The Gear Outside's Editors Are Testing Right Now (August 2025)

Published August 28, 2025 08:00AM

Labor Day is almost here, but our gear editors and testers have been making the most of the dwindling summer days—pedaling dusty trails, grinding up high-alpine switchbacks, and sneaking in lakeside hangs whenever possible. Naturally, we brought a pile of fresh gear along for the ride. Here’s the latest bike gear, trail runners, and hiking essentials that earned a permanent spot in our quiver.

When you live in the desert, training for an ultra marathon in high summer is miserable. The only thing that made it survivable for me was this extra-large 750ml soft flask. Most soft flasks that come with running vests are 500ml, so if I carry two of the Type2 Gen flasks I get an extra half liter of water, which makes a difference. While taller than most, these flasks still fit in running vest pockets and they’re not so big that I can’t carry one in my hand for a quicker run. Bonus: Type2 was founded by two brothers from my home state of New Mexico—runners themselves looking for a better product. Over many years of gear testing, I’ve found that the best gear is always invented by the people who need it most. —Jakob Schiller, gear columnist

Hammocks are great—if you’ve got trees. The ENO Parklite stand takes trees out of the equation by turning a hammock into a freestanding chair. At under eight pounds, it’s light, quick to set up (under 2 minutes), and portable with its included carrying case. I’ve been using it all summer to work outdoors on my patio and in my treeless city yard, comfortably tucked under our lilac’s shade.

The stand works with ENO’s SingleNest, DoubleNest, and TravelNest hammocks, making it versatile for backyard lounging or beach trips. My only wish? A footrest and cupholder. Until then, a cooler underfoot does the trick. —Erica Zazo, gear contributor

I used to laugh at people wearing Hokas casually. Now I’m one of them. My go-to pair is this collab with _J.L-A.L_ that gets me the chunky, carbon-plated Mafate X in an exclusive purple colorway. They work well for trail runs, travel, office wear, even dates. Thanks to generous cushioning and a nice wide toe box, they’re ideal travel shoes. They’re also built to last and show almost no signs of wear after weeks and weeks of continuous wear. Do I look a little ridiculous sporting high-end trail runners at a computer? Probably. Do I care? No. —J.S.

My sunglasses collection is getting out of hand. I have several pairs for running, some solely for fashion, a pair for being on the water, and backups. But this summer, I’ve been testing the latest lifestyle pair from Timberland and Marcolin, and they’re proving to be a quiver killer. Not only are they polarized, but the large, squared lenses fit a range of face shapes and offer enough coverage for both sun-exposed hikes and sunset dinners on a patio. The nose pads keep them in place even when I’m jostling up trails or sweating on my beach towel. Sporty but also casual, the frames are made of 65 percent injected bio-based acetate that is so lightweight (2.8 oz) I’ve forgotten I’m wearing them. I think I can finally cull my sunglasses collection. —Amelia Arvesen, gear contributor

For the past few years my footwear allegiance has swung between two opposing technologies: traditional laces and BOA dials. But the Giro Gritter Mountain Bike Shoes forced my latest party change to BOA, and I suspect this new shift might be permanent. This shoe’s low-profile Dual Li2 dials ratchet up a snug fit, outperforming older BOA systems and even laces. After wearing these shoes for a few weeks, I rode with a pair of Shimano shoes with older BOA dials and I noticed a stark difference—they were looser than shoes with laces. But credit also goes to Giro for its firm Syncwire upper, which completes the taut feel, and for its stiff carbon soles, which deliver excellent power transfer. The Gritter has become my go-to bike shoe for mountain biking, gravel riding, and even road cycling. —Frederick Dreier, articles editor

I’ve never been an outdoor speaker guy, but two discoveries this year changed that. First, I fell for Houston band Khruangbin—yes, I’m a decade late—and spent the summer blasting their psychedelic surf rock on the trampoline with my daughter and at the pool. Second, I got the Fender x Teufel Rockstar Go 2. Unlike most tinny outdoor speakers, it pumps out full-throated bass and crips sound, with top-volume that rivals old wall-mounted systems. At my sister’s post-wedding in the mountains, I set it on a stump, hit play, and after a few notes, the whole crowd was swaying. —F.D.

This month, I tested 16 of the world’s most advanced (and expensive) super shoes, max-cushioned models, minimalist shoes, and gravel shoes. My favorite of the bunch was the Salomon Aero Blaze 3, a versatile shoe that handles any type of run with surprising competence. The gas-infused TPU midsole is cushy but not squishy, with a responsive ride that feels lively but doesn’t bounce me around. The shape is wide enough to be stable but not bulky (they weigh only eight ounces). The gentle toe rocker rolls my stride forward smoothly and has enough flex that my feet feel in control and my toes engaged. The upper is breathable, simple, and secure from heel through midfoot while relaxed from the ball forward. I feel supported and energized running in them, and—my favorite part—they do their thing so unobtrusively I stop thinking about them and let the run take over. —Jonathan Beverly, Senior Gear Editor, Running

I loved the original Turtlebox for its booming audio and waterproof build, but it was too big for many situations. Enter the Ranger: a smaller, lighter speaker with the same big sound. At just 2.4 pounds and 9 inches long, the Ranger is waterproof, drop-proof, and has more than 12 hours of battery life. It even has a built-in magnetic strip so you can attach it to vehicles, golf carts, or boats. I’ve taken it camping, boating, and golfing, and its 105-decibel sound with dual woofers never disappoints. —Graham Averill, gear and travel columnist

This carrier has been a lifesaver with our five-month-old daughter, who naps almost exclusively in it. It’s extremely comfortable thanks to several adjustment features that allow you to fine-tune your fit. My wife has a much smaller frame than I do yet we both wear this carrier comfortably thanks to a thick, padded velcro hip belt that’s easily adjustable.

Smart touches abound: removable drool pads, plenty of storage pockets, and three carry positions (front, inward-facing, and back). Osprey clearly thought through every detail. For us, the Poco has gone from daily walks to at-home naps, and we can’t wait until our daughter can face forward at six months. —E.Z.

9 Outdoor Gear Must-Haves Our Editors Refuse to Gatekeep—Just in Time for Labor Day

Type2 Gear 750ml Soft Flask

ENO Parklite Hammock Chair Stand

Hoka Mafate X _J.L-A.L_ Trail Runners

Timberland x Marcolin TB00037 Sunglasses

Giro Gritter Mountain Bike Shoes

Fender x Teufel Rockstar Go 2 Speaker

Salomon Aero Blaze 3 Running Shoe

Turtlebox Ranger Speaker

Osprey Poco Soft Child Carrier