The Inertia Summer Gear Guide 2025

Summer means it’s time to ditch the neoprene and break out some boardshorts. Photo: Ella Boyd//The Inertia

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Spring has sprung, and summer is right around the corner. No better time to gear up and get out there. This summer, our picks focus on value, and unless your head’s been under a rock for the past six months, you’ll understand why. But rough financial seas don’t mean you need to stay landlocked. Quite the opposite, in our opinion. When the going gets tough, there’s no better time to treat yourself to a breath of sea air, some scenic views, or whatever it is that gets you stoked.

Huk Icon Performance Hoodie

If your version of getting out there involves water activities, a hooded sunshirt is a must-have.

Built to outlast the sun, the Huk Icon Performance Hoodie is the layer you’ll want protecting your head and shoulders, whether you’re paddling, fishing, sailing, or just having a cold one in between surf sessions.

With UPF 50+ protection and sweat-wicking tech such as a mesh back-panel, you’ll stay cool and protected all summer long. An antimicrobial treatment provides an extra layer of protection – to keep you from smelling like your bait cooler after a long day of use.

Durable, stylish, and effortlessly versatile, this hoodie goes far beyond the back of the fishing boat. Think of it as your summer base layer – you’ll reach for it so often, it might just live by the door.

Olukai Tuahine

Ahh, the classic leather flip flop. A style as timeless as it is durable and stylish. Although perhaps that timelessness has something to do with the style and durability.

Olukai’s Tuahine sandal takes the classic leather flop and gives it the major update it deserves. Generous arch support makes this a sandal you can wear all day long, and with a waterproof leather construction, there is no where these flops can’t go. A non-marking and surprisingly grippy rubber outsole adds to the all-terrain accolades.

For more sandal and flip flop options, rigorously tested by our crew of professional beach bums, check out our guides to The Best Sandals and The Best Flip Flops.

Howler Brothers Bruja Boardshort

When we’re looking for value, we love a product that can fill two roles at once. Take the Howler Brothers Bruja Boardshort, for example. With a fixed waistband to keep them locked in place when the surf gets heavy, they’re undeniably a boardshort made for surfing. But with front slash pockets, stretchy, quick-drying fabric, and The Inertia Tested-approved style points, they can easily pull double-duty for on-land activities such as running, climbing, or just moseying around town. With the right shirt, you can even wear them out to dinner.

To see other great boardshort options we’ve put to the test on Oahu’s North Shore, check out our guide to The Best Boardshorts.

Lectric XP4

If there’s a brand that’s known for value in the electric bike industry, it’s Lectric. And just last week, the brand dropped the fourth generation of their iconic value-driven folding electric bike, the Lectric XP4. And the upgrades are impressive. Now equipped with a torque sensor, the bike’s lengthy list of upgrades over the XP 3.0 includes a full color display, better brakes, turn signals, a quieter motor, and lots more. And did we mention it’s still the same price as the previous version?

The bike is also available in an upgraded version with a more powerful 750-Watt motor and larger battery for just $300 more. Talk about value.

For more awesome ebikes, check out our Electric Bike Reviews, such as our review of The Best Folding Ebikes.

Retrospec Weekender Plus

Retrospec is a brand known for getting people out there. Whether it’s bikes, ebikes, camping, or paddling gear, Retrospec’s offerings present a great value and are known for their user-friendliness and encouraging mindset. When it comes to inflatable paddle boards, we’ve been super impressed with what Retrospec has to offer, and gave the Retrospec Weekender Plus our award for Best Value in our review of the Best Inflatable Paddle Boards.

Priced at a highly reasonable $379 (the base-level Weekender retails for $250), the package includes tons of extras, including an inflatable raised kayak seat and kayak paddle attachment, more bungees, a paddle holder, carry strap, and an upgraded design for enhanced durability. And it stands up to the competition, with construction and extras that match or exceed plenty of boards in the $750 – $1,000 range. For more paddling gear, check out our full list of Paddling Reviews.

Rovr Rollr 45L

Rovr’s coolers were made to be easy. Easy to transport, easy to separate dry from wet – there’s a surprising amount of thought that goes into these to take things beyond your basic hard cooler. Inflatable wheels provide the easiest rolling cooler you’ll ever experience, aided by the extra-wide handles for left and right-handed towing – all without smacking you in the heels.

A pin system lets you attach extras like a cutting board, cup holders, and more. And that’s all without compromising one of the basics of a good cooler – the ice retention. Thick rotomolded plastic and an airtight latching system take care of that, with an ice retention rating of 10 days. The 45L Rovr Rollr is what we recommend for most users, but for those whose needs go beyond that of a family camping trip for a couple of days, the 60L version can handle just about anything you might want to throw in it. For more great cooler options, check out our guides to the Best Beach Coolers and the Best Coolers.

Blow Up Fun Wing Foil Package

There’s no two ways around it – wing foiling is an expensive sport. But with the right gear, you don’t need to break the bank to get on the water. Wing foiling packages offer a great way to get out there for less. As you’re learning, there’s little need to be on the latest and greatest wing foil equipment, and with so much innovation happening in the industry as we speak, there are incredible deals to be had on past-season gear. In some cases, it can be even cheaper than buying used.

The Blow Up Fun wing foil package from MACkite proves the above point. Priced at just $1,599 for a wing, board, and foil, that’s about as much as you could expect to pay for a top-tier, in-season version of any one of the above components. And as you start your wing journey, top-tier performance should be the last thing you’re looking for. Rather, chase user-friendly and budget-friendly designs (like the gear in the package listed here) with the knowledge that this is gear you’ll outgrow soon enough if you decide to stick with the sport.

