mile slog) and the Radix met every expectation. I chose the 47, which was ideal for relatively warm weather hiking, as in I did need to carry a jacket but not a ton of heavy clothing. It easily and carried my gear and shouldering some of my 12-year-old’s as well. The harnessing is lightweight and easy to customize.

A few days of use and it was clear that the Radix is plenty durable, made with Ultra-PE “Birdseye,” which is a technical, strong polyethelene and recycled 100D Robic Ripstop. It’s well designed to evenly spread the load on your body. As for usability, I appreciated the full vertical off-centered zipper; makes it much easier to find my gear without emptying half the contents. It’s also compatible with your hydration reservoir. One external pouch held my tent, the other a small camp chair and the third was able to easily carry a first-aid kid and a few other items should I need to access them quickly. My sleeping bag easily strapped to the pack loops.

I can see using this pack for not only the trail, but road trips or other outdoor journeys, for a day trip or a few nights.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$249; mysteryranch.com]

Outdoor speakers are great to have around the backyard or when on a camping trip (as long as you are mindful of any other campers nearby). And technology has gotten so advanced that portable Bluetooth speakers can rival the soundscape from expensive indoor speakers made only a few decades ago. The one annoyance with portable speakers, whether in your backyard or campsite, is that they need power, whether a cord or battery.

The Lodge Solar Speaker eliminates that problem by integrating a solar panel into all sides of the speaker so your battery will always be topped off as long as the sun is shining. And not only will the Lodge erase any charging anxiety, it also produces stunning sound that blew me away the first time I heard it.

The Lodge mates a 50-watt amp with specially tuned tweeter and bass driver with a passive radiator for a full range of sweet sounding audio. And it boasts the latest Bluetooth tech so you can stay connected up to 100 feet away—which I tested extensively and found to be true.

It’s rated to IP66, meaning it’s waterproof and dustproof, and you can link an unlimited number of Lodge’s together for an immersive experience across your yard. It comes with a yard stake to keep the speaker at an optimum height and attaches via magnet so it’s easy to relocate to a table.—Adam Bible, Gear Editor

[$399; amazon.com]

Week of July 1

It’s not every day that we get the chance to test out some cutting-edge optics technology and when we do it’s always a treat. The new Vortex Razor UHD 10×32’s are state of the art binoculars that are compact enough to easily bring around with you anywhere and are optically strong enough to handle a wide variety of everyday situations. Although the Razor UHD series comes in various sizes the 10×32 is a great balance of compact meets performance. If you primarily scan across long flats and open plains, you might want to size up but if you’re walking in the woods or scouting for specific details within 200 to 300 feet, the 10×32 range will offer crystal clear clarity.

This model excels in low light conditions so if you’re up early on a walk or hiking up a mountain for sunset these binoculars can pick out the slightest detail in color and shape in otherwise difficult to see conditions. In terms of build quality, it doesn’t get any better than this as they are shock, water and fog proof, while also having a scratch resistant Armortek coating. This model comes with an intuitive protective carry case that makes it easy to stow away on the go. Packing a pair of quality binoculars when you go camping or hiking can really open your eyes up to your surroundings beyond what’s just in front of you not to mention it’s really fun passing them to friends and family to share what you’re looking at.

Whether you’re using these for hunting, animal watching or just curious about what’s around you the Razor UHD 10×32’s are a great all-around pair that will give you more than enough performance that you’ll never need to upgrade.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$1,499; amazon.com]

I have bamboo. It’s mostly contained but that doesn’t stop those roots from running horizontally a few inches underground right across the yard. Specifically this time of year, if you don’t venture to one area for a few days, you can come back and find a four-foot tall vertical green shoot coming out of the ground. It’s terrifying.

Every spring I have the daunting task of scraping back the landscaping stone and attacking the errant roots with a pickaxe and shovel, then ripping the lateral roots from the ground back to the original stand and cutting them. If I didn’t, it would swallow my house. I have to get stone delivered to fill in the mess left where the roots had spider webbed out.

In the season I’ve worn Ariat’s Rebar Chukkas, a basic but quality work boot, I have done both sides of my yard in addition to the stone refresh, staining, rearranging, planting, mowing, and painting. I’ve put these through the ringer and the full grain leather held up great. They are light (the sole is Ariat’s SmartLite material) and ergonomic support for a full day on my feet. The bamboo days were exhausting but without these, my legs would have been jelly. And any pair of sneakers would be in the trash.

They have a solid, classic aesthetic. The DryShield waterproof construction has kept my feet dry through spring rain and a bit of power-washing, but they’re also breathable. The lining is made of 50 percent recycled polyester. They meet American Society for Testing and Materials F3445 Standards for slip resistance and F2892 standards for electric hazard resistance too.

