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Hibernation season is officially over. In the northern hemisphere, the birds are chirping, the trees are blooming, and park lawns are open for traipsing once again. Spring is the perfect time to rekindle your relationship with the outdoors, and whether you do so from your bedroom window, backyard, at the beach, or in the backcountry is up to you. Before you fully emerge to enjoy the thaw, however, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need to be comfortable, have fun, and stay safe.
That’s why we’re pleased to introduce the second annual SELF Outdoor Awards, highlighting the very best products for appreciating and exploring nature. Though there’s no shortage of excellent outdoor gear on the market, it can be tough to find the really good stuff, like a camping chair that won’t leave your butt numb, insect repellent that actually repels, or a hat that’s just as suited for your summer city softball league as it is for a morning mountain hike. That’s why we set out to discover the best there is by tapping mainstay brands to put forward their greatest products, SELF editors to share the goods they can’t trek without, and a panel of judges—meet them all here!—to weigh in on their faves.
What resulted is our 54 winners, all of which you can shop below. We hope that these products—from sunscreen and water bottles to tents and camp stoves—will be reliable, trail-ready, and flat-out fun to use. Because whether you’re in your own backyard or somewhere far, far away, there is so much joy to be found in the great outdoors.
Apparel and Accessories
With a huge main compartment, a classic design, and a buy-it-for-life level of durability, Patagonia’s Black Hole pack is a time- and trail-tested must-have for days spent outdoors. I previously waxed poetic about how much I love mine: I’ve had it for the last four years and have truly put it through the wringer, wearing it through the rain, squishing it inside crash pads, dragging it over boulders, and literally throwing it down rocky inclines. Not only has it stood up to some serious rough-and-tumble treatment, but it’s also never failed to have space for everything I need, including valuables, climbing shoes, outerwear, a water bottle, and a metric ton of snacks.
SELF Outdoor Awards judge Fiona Boomer, who describes herself as a plus-size outdoor enthusiast, was initially drawn to the Arrio because of its extended size offering: She says the plus-size version felt good on her body thanks to its extended chest and waist straps, wider shoulder harness with longer straps, and accessible adjustment tabs. Boomer found even more to love when she put the backpack to the test on portions of the Appalachian Trail: It features a water reservoir compartment, reflective loops, and ventilated back panel, which helped her stay comfortable and safe.
You might have seen the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag on TikTok or Instagram recently. Well, it’s gone viral for good reason: The fanny pack has a slim profile that doesn’t feel bulky while you wear it, plus an adjustable waist strap and a few internal pockets keep items organized. Style-wise, it’s just as suited for the trail as it is for running errands or walking around town. Plus it’s made of water-repellent fabric, so your valuables will stay safe and dry if you get caught in the rain.
Going anywhere with a baby isn’t easy, but bringing your little one into the great outdoors can be a whole new level of intimidating. The Getaway Bag aims to make life a little less complicated with its 24-liter capacity and thoughtfully-designed organization features—key for when you need to find that pacifier, snack, or pack of wipes at a moment’s notice. It can be worn like a standard backpack, with external compartments for water bottles and dirty diapers or spit-up bibs, plus it has a hidden side pocket for wallets, passports, or any other valuables. During travel, you can easily strap it to rolling luggage, or clip it to your stroller when you aren’t carrying it on your back.
It’s not always comfortable (or safe) to be out and about with your phone in your hand…but it’s not fun to dig for it at the bottom of your pack, either. The Matador Speed Stash provides an extremely convenient solution, making it easy to grab your phone, wallet, keys, GPS, or other small essentials in seconds. It attaches to your backpack’s shoulder strap, and it won’t slip or slide thanks to its hook-and-loop wings and locking bars. You can keep items in the main zippered compartment and slip your most-used pieces into the external mesh pocket to have them at hand.
If your ideal day outside involves limited distractions and time to focus on the beauty of nature, consider opting for a streamlined, health- and outdoors-focused tracker instead of an all-in-one, hyper-connected smartwatch. Polar’s Unite Waterproof Fitness Watch provides a range of useful information about your activity, performance, health, sleep, and recovery—without bogging you down with distracting texts, emails, and calls.
