The 2024 Men’s Health Outdoor Awards | gvvhiumc.com

The 2024 Men’s Health Outdoor Awards

THANKS TO THE ever-growing number of individuals participating in outdoor recreation, the gear space continues to grow. According to the Outdoor Foundation’s 2024 Outdoor Retail Trends Report, total outdoor retail sales topped $27.5 billion, with casual outdoor participants lending the highest growth when it comes to purchasing accessories and equipment. That means a whole lot of people are diving deeper on their newfound hobbies.

It’s no secret legacy outdoor brands are welcoming this wave of consumers with open arms, but they’re adamant on creating products that prioritize function over everything. Just this spring, Patagonia released a massive marketing campaign where founder Yves Chounard announced, “Fashion is not our business.” Chounard asked consumers to instead recognize his company is about quality, longevity, and sustainability.

Long-term functionality is at the core of our annual report of the best new gear in 2024. Ahead, you’ll find products our editors tested in the past year that will make outdoor life more fun for years to come.

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Best Portable Hammock

The Vista
Yellowleaf The Vista

$800 at yellowleafhammocks.com

Nothing screams “summer vibes” like a hammock. The Vista sets up easy from your backyard to the front country, leaving you more time for what matters (like sipping cold beers around the campfire).

Best All-in-One Cookware Set

ComplEAT Cook Set
Gerber Gear ComplEAT Cook Set

$200 at gerbergear.com

Ditch your bulky, old-school camp cook set that’s taking up its own tote. Gerber’s all-new ComplEAT (get it?) Camp Cook Set packs 16 pieces of essential cookware and dinnerware into an impossibly small space so that you can feed a group of four anytime, anywhere.

Best Ice-Free Cooler

Tempo
Oyster Tempo

$500 at oystercooler.com

Oyster proves that ice isn’t as cool or necessary as it used to be. Its lightweight, iceless Tempo cooler uses the same vacuum-insulated technology as your favorite travel coffee mug. Now, you have room for more important things, like beer, bacon, and brats.

Best Climate Controlled Gadget

EcoFlow Wave 2
EcoFlow Wave 2

$1,338 at us.ecoflow.com

Make comfy year-round car camping a reality with this go-anywhere AC/heater combo. It warms up any compact space in just five minutes, and the battery keeps you cool or warm (your call) for up to eight hours.

Best Campsite Lighting

Telescoping Area Light
Goal Zero Telescoping Area Light

$300 at goalzero.com

Camping under the stars amid a pitch-black sky is glorious. Stumbling around the woods to find a pee-tree or chase off varmints after dark isn’t. Light up your next camp with this portable, 6,000-lumen “streetlamp” from GoalZero.

Best Portable Furniture

Full Camp Set
Oru Kayak Full Camp Set

Now 49% Off

$413 at orukayak.com

Create a go-anywhere dining room, living room, or game room (maybe) with this clever, origami-inspired outdoor furniture collection. It expands to full-size tables, chairs, and ottomans when you need them but packs down pretty darn flat when it’s time to break camp.

Best Eco-Friendly Tent

Abisko View 2
Fjällräven Abisko View 2

$800 at fjallraven.com

Summer camping doesn’t have to be hot, clammy, and miserable. This all-new tent is ultra-lightweight and insanely ventilated to keep you feeling easy and breezy, even in the warmest weather conditions. Bonus: The eco-friendly design is made without PFCs!

Best Campsite Coffee Maker

French Press
Yeti French Press

$110 at Yeti

Upgrade your morning camp coffee ritual with a French Press that’s every bit as drool-worthy as Yeti’s handsome, bulletproof coolers. It’s vacuum-insulated, ceramic-lined, and automatically stops the brewing process, so you’ll never overdo your brew.

Best Filtered Water Bottle

GeoPress Ti Purifier
Grayl GeoPress Ti Purifier

$220 at grayl.com

Lighten your hiking load with this all-in-one water bottle/purifier. The titanium finish not only looks sweet but is durable enough to allow the GeoPress Ti to double as a mini-camp pot for impromptu campfire cooking.

Best Sleeping Bag

Cosmic Down 40
Kelty Cosmic Down 40

$120 at kelty.com

With a 40-degree comfort rating, Kelty’s fan-favorite Cosmic Down strikes the perfect balance of weight, warmth, and eco-friendliness (it’s made with recycled fibers), making it a near-perfect three-season bag.

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Best Hydration Pack

Thule AllTrail Hydration Pack 16L
Thule AllTrail Hydration Pack 16L

$130 at thule.com

Sleek, trim, and minimalist, Thule’s latest AllTrail Hydration Pack is everything you need and nothing you don’t. The 16L capacity is built to keep you well-hydrated, with extra room for maps, a first aid kit, and a mountain of trail mix.

Best Compact Hiking Bag

Stout 35 Pack
Gregory Stout 35 Pack

$180 at gregory.com

For short overnights or long day hikes, this backpack is perfectly sized to tackle them all with a breathable back panel, infinitely adjustable fit, and a super comfy waistbelt.