Great boots. And that wall of bamboo is almost worth it.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$170; ariat.com]

Sometimes a product comes around that you didn’t think you need but then, after multiple uses, you realize that you wouldn’t want to live without it. Enter the Widget Pump by Exped! The Widget is a rechargeable little cube that has three main functions—as a lamp (with three brightness settings), as a power bank, and as a tiny electric pump that makes inflating pads easy with its universal valve adapter. It is absolutely an essential piece of gear in my camping kit that makes my trips more enjoyable.—Kate Erwin, contributor

[$50; exped.com]

In 2022, the airline industry worldwide lost, damaged or delayed about 26 million pieces of luggage. Things have gotten better but beyond luggage fees there’s good reason everyone is trying to smash their belongings into the overhead compartment. A good amount of bags don’t come cruising along on the correct carousel.

Knog has taken this to heart and created a luggage tag that does everything. The Scout is the exact same price as an Apple Airtag, but the Knog works with Apple’s Find My function, so in addition to the tracking it has an 85 decibel alarm, should it be stolen. The other huge advantage is the Digital ID. Through the app, you load in your contact information. When the airline or hotel finds your bag, they can access all your information by bringing up the QR code printed on the tag.

In addition, it’s FAA compliant, rechargeable, (no need to replace batteres) and it comes with a bolt & braided stainless-steel cable. There’s no saying your bag won’t get lost, but your chances of finding it are now greatly improved.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$60; knog.com]

When you are camping you don’t have to lose your skincare regime. Or for some folks you can start your skincare regime. Like many people, I want to keep things simple when I am home and camping and I am not keen to bring a bunch of products. Although the Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes are single use and have the potential to create more trash, the packets are small and can roll up small that you can stash in your pack trash. The wipes “clean, exfoliate, soothe and hydrate” as Ursa Major says on their site and I don’t disagree. The benefits of using the Essential Wipes is that they are just big enough to use on your face and body and smell amazing and are energizing.

If you aren’t familiar with the small Vermont brand, they are a plastic negative natural skincare brand who make a variety of products that unburden the process of taking care of your skin. Using ingredients like cedar, aloe, birch sap, willow bark, witch hazel, white and green tea, Ursa Major makes fresh products that are all natural, but work. Unlike some natural products that typically have good intentions, but don’t really clean, Ursa Major actually works and doesn’t leave any residue or b.o. behind.—Kate Erwin, contributor

[From $6.50; ursamajorvt.com]

Week of June 24

I have long carried a Leatherman tool in my fishing bibs or on my belt. The Portland brand remains at the top of the game where it comes to quality functional multi-tools. My faith in the brand was even bolstered recently when I broke a blade on the Leatherman Free and they they simply replaced it under their 25-year warranty.

The Free isn’t heavy but you certainly know it’s in your pocket. And that’s why the Skeletool CX is so clutch. It features seven tools and only weighs 5 ounces! In a piece that weighs the same as your keychain, you’re carrying needle-nose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, hard-wire cutters, a 2.6-inch knife blade, a carabiner/bottle opener and large bit driver (with option for regular or Phillips).

Clip it to a belt loop or slide it in your hip pocket and you don’t even know it’s there. The blade’s upgrade to 154CM stainless steel means it stays sharp longer and resists corrosion. This is an essential if you’re trying to reduce weight or just looking for an easy carry, easy access multi-tool.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$90; leatherman.com]

Getting old is not for the faint of heart. With two shoulder tears that my surgeon will not operate on, I have to manage neck, shoulder, hand pain constantly. Part of that regime includes belay glasses. I learned the hard way that not having belay glasses, even for just a few hours while a friend hangdogged on a climb outside of their ability. After seeing my osteopath and getting a few massages, I promptly ordered the Upshot belay glasses from Metolius.

Prior to the Upshot, I had a metal pair of belay glasses and a cheaper plastic pair. The metal pair sagged with the weight of the glass lens and although they were lightweight and weren’t obtrusive on my face, they weren’t that comfortable. The cheaper plastic pair were made of hard plastic that wasn’t supple.

The Upshot’s meet in the middle. Weighing 1.6 ounces, the Upshot’s are light, but also have a nice structure with the plastic. The plastic is supple and doesn’t hurt after long use like some cheaper harder plastic glasses. The Upshot’s are comfortable and you can wear over sunglasses and still have a good field of vision. The Upshot come with a lanyard and a durable case that hangs well on a harness.—Kate Erwin, contributor

[$49; backcountry.com]

If your goal is landing big fish this year and you’re looking for a casting reel that can handle strong hits and powerful runs, the new Lexa LX400 series reel from Daiwa offers a ton of bang for your buck. If you’re using a reel this size it’s likely you’ll be casting big lures and the Magforce magnetic control system makes it easy to cast very accurately with big baits. This magnetic control system is a spool braking system that allows the rotational speed to slow down gradually throughout your cast and the result is a lot less bird nests and much more time fishing.

