Published July 9, 2026 09:45AM
Table of Contents
There are media outlets out there that publish “buyer’s guides” for the best coolers without actually trying said coolers in real life, or timing how long each cooler retains ice when left in the boiling sun, or dropping a cooler off a cliff to see how durable it actually is. Outside is not one of those outlets. Here, we don’t recommend a single piece of gear without first subjecting it to rigorous testing in the field and in the Outside Lab.
This summer, our editors, category managers, and testers ran more than 600 products through the wringer—up mountains, into the woods, through washing machines, and yes, off the occasional cliff—for months on end. We’re talking real miles, real sweat, and real gear failures that never made it to print. Along the way we kept score, compared notes, argued in Slack threads, and landed on 15 standouts across five categories. That’s this list right here: the best summer gear of 2026.
Gear that not only impresses but wows our testers gets our Editors’ Choice award, the highest bar we set. This year, only four of those 600-plus products cleared that bar. These pieces either demonstrated best-in-class performance, showcased exciting new technology, or improved a tried-and-true classic.
Gear isn’t cheap, and we know it. Every pick here has already earned its keep in the field—so rest assured when you spend, you’re not gambling.
Editors’ Choice Winners: At a Glance
- Camping Mattress: NEMO Roamer
- Trail Running Shoe: Saucony Peregrine 16
- Mountain Bike: Revel Rascal X0
- Electric Mountain Bike: Yeti LTe
Best Summer Gear of 2026
Camping
Editors’ Choice Camping Mattress
NEMO Roamer
The NEMO Roamer is the closest thing we’ve found to a real bed in the camping world. The four-inch open-cell foam construction had one tester declaring it “the closest thing to my bed at home that I’ve ever camped on.” A major 2026 makeover boosted the R-value to 7 and swapped in a durable PU stretch polyester that held up in the Rockies without complaint. Setup is easier thanks to a self-inflating valve, though you’ll want to top it off with the stuff sack pump. Getting back into the bag is a wrestling match, but not enough of a hassle to forego this kind of comfort.
Best Cooler
Yeti Tundra 65
Yeti Tundras have been the go-to cooler for our testers for fifteen years, and the 65 is the best one they’ve tested. The rotomolded body shrugged off weeks of abuse in truck beds and raft frames. Pressure-injected insulation held ice over three days on a river trip with highs in the 80s and constant La Croix retrieval. At nearly 30 pounds empty, it’s not a solo carry, but straight walls and no dead zones make packing a breeze. Expensive, yes. Worth every penny, also yes.
Best Camping Chair
NEMO Satellite Reclining Camp Chair
Most lightweight camp chairs make you choose between packability and comfort. The Nemo Satellite doesn’t. A suspended recline system—no bulky hinges, no locking hardware—lets you lean back and actually settle in, with a controlled, hammock-like feel that won’t send you tumbling. Recycled mesh kept things breezy on hot afternoons and dried fast after a soggy night of camping. At 11 inches off the ground, getting in and out after a long day on trail was never a chore. It’s not the plushest seat in camp, but it’s the one that fits in your daypack.
Hiking
Best Women’s Hiking Boot
La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike GTX
Since 2024, the Aequilibrium Hike GTX has quietly become the boot testers reach for no matter the mission. It’s built for three-season alpine trips and schlepping 40-pound packs, but it’s proven just as at home on a quick afternoon loop. It’s light, low-profile, and comfortable enough that testers stopped reaching for their trail runners. The PU foam midsole outlasts typical EVA, and the abrasion-resistant toe and heel looked pristine after 100-plus miles. One Wisconsin tester wore them through mud, sand, and water crossings with zero wear. The Gore-Tex-lined upper stayed bone dry, and the high, stretchy ankle collar—more neoprene sock than stiff leather—fit like a hug right out of the box, no break-in needed.
Best Hiking Backpack
Osprey Talon/Tempest 33
The Talon/Tempest 33 feels like a full-suspension multiday pack that got put in the dryer, yet somehow all the cushioning and structure survived the shrink. A heavily padded hipbelt and shoulder straps, a deep feature set, and serious adjustability earned it our best-in-test nod for daypacks this season. The backpanel adjusts a full five inches, letting testers dial in a precise fit. The framesheet contours to the spine and locks into the hipbelt for real load transfer. And it withstood serious abuse: the 100-denier recycled nylon shrugged off rocks, cactus, and airplane overhead bins across three states and two countries of testing.
Backpacking
Best Backpacking Pad
Exped Ultra 6.5R
In the race for best warmth-to-weight ratio, the Exped Ultra 6.5R takes the gold. With an R-Value of 6.9 and weighing just 12.5 oz, it’s the new benchmark for inflatable pads. Those impressive numbers are down to a synthetic microfiber-reflective mylar sandwich and 3.5-inch loft. In practice, the Ultra 6.5R isn’t much warmer than its closest competitors, but testers preferred its vertical baffles and slightly raised guardrails to the less comfortable horizontal design common on many ultralight pads. The cherry on top? Every size of pad, from long to wide, costs the same amount.
