Gear Patrol
This story is part of the 2021 Summer Gear Awards. To see the full list of winners, click here.
Welcome to summer: it’s hot and humid, and you’re better off staying at home. And even if the outdoors is calling, you can still head to the backyard (if you have one). There are few things more summer than a new grill or a cold brew coffee maker. Then, of course, you need to beat the heat inside whether it’s with an air conditioner or a fan. Luckily, we’ve vetted all the summer home gear you need to have, and this is what you should be adding to cart ASAP.
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Best Pellet Grill
Traeger 575 Pellet Grill
The Traeger 575 Pellet Grill is basically the best grill for most people. From the get-go, it’s easy to assemble, and its heavy-gauge steel is durable and tough. For a grill that’s under $2,000, it’s surprisingly more precise than other pellet grills that cost double or triple its price tag. The fuel efficiency is a huge bonus, plus, if you find it on sale, you’re getting a true steal
Weber Genesis II E-330
The Genesis II E-330 is hot. No, literally. It’s one of the rare gas grills that can hit temperatures above 800°F, and it does this thanks to a built-in infrared burner, which basically doubles its heat potential. Combine that screaming hot temperature with heavy-gauge, enamel-coated steel, plenty of storage, a side burner, foldaway warming racks and ample cooking space, and you’ve got yourself an all-around exceptional grill.
Best Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill
When it comes to grills, go Weber. It somehow manages to consistently combine high performance with affordability no matter the model. Its Original Kettle is made of a porcelain-enameled steel body, which is both sturdy yet light, which means you can easily transport it around. It features very few, if any, extraneous parts, and the best part is its low, low price.
Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
If you love cold brew, make your own (even if the haters are gonna hate). Oxo’s cold brew coffee maker is a winner for the way it distributes water to the coffee grounds through a process that looks like literal rain. You get even extraction, and the whole contraption is very simple to use. Once the cold brew is done brewing, dispense your reward straight from the brewer.
Best Air Purifier
Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier
The Airmega AP-1512HH offers some of the best air purification — with CADR ratings of 240 for pollen, 246 for dust and 233 for smoke — at its price point, and it does so in rooms up to 361 square feet. It has a triple filter system, a pre-filter, HEPA filter and activated carbon filter, plus an ionizer. A built-in air quality monitor tracks air quality and, when running in auto mode, will adjust the fan speed according to its readings (faster for low quality, slower when it’s contented).
Best Beach Chair
Lawn Chair USA Sea Island Beach Chair
Lawn Chair USA’s many-colored folding seats harken back to decades past with their flexible, comfortable cross-webbing. They also feature plastic armrests, which absorb less heat than wood or metal, and a lightweight aluminum frame.
Best Hammock
ENO SingleNest Hammock
Eno’s single-person hammock has a 400-pound capacity, and it’s decked out in high-strength woven nylon, which uses triple interlocking stitching to make it crazy durable. The hammock folds up into the size of a softball, so if it’s not a permanent fixture in your backyard, you can bring it to all your outdoor excursions.
Best Fire Pit
Solo Stove Bonfire
The Bonfire from Solo Stove is the ultimate fire pit. There’s virtually no smoke, and the minimal ash leftover makes cleanup a breeze. Set this up in your backyard or pack it with you on your next trip — regardless, it’s going to be the center of attention.
Best Outdoor Projector
Anker Nebula Capsule II Smart Mini Projector
No TV? No problem. The Nebula Capsule II Smart Mini Projector uses cutting-edge DLP technology, which projects a super-sharp 720p image. It’s about the size of a tall boy, so you can easily bring this from hangout to hangout. It’s voice activated with Google Assistant, and you can download over 5,000 apps, including Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Prime and Twitch.
Best Bluetooth Speaker
Ultimate Ears Boom 3
Bring the beats with the Boom 3, which touts some of the best audio quality that money can buy. They’re durable as hell, too, which is a must since you’ll probably be bringing this all over the place during the summer. With up to 15 hours of battery life, you can keep the party going on all day and into most of the night.
Best Window A/C
Midea MAW10V1QWT Air Conditioner
When summer starts to feel like hell, bring out the big guns. This 10,000-BTU air conditioner for Midea is the “big guns.” It’ll keep you cool with four fan speeds, using 35 percent less energy than comparable AC units. It’s wifi-enabled, compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and you can use it remotely so your space is cool as soon as you arrive home. While window AC units make you sacrifice a window for its installation, the Midea’s U-shaped designed means you can still crack a window open even after it’s installed.
Best Weed Killer
Sunday Weed Warrior
Sunday is a new lawn care brand that eschews chemicals and harmful ingredients, instead opting to use nature to attack nature. Its certified-organic herbicidal soap is as easy to use as an at-home multipurpose cleaner: aim and spray. The weed killer is safe to use around kids and pets, and with results happening in as little as 20 minutes, it’s a must-have for those dealing with an invasion of weeds.
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