Having brought in several big pike and an elusive musky on this reel the retrieve felt powerful, and I was able to land them effectively thanks to the very ample 25 pounds of drag. The reel is rather large but has a great feel to it in the palm of your hand, almost like a baseball and the EVA knob on the handle is a nice touch for grip and control when you’re cranking down on an important fight. Tossing big baits around for hours at a time can sometimes get tiring but this reel makes it easy and quite frankly a whole lot of fun thanks to how efficient and smooth the gears work for you.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$280; westmarine.com]

Modern patio furniture doesn’t have to break the bank. While wood versions, usually made in teak or some other tropical hardwood that resists decay, come with clean lines they often also pack a hefty price and are cumbersome to move around—just ask anyone who has scuff marks on a deck under wood furniture.

Aluminum is lightweight, rust resistant, and, in this set from Udpatio, packs all the minimalist lines you want. We assembled this four-piece set, which includes two generously sized chairs, a three-seat sofa, and a coffee table in about 45 minutes. The directions were easy to follow and the machined bolts worked well. We’ve put together enough ready-to-assemble furniture to know you’ll want to speed things along by using a hex head bit in your drill/driver, or in a ratchet, and disregard the included Allen key, which is inherently slow. We also added a dab of WD-40 to the bolts to ensure we didn’t cross-thread any fasteners. The setup works in either an L shape or with the chairs next to one another and opposite the sofa.

We like the wide armrests on the chairs, the squared-off legs, and the adjustable feet. The seat cushions are a chunky 5 inches thick, which is more than standard, and the foam inside is substantial enough to support you through a long hang after dinner. The underside of the cushions are covered in grippy dots, which keeps them in place on the frames, though it also means you can’t flip them over if there’s an accident.

Like all outdoor seating, the fabric here resists water, stains, and fading, but the Udpaio set comes with covers so you can protect everything, even with the cushions in place, at the end of each night—Sal Vaglica, contributor

[$750; amazon.com]

The road to popularity for adventure motorcycle riding has been thrilling, with the sport growing exponentially year over year and anticipated to reach $64.4 billion in the next decade. Actors Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman might have sparked that passion in riders almost 20 years ago with their film Long Way Round, but a variety of factors like the explosion of the motorcycle tourism industry (you can’t travel around an island in the Mediterranean without seeing a BMW GS), social media, and an aging riding population with disposable income have all cemented a sport that is here to stay.

For riders destined to live out their own version of Motorcycle Diaries, Fox Racing recently premiered their first collection of ADV riding gear that caters to the needs of the weekend warriors, credit card tourers, and those willing to go the distance. With decades as a leader in the motocross and mountain bike gear world, the design team took their time to address every single detail to ensure the gear riders wear is as reliable as the machines they ride.

The collection is split into three different styles built on the same chassis that cater to the various needs and conditions of the ADV rider. We tested the Defend pants and jacket that boast a “not-too-hot, not-too-cold, just right for the right-now adventures–pure, and functional,” perfect for the microclimates we experienced ripping across the California ranges with Fox athletes Ricky Carmichael and Carey Hart.

The pants and jacket fit better than any ADV gear we’ve worn over the course of the last twenty years. Where competitors over-engineer theirs, the Defend top and bottom feel minimalist in comparison while still providing guaranteed GORE-TEX waterproofing for water crossings or precipitation and the confidence of D30 technology for crash protection. That’s all tied together with various stretch fabrics, easy access ventilation, and plenty of storage pockets for all your carry needs.

Defend sits right in the middle of the higher-end Recon ADV pants and jacket that have a similar fit but are built for the longer haul. That would be our one-stop pick for spring trips through Idaho or Montana, where the feel of the Ranger ADV pants and jacket is a lighter style with a more accessible price point. Whatever pairing you choose, Fox guarantees that you get out and back with safety and style.—Dustin A. Beatty, contributor

[From $500; foxracing.com]

Week of June 17

If you’re like us and enjoy making coffee in the outdoors, the new French press from YETI is quite likely the most durable option available on the market. While the price tag may be a bit high compared to its peers, you gain a very sturdy device that is very unlikely to fail you. Anyone who has brought a French press camping knows that glass and plastic can crack very easily in transit and there’s nothing worse than not being able to make coffee after crawling out of your tent on a cool morning.

Aside from its durability it also offers a level of insulation that is not commonly found on the market. If ever you’ve used an insulated YETI product before then you know it will hold its temperature efficiently and this French press is no exception. The strainer component is also designed with the same approach with overengineered durability.

