【AI前沿】14 New Tools for Taking on the Great Outdoors Properly

Chris HaslamJeremy WhiteGearMay 24, 2026 5:30 AM14 New Tools for Taking on the Great Outdoors ProperlyIt’s time to prep your kit ahead of the summer season. These tools will do the job.Photograph: Antosh SergiewCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyOutdoor plans aregetting ambitious. Withairfares on the rise, it’s time to explore the unknown in your own backyard and further afield. But as we’re generally carrying more kit, and staying away longer, your gear has to keep pace—after all, if anything fails in thegreat wide open, it’s unlikely you’ll have a spare to fall back on.The adventure market is full of noise: “Military-grade,” “expedition-proven,” “built for the harshest environments.” Many of these claims mean very little. After all, a cooler that keeps ice for five days sounds great until you realize you’re carrying an extra 15 pounds to achieve this goal. This guide not only cuts through the hype and focuses on the gear that will serve you well in a pinch, it also makes sure you have as much fun as possible while enjoying the open skies, tree-lined trails, and sandy beaches.Here’s our selection offlashlights,tents, kites, and cookers, not to mention a few surprises (a wheelchair-friendly shelter and a frisbee game from a camping chair brand). Good gear doesn’t make you a better outdoorsperson. It just gets out of your way. These picks do exactly that.A 3-Person TentCourtesy of THE NORTH FACESave to wishlistSave to wishlistThe North FaceUniversal Collection Wawona 3 Tent$435The North FaceConsisting of an innovativemagnetic-closure sleeping bag, a self-standing,easy-open daypack,and a stylish three-person tent, this laudable, inclusivity-focused collection from The North Face is designed to remove friction points that can prevent people with disabilities from enjoying life outdoors. The freestanding tent is a generous size for a three-person design and comes with equal-length poles for fast, mistake-free pitching. The zippers also have extremely sensible oversized pull tabs, while the low threshold and huge 68.2-square-foot vestibule is big enough to keep two mobility devices safe, dry, and close by.A Lightweight StoveCourtesy of Katadyn ProductsSave to wishlistSave to wishlistOptimusGemini II$199EnwildTraditional compact camping stoves heat water with ease, but when you want to do more than survive on rehydrated meals and instant noodles, this twin 4,600-watt burner setup gives you the freedom to get creative in your camp kitchen. Weighing just 1 pound, 10 ounces, and measuring 12 x 2.76 x 4.14 inches when folded, it’s easy to carry, the Piezo ignition is highly adjustable, and thanks to the serious power, you can boil a liter of water in just four minutes, or get your gnocchi simmering and parmigiano reggiano and sage cream sauce reducing in seconds.A 3D-Knit WindbreakerCourtesy of UPPERVOIDSave to wishlistSave to wishlistUppervoidAegis S Jacket$145UppervoidIn a sea of Arc’teryx shells and Salomon hiking shoes, Vancouver-based Uppervoid offers a timely new take on the gorpcore aesthetic. For something impressively original, check out the color grading on its newhardshell jackets, but for the warmer months, this ultra-lightweight windbreaker ticks ourtrail runningboxes. Made from 3D-knitted Toray Airtastic 7D fabric, it is impossibly soft and thin, weighs just 2.8 ounces, yet feels reassuringly durable on the trails. Underarm venting helps heat escape when you start working hard, and it stuffs down so small you’ll forget it’s even in your pack.A Hard-Sided CoolerCourtesy of Newell BrandsSave to wishlistSave to wishlistColemanSnap ‘N Go Collapsible Hard Cooler$199ColemanAvailable in 35-, 45-, and 55-quart versions, Coleman’s ingenious collapsible hard-sided cooler expands or folds in seconds and brilliantly shrinks to one third its size for easy storage. Unlike most soft coolers, it still works properly, promising ice retention for up to 64 hours. Coleman also includes an antibacterial removable liner to keep your cooler stink-free, although be warned, without any wheels on the bottom, once the larger size is full of ice and drinks, it’s just as heavy as the competition to maneuver.A Mini TruckCourtesy of TELO TRUCKSSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTeloMT1 Electric Mini Truck$41,250Telo TrucksBilled as having Toyota Tacoma capability, Tesla range, and a Mini Cooper footprint, this 5-seat EV truck designed byYves Béhargoes from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds and carries a 2,000-pound payload. It has a towing capacity of up to 6,600 pounds, too, while the configurable mid-partition can increase the bed size to accommodate 4 x 8-foot plywood sheets (or, indeed, 8-foot surfboards when the swell calls). Dual-motor versions target 0 to 60 mph in around 4 seconds, while the largest battery option teases up to 350 miles of range.If you’re concerned about performance off the asphalt, the MT1 has 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) of ground clearance and independent suspension, which mean