With apologies to the Summer Solstice, Memorial Day Weekend is the official start of Summer. Whether you’re busting out the camping gear, dipping a paddle into swelling snowmelt, or just lounging around the backyard grill, we want to help you make the most of this holiday weekend. Whatever your fancy, we’ve assembled an assortment of some of our favorite gear that will serve you well when your exploring, soaking up some Vitamin D — and maybe even a cocktail or two.
Kelty Sunshade Shelter
Listen, wherever your Memorial Day adventure leads, you’re going to need some respite from the sun. When it comes to shade, Kelty has got you covered (literally) with the Sunshade Shelter which rivals sliced bread in terms of out-freakin’-standing inventions. Whether it’s for your long weekend at the beach, or a little extra shade during your backyard BBQ, this shelter provide the perfect central gathering point during all your outdoor activities.
The Sunshade features a removable side wall to protect from wind and sun, and both shelters come with a convenient backpack-style carry bag for easy transport. Trust us when we tell you, that packable design will leave you wondering why you ever spent time lugging around those giant wheeled rectangular options. Bottom line, the Sunshade Shelter is a friend to anyone headed out for a weekend of mayhem, an all-day soccer tournament, or planning the sweetest beach party known to man.
kelty.com; MSRP Sunshade Shelter $149.95
Alite Designs Stonefly Armchair
Standing around your BBQ shin-dig all day is great, but why stand when you can lounge like a medieval lord? The Stonefly Armchair from Alite Designs perfects compact convenience and instantly transforms your grassy knoll into a luxurious, palace of delights. The integrated cup holders have a loop to attach a bottle opener or keys and enough space to accommodate your beverages as well as your phone or any small extras. Lightweight and fully collapsible with comfy armrests, it’s the ultimate camping, music festival, backwoods, long weekend, beverage-compatible chair of leisure!
Available exclusively at REI.com until July 1; MSRP $129.95 – $134.95
Orca Soft Sided Cooler
No matter what the plan or destination, you’re going to need something to keep your snacks fresh and beverages ice cold. Rather than spend hours in your local outdoor retailer, staring at a sea of available cooler options, cut the clutter and follow this simple rule: Go with ORCA.
Simply put, Orca makes state-of-the-art, durable coolers that keep your stuff cold for a really REALLY long time. American made and ready to bring cold, these coolers ensure you can keep having fun without worrying about replenishing your ice supply. Did we mention the rotomolded coolers have a lifetime guarantee? When mobility is at a premium, the ORCA soft-sided Pod and Podsters feature padded shoulder straps and cross-chest adjustable T-strap allowing for ultimate comfort when carrying. Whether you go with ORCA’s hard sided or soft sided option, know that this brand is serious about keeping your stuff icy cold for a remarkably long time.
orcacoolers.com; MSRP Pod $269.99, Podster $199.99
Eagle Creek Afar Backpack
Featuring cavernous capacity and rugged durability, the Eagle Creek Afar Backpack is ready for just about anything that your holiday weekend throws at you. The Afar combines the brand’s award-winning pack technology with convenient comfort features whether you are traveling by planes, trains, and automobiles.
For those who refuse to part from their technology, the Afar has a padded sleeve for laptops. And when your more adventurous spirit leads you to the outskirts of society, lash points and compression straps allow you to tag on additional gear. Add in lockable zippers and a safety whistle, and you’ve got a backpack built for both work, play, and long adventurous weekends away.
eaglecreek.com; MSRP $95.20
Bullfrog BF200 Bluetooth Music System
Any time is a good time for an impromptu dance party, especially on a long weekend. With bigger and bolder sonic strength than most other portable speakers, the Bullfrog BF200 Bluetooth Speaker from Kicker Audio is designed to be the heart of whatever party you bring it to. Kicker built these speakers to be rugged enough to survive in the outdoors, offering plenty of protection from dust, sand, and water. In fact, Kicker says the BF200 can be submerged in up to one meter of water for as long as 30 minutes and still continue to work just fine. In other words, it’s ready to serve as your portable DJ for any Memorial Day pool party.