We tested the 34-ounce version which can comfortably serve three large cups of coffee or four smaller ones. However, if you find yourself making coffee for five or more people in the morning you might want to get the 64-ounce version. In the end, you may not need a YETI French press but if you’re tired of breaking generic one’s over and over by accident like me and want an option that is built to last, this is the one.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$110; yeti.com]

If you’re someone who wakes up stiff or sore every time you go camping, a proper sleeping pad could be the solution you’re looking for. We recently tested the new insulated Klymaloft sleeping pad from Klymit and they definitely made some great design choices with this model.

Firstly, and most noticeably, the fabric you sleep on feels more like a bed sheet than the typical nylon like surface found on other mats. This soft but foam like fabric provides better grip throughout the night so you don’t slide around in your sleeping bag and It’s also quiet which helps to not disturb your partner throughout the night. Sometimes you don’t have to upgrade your sleeping bag if you venture out on colder nights, all it takes is a versatile sleeping mat like this with built in insulation to further isolate you from the ground.

This model comes in a slightly oversized carry pouch, which makes it easier to pack up in the morning but also doubles as an inflator if you’re in a pinch and forget your pump. This model would not be my first choice if I had limited backpack space but for car camping or any other occasion it certainly would be. While the insulated klymaloft is designed to handle colder evenings it’s still a very comfortable sleeping pad for warmer summer nights. When it got too warm, I found myself using my sleeping bag as a cover and just slept directly on the mat because it’s that comfortable to the touch. If you’re trying to get your partner or friend into camping and they always say no because they don’t sleep well, this pad is likely to change their mind.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$190; klymit.com]

While just about everyone you know made a loaf of bread during the pandemic, sourdough is seeing a bit of a resurgence as of late. The thing about making your own sourdough is there aren’t many shortcuts and plenty of variables. Temperature is a big one when it comes to how active the bacteria is in a starter. Sourhouse’s Goldie works like a mini greenhouse to keep the starter at an ideal temperature because the bacterial hot tub that is your mixture of flour and water wants to live in a range between 75 and 82 degrees. That temperature is a little too toasty for most of us, especially in summer. We’ve been testing the Goldie for a few months to make loaves of sourdough and the device is pretty simple so there aren’t many things that can go wrong.

The base warms to the high 70s, transferring that energy to the jar holding the starter, all held under a tall glass cloche. We used it with Sourhouse’s pint-sized starter jar ($17), which has dots denoting increments so you can gauge when the starter has doubled, though we found the included rubber yellow band easier to track. If you’ve got a Mason jar that’ll work just as well (nearly anything glass that is less than 4×7 inches should fit).

Over weeks, once we dialed in a starter from scratch which was a bit fussy, we found the Goldie worked well in keeping the water and flour mixture ready to go when we wanted to bake. While finding a warm spot in the house isn’t all that difficult for most of us during the summer, it might be harder than you think if your air conditioner is cranking from now until mid-September.

In the Goldie our starter proofed nicely, consistently doubling, and adding way more control to the entire sourdough baking process. There is really only one button so there isn’t much to mess up here and it looks nice sitting on the countertop. If, in the winter your house struggles to keep a nook somewhere that is about 78 degrees, or conversely, if your air condition thermostat is set below that in summer, the Goldie could help even the temperature playing field.—Sal Vaglica, contributor

[$130; sourhouse.co]

Sometimes a traditional cooler is a bit inconvenient to bring along for certain outdoor activities but that doesn’t mean you have to skip out on bringing some cold beverages. We tested the Pelican Dayventure Sling Cooler and found it to be a great solution for keeping your drinks cold when you’re on the go. True to Pelican’s reputation, this water-resistant sling cooler is built to last with a rugged tear-proof outer shell that can handle a whole lot of abuse. This narrow sling cooler is great for day trips on a SUP or kayak, floating down a river, hiking up a mountain hands-free or just tossing it in the back of your golf cart.

The cooler weighs just over 2 pounds empty so if you add your drinks, it’s not cumbersome at all to bring around. In terms of capacity, it can comfortably accommodate thirteen 12-ounce cans but if you’re adding ice or an icepack you’ll need to subtract accordingly. The double walled insulation is more than enough to keep your drinks cool all day long even if you’re in the sun for most of it. If you’re looking for that in-between sized cooler than doesn’t quite feel like it’s a cooler the Dayventure sling from Pelican is a solid choice.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$156; amazon]

If you have yet to experience the benefits of a self-propelled lawn mower, it might be time to check out what’s available on the market. We tested out the W520 push lawn mower from Husqvarna which is equipped with a commercial grade Kawasaki FJ180 motor and it’s an absolute powerhouse. It arrives with minimal assembly required and fires up right out the gate. Depending on the size of your yard, you may not need a self-propelled push mower like this but for medium to large lots or hilly terrain, the AutoWalk drive system on the W520 makes mowing feel much closer to walking your dog than pushing a machine. The rear-wheel propulsion makes it easy to rotate the lawn mower when looping back around and is only engaged by pulling the hand lever which gives you a lot of control when negotiating turns. The variable speed drive allows you to propel slowly around edges but speed up on longer straight lines to save time.

