The yearly beach vacation? Canceled. That backpacking trip with high school friends? Scrapped. Nevertheless, you must make the most of what you have. A socially distanced summer doesn’t mean you can’t spruce up your own private outdoor space to make the most of the warmer months. Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to turn my own backyard into a gear testing space. These are my favorite picks for making your backyard—or small patio or balcony—as serene as possible.
Happily, this is but a small selection of the backyard-appropriate gear we’ve tested. Be sure to check out our other buying guides on the best grilling gear, Bluetooth speakers, and compact cameras, to name a few.
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Photograph: REI
A Low Chair
REI Co-op Trail Chair
I’ve tried a lot of camping chairs. But for a chair that’s versatile, affordable, and storable, you can’t beat a padded stadium-style seat. REI’s is more durable than most, with an abrasion-resistant, durable water repellent (DWR) finish to repel moisture if you accidentally leave it out overnight. A fiberglass frame means that it’s not quite as floppy as other camp chairs in this style.
A chair like this is more about what it isn’t, rather than what it is. It doesn’t have legs that will break, bow, or sink into dirt when you sit down. You don’t have to struggle to jam it back into a stuff sack. If all you have is a fire escape, it can unfold and fold quickly back up to slide into the bottom of a closet.
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Photograph: Snow Peak
A Low Table
Snow Peak Low Action Table
You probably need a table for your drinks, snacks, or laptop. Unlike many other pieces of outdoor furniture, Snow Peak’s low table easily folds into a thin panel to bring it in and out of your house and store it when it’s wet. The tabletop is made from thin laminated bamboo with sturdy aluminum legs. Like your low chair, it will easily convert back into camping gear when we’re all allowed to go camping again.
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Photograph: BioLite
String Lights
BioLite SiteLight Mini
I’ve found most BioLite products to be to be light, durable, affordable, and attractive. The dimmable mini string lights are designed to be plugged into a USB power source, like BioLite’s PowerLight. They hang from an adjustable 10-foot cord that can be moved anywhere. I’ve put it on a backyard fence, used it to play yard games at night, had it on a deck railing, and even put it on the bottom of my kid’s bunk bed when he was a little scared of the dark. You can also add more on a daisy chain if you find that four lights just aren’t enough.
