August in the United States saw intense heat waves and chillier temperatures bordering on autumn conditions. To make the most of it, our editors cozied up on mega-comfortable car camping sleeping pads, huddled around campfires, and protected themselves from the beating sun during hikes in the middle of the day. This is the gear we couldn’t get enough of this month.
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Patagonia Women’s Funhoggers 4-Inch Shorts
Bless a Patagonia sale! Thanks to the most recent one, I finally invested in a pair of their four-inch Funhoggers Shorts. Living my life as an active mom with a remote job, I do not want my bottoms to be tight—my legs like room to breathe. I’m also only 5’4”, so when shorts are both very roomy and very long, I can look like a child playing dress up in adult clothes. I do not look like that in these shorts. They’re both comfortable and sturdy, and I’ve been wearing them as often as I can clean them. Once, I spilled an enormous amount of melted butter on the front of the shorts (basically my second time ever wearing them), and I was able to get that out with no problem. Easy clean is another huge plus for me. —Ryleigh Nucilli, digital managing editor
New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos Shoes
I’m not shy about my dislike for high-stack, sloppily squishy running shoes that leave me wobbling and wallowing down the road, unable to connect with the ground beneath my feet (you know, the majority of shoes on the market since the industry became thoroughly Hoka-nized). At first step, the new New Balance Balos seemed to fall squarely in that category. Its thick midsole is so soft that after putting one shoe on I had a bit of trouble balancing on it while I pulled on the other.
As soon as I started running in the Balos, however, I felt nimble and surprisingly stable and grounded. It’s like turning so far one way you end up going in the opposite direction: the foam is so soft that, when weighted, it’s firmly responsive. The first NB Fresh Foam shoe that uses a PEBA-based blend in its midsole (the ultra-light, hyper-responsive foam found in marathon racing super shoes), the Balos wraps around my foot and, thanks to the flexible ground-contact EVA outsole, adapts and moves with it through the stride.
But the Balos’ magic really comes from how the super foam interacts with the rocker: as you roll forward, it lowers you gently onto the lower, thinner forefoot, while gathering up behind the ball to rebound at the right time. I found the shoe encouraged a quicker cadence, taller posture, and more forward-balanced stance, while also coddling my aging, gnarled feet. I still hate most max-cushioned shoes, but the fast-rolling, smooth-riding Balos is winning me over. Read my . —Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor, gear
Exped Megamat Duo
When I’m car camping, I’m on my princess shit. I bring Uggs, my whole skincare routine, my Kelty camp couch, and more down blankets than I could possibly need. But this summer I really upped my game with an Exped Megamat Duo, a 4-inch thick double sleeping pad that’s genuinely as comfortable as my bed. At 77.6 x 52 inches, the long wide double (there are a few size options) fills out the floor of my trusty old REI half-dome tent, which makes snuggling with a partner easy and sleeping alone downright luxurious. —Abigail Barronian, senior editor
Rainbow Leather Sandals
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-flopsever.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
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
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
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
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
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
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