Best Sleeping Bag
Argali Alpine 20
Top marks in the sleeping bag category go to a relatively new hunting brand that focuses on ultralight gear. For starters, the Alpine 20 is exceptionally warm. That’s thanks to top-flight materials, like 850-fill down and a 15-denier Pertex Quantum nylon shell. Warmth from 20 ounces of Allied Down is boosted by a draft collar that extends around the sizeable, cinchable hood and the entire length of the zipper. Beyond its accurate temperature rating, the beauty of the Alpine 20 is in the details. It has a wider mummy shape that encloses without feeling claustrophobic, an oversized, double-sided zipper, and an extra stiff, durable strip of fabric running alongside the zipper that prevents snagging.
Best Backpacking Pack
Gregory Paragon 60/Maven 58
For six years, the Gregory Paragon 60/Maven 58 has been our favorite backpacking pack for its best-in-test combo of comfort, weight, and organizational features. A seamless wraparound harness with plush EVA foam padding makes chafing and hotspots a thing of the past. A sturdy steel perimeter frame barely breaks a sweat under 45 pounds, and the free-floating hipbelt design moves independently of the backpanel, keeping us planted on uneven terrain. Pockets are generous and smartly-placed, and a Velcro backpanel adjustment system let us expand the back length by up to three inches.
Running/Fitness
Editors’ Choice Trail Running Shoe
Saucony Peregrine 16
The lightweight Saucony Peregrine has long made us feel fast and nimble on rugged terrain. Version 16 gets a Vibram Megagrip outsole that grabs onto rocky slabs with aplomb, while four-millimeter lugs excel at digging soft terrain. The well-balanced midsole delivers a strong connection to the trail while still feeling responsive and shock-absorbing. Testers praised the comfort and security of the flexible, breathable mesh upper that kept out trail debris and warded off snags.
Best Road Running Shoe
Asics Superblast 3
With ample cushioning, a comfortable fit, minimal weight, and an energetic ride, the Asics Superblast 3 is a shoe you can use for just about any type of run. The third version has a thick layer of Asics’ softest, bounciest super foam on top of a slightly firmer, more stable base. Its exceptional weight-to-cushioning ratio makes it a crowd favorite for long runs where saving energy and reducing impact are at a premium.
Most Versatile Sport Sunglasses
Warby Parker Sierra
We crowned the Warby Parker Sierra sunglasses as the most versatile we tested, winning us over for performance on the trail and style at the bar. Soft rubber temple and nose pads kept the Sierras firmly on our faces while we cruised along bike paths, hiked rocky trails, and even bounced on a neighbor’s trampoline. The Italian-made nylon frames are exceptionally light, but durable, and the extended lens curve provides an impressive field of view.
Mountain Biking
Editors’ Choice Mountain Bike
Revel Rascal X0
The Revel Rascal took the top spot in Pinkbike’s 2026 Trail Bike Field Test. This 130-millimeter-travel bike is spry, efficient, and genuinely fun. Revel’s CBF suspension delivers excellent traction and converts pedal strokes into forward momentum without drama, though it rewards riders who build speed rather than those looking to be bailed out. Geometry is size-specific, a thoughtful touch. At $7,199 for the X0 build, it’s a serious investment—but with SRAM X0 Transmission, carbon DT Swiss wheels, and RockShox Ultimate suspension, the value is hard to argue with.
Editors’ Choice Electric Mountain Bike
Yeti LTe
The Yeti LTe is our favorite electric mountain bike of the year, and it earns that title on the strength of one thing: suspension performance. It delivers a level of calm and bump erasure that’s hard to overstate. Traction and predictability come easily, and the full 29-inch build carries speed through rough, natural trails better than just about any long-travel eMTB we’ve ridden recently. Despite the Bosch motor’s lower output on paper, the LTe kept easy pace with Avinox-powered bikes thanks to the CX motor’s practical, usable power and Yeti’s Sixfinity suspension working in concert. It’s not a bike for pumping and popping—but that’s not the point.
Best Mountain Bike Shoe
Shimano GE900HS
We’ve tested shoes from Five Ten, Fox, and Pearl Izumi, and the Shimano GE9 Hot Seat is our favorite mountain bike shoe yet. A slimmed-down variation of the GE9 with a lighter profile and stiffer sole, it’s built for everything from trail to DH riding. Featuring a BOA Li2 dial, Velcro ankle strap, and a stretchy gaiter that keeps debris out, it’s tough enough for hike-a-bike, but comfortable enough for all-day wear.
Best Mountain Bike Shorts
Patagonia Dirt Craft Bike Shorts
Our testers’ favorite mountain bike shorts aren’t a surprise pick—Patagonia’s Dirt Craft shorts have been a staple for a while. A highly adjustable hook-and-webbing waistband, two front drop-in pockets, and two zippered thigh pockets cover the basics, while the recycled four-way stretch fabric with a DWR finish handled everything from Baja’s warm desert to the cooler high desert of Sedona to the Pacific Northwest without complaint. Fit was true to size and comfortable in the saddle all day. The price is on the higher side, but the removable liner adds value.