Feel confident heading into the outside world—and staying there for a while—with the Garmin Instinct 2. The GPS watch logs your movements to keep you both safe and aware of your fitness goals, and comes with a slew of smartwatch perks, like phone compatibility, health tracking, and contactless payment. Notably, its battery is made to last up to 51 days when you opt for the solar-charging model, and the power manager settings give you leeway to control how the battery is put to use. If your biggest fear is being stuck with a dead tracker, we recommend this one.
The latest iteration of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch comes with improvements to its battery life, GPS navigation, and workout tracking, which makes it a splurge-worthy piece of gear for anyone who wants both a precise and comprehensive view of their personal metrics and general activity. You can wear it to hike, swim, bike, or run, and trust that it’ll keep you abreast of your performance and progress. It even has vibration-enabled navigation to help you find your way back to the trailhead if you take a wrong turn.
A staple of any great adventure outfit? A hat, of course. A good hat should keep the sun out of your eyes, pack down easily in your backpack or weekend bag, and keep your head cool while providing plenty of shade. According to outdoors athlete and advocate Alyssa Gonzalez, the Global Hat from Topo Designs checks all of those boxes. She says it shades her face and remains breathable even when she’s out in the desert, and it easily folds up in storage too. In addition to its lightweight mesh construction and generous brim, the hat is adjustable, so it should be able to fit a range of head sizes.
Beauty and Body Care
Formulated with outdoor recreation in mind, Kinfield’s Daily Dew sunscreen comes highly recommended by Gonzalez, who wears it skiing and biking. “Most recently, I used the product on a 50-mile bike race and only had to apply it once before the start,” she says. Gonzalez notes that it feels lightweight and moisturizing, without the standard stickiness and smell you expect from most sunscreens. Perhaps most impressively, it doesn’t streak or drip into her eyes during sweaty and wet activities.
Sarah Yalowitz, SELF’s director of programming and development, was tipped off to Proven’s repellent by her mother, a dermatologist, who heard about it from one of her colleagues—now there’s a skin care green flag! Yalowitz gave it a try on a recent trip to the Costa Rica rainforest and was impressed with how effectively it deterred insects. Though you might think a bug spray that actually works would have a potent (and unpleasant) scent, Yalowitz says the product smells “light and neutral,” and added that she doesn’t see herself using another type of repellent anytime soon: “If you don’t love the smell of bug spray but don’t want to get bitten by bugs, this is the product for you.”
We’ve recommended CeraVe Healing Ointment over and over again—so we thought it only best to make our love for the skin care workhorse official by granting it an Outdoor Award. I, for one, use it as a do-it-all product, for woes ranging from flappers and splits (common rock climbing skin woes) to dryness and wind burn from winter air. It has an edge over similar jellies and ointments for its texture (thick and fast-absorbing but not greasy) and packaging (a mess-free, squeezable tube). For maximum effectiveness, apply it on areas that need some extra TLC right before bed, so it won’t get washed or rubbed away.
Two of our judges—Boomer as well as outdoor professional Ash Manning—recommend Megababe’s Thigh Rescue antifriction stick for avoiding chafing all over. They both tested it in water (Manning is a river guide during the summer and Boomer used it on a kayaking trip) and found that it lasted all day, didn’t absorb into their skin, and spared their thighs and arms from chafing and irritation. Boomer says her thighs were able to “glide against each other.” We’re sold.
Packing for a day (or several days) outside means getting organized at home first—and it’s a good idea to have a protective, waterproof bag to keep important items like electronics, first aid essentials, and other emergency supplies safe and easy to grab when you need them. That’s why we love this kit from Sea to Summit: Clocking in at 1.7 ounces and equipped with waterproof seams and a durable water repellent (DWR) finish, it’s perfect for most (if not all) outdoor excursions on your itinerary. The kit has a handy D-ring attachment that allows you to clip it to your boat or bike; if you’d like to store it in your bag (and your kit’s not packed to the brim), you can roll down the top to save some extra space.