The blade height on this model can be adjusted mid-mow with a single lever that moves the entire deck up and down giving you a cutting range of 1.5 inches up to 4.5 inches. This lawn mower also comes with a sizable collection bag which gives your lawn that overall cleaner look and doesn’t spray clipping in unwanted areas like your walkways or driveway. While I haven’t tested it for leaf removal yet, with a motor this powerful I anticipate this will be a great tool for picking up leaves as they fall. Another feature that is really underrated is the handlebar’s ability to easily fold down when not in use effectively taking up less space in your garage.

I used to enjoy the exercise of using a standard push lawn mower but as time becomes more scarce getting the job done faster has become a priority and the W520 from Husqvarna certainly does that while making it easier at the same time.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$1,299; husqvarna.com]

Week of June 10

Over the past few weeks, we tested the Timberline pellet grill from Traeger, and it is indeed the luxury car of pellet grills. If you have a decent budget and you’re looking for a turnkey solution for quality smoking without having to actively manage temperature yourself, this barbecue is a top-shelf option. The Timberline can easily produce fall-off-the-bone ribs and moist pork butts with next to no smoking experience, and still function as a barbecue for grilling up some quick burgers for friends and family.

With the ability to control the temperature of the grill with a click of a button while simultaneous monitoring your meat’s temperature all in one place, this style of barbecue can be as hands on (or off) as you’d like. The Timberline comes with two wired temperature probes that connect directly to the pellet grill and two wireless meat thermometers so you can track a variety of proteins all at once to ensure a perfect cook. This model can roll smoke as low as 165 degrees or fire up to 500 degrees and thanks to the convection function and double walled construction the smoke only exits through the back which gives it a leg up over a lot of other pellet grills on the market.

When it comes to pellet grills, Traeger is no stranger to streamlining the process of making great tasting food. This model comes with an induction cooktop unit right beside the grill so you can work on your sauce or toss on the cast iron pan and sear your meat right at the grill without having to go into the kitchen. The grill stacking system is customizable but also convenient for food management and capitalizes on the full 880 square feet of cooking real estate. All in all, this grill is the king of convenience with ample storage for all your grilling accessories, pellets and even has a built-in, magnetically attached cutting board on top of the hopper.

As any barbecue enthusiast knows, clean-up is an important part of the game but this model makes it easy and convenient to scrap away grease or food debris into a safety located ash keg bellow that is easy to access. Given its price tag, this pellet grill may not be for everyone but if you want the Ferrari of pellet grills with an abundance of premium features that stack all the odds on your side to making perfect cooks every single time, the Timberline from Traeger should be your next grill.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[From $3,000; acehardware.com]

When it comes to outdoor activities, having a few waterproof storage options handy can really take the edge off when dark clouds start rolling in. We got our hands on the Mustang Survival Highwater 60L Gear Hauler and it checks all the boxes in terms of keeping your gear dry while being easy to lug around. When empty it can pack down fairly small and the roll-top design for sealing it makes it easy to reduce it’s size to accommodate changing gear quantities as needed. Equipped with a rugged, 420D double-coated nylon fabric it helps keeps the rain away from all your belongings no matter how hard the downpour.

If you’re an avid canoe camper, a bag like this is the ultimate cheat code to keep all your belongings dry while heading out on the water. The shoulder straps make it easy to travel longer distances hands free, but the real kicker is the many anchored handles that make it easy to pass along from boat to shore. This bag is also great for day trips to the beach when you just want to throw everything in one bag and go, while not having to worry about your stuff getting wet.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$165; amazon.com]

Our Place has consistently been pushing out new and innovative cookware and the Titanium Always Pan Pro is their latest release. This coating-free, non-stick pan with an elegant chrome finish is made with titanium which is significantly more durable than traditional stainless steel. With a temperature rating of up to 1,000 degrees, this pan can handle pretty much any type of cooking application from stove top to oven or even deep frying. I was skeptical about its non-stick properties at first but after a couple weeks of frying eggs, searing steaks and whipping up stir fries this pan is the real deal. The Always Pan Pro is not lightweight by any means given its very tough composition but still light enough to sauté or flip your food with ease.

