The Best Gear for Summer 2024
Summer is here!
It’s getting hot out there, so put on all your sun-blocking, moisture-wicking, quick-drying gear. Stay hydrated throughout the season and hit the trails without fear of overheating. We’ve got clothing to keep you cool, drinks to enjoy around the campfire and the best outdoor items to guarantee your summer will be full of fun.
Let’s go!
Columbia Summit Valley Short Sleeve Crew
Kicking things off is this ultra-comfy, cooling, soft t-shirt. With Omni-Shade™ broad spectrum air flow, you’ll stay comfortable and protected from your collarbone to your hip. Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, this shirt boasts 50 UPF for ultimate sun-blocking safety so you can enjoy the trail, beach or lake without worrying about burning.
Buy it here: columbiasportswear.ca
Columbia Summit Valley Hoodie
Cover up and stay sun-safe on those high UV warning days with a lightweight, high-performance long sleeve shirt. Featuring a hood with cross-over neckline for extra coverage, this hoodie fits like an air-light layer, so you will sweat less while staying covered. The broad-spectrum UPF 50 UV-blocking protection and Omni-Wick™ fast-drying technology will keep you cool and comfortable on outdoor adventures.
Buy it here: columbiasportswear.ca
Smartwool Women’s Intraknit Strappy Bra
Made with merino wool and TENCEL™, this sports bra is a smart choice for low-impact outdoor adventures like hiking, rock climbing, cycling and paddling. The seamless knit offers comfort on sensitive skin and the racerback style provides even weight distribution without digging into your shoulders. It’s sweat-wicking, slim-fitting and supportive.
Buy it here: smartwool.ca
Helly Hansen Elv Light Tur Shorts
This airy pair of shorts weighs only 210 grams. With an elasticized panel in the rear waistband and a gusseted crotch, these two-way stretch shorts move with you, never pinching or chafing—even when the hills get steep and your movement gets intense. A zippered thigh pocket means no more lost keys or credit cards. Plus, the wicking polyamide/Elastane mix that contains 54 per cent recycled content and bluesign® certified main fabric dries so quickly, they easily double as swim shorts for mid-hike dips in cool water. (You’ll be dry well before you’re back at the car.)
Buy it here: hellyhansen.com
Columbia Leslie Falls Long Shorts
Looking for a pair of comfortable, wearable and one-style-fits-all shorts? Columbia made these trekking shorts with broad-spectrum UV protection, advanced stain repellency and six differently sized pockets. The fabric is flowy and the waistband is thick, though be careful with sizing, as there’s no drawcord to tighten or loosen it. The fabric resists odours so you can wear these shorts all week long at the campground.
Buy it here: columbiasportswear.ca
adidas TERREX’s Agravic 3 Silhouette
Run in these shoes for less than five minutes, and you’ll discover the most ergonomic and responsive running shoe on the market. With excellent arch and ankle support, these are a very dependable shoe. Lightweight and breathable, the mesh upper helps keep you cool on those hot summer runs. The grip on the Agravic 3’s is next level and fantastic for all conditions from the beach to the park to the trail.
Buy it here: adidas.ca
ExploreWEAR Five-Panel Cap
Keep your face protected from the summer sun with this low-profile, five-panel, camper-style cap. Made of 100 per cent cotton, this hat has a nylon strap clip closure. Comfortable and classic, one size fits (and flatters) most. It’s perfect for camping and outdoor activities—plus, it allows you to show your love for explore while you explore!
Buy it here: explore-mag.com
KOA Sunscreen
This new reef-safe sunscreen is designed in Hawaii. Made for modern explorers and maximum protection, the featherlight mineral sunscreen is infused with Vitamin B-3 and Wild Chamomile, has instant dry-down and no stickiness, and doesn’t have a white cast or apply like a thick coat of paste, unlike many other mineral-based formulas. The UV filtering ingredient, non-nano zinc oxide, doesn’t bleach coral reef or harm marine life.
Buy it here: livingkoa.com
Rechargeable Mini Handheld Battery-Operated Portable Fan
This is a summer-saver, whether you’re outside at a music festival, enjoying a picnic in the park or watching your kids at the playground. Doubling as a backup power bank and tripling as a flashlight, this small, collapsible fan has multiple speeds and soft fan blades. All your friends will be begging to borrow it.
Buy it here: amazon.ca
OHME! Freeze-Dried Fruit Snacks
Made in British Columbia, OHME! was founded by healthcare workers who were searching a need for healthy, nutrient-rich snacks that didn’t compromise on taste—so they made their own. Mess-free for kids and perfect as on-the-go snacks for treks and outdoor adventures, the freeze-dried bites are non-GMO, gluten-free, 100 per cent natural. My favourite flavour is Mango Yogurt Crunch.
Buy it here: ohmefoods.com (launching July 15th)
HydraPak Stow 500mL
I purchased this small, collapsible bottle to use as a hydration backup while trekking the Inca Trail in Peru, and now it comes everywhere with me. Simply fill it up before you go—I add in Liquid I.V. (more on that below)—and when it’s empty, it squishes down to the size of a flimsy pair of sunglasses. You can tuck it in a hip belt or even a pocket in a pinch. It’s small, but it’s the perfect size for quick outdoor walks or as an accompaniment to your bigger bottle or water bladder.
Buy it here: hydrapak.com
Liquid I.V.
I’ve used Liquid I.V. on hiking trips, hot summer days and while travelling. Mix one single-serve packet of electrolyte-fueling powder into 500 mL of water. The Hydration Multiplier® is a convenient, functional and refreshing way to support your hydration and restore electrolytes—plus it has a boost of B and C vitamins. Available in Lemon Lime, Firecracker, Passion Fruit and Strawberry flavours.
Buy it here: liquid-iv.ca
Yellowstone Bourbon Campfire Cocktails
There’s nothing like sitting around a campfire, swapping stories, making new friends and watching the sparks fly into a star-filled sky. Add a freshly roasted marshmallow plopped into a delicious cocktail, and you might have created the perfect summer evening. Yellowstone Bourbon shared three favourite campfire cocktails here.
Buy it here: yellowstonebourbon.com
LOLO Tequila Cocktails with Electrolytes
If you want something a little lighter, LOLO is Canada’s first canned tequila cocktail boasting freshly squeezed fruit and a bonus for anyone spending time on outdoor adventures—electrolytes! Created by a Vancouver beer brand, LOLO tastes like a slightly sweet summer refreshment with a pop of fizz. At only 4.5 per cent and 110 calories, consume in moderation at a park that allows liquor for a relaxing addition to your outing.
Buy it here: lolodrinkcompany.com
Funsicle Sundae Pop Float
I had to include an affordable inflatable for fun summer days on the lake or at an outdoor pool. This floatie, shaped like a popsicle, is pink, green and speckled with sprinkles. Made from durable and puncture-resistant materials, it has a surface large enough for adults and older children to stretch out and relax on. This inflatable kept me blissfully buoyant on the water. I was surprised how much the included AirFlate tool helped me to inflate and deflate it.
Buy it here: walmart.ca