Hiking and Camping Essentials
Both lightweight and roomy, this tarp tent from Six Moon Haven provides lots of headroom, has a waterproof canopy, and is extremely easy to set up—according to the brand, you can have it up and ready to use in two minutes. Online reviewers who brought it on backpacking and biking trips mentioned being happy with its performance in varied weather (from gusty winds to hail to summer heat), durability, ease of use, and overall comfort. One even described the interior space as “cavernous.”
For camping in comfort, Boomer likes The North Face’s Wawona 4 Tent. With a peak height of 68 inches, it allows anyone under 5’8’’ to change fully standing up. The tent also has versatile ventilation flaps and a clip for a lantern at the top. Boomer says you can easily fit a queen size mattress inside of it, and the set-up is simple enough for one person to tackle on their own.
This three-season sleeping pad from Big Agnes is exceptionally lightweight, quiet, durable, and warm. It’s a breeze to inflate, deflate, and pack away too. It comes in several lengths and widths, and its higher outer chambers create a cradle-like shape that will help you stay nestled squarely in the center of the pad all night long. Online reviewers were pleased with its other practical details, like cozy insulation and a quiet design that won’t rustle all night long. Most importantly, many noted how simply comfortable it is. “I sleep better on this pad than a cot or inflatable mattress,” one reviewer wrote.
Your bedding setup can be a little more lavish when car camping (compared to backpacking, when every added ounce counts), and the Luno Air Mattress is a great way to take advantage of the extra space. It’s a long-term favorite of hiker and outdoor enthusiast Brandi Small, who’s had hers since November 2021 with zero complaints. It’s kept her comfortable through car camping trips in all four seasons and even while sharing it with another adult—and her 40-pound dog. Small also says that the air mattress is durable and easy to set up in the back of her car (as well as break back down), and she consistently gets a good night’s sleep on it.
If you’re serious about staying warm while you snooze, The North Face’s Trail Lite Down 0 Sleeping Bag belongs in your pack. With a temperature rating of zero degrees Fahrenheit, this bag has plenty of design elements that’ll keep your toes toasty, including a cinchable hood and collar, water-resistant construction, and a blend of down and synthetic insulation to maximize warmth and prevent compression.
When it comes to truly versatile outdoor bedding, Manning points to the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Sleeping Quilt, which has accompanied her on countless rafting and camping trips around the United States: “I will never go back to a regular sleeping bag!” she says. “I can open it up to a full quilt or tighten it up for the sleeping-bag effect.” It’s a great lightweight option, especially for campers with larger bodies who have problems with sleeping bag sizing, Manning says.
Mardi Fuller, a record-breaking hiker and advocate for racial equity in the outdoors, stays comfy on paddlepacking and backpacking trips with Nemo’s Luxury Camping Pillow, which has an adjustable air capacity to find your preferred level of firmness. Better yet, its inflatable air cell is encased by a thick foam layer, so your head can rest comfortably without feeling like it’s on top of a balloon all night—a notorious characteristic of many inflatable pillows. If there’s one downside to this pillow, it’s its bulk, Fuller says, noting that she mainly uses it on easy trips—so if space and weight are a premium consider the next item on our list.
The retro colorway might be the most stylish selling point for Rumpl’s Stuffable Pillowcase, but its functional design is what puts it over the top. Have you ever found yourself crumpling your sweatshirt or jacket into a makeshift pillow? That’s the idea here—but the end result is way more comfortable. Stuff your jacket, fleece, or any other layer you aren’t currently using into this case, and in turn you’ll get a proper cushion. It’s a great option for anyone who can’t stand an inflatable pillow or wants to save on space but still wants to get a good night’s sleep.
For a dependable source of light with a long battery life, Ambreen Tariq, author of Fatima’s Great Outdoors and founder of Brown People Camping, recommends the Black Diamond Cosmo 350 Headlamp. It has a dimming setting as well as a red LED setting for night vision and adjustable straps that help it stay comfortable and in place during use. And Tariq says she’s only needed to change the three AAA batteries a couple of times in the five years that she’s owned hers.
The rechargeable Beacon Hanging Light from Barebones comes recommended by Tariq for its sturdy, hangable design and dimmable brightness. She likes that she can clip it to her pack, hang it inside her tent, or simply set it on a picnic table for added illumination. She’s had her Beacon for about five years, and in that time she’s noticed that its battery life has waned somewhat, but it’s still easy to recharge. We also give it bonus points for its campy, retro look.
