The end of summer is bittersweet. Fall brings cooler temperatures听for mountain biking and camping, but summer offers time for tubing, paddleboarding, and jumping into lakes. I love that time on the water, especially where I live in the southern Appalachians, where finding the right place to take a dip听makes all the difference in the sweltering heat. The good news:听summer isn鈥檛 over quite yet. Here鈥檚 a list of some of my favorite water gear that helps me enjoy the听remaining听hot days, whether that鈥檚听taking a canyoneering trip or doing a lazy float with the kids.
Ten Thousand Set Shorts ($72)
Is this a pair of workout听or swim shorts? Technically, the听 is both, and it鈥檚 become my do-everything pair, from running in the neighborhood to听knocking out upriver miles听on the paddleboard. The shorts are made听of听a quick-dry polyester, four-way stretch, and an athletic 6.5-inch inseam that gives them Magnum P.I. flare. I鈥檓 most in love with the liner, which feels like a comfy pair of boxer-briefs even when they get wet.听
Sunday Afternoons Sun Guardian Hat ($20)
Sun hats have become a key in my summer wardrobe, and the the one I wear most is the 鈥攁 full straw number based on an old-school lifeguard design but updated with smart features, like a soft liner on the inside of the crown and a drawstring to keep it secure when it鈥檚 windy. The massive, 4.25-inch brim keeps my face and neck in the shade听and has a UPF 50 liner听underneath.
Astral Ronny PFD ($100)
Technically, the听听is an angler鈥檚 PFD, but it鈥檚 so versatile and comfortable that I wear it every time I鈥檓 on the river. The minimalist shoulder harness gives me full mobility when I鈥檓 stand-up paddleboarding, but unlike some minimalist models, the foam padding spans the entire back of the vest, providing a cushion when I鈥檓 sitting in a fishing kayak. It also has a built-in can holder, as well as a large pocket for a phone and a small fly box. The price is right, too: it鈥檚 half the cost听of some other PFDs in the same category.听
Yeti Sidekick Drybag ($50)
Keeping my phone and wallet dry is a top priority when I鈥檓 on the river, and while I have a handful of different drybag options, the finds its way onboard most often because of its versatility. The purse-size听bag is made with whitewater-raft-shell material and eschews the typical roll-top or听waterproof zipper听for a double seal using听strong magnets and Velcro. And the Sidekick floats, which is just as important as being waterproof. Best of all, it attaches to nearly听everything, thanks to the webbed panel on the back of the bag. I attach it to the cargo straps on the front of my paddleboard, my PFD,听or听the side of my soft cooler.
OluKai 鈥業maka Trainer Shoe听($150)
Most of my time around rivers and lakes is spent scrambling and jumping, so I like aqua-friendly shoes that perform like hiking shoes. Enter OluKai鈥檚听鈥, a new trainer developed with Hawaii鈥檚 lifeguards to handle rough terrain both in and out of the water. It鈥檚 basically a hiker with a mesh upper that drains well and dries fast. The 鈥業maka has the brand鈥檚 signature drop-in heel, which I like听when I鈥檓 feeling lazy. The speed laces cinch tight for a secure fit and don鈥檛 flap around when I鈥檓 swimming, which is a problem with some similar models.
Free Fly Crossover Hoodie ($70)
Any sun shirt is better than no sun shirt, but I like the because it鈥檚 so damn comfortable. We鈥檙e talking baby blanket soft, thanks to its bamboo construction, which is blended with polyester and spandex for durability and stretch. It鈥檚 light enough to wear in the middle of the day here in the muggy South, and dries fast enough that I usually keep听it on while I go overboard for a dip.