Magnetic’s Summer Camping Gear Guide: Get Inspired Outside This Season
At Magnetic, we’ve always believed that creativity thrives in balance. Sure, I love being deep in the studio or wrapped up in a good DJ set, but getting outside—really outside—is where I reset. The trails, the trees, the silence between the birdsong… it all opens up headspace I didn’t even know I needed. That’s why we write about outdoor gear. Not because we’re trying to become the next Backpacker Magazine, but because for those of us who live and breathe music and creativity, nature is a different kind of studio. One without walls, where ideas sneak up on you while you’re staring at a fire or hiking along a serene trail. So here’s a look at some of the gear I’ve been using lately that’s made those early summer escapes even better and a bit tastier.
Welcome to the Summer Camping Gear Guide.
I was skeptical of these chairs when I saw them on the BOTE website; they looked excessive for a portable chair. Yes, these chairs are large, but when it comes to comfort, there’s probably nothing better out there. The AeroRondack chairs are purpose-built for those who want to kick back (with a capital K) on the beach, next to their boat, alongside a river, or on any beach. Hell, you could even take these camping if you wanted to Glamp it up a bit. Unlike your typical camp or beach chair, these are more akin to a La-Z-Boy than a card table chair, and they are all about LEISURE.
It’s a classic Adirondack silhouette, a dash of inflatable La-Z-Boy, and if the Dude were in the market for a beach/river/lake chair, this would be his numero uno. While they are large in their inflated form, they are manageable when deflated and don’t take long to inflate with the included pump or, even better, an electric one, which I highly recommend, especially for inflatable SUPs.
These chairs pack down to the size of a duffel bag, inflate in minutes, and suddenly you’ve got this supremely comfy lounge spot. I used a set in our backyard for an outdoor movie night and will be taking them on some mountain lake trips when it gets a bit warmer up in the mountains. So, if you want to go all out on comfort, snag a couple of these and rule your camp like the king of the camp! Beer can scepter not included. These are definitely one of the standouts of my Summer Gear Guide that I was not expecting to love, but you just can’t beat kicking back in these things with an ice-cold beer.
I’ve been a Helinox fan for years—my OG Chair One has been everywhere with me. But the new Chair One (re) has a few refinements that make it worth the upgrade. Like most of Helinox’s gear, it’s compact by design, folds down to the size of a shoe box, and weighs practically nothing. The (re) version distributes weight more evenly and feels sturdier without losing any of the packability.
I received the camo version—it’s got this almost Maharishi vibe to it, like stealthy streetwear meets backcountry gear. I’ve used it around the fire, at outdoor shows, even just hanging in the backyard. It’s the kind of gear that disappears into your pack but delivers every time you break it out. Helinox keeps proving why they’re in a league of their own.
No trip is complete without a soundtrack, and this collab between Fender and German audio brand Teufel brings solid sound just about anywhere. The ROCKSTER CROSS is a rugged, true-stereo Bluetooth speaker that looks like it belongs in a vintage amp wall but sounds like a mini festival rig. It’s water-resistant, built to take the outdoors, and even doubles as a power bank.
I brought it to a campsite last weekend, and the combination of two tweeters, a woofer, and passive radiators filled the space with the perfect amount of sound, not too loud and not too quiet. Pairing two of them together? Yup, double your pleasure and double your sound. Plus, it comes with a Fender strap and a guitar pick—little details that nod to the culture and history behind the design. I love when audio gear gets the aesthetic and the sound right.
The BBQ Shirt is what you throw on when you want to look like you tried, without actually trying. It’s super lightweight, breathes easy, and works great for hot afternoons that roll into cooler nights around the fire.
The prints give it some personality, but it’s still lowkey enough to wear on repeat. It’s cut a little shorter and runs a bit small, so size up if you like a looser fit. The cotton’s legit—Regenerative Organic Certified®—but the real win is how easy it is to wear without thinking about it. Perfect for summer hangs, campsite dinners, or last-minute plans where you need something reliable that still feels fun.
