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(Courtesy the Companies)
2021 Winter Buyer’s Guide

The Best Tailgating Gear of 2021

Elevate your happy hour

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Smith Shoutout Core Sunglasses ($129)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Smith)

Based on a classic Smith style, these shades look good on most faces, courtesy of thin frames (made from recycled plastic bottles) and ­medium-large polarized lenses.

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Eureka! Sprk Camp Grill ($130)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Eureka!)

The butane-powered Sprk has enough room for a few hefty steaks or enough burgers or skewers to feed four hungry skiers. A ceramic nonstick grate spreads the heat evenly for reliable cooking, and the removable grease pan makes cleanup easy.

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Zippo Rechargeable Candle Lighter ($30)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Zippo)

We were able to light campfires and grills quickly and easily—even on windy days—with this long-neck lighter. Even better: it’s rechargeable, so you never have to worry about running out of fuel.

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Wyoming Whiskey Outryder Straight American Whiskey ($75)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Wyoming Whiskey)

Outryder makes for a damn good Manhattan and goes well with high-­quality ginger ale and lime, too. We, however, prefer it neat. With the spice of a rye and the finish of a bourbon, it goes down smooth.

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Benchmade Mini Crooked River Knife ($240)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Benchmade)

Slice steaks or shave kindling with this American-made knife. It’s pricey, but the Mini’s CPM S30V steel blade and beautiful stabilized wood handle will accompany you on adventures for decades to come.

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Helinox Bench One Camp Seat ($300)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Helinox)

Snuggle up with your favorite someone on this bench—it’s wide enough to fit two adults. The polyester mesh is comfy for hours. And when you’re done, it packs down to the size of a piece of firewood.

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Yeti Rambler 16 Oz Colster Tall Can Insulator ($30)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Yeti)

Many of the best craft beers now come in 16-ounce cans. Thankfully, Yeti launched this taller version of its simple vacuum-insulated koozie. It kept our pints cold and our hands dry all evening.

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Xtratuf the Homer Shoes ($90)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Xtratuf)

Fuzzy lining and a wool upper makes the Homer as warm and comfortable as house slippers—the perfect opposite of stiff ski boots. The thick rubber sole and chevron tread kept us upright on slippery asphalt parking lots.

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Patagonia Macro Puff Quilt ($249)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Patagonia)

Patagonia filled this ultrapackable 27-ounce quilt with the same imitation down that it uses in its Macro Puff jacket. Water-resistant and queen size, it’s perfect for when the sun sets and the mercury drops.

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Igloo Repreve Echo Cooler ($20)

tailgating gear
(Courtesy Igloo)

Fill this soft-sided cooler with snow and you’ll have perfectly frosted beers come last chair. A leak-resistant liner is easy to clean. Kudos to Igloo for using recycled material for the outer fabric.

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From Winter 2021 Buyer’s Guide Lead Photo: Courtesy the Companies

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