A massive 20-hour battery life and 100-foot Bluetooth range means non-stop fun, no matter where your family sets up camp. Plus, a unique design gives you audio on both sides of the unit for twice the speaker power. Still not loud enough? Then pair it with another Bullfrog speaker and take advantage of the DoubleKICK Connect which allows you to easily join any two Bullfrogs together wirelessly.
kicker.com/44BF100 ; MSRP $299.99
STANLEY Adventure Vacuum Quenchers
Let’s be honest, the cornerstone of any worthy gathering involves plenty backyard BBQs and a few ice cold brews. To ensure your beverage of choice stays as cold as a mountain stream, the original inventors of Vacuum Insulation employ their reliable double-wall vacuum construction in the Adventure Vacuum Quenchers. BPA free means it’s good for the body, and the Stainless Steel construction means less red cups in our landfills. Wherever you go, these jumbo stainless steel insulated cups are ready for adventure however you define it.
Want to class up the joint a bit and impress your friends? Go with the Stanley’s Ceramivac collection. This collection is proof that the legendary brand isn’t spending time resting on their laurels. In the Ceramivac collection the smooth-fired feel of ceramic marries the brand’s legendary durability and vacuum insulation to bring a product that delivers refined refreshment with no metallic taste or smell. Yup, you just made your Memorial Day beer exceedingly classy.
stanley-pmi.com; MSRP $20-$35
BioLite Charge 20 & Solar Panel 10+
It’s worth it, we promise. By the time you send two Snapchat videos and one Instagram photo, your phone will be at 24 percent battery. And you didn’t spend all that time finding the perfect adventure spot just to run out of juice and not be able to capture the fun. Solution? The BioLite Charge 20’s 5200 mAh power supply can charge 2 full phones, lights, or any other gear you need to keep your day going.
Burn through the Charge 20 and need to refuel? The SolarPanel 10+ uses state-of-the-art monocrystalline technology to provide 10 watts of smart power from the sun. Mount the lightweight, tough-as-nails Solar Panel 10+ onto your Hyphy-Tote while you roam the festival grounds. Or use the adjustable 360° kickstand to prop it up on your grassy knoll for clean, portable power and civilized fun. The sundial for panel alignment is useful and so are the indicator lights for seeing the charging status and battery capacity. An integrated 3,000 mAh battery gives your crew one more power source when the sun goes down, but the party rages on.
bioliteenergy.com; MSRP SolarPanel 10+ $129.95
Airhead Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board
Looking to spend your long weekend paddling towards the sunset on a peaceful alpine lake? The explosive growth of the paddle boarding market has resulted in an impressive diversity of SUP styles and brands to choose from. But for those seeking the perfect blend of affordability and performance, we recommend Airhead SUP. With an array of versatile performers the brand is a perfect choice for families where lots of different people will be using the board.
An inflatable design gives you a board that is lighter and more compact than regular hard boards, and easier to store and transport. Yet their unique construction also makes them extremely rigid ensuring their ability to deliver nearly identical performance to their hard bodied counterparts. With the ability to roll up the size of a sleeping bag, iSUP options can go places this long weekend that their hard bodied counterparts couldn’t even contemplate going.
airheadsup.com
Klymit Versa Blanket
No matter how long you celebrate, the truth is that the sun will set and rise again three times during your holiday mayhem. Keep things warm and versatile with the Versa Blanket from Klymit. The Versa is packable, adaptable, and ready for any adventure. Featuring the same technical materials found in the brand’s premium sleeping bags, the Versa Blanket is light and airy so you can roll it up and stash it in your pack when it’s time find a new lounge spot. Corner hand pockets make it easy to wrap the blanket around yourself when the sun heads for the hills.
An integrated sleeve turns the blanket into a pillow and a built-in footbox prevents the blanket from being kicked off. Additionally, the Versa Blanket features corner snaps that allow users to shorten the blanket in half or use it as a cape or shoulder wrap. And rest assured the 20D soft-touch polyester is durable enough to withstand the rigors of your weekend mayhem.
klymit.com; MSRP $79.95
Bottom Line…
With all of the planning and work that can go into your Memorial Day Weekend, in the end don’t forget to lay back and let it all weave through. Load up with the appropriate gear, then make sure that you take time to soak in the surroundings. Soak in the beauty. Soak in the memories.