The Gear Our Editors Loved This August

Having to transition away from wearing sandals in fall is such a sad acknowledgement that all the freedom and happiness I associate with summer is on the way out. But this year will be even harder because I bought the best pair of flip-flops ever. I stopped into the Rainbow store in San Clemente while road-tripping through SoCal and it was a total vibe. Not gonna lie: 60 bucks was more than I imagined spending on sandals, but they have been so worth it.

They’re incredibly comfortable. It took me about a week to break in the nubuck leather, but the resulting softness is unbeatable. The footbed offers arch support and is slightly more elevated than your average flip-flop, and I’ve found that the bottom doesn’t suffer punctures like flimsy models. Best purchase of the year? Definitely.  —Tasha Zemke, managing editor

Patagonia Baby Block-the-Sun UPF Hat

$27 at Patagonia $23 at Backcountry

My son was born in April and for the last three months, he’s basically lived in this Patagonia hat. At first it was a little too big for his head, so we just draped it over him while walking the neighborhood so he could have a snooze without being exposed to the sun. Now it fits properly and he wears it constantly while we’re outside. The extra coverage in the back is key to keeping him comfortable outdoors. —Matt Skenazy, features editor

Norrona Senja Equaliser Stretch 6-Inch Tights

$119 at Norrona

I’ve worn these shorts on everything from a sweltering 3-mile road run from my house in Montana to a soggy ten-mile trail run in the Beartooth Mountains, and they excelled in both situations. The 65 percent recycled stretch nylon and 25 percent elastane fabric is super thin and therefore breathable, but these shorts are also tight enough that they feel securely attached to my legs. I’ve worn them on about seven runs so far and have not experienced any chafing thanks to the flatlock seams or seen any pilling on the fabric after multiple washes. Perhaps my favorite feature is the phone-sized pockets on both thighs that let me run hands-free. A zippered back pocket also keeps my keys or Airpods case secure. —Kelly Klein, gear editor

Solo Stove Heat Deflector

$175 at Solo Stove $170 at Amazon

I used to think the Solo Stove was a bit silly. Yes, it minimizes smoke thanks to its hole-lined rim and doesn’t scorch your patio, but the insulated, double-walled design that makes those things possible also means that the Solo Stove doesn’t radiate any heat. If you’ve ever tried hanging out around a Solo Stove in fall or winter, you’ve had numb feet. Recently I picked up the brand’s heat deflector, though, which does exactly what it sounds like: the conical shield bounces all of that lost heat directly towards your legs and feet. It nests safely in the rim of a Solo Stove, and disassembles in seconds. A (mostly) smokeless fire pit that protects the ground and still warms your toes? I’m in. —Benjamin Tepler, senior gear editor

Decked Minuteman 80 Case

$375 at Decked $375 at Decked

I’ve been looking for a way to carry camera gear while overlanding, and this case is my solution. Made from high-strength plastic, sealed with a waterproof gasket, and lined with customizable foam, the Minuteman is a reliable way to transport thousands of dollar’s worth of gear in the back of my truck without fear. I had to spend some time cutting out the foam to fit my cameras and lenses, but I like knowing that when I’m rambling down a rutted road, nothing in the case is moving around or getting dusty. When I get to where I’m going, all I have to do is open the case and grab what I need. I also love the easy-to-use latches and the lock for extra protection. —Jakob Schiller, gear columnist

Epic Water Filters Pure Pitcher

$55 at Epic Water Filters $55 at Best in Wellness

I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which has been in the news for decades because they found the nearby Kirtland Air Force base leaked 24 million gallons of jet fuel into ground around the base. Needless to say, I sometimes worry about my drinking water and I’m always looking for the best filter. My favorite at the moment is the Pure Pitcher, which is like a Brita on steroids and has been shown to effectively remove fluoride, PFAs, microplastics, chlorine, and heavy metals. With a 10-cup capacity, it holds plenty of water between refills, and the filter has a self timer that tells you it needs replacing after 90 days. —J.S.

Paka Long Sleeve Base Layer 

$75 at Paka

Have you ever put a piece of clothing on that made all of the other clothes in your closet suck? That’s what happened the moment I slipped Paka’s Long Sleeve Base Layer over my head. Paka uses a mix of 15 percent alpaca wool and 85 percent Tencel, resulting in a super light weight performance shirt that looks great in public.

Paka calls it a baselayer, and it’s certainly thin enough to wear under other layers, but it’s too nice to cover up. It has an athletic fit that stops short of being tight, and it breathes well and wicks moisture like a champ. But I wear this shirt when I don’t need it to wick much moisture because it’s so damn comfortable. It’s like slipping into butter. That sounds weird, but it’s not, I swear. It’s also fully machine-washable so you don’t have to treat it like an heirloom. —Graham Averill, gear and travel columnist