The Best Summer Adventure Buys From Amazon

Summer often comes around and we find ourselves needing gear for our upcoming adventures. Over the past several years Matthew and I have slowly bought summer essentials as they are needed. This list of our favorite Amazon buys for summer adventures is comprised of only items that we have bought and used time and time again over the past several years. These are our absolute favorite summer items from camping gear, travel essentials, bicycle and kayak supplies, and picnic necessities. To learn more about each item simply click on the photo link. With summer vastly approaching, you too might be looking for specific items for your summer adventures. Every item on this list is something we truly enjoy and recommend. Happy adventuring!

 

One. These “water socks.”

Last summer I found myself needing affordable and pack-able water shoes for kayaking and trips to the lake where sharp zebra mussels have taken over and can cut your feet. These “water socks” are the answer. They are so small that they barely took up any space in my backpack when I traveled to Bali. These saved me in so many tricky situations from rocky beaches, soggy jungles, and for swimming under waterfalls. The best part about these socks is that they are very durable and still have not ripped, especially because I wear them every time I’m in the water. I’ve climbed over numerous rocks and never harmed my sensitive feet. They are completely flexible and feel like you’re barely wearing anything, with the added bonus of a soft rubber sole. They are stay on securely when you swim and jump off waterfalls and cliffs (I tested these guys with a forty foot drop in Bali!) and they don’t weigh you down as you’re swimming. If you buy only one thing for yourself this summer, I hope you get these because they’re worth it if you’re swimming at a beach or enjoying adventures near water this summer.

 

Two. The best portable and fold-able water bottles.

I bought this set of two for our honeymoon and loved how portable they are. They roll right up and fit in your purse or bag when you travel. There is a slight learning curve because you can end up soaking yourself and making a mess if you hold it the wrong way to take a sip, but if you do it once you will never do it again! The bottles stand upright on their own once they are filled and are very durable for travel. I use them all the time.

 

Three. Insulated thermos.

The perfect companion for camping trips, I love this thermos for hot and cold beverages. I use it a lot for camping trips. Plus the red plaid design is very attractive for a thermos. The neat part about this particular thermos, besides keeping your beverages or soups hot/cold for countless hours, is that it comes with two cups for you and to share!

Four. Inflatable kayak.

This is our most recent purchase. It was all Matthew’s idea and I thought he was crazy because we already have kayaks, but it turns out to be the most brilliant idea. This kayak is durable and so very convenient for any adventure. It takes about fifteen minutes to set up and comes with two seats. It can hold a lot of weight, although it is a narrow squeeze to get seated, I find this kayak super comfortable and sturdy in the water. You definitely need to make sure the fin is in place of you’ll spin in circles every time you paddle around, but it stays perfectly straight when the fin is on. I love this kayak because it fits right in my car and it is so convenient that we have been going out constantly. It wipes down easily when you’re done and deflates pretty quickly when you use the pump given to you, although folding it may be a learning curve, but I promise you’ll figure it out pretty quickly (first “hot dog fold” it). Set up takes 15-20 minutes. It can also be a little heavy for a petite person to carry around, especially long distances. It also comes with two portable paddles and if all the passengers are petite you can easily fit a third party in the boat. My husband is 6’2″ and weights 240 lbs. and it stayed pretty flat in the water with only him sitting in the center.

Five. The cutest lunch tins.

If you’re planning to pack a lunch outdoors you will definitely need some reusable eco-friendly tins and containers. These are not only cute, but very convenient and durable. I bought the three stack and the two stack for my work lunches and picnics. I love the vintage enamel colors on the three stack tins.

 

Six. Reusable and portable silverware.

Skip the disposable utensils and use these fold-able stainless steel utensils that come with their own little bags. Now you’re ready for a picnic. You’ll never be without a utensil when you need one and you’ll be keeping hundreds of plastic ones out of landfills.

 

Seven. Waterproof dry bag.

If you’re heading to the beach or planning to be out on the water, especially in a boat, you will want a waterproof dry bag to hold all your essentials and protect your electronics. These waterproof dry bags are my favorite and they are so convenient for trips in our kayak. I bought the One Savvy Girl dry bag in 10L in a light pink color. They were out of the exact color I bought, but these striped ones are perfect for adventures out on the water. I also found these cute pink elephant designed dry bags. I use mine to store my camera, keys, cell phone, bug spray, and a sweater too. Everything fits.