There is a bit of a learning curve with a pan of this caliber, but it’s still beginner friendly and actually demands a more hands-off cooking approach where you let your food cook enough to unstick itself before flipping. This pan produces that sought-after deep golden sear on your food and conversely, when it comes time to clean the grime or burnt ends, it all comes off quite easily. Although their catalog mentions it’s dishwasher safe, out of habit, I chose to hand wash it which has proven to be not a bother at all.

If you’re looking for a frying pan capable of doing it all that is completely free of harmful toxins and is built to last, the Always Pan Pro could be for you.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$195; fromourplace.com]

Barbecue season is in full swing. This means it’s officially time to gear up and get your backyard barbecue setup in order. And we’re not talking heading to Lowe’s and grabbing the bargain grill off the sidewalk sale…we’re talking about seriously upgrading your backyard kit so that all the neighbors will be buzzing about your pitmaster paradise. We recently got our hands on some new products from perhaps the best one-stop-shop offering in the whole barbecue space.

Introducing NewAge Products. Not only do they offer every tool of the trade for grill masters and enthusiasts of all types, but you can customize, and piece together dozens of styles and sizes, as well as every type of backyard cooker you can imagine—achieve that perfect haven for all your backyard gatherings this summer. And they also have a full line of home products outside of the barbecue space like outdoor furniture, garage storage, and indoor bars.

For our dream outdoor barbecue setup, we kept things relatively simple, and went with the full NewAge Outdoor Kitchen Set. The whole set comes to your door almost completely assembled. This full package is certainly not small, but this a huge benefit for people seeking plug-and-play operation. Once in the backyard, the whole setup took less than half an hour. A few screws here and there to help secure pieces together, but overall, it came 95 percent ready to rock and roll.

This was a stellar first impression of NewAge products for us. We got the weather-resistant 304 stainless steel finish all around—which we think looks so badass in our backyard ensemble—but they also offer a really nice Grove wood veneer finish for the same package. We got the 33-inch propane grill which is equipped with three main burners (each 12,000 BTUs). The grill itself is very well-built, easy to operate, and the lid is delightfully weighted which makes for a very solid, premium feel when lifting up and down. We love this grill. It has a very handsome design, thoughtfully engineered for a luxurious look and feel.

The whole set comes with a grill cabinet underneath the main grill for a propane tank and other storage, a 32-inch 3-drawer cabinet with ample room for all your grill accessories like cast ironware, tongs, spatulas, pizza stones, grill gloves, and all your grill cleaning tools. The amount of space within each drawer is very impressive. The additional storage from this kit freed up ample new cabinet space and drawer real estate in our kitchen. This was a huge added bonus we hadn’t really anticipated.

Last, but not least, the 32-inch bar cabinet is perhaps our favorite feature in the whole set. Within this cabinet space, you get dual trash cans, a dedicated spice and sauce rack, as well as multiple smaller compartments for condiments, utensils, cooking knives, and turners, as well as a very handy bottle opener that’s always at the ready. Not to mention that all drawers and cabinets are soft-closing (which we can’t get enough of—we love the premium feel).

The possibilities for organization are quite limitless when it comes to these customizable sets from NewAge. If you can dream it up, chances are, NewAge has a solution for you (without having to hire a contractor or consultant to come and evaluate your space). You’re in complete control of this project without the added costs.

This handsome outdoor kitchen has become a beloved and permanent fixture in our backyard, and is now the new spot for all the dads in our neighborhood to gather, drink beer, and small talk about the mouthwatering food we’re all about to devour. That’s what summertime is all about, right? If you’re looking for your next home upgrade, we suggest you check out the NewAge site for your next new addition (or additions) to your home entertaining arsenal. [Bonus: At the time of this writing, the whole set is on sale for $3,999, marked down from $5,809]—Jon Perino, contributor

[$3,999; shopnewage.com]

If the Groove Belt Ultra isn’t the best belt we’ve ever tried, it’s pretty damn close. The list of places where we wouldn’t wear this thing is pretty small and might just include formal events like a summer wedding—although if Groove Life managed to make a version that looked like rich leather, we’d wear it with a suit too. The Ultra is a dynamic belt, meaning its webbing stretches and contracts as you move, which keeps your pants up regardless of how you bend, reach, or run. A cowhide belt can’t do that. The 11/4-inch-tall webbing resists curling over on itself too, which can happen when you pack on the pounds turning a leather belt into a long strip of the letter “C.” The webbing, unlike leather, doesn’t have memory in that direction, so it won’t easily deform over time.