Best Waterproof Duffel

Duffle RC
Ortlieb Duffle RC

$130 at ortlieb.com

For your wettest, dirtiest, most epic outdoor adventures, nothing beats a legit duffel. Ortlieb’s RC is fully waterproof with detachable straps, so it converts from duffel to backpack in seconds.

Best Gear Box

Seahorse 56
Evergreen Cases Seahorse 56

$30 at evergreencases.com

Keep your most valuable EDC gear protected on the go. This waterproof hard shell is large enough for your phone, wallet, AirPods, and Dad’s old pocket watch, yet compact enough to stash in a daypack.

Best Rugged Watch

G-Shock Rangeman
G-Shock Rangeman

$500 at casio.com

The OG smartwatch from Casio still reigns supreme, in this case with a chunky, all-business aesthetic, solar-powered battery, and a retro-mod monochrome display that’s as functional as it is handsome.

Best Outdoor Smartwatch

Suunto Vertical
Suunto Vertical

$839 at suunto.com

In-the-know adventure lovers have been crushing on Suunto for years. Its latest Vertical is the brand’s best, most rugged outdoor watch yet, with offline maps, dual-band GPS/GNSS, and solar charging to keep its 60-day battery topped up.

Best Cooler Backpack

Engel Roll Top High Performance Backpack Cooler
Engel Roll Top High Performance Backpack Cooler

$290 at engelcoolers.com

Portability is paramount for toting your favorite chilled snacks and bevvies into the backcountry. This backpack cooler carries easy and features a full inch of closed-foam insulation, plus welded (not sewn) seams for maximum ice retention.

Best Multitool

Leatherman ARC
Leatherman ARC

$140 at Leatherman

Pack twenty essential tools—pliers, scissors, drivers, openers, and a next-gen MagnaCut steel blade that’s razor sharp and ultra-durable— on your hip with Leatherman’s latest multitool.

Best First Aid Kit

The Roadie
Redi The Roadie

$135 at redi.co

The Roadie is an emergency kit you can truly pack and forget. With more than 100 essentials, from bandages and zip ties to a digital thermometer and even a portable urinal, you’ll be ready to face even the most unexpected scenarios on the road.

Best Personal Mosquito Repeller

MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller
Thermacell MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller

$25 at thermacell.com

Nothing kills the vibe of a good campfire hang like swarms of hungry mosquitos. This clever portable repellent system creates a 15-foot zone of mozzie-free bliss without any weird chemical messes or scents.

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Best Do-it-All Short

Renegade Short
Kuhl Renegade Short

$79 at kuhl.com

From the office to the airport to the trail, these shorts do it all. They’re lightweight, breathable, and buttery soft, with an abrasion-resistant design that’s tough enough to tackle whatever the day throws at you.

Best Adventure Shirt

Go-To Shirt
Patagonia Go-To Shirt

$79 at Patagonia

Lightweight and ultra-comfy, Patagonia’s Go-To Shirt lives up to its name. With a timeless silhouette and wide color selection (from basics to bold patterns), we suggest grabbing more than one to mix and match with the Kuhl Renegade Short above.

Best Sun Protection Top

Men's Elevate Lightweight Hoodie
FreeFly Apparel Men’s Elevate Lightweight Hoodie

$78 at freeflyapparel.com

With a featherweight design, ridiculously soft, stretchy fabric, and a UPF 25 rating, the Elevate Hoodie is guaranteed to become your new go-to summer staple.

Best Eco-Friendly Swim Trunks

Breakers Ecolastic
Vissla Breakers Ecolastic

$60 at vissla.com

Gym, beach, couch, repeat—these hybrid trunks are ready for your daily circuit. A 16.5-inch hem and an elastic waistband make for the perfect summer fit. Bonus: They’re eco-friendly, too, made from a blend of coconut and recycled Repreve fibers.

Best Lightweight Rain Shell

Alpha Lightweight Jacket Men's
Arc’teryx Alpha Lightweight Jacket Men’s

$500 at Arc’teryx

When the going gets tough—like “peak-bagging in the Pacific Northwest rainy season” tough—Arc’teryx always has you covered. This featherweight rain jacket shell protects you on those wet shoulder season days when the weather just can’t seem to cooperate.

Best Cushioned Hiking Boot

Kaha 2 GTX
Hoka Kaha 2 GTX

Now 25% Off

$180 at hoka.com

Beyond its legendary running shoes, Hoka brings its serious footwear chops to these fan-favorite hiking boots. Ultra-durable, ridiculously comfortable, and ready for whatever mountain adventures you’re dreaming up next.

Best Waterproof Sandals

Mogami Terra
Birkenstock Mogami Terra

$100 at Birkenstock

If you’re not yet a Birkenstock stan, now’s as good a time as any to join the club. The Mogami Terra is waterproof sandal with a rubber bottom that grips any surface like a champ, making it the perfect summer sandal.

Best Cushioned Trail Shoe

On Cloudhorizon Waterproof
On Cloudhorizon Waterproof

$190 at on.com

We’ll say it: The Cloudhorizon is On’s most cushioned and comfortable hiking shoe ever. Over most terrain, this is a near-perfect waterproof hiker with rock-solid grip and arch support for every kind of foot.