 

Eight. Bike cell phone holder and bag.

Matthew got lost when he went out for a long bike ride without his phone. The next day he ordered this convenient bicycle phone holder so that he could use his GPS as needed as well as hold his keys and other essentials for a day out on the trails.

 

Nine. The most darling wicker bike basket.

In my opinion, there is nothing cuter on a bike than a woven basket in the front. It is my favorite biking accessory. This basket is petite, but big enough to hold my camera, some flowers, and a packed lunch.

 

Ten. Two-person sleeping bag.

You can unzip this sleeping bag and make them into two separate bags, but I loved the option of having a double size for warmth and coziness on chilly nights out camping with my husband. I love sleeping next to my husband at night so this is the best camping idea I have ever had.The exact sleeping bag we ordered is no longer on Amazon, but I did find this very similar one. Ours is an all black sleeping bag with a plaid liner.

 

Eleven. This backpack.

This is the backpack I ordered for Bali after researching dozens of bags online. It is comfortable and conveniently holds a lot of things, including a special pouch for a laptop. I love the vintage appeal of the canvas fabric. It traveled well through airports and Indonesian jungles alike!

 

Twelve. Lifestraw.

Going hiking for long periods of time and worried about running out of water? Going somewhere that might not have safe drinking water? This life straw is convenient and portable. You can drink right out of a river using it! I ended up not needing it in Bali as all of the water we found was filtered, but its good to have just in case if you’re traveling to remote places.

 

Thirteen. Insulated cooler tote and wine carrier.

Living in a tiny apartment, we don’t have any room for a cooler, but I did want something to keep our drinks and food cool for day trips to the beach or for picnics in the park. This cooler is small and holds in cool air on hot summer days. I also love how flattering the blue and white stripes are. It is perfect to use as a wine cooler or for family trips to the beach.

 

Fourteen. Go Pro camera for outdoor adventures.

Want to photograph your rugged or wet outdoorsy adventures without worrying about destroying your precious camera? This is Matthew’s favorite adventure buy because it is waterproof and durable for biking, kayaking, and off-roading. I took it with me to Bali and used it under water and it took great quality videos. The small size is also so convenient for travel.

 

Fifteen. Blue striped beach umbrella with carrying case.

I could not find our exact umbrella, but this one is very similar. It is an essential for my husband when we go to the beach because his pale Irish skin needs the shade. I also love it for long days outdoors to keep our skin safe from sun damage. The easy carrying case and cute navy stripes is what made me choose this design. There were so many cute umbrellas I really loved, especially for a photo shoot, but I couldn’t justify spending hundreds on a beach umbrella! This one is under $20 and works just as well and still looks cute.

 

Sixteen. Striped Turkish towels.

A yellow striped Turkish towel is so summery and they fold well for travel. I love the simple woven designs and they feel extra luxurious and dry quickly. I Ordered two for our honeymoon and we used them for swimming, beach days, and picnics alike.

 

Seventeen. Wooden croquet set.

We bought a wooden croquet set similar to this one for our wedding day for guests to play. It is one of the games that I kept to pull out in summer for the park. With many stay-cations happening this year, some classic backyard games are perfect for small outdoor gatherings this summer.

Eighteen. Navy striped packing squares.

These are my favorite packing squares! They don’t actually save you any suitcase space, but they do keep you super organized. On our honeymoon we went to three different countries so I used three different packing squares to hold outfits for each place so I always knew where to find what I was looking for without making a mess of my suit case. You can use them to divide clothing by categories and the smaller bags are perfect for holding essentials such as socks, hair accessories, and hygiene products.

Nineteen. This navy blue women’s anorak jacket for outdoor activities.

Three years ago I bought this jacket in navy blue. I was looking for a light jacket that would be great for outdoor adventures such as kayaking and hiking. Something that could get dirty outdoors and clean up well while keeping me warm enough on cooler days or evenings. This is the best affordable outdoor jacket I could find. At the time I could not afford an L.L. Bean or Lands End jacket, but this one was similar to the designs I loved and affordable.

Twenty. This plaid blanket.

I cannot tell you how often this blanket has come in handy. I keep it in my car for trips, camping, and for picnicking. I could not find the exact one I ordered a few years back, but this one is extremely similar. The red plaid is great for all seasons in New England and it is warm and cozy.