Besides the lightweight, which is about the same as a handful of pencils, the strap locks in and is easily adjustable—it works a lot like backpack straps. We’ve been wearing this out socially, while doing yard work, and on hikes, and in every case, it has kept our pants exactly where they’re supposed to be. The buckle is magnetic too, which makes a satisfying click when the two parts come together. The result is a very clean-looking, matte finish belt that almost disappears with darker-colored pants.—Sal Vaglica, contributor

[$40; amazon.com]

Week of June 3

If you’ve ever thought about ditching your bus pass or got tired of getting caught in traffic over small distances, there has never been a better time to buy an e-bike. Having tested a few over the past few years I can say with confidence that the new Radster commuter bike from Rad Powered bikes is a market leader in terms of comfort, power, riding distance, and safety features. This model arrived almost entirely assembled with only minor assembly needed, making it a great choice for first timers.

They offer two frame sizes for cyclists of all heights, and although I was on the edge of qualifying for a large frame at 5’9″ the added size still felt very manageable to manoeuvre. The bike itself is a little on the heavy side so it would not be my first choice if I had to bring it up and down stairs every day. The seat was a little stiff but still quite comfortable over long periods of time and the height of the handlebars puts you in an ergonomic position. The front hydraulic suspension also made for a very smooth ride even on bumpy roads.

This model handled hills flawlessly, which might be due to the upgraded torque sensor, but it certainly climbed faster than any other bike I’ve been on including other Rad bikes. This new model has an upgraded battery that extends the cycling range to 65 miles depending on the terrain so you can likely go a few days without having to charge it. If the weather suddenly shifts and you get caught in a rainstorm, you have nothing to worry about because this bike is also rated to a IPX6 weatherproofing.

Once you hop on a bike of this caliber, you’ll without a doubt be sharing the road with motorized vehicles which means safety features should always be a big consideration when purchasing an e-bike. This bike has a powerful 200 lumen headlight along with many reflective accents all over the bicycle including on the wheels for those riding into the night. The Radster Road also comes equipped with a break light and turn signals which gives you that extra margin of security when signaling a turn. Another safety feature is that the motor automatically shuts off anytime the brakes are used, giving you more control when you need to stop. Like most other e-bikes there is a throttle you can use if you suddenly want to take a break from peddling and it’s also equipped with 8 gears to match your desired speed.

Another great new feature is its ability to be digitally locked when you park. It can only be unlocked with the use of a passcode or an RFID chip that you can attach to your keychain. The peace of mind you get from knowing your bike cannot be operated without you is definitely a game-changer. Finally, what further sets this model apart is its ability to be programmed to operate as a class 3 bike meaning it can reach speeds of 28 mph. Overall, the Radster Road bike is packed with so many great features that make it both enjoyable and safe to use for all type of cyclists.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$1,999; radpowerbikes.com]

The James Brand The Warrick EDC Tool

Courtesy Image

There are dozens of cheapo screwdriver sets sold at the local pharmacy or dollar store. And there are dozens of sprawling tool sets at the hardware store that probably have more complex bits than you’ll ever need.

Now, imagine a top quality (as in, the best you can get) screwdriver set in a tiny, streamlined tool. The James Brand is known for taking every day items and reinventing them into something easy to use, cool to carry and supremely stylish. The Warrick is the latest example. This could likely fit on your key ring and easily in your pocket—even into that sleek little coin pocket. (And really, how many coins are you carrying around anymore?)

There are four bits—two flat, two Phillips, the most common WIHA bits that all fit snugly inside the lightweight aluminum body and slip into the magnetized bit receiver for handy functioning. And if you use a specific bit size, you can swap out to store whatever you need most. Plus, the body is designed to give you extra torque for those tight ones. Extremely functional with a fantastic look and feel.—Jon Coen, contributor

[$85; thejamesbrand.com]

With so many Bluetooth speakers on the market these days, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. If you’re looking for an ultra-portable and rugged speaker, the SongBook MAX from Tivoli may not be your first choice. However, if you want a portable speaker that becomes a statement piece in your home and also delivers great sound, it is definitely a solid contender. Equipped with a 4-inch subwoofer, a 4-inch midrange driver, and a 0.75-inch tweeter, it effortlessly fills a large living room or backyard with great sound. This portable Bluetooth speaker not only looks great with its retro analog appearance, but it’s also packed with useful and enjoyable features as well. The battery lasts just under 10 hours at normal use and recharges relatively quickly through USB-C.

The SongBook MAX can stream music from your preferred streaming service, but true to its retro look, it is also equipped with a telescopic antenna and plays FM/AM radio. The EQ levels are adjusted with physical sliders on the face of the speaker, and there’s something oddly satisfying about turning it on with a flip of a toggle switch. There is also a ¼-inch auxiliary input, so you can plug in a microphone for an at-home event or even a guitar on the go. The built-in carry handle makes it easy to move from room to room, and it’s also coated with IPX4 weatherproofing, so it can be taken outside without too much caution.