A rain shelter is a surprisingly useful item to have on hand for camping trips and outdoor hangouts—it can protect a snack-laden picnic table, act as a shaded homebase for young kids, or provide an open-air (but out of the elements) spot for a good nap. Take advantage of all a shelter can do with the waterproof, leakproof Kammok Kuhli Versatile Camping Tarp. It can cover two hammocks side by side, or seven people sitting beneath it. The brand offers lots of helpful info on how to make the most of your tarp on its website too.
Though it’s marketed as a two-person hammock, Boomer recommends this option from Bear Butt for outdoors people with larger bodies who want to hang solo too. “It’s unfortunate that a product branded for two people is what plus-size people have to use, but the product works for me, and that’s what matters!” she says. This hammock is six feet wide with a 500-pound weight capacity and wonderfully comfortable.
Manning looks to the Leki Black Series FX Carbon hiking poles for reliable support and comfort: “I generally carry these poles on anything from a short, easy-going hike to a long and difficult trek,” she says. Especially noteworthy is their folding and locking design, which prevents the pole segments from sliding and collapsing under pressure.
Hiking poles can be expensive, and if you’re only an occasional hiker (or new to the activity) you might not want to spend a big chunk of change on a pair with lots of advanced bells and whistles. Luckily, these highly affordable poles from TrailBuddy keep things simple without skimping on functionality: They’re made of durable—yet lightweight—aluminum, come with multiple tips and baskets, and have easy-to-use lever locks. The fact that they come in a variety of bright colors is a plus, too, and it will help you stand out on the trail.
Thanks to its straightforward, user-friendly design, the Sawyer Squeeze is Manning’s go-to water filter for every backpacking trip, including a 900-mile trek on the Appalachian Trail. Fill up the pouch with water from any source, attach the filter, and squeeze your freshly filtered water out—either into your water bottle or directly into your mouth. “It’s just easy. I don’t even have to think about it to use it,” Manning says.
We’ve recommended the LifeStraw again and again, both as an indispensable outdoor gadget and a Prime Day sale item to stock up on—and we even gave it an Outdoor Award in 2022. It should come as no surprise, then, that it’s made the list again this year: The LifeStraw can quench your thirst in a near instant as it filters out waterborne bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, microplastics, silt, sand, and parasites like giardia. With it, you can drink directly from a lake, stream, or river, the stuff of our outdoorsy dreams. It weighs just two ounces and provides up to 1,000 gallons of fresh water in its lifetime (and will actually stop water from flowing through it once it reaches its filter limit).
This Coleman stove has an array of features that make cooking outdoors easier, including a convenient carry handle and secure latch, wind guards to protect the flames, and an easy-to-clean cooktop. Tariq says that it stands out from other camping stoves thanks to its cleverly built-in lighter: “You don’t have to pack another product, and using the built-in lighter is seamless after hooking up the propane.” The stove’s two burners, cast iron grill, and griddle make it easy to whip up a variety of dishes, and it’s worked dependably for Tariq through breezy summer and fall days: “It is dependable, very versatile, and pretty intuitive to use,” she says.
Highly portable and simple to use, the sleek Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 is a fantastic fire pit for campers, tailgaters, beachgoers, backyard-lovers, smore-roasters, and open-fire cooks of all experience levels. Its unique smokeless design means it won’t engulf your clothes, face, or eyes with irritating fumes, and its removable ash pan saves you time on cleanup. Depending on your needs, the brand has a whole line of matching accessories to upgrade your fire pit as you see fit.
Gonzalez likes Hydro Flask’s Flatware Set for road trips, flights, and outdoor adventures—a testament to just how handy and versatile this three-piece kit is. It comes with its own carrying pouch, which sets it apart from other flatware sets, and is a total breeze to clean.
Fuller stands by the X Pot from Sea to Summit. Made of heat-resistant silicone and aluminum, it’s collapsible and lightweight, packing down easily to save space without compromising on structure and durability when expanded. The pot is available in three different sizes and has measurements molded into its sides, streamlining your open-air cooking for the better.