Best Sunglasses

Cammina
Ombraz Cammina

$145 at ombraz.com

There are two types of people: Those who’ve already made the switch to armless sunglasses and those who will. Ombraz’s all-new Cammina features a slim tortoiseshell frame with a dash of Euro-vintage flair that’s guaranteed to make you a convert.

Best Hiking Socks

Full Cushion Midweight Hiking Sock
Darn Tough Full Cushion Midweight Hiking Sock

$28 at darntough.com

It’s hard to admit to a “sock obsession.” But, with a full-height design, gobs of cushioning, and an unconditional lifetime guarantee, these midweight hiking socks from Darn Tough really are obsession-worthy.

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Best Waterproof Speaker

Gen 2 Speaker
Turtlebox Gen 2 Speaker

$399 at turtleboxaudio.com

Bring the noise (literally) to your next camp hang with this next-gen portable Bluetooth speaker. It’s 100% waterproof, crazy loud (120 decibels!), and gets more than 20 hours of playback on a single charge.

Best Compact Inflatable Raft

Rogue Lite
Kokopelli Rogue Lite

$899 at kokopelli.com

Don’t let surprise water crossings ruin a good hike. This ultra-packable packraft is lightweight, under $1,000, and packs down ridiculously small, so it’s a no-brainer to toss in your overnight backpack.

Best Fishing Rod

Trika 6X Fishing Rod
Trika 6X Fishing Rod

$299 at trika.com

Lighter, longer-casting, and built with an ultra-durable carbon weave, Trika’s 6X rod is purpose-built to be twice as sensitive as its also-ran competition. Whether spinning or casting, it gives you the edge to feel every underwater twitch and quiver.

Best Portable Power Station

DJI Power 500
DJI Power 500

Now 24% Off

$379 at dji.com

Portable power stations are all the rage right now, and even DJI’s getting in on the action. Its all-new Power 500 dishes out 512Wh of power for charging smartphones, tablets, drones—heck, even your portable karaoke machine (no, not really).

Best Accessory for Content Creation

Mobile Creator Kit 2.0
Lume Cube Mobile Creator Kit 2.0

$200 at lumecube.com

Forget piecing together your on-the-go “creator kit.” Lume Cube packs everything you need, including an LED vlogging light, a mic, a grip, and an extendable selfie tripod, into one premium, grab-and-go pack.

Best Foldable Electric Bike

Mars 2.0
HeyBike Mars 2.0

Now 33% Off

$1,199 at heybike.com

A portable folding design? Check. 20” x 4” fat tires? Check. An affordable price? Also check. HeyBike’s latest Mars 2.0 ticks all the must-have boxes to be this year’s go-to electric bike.

Best Portable Action Camera

GoPro Hero12
GoPro Hero12

$400 at gopro.com

The OG action camera just keeps getting better. GoPro’s “best ever” HERO12 captures beautiful HDR photos and stunning, ultra-wide-angle 5K video with ree-dic-you-less-ly smooth stabilization—all with up to 1.5 hours of runtime.

Best Four-Wheeled Toy

2025 Ranger 1000 Premium
Polaris 2025 Ranger 1000 Premium

Shop at polaris.com

Whether cruising around your lake cabin, mending fences at the ranch, or crushing muddy mountain trails, this flagship UTV from Polaris tackles them all with aplomb.

Best Portable Projector

Capsule 3 Laser Mini Portable Projector
Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Mini Portable Projector

Now 60% Off

$800 at seenebula.com

Take your favorite binge-worthy streams almost anywhere (movie night under the stars, anyone?). The Android-powered Capsule 3 features a bright, 300-lumen laser light and up to 1080p HD resolution, all in a lightweight, two-pound gadget that’s designed for the outdoors.

Best Smart Bike Helmet

Payroll Mips Aleck Crash Sensor
Smith Optics Payroll Mips Aleck Crash Sensor

$220 at smithoptics.com

Protecting your brain is sexy. This cutting-edge helmet does just that with an integrated MIPS system and a built-in crash sensor that pairs with a mobile app to alert emergency services in the event of the unthinkable.

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BEST ALL-SEASON BOOT

Classic 585 Boot
Blundstone Classic 585 Boot

$210 at blundstone.com

Finding the perfect, all-season boot has long seemed impossible. This versatile Chelsea is like the Swiss Army Knife of boots—handsome, comfy, and rugged enough for year-round wear.

BEST ADVENTURE SANDAL

Mogami Terra
Birkenstock Mogami Terra

$100 at Birkenstock

If you’re not yet a Birkenstock stan, now’s as good a time as any to join the club. The Mogami Terra is waterproof with a rubber bottom that grips any surface like a champ, making it the perfect summer sandal.

BEST OFFROAD SHOE

002 Cinder
Norda 002 Cinder

$295 at nordarun.com

The perfect trail running shoe doesn’t exis—nevermind. The Cinder might be the world’s most responsive trail runner. Built for hardcore technical terrain, it delivers a better ground feel, more heel comfort, and clever midsole geometry to keep you feeling confident mile after mile.

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