Whether you’re trying to fill a nostalgic void from your younger years with a stylish analog looking speaker or you simply want a portable speaker that can play loud great sound, the Tivoli SongBook MAX is worth looking into.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$599; amazon.com]

We recently tested Gorewear’s Spinshift GORE-TEX jacket, which is their newest completely PFC-free waterproof and windproof cycling garment. This model incorporates their new ePE GORE-TEX membrane, and it undoubtedly matches the performance of its predecessor. Having tested numerous GORE-TEX jackets over the years across multiple brands, this one beads water off as effectively as most and definitely better than some. Through prolonged rain, the Spinshift kept me dry while still being breathable enough to not overheat when the sun came back out.

The jacket itself is quite thin and lightweight making it easy to pack up and stuff into a pocket or bike pouch. In a size medium it weighed a mere 145 grams and is fairly minimal in the sense that it only has one zippered pocket on the rear that can house your smartphone but also doubles as a pouch for the jacket itself. The fit has a slim cut, I typically wear a medium and went with that but probably could have sized up into a large for a tad more roominess. The Spinshift GTX has zero bulking anywhere on it and offers unrestricted movement once you’re on the saddle.

It’s not always easy to find a muted color cycling jacket given the need to be seen on the road, but the utility green looks incredible in person and still offers reflective accents. The Spinshift GTX jacket is definitely an investment, but its ability to keep you cycling regardless of the weather makes it well worth it.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$270; competitivecyclist.com]

For many of us, knife sharpening is either a guessing game or simply not part of our household maintenance routine due to fear of doing it wrong. We tested out the Tumbler Diamond rolling knife sharpener, which aims to remove all the guesswork and provide a straightforward, methodical way to get your angles just right.

The true artists of knife sharpening understand the importance of applying the right amount of pressure and using consistent, long strokes at just the right angle. This device ensures you work with the perfect 15- or 20-degree angle and the rolling action ensures you target the full blade. With the static pressure of the resting knife on its rear and the consistent rolling of the diamond disc, the knife gets progressively sharper, making it easy to match both sides. In a matter of minutes (or longer for more neglected knives), your dull kitchen knives can snap right back into tomato-slicing machines. One slight drawback is that this sharpener only comes in a D35 grit, so there’s no further honing beyond that. However, this level of grit is still more than enough to get the job done—it might just take a bit longer to achieve the desired results on certain knives.

If you value the longevity of your cooking knives, the Tumbler diamond sharpener is a very beginner friendly option that delivers great results. As a little bonus, it’s easy to transport so you can be a hero and take care of your friends’ or family’s knives as well.—Peter Matlashewski, contributor

[$136; tumblerware.com]

Week of August 5

Garmin Instinct 2X Solar 50mm Smartwatch

Viviobarefoot Jungle ESC Boots

SanDisk Desk Drive 4TB SSD Hard Drive

White Duck Rover Scout Tent

Silk & Snow Wooden Bed Frame

Week of July 29

Isle Coronado Surfboard

Greenworks 3000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer

Benchmade Mini Osborne Knife

Peak Design 50L Travel Duffel Bag

Luno Packable Camp Pillow

Week of July 22

Garmin Echomap Ultra 2 10-inch Chartplotter

Stihl MS 212 C-BE Chainsaw

TRUE Linkswear Lux G Golf Shoes

Week of July 15

Garmin R10 Launch Monitor

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL Irons Golf Clubs

Montana Knife Company Wargoat Knife

Beatbot AquaSense Pro Pool Vacuum

Coway Airmega 400 Air Purifier

Week of July 8

Yellow Leaf Vista Hammock

Benchmade Fishcrafter 7-Inch Trailing Point Filet Knife

Rab Mythic Alpine Down Jacket

Mystery Ranch Radix 47 Pack

Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2

Week of July 1

Vortex Optics Razor UHD 10×32 Binoculars

Ariat Rebar Chukka Waterproof Work Boots

Exped Widget Pump

Knog Scout Travel Smart Luggage Tag

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes

Week of June 24

Leatherman Skeletool CX Multitool

Metolius Upshot Belay Glasses

Daiwa Lexa LX400 Baitcasting Reel

Udpatio Aluminum Patio Set

Fox Racing ADV Riding Gear Collection

Week of June 17

YETI 34 Ounce French Press

Klymit Insulated Klymaloft Sleeping Pad

Sourhouse Goldie

Pelican Dayventure Sling Cooler

Husqvarna ­­W520 Push Lawn Mower

Week of June 10

Traeger Timberline Pellet Grill

Mustang Survival Highwater 60L Waterproof Gear Hauler

Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro

NewAge Outdoor Kitchen Set

Groove Life Groove Belt Ultra

Week of June 3

Rad Power Bike Radster Road Electric Commuter Bike

The James Brand The Warrick EDC Tool

Tivoli SongBook MAX

Gorewear Spinshift GORE-TEX Jacket

Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener

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