Gonzalez has put the Matador NanoDry towel to work over several years of travels (backpacking through Europe, on road trips in the US, and on a bikepacking trip in Iceland, among other destinations) and says its convenience and functionality is second to none. She notes that it’s perfect for drying off after a shower, won’t hold moisture all day, and “maintains its structure without snagging or pilling.” The towel comes with a carrying case that you can clip to the outside of a bag or backpack for easy access too.
Be prepared for an outdoor hangout at a moment’s notice with this compact REI Co-Op camp chair, which Gonzalez recommends. She says that it can fit in a backpack side pocket when folded down and takes less than five minutes to set up. Gonzalez does note that, while the chair is both lightweight and durable, it sits relatively low to the ground, which might be uncomfortable for taller users.
“I have used this chair multiple times over the course of three years and it is my favorite,” Small says, adding that it’s comfortable, supportive, and spacious. (In her experience, the armrest cooler can hold beer and a sandwich.) The additional pocket space is great for storing valuables like your phone, and the wide back makes it easy to get comfortable and relax the day away. And Fuller says her dog likes sitting in it, too, which is a pretty ringing endorsement, in our humble opinion.
SELF’s editor in chief, Rachel Miller, loves this RIO chair so much that she’s purchased it multiple times and recommended it to several friends—and it’s easy to see why. For one thing, it makes the often-long walk to your preferred spot in the sand a little less of a slog: “The fact that you can carry it as a backpack is amazing, and it’s lightweight enough to make that a viable option,” Miller says. For another, it has a roomy pocket on the frame to keep drinks, sunscreen, and other beach day must-haves handy.
Another excellent beach chair is Kelty’s Lowdown model, which has two insulated cup holders that you can adjust to fit your vessel of choice as well as a padded carry wrap that can hold additional gear if needed. It’s made to sit lower to the ground at a reclined angle, perfect for easy days spent reading (or napping) in the sun or shade. (Just don’t forget that SPF!)
Unlike other beach shelters that rely on poles for structure, the CoolCabana uses sand as an anchor—all you have to do is fill up the bags when you reach your home base on the shore. This clever design makes it one of Boomer’s favorites, and she recommends bringing a small shovel to make the fill-up process easier. She also likes that it comes in fun, eye-catching patterns, stands up to stiff winds, and is easy to carry without another person’s help.
To say that Jackery’s Portable Power Station can keep up with Manning is an understatement. She’s brought it on trips ranging “from an overnight rafting trip on smaller rivers in the east to a month-long multiday trip in the Grand Canyon,” and successfully kept her phone, headphones, and other devices charged the entire time. Her only note of caution: It can be easy to accidentally press one of the buttons and turn the battery on, draining it without you noticing. But if you pay close attention, you should be good to go.
The top-rated Charge 40 PD from BioLite is a great lightweight power bank to have on hand for rapid recharges while you’re out and about. It has a charge capacity of 2.5 smartphones (or one tablet), and recharges within two and a half hours. At less than one pound, it’s pretty compact, and, with one USB-C port and two USB-A ports, can charge up to three devices at once.
For freelance journalist and outdoor enthusiast Hannah Singleton, the Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler is just the right size for long weekends. It’s large enough to hold everything, but not so big that it’s a struggle to fit in the back seat of her car. She notes that it has excellent ice retention and is easy to organize—it even has a dry goods basket to keep items cool without getting them wet. Though it’s definitely on the pricier side, it might be worth it in the long run if you’re a frequent camper: “For anyone that camps often and can afford to splurge on a cooler, a Yeti is a great investment,” Singleton says.
If you’re looking for a more affordable cooler, check out the Xtreme Wheeled Cooler from Coleman—it’s garnered more than 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and came recommended by SELF’s editor in chief. Complete with durable wheels and a telescoping handle, it’s made to roll along with you, even over dirt and grass. You can choose between a 50-quart and 62-quart model, both of which will retain ice for up to five days (!!) in summer heat.
Not only does Singleton use this widely loved Hydro Flask on hikes and climbing days, but she also keeps it on hand for everyday use. Its simple but smart design features help her stay hydrated, she says: “It’s amazing the difference a good water bottle makes. This thing retains ice for hours, even when stowed in a hot car, and the straw top lid is essential so that you don’t have to unscrew it every time you want a sip.” The only activity she doesn’t use her Hydro Flask for is biking, as it’s on the heavier side and doesn’t fit in her bottle cage.