For more options and more information about learning to wing foil, check out our Best Wing Foil Packages article and our guide to Beginner Wing Foil Gear.

PAKA Ultralight Coolplus

PAKA’s ultra-comfy clothing has earned its spot at the top of the pile when it comes to comfortable and long-lasting outdoorswear. Spun from the wool of alpacas in Peru by fairly-paid artisans, this is a high-quality product that looks good, feels good, and it’s a product that you can feel good about, too. That’s a lot to ask of a sweater.

But the Ultralight Coolplus is not your average sweater. Specifically engineered with summer temps in mind, this is a layer you can wear day in and day out, with thermoregulating and moisture-wicking fibers to keep you cool during summer activities. And with the next-to-skin comfort of Alpaca wool and cotton, you’ll have trouble taking this one off. Perfect for camping, hiking, and more, there’s no better time to give PAKA’s super comfy designs a try.

Teva Original Universal

Hit the trails, the beach, the campsite, heck, even the city streets, and you’re sure to see a pair of Tevas being strut around. Invented in 1984, their continued popularity is a testament to the timeless style of these simple sandals.

Going from niche outdoorsy style to dorky, to mainstream “gorpcore” appeal, Tevas have endured. And while there is a plethora of Teva styles to choose from these days, it’s hard to beat the sandal that started it all  – the Original Universal – when it comes to versatility and value.

For more sandal options, check out our guides to The Best Men’s Sandals, The Best Beach Sandals for Women, and The Best Hiking Sandals.

Rab Neutrino 400 Sleeping Bag

This spring, we’ve been getting out camping and backpacking with the Rab Neutrino 400 sleeping bag, and it’s quickly found its place at the top of our list. Rated to 20 degrees, this bag is warm and spacious, but compressible and lightweight (just over a pound and a half). The Neutrino is an awesome choice for serious backpackers. All that and it’s comfortable enough to be your all-around sleeping bag, no matter where your adventures take you.

Check out our guides to the Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags and Best Camping Sleeping Bags.

The North Face Wawona 4P

Big livability and small packability—what’s not to love about The North Face Wawona 4P tent? With nearly six feet of standing height, a spacious layout, and quick-pitching design, the Wawona spells comfort for the whole family. We love the upright design, and the huge interior space sleeps 4 adults comfortably (plus a couple of furry friends if you have them!). The Wawona is at the top of our camping tents list yet again, and it’s surprisingly lightweight and packable for such a big option.

Check out our guides to Best Camping Tents and Best Backpacking Tents.

Hest Dually Mattress

Hands down, the most comfortable camping mattress we’ve ever slept on, the Hest Dually is worth every penny. No more worrying about leaking air mattresses or uncomfortable, flimsy pads. The Hest Dually features dual-density memory foam for truly good sleep in the woods. We found this every bit as comfortable as our home mattress, and even though it’s a bit more to pack, we’re happy to when it comes to a good night’s sleep.

Check out our guides to Best Camping Sleeping Pads and Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads.

Gregory Paragon Pack / Gregory Maven Pack

The redesigned Gregory Paragon and Maven packs are top options this backpacking season. Well-suited to weekend backpackers and beyond, the lightweight and extremely comfortable Paragon and Maven are complete with a super breathable AirCushion mesh back panel, super adjustable straps, and almost too many useful pockets to count. Easy to compress down for a quick overnight, but expandable to haul your gear for at least a week, the Paragon and Maven are truly do-it-all backpacking backpacks.

Check out our guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks.

Check Paragon Price on REI Check Maven Price on REI

Hoka Kaha 3 GTX

The perfect hiking boots for folks who hate hiking boots? Sign us up: The Hoka Kaha 3 GTX is an incredibly comfortable and versatile boot. With one of the quickest break-in periods of any boot we’ve ever tested, the new Kaha 3 has been our go-to for spring and summer hiking. Although it’s waterproof, the flexible upper breathes well and is perfect for year-round trail use. Plus, we think the updated version looks better than ever.

Check out our full review of the Kaha 3, and our guides to the Best Hiking Boots and Best Women’s Hiking Boots.

Check Men's Price on REICheck Women's Price on REI

Fjallraven Abisko Hybrid Trail Shorts

We just started wearing the Fjallraven Abisko Hybrid Trail Shorts, and we’re stoked on the versatile performance. Super breathable with just a touch of stretch thanks to the G-1000 Lite Stretch fabric, the Abisko Hybrid Trail Shorts are also impressively durable.

We’ve been loving them for ebike rides, hikes, and all sorts of warm-weather adventures. The spacious zippered front pockets are great for snacks and other gear, and the stretch waistband is ideal for high-output hikes and climbs.

Insta360 X5

While this isn’t exactly a value pick, sometimes, you encounter a piece of gear so awesome that it’s impossible not to include. That’s the case here. Insta360 has been the leader in 360-degree action cameras for the past few years now, and each year has brought massive improvements to their flagship X series. The Insta360 X5 boasts improvements to just about everything – a larger sensor, better waterproofing, better audio with a new wind guard, better low-light performance, better battery life, as well as replaceable lenses in case you scratch yours up. If you love filming your adventures and have yet to hop on the 360 bandwagon, now is a great time to do so.

For those interested in 360-degree filming at a more approachable price point, we recommend taking a look at the Insta360 X4, where you’ll see a small step-down in resolution with a smaller sensor, and a slightly reduced battery life, or the Insta360 X3, which has a significantly reduced battery life and slightly reduced resolution compared to the X4.

Editor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.