TikTok’s favorite water bottle also has plenty of outdoor cred. It holds a whopping 40 ounces of liquid, which it can keep cold for up to 11 hours (or hot for up to seven) and has a lid that allows you to sip as you choose: either from a reusable straw or straight from the bottle. Unlike many high-capacity water bottles, the Quencher can fit in most car cup holders thanks to its tapered base. On your next hot beach or park day, tote this handy hydration helper along.
The classic Nalgene you know and love has gotten a fashionable revamp with the brand’s new Monochrome Collection, which revisits the standard 32-ounce design in trendy new colors, complete with matching lids. This collection touts more than just a surface-level change: The bottle is leak-proof, lightweight, compatible with most filtration systems, and dishwasher safe, and this latest iteration is made from 50% plastic waste.
Tariq keeps her Bernedoodle comfortable through hot, humid weather with Ruffwear’s Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest, an innovative piece of outerwear that uses evaporative cooling to help pups beat the heat. Just soak the vest in water and put it on your pooch before heading outside—and keep some extra water with you to rewet the vest if it dries out. Tariq notes that it’s easy to use with a harness and leash, and it helps her dog enjoy summer weather without overheating.
Give your dog their own comfy bed away from home with this water-resistant, heat-reflective sleeping bag. Depending on the climate or the weather, you can zip it up to use as a cozy, cocoon-like bag, or unzip it to use as an open sleeping or lounging pad for your pup. Either way, your best friend will get a good night’s snooze.
Stargazing, summits, and afternoons in the park will get a major upgrade with this durable (yet comfortable) blanket from Eddie Bauer. Made to withstand even the dampest grass, it’s water-repellent and ready to brave the elements. When it’s time to leave, pack the blanket down into its own pocket, then carry it by its built-in backpack straps—and when you get home, you can toss it right in the washing machine.
Whether you’re setting up a camp kitchen or meeting friends for a picnic, forget about dragging your supplies in a ten-pound tote bag that’s bursting at the seams. The Stoic Essentials Half Folding Wagon makes it a breeze to move your necessities from place to place. It’s light and easy to pull, with a strong aluminum frame that folds up to fit in your car when not in use. It even features two external cup holders to accommodate overflow.
When Miller took up birdwatching, she invested in these high-quality binoculars from Carson; they won’t fog up or get bogged down by moisture, so you can observe nature in crisp detail without interference. They also weigh less than two pounds and have a comfortable neck strap to keep them on-hand when you aren’t actively using them. You can even mount them to a tripod if you’re keeping a close eye on a specific nest or habitat.
Bird-curious? Try Pentax’s U-Series Binoculars, which were also recommended by Miller. In addition to being simple and straightforward to use and focus, they’re lightweight and comfortable to hold thanks to their grippy, contoured body. Just keep in mind that they aren’t water-resistant, so they shouldn’t be used in damp weather.
Jenifer Calle, SELF’s senior commerce editor, gave this birdfeeder a try after seeing its bestseller status on Amazon—and found that it truly lives up to the hype. She says that setting it up, as well as cleaning and refilling it, is an easy, painless process. Plus it’s brought her the great joy of watching birds grab a snack from the comfort of her apartment. (One note: Since the bird feeder is clear and attached to a window, it’s a good idea to use window decals, which help prevent collisions.) Calle says that it took a little time for birds to start visiting the feeder, so be patient if you don’t get many bites right off the bat. If anything, it’s a nice reminder that we could all slow down from time to time, which the great outdoors can teach us in the sweetest, subtlest ways.
Photographer: Chelsea Kyle
Prop stylist: Kalen Kaminski at Apostrophe
Creative director: Amber Venerable
Producer: Melissa Kramer
Associate art director: Amanda K Bailey
Web producer: Caroline Acosta
Senior commerce editor: Jen Calle
Associate director, special projects: Hannah Pasternak
Digital director: Amy Eisinger
Editor in chief: Rachel Wilkerson Miller