I’ve been singing the praises of Merino Wool for years, and I’ve rocked plenty of Ibex gear, whether hiking, camping, or snowboarding; they make fantastic apparel and are always pushing the limits of what this fabric can do. Their Weightless Wool fabric is designed to be both lightweight and tough, where many merion wool products tend to be a bit delicate. Ibex uses Beta Spun® technology to strengthen the fiber, using nylon wrapped around the outer layer of the wool fibers. This process preserves the soft Merino wool while enhancing the fabric’s strength and longevity. Ultimately, this stuff is expensive, and it can only take so much, which is one of the only drawbacks.
You get the all-season benefits of Merino, like breathability, temperature regulation, and odor resistance, while its enhanced durability ensures it is built to last. Weightless Wool is a nice evolution that I’m really digging, and the shirts fit perfectly – not too tight, well-cut, and with enough stretch for just about any activity. This is also a great travel t-shirt; you can wear it 4-5 times easily without a stench. Just air it out at night, and you’re good to go.
This is the kind of shirt you throw on once and end up living in for the rest of the trip. It’s got some weight to it, so it feels solid—but it’s still breathable enough to wear during the day without overheating.
Great for those early mornings or when it cools off at night. The fit’s relaxed without feeling sloppy, and the fabric’s already soft, like it’s been broken in for you. I like that it’s all organic cotton too—no weird plasticky feeling, and it still holds up after a few days in the dirt. You can wear it over a tee, under a jacket, whatever. It’s not trying too hard, which makes it easy to grab without thinking. Perfect piece to keep stashed in your pack or tied around your waist.
This tee’s a go-to if you want something heavier without sweating through it. It’s thick in a good way—feels substantial, holds its shape, and doesn’t cling. Great for throwing on after a swim, layering under a jacket at night, or wearing solo when you’re out running errands or kicking back at the site.
The colors are solid, easy to mix in with anything you packed and I’m all about how loose and comfy these things are. They’re super breathable, which is a must this summer. And because it’s made from regenerative organic cotton, it holds up without feeling stiff or synthetic which is a breath of fresh air in a world where most companies are cramming their products full of synthetics to cut costs. It’s not flashy, but once it’s in rotation, you’ll keep reaching for it.
Summer in the mountains can throw a lot of conditions at you, from fast dips in temperatures to rain to high winds. So it’s handy to have a layer that can manage the elements and also not weigh you down, meet the latest from OR, the Shadow Wind Hoodie. Outdoor Research blends style and function well with this light jacket, giving you a piece of gear that feels cool enough for town and trail. The breathable fabric, combined with stretch for ease of movement, makes it a great piece to pair with your hikers, trail runners, or your dunks if you’re staying local.
I recently got my hands on the Shadow Wind Hoodie in a vibrant yellow color, and it’s a nice addition to the summer kit for outdoor stuff that’s a little more intense to everyday outings, aka the beer garden. I took it up into the mountains, and when the temps dropped, it held its own against winds and light moisture—precisely what I needed for those conditions, and the moose can spot my ass a mile away.
The movement-mirroring stretch makes it super comfortable, think of it like a bit of spandex in your denim. You don’t want to tell anyone there is spandex in your jeans, but you secretly love that there is spandex in your jeans. Stretchy is good, especially if you have to run from a moose, bear, etc.
What’s even better is that it’s stylish enough to wear from the trail to the bar. After our mountain activities, I felt good wearing it around town—it’s a perfect fit for both rugged adventures and casual hangouts. There’s nothing worse than walking around social environments with overly techy gear on. I’m talking to you, HOKA nerds, get some normal sneakers for the pubsky because you look like tools. Plus, the zippered pockets are so nice for keeping my essentials secure, and the entire hoodie packs down small into its chest pocket. Believe it or not, some hoodies at 3x the price don’t offer anything but a small chest pocket, so it sounds silly to mention, but pockets are indeed clutch.
Overall, I’m digging this lightweight addition to my spring kit! If you’re looking for something versatile that can handle a bit of everything, the Shadow Wind Hoodie in any of the great color options would be something to look at, and the price is super fair as well.
The Baytown Sherpa Jacket is one of those pieces you keep in the backseat because you end up throwing it on all the time. It’s warm without being bulky, soft on the inside, and lightweight enough to wear from the skiff to the fire pit without swapping layers. Zipper pockets are clutch, and the chest pocket hits the right balance of function and style. It’s got a bit of that outdoorsy look without screaming it. Great for spring mornings, fall evenings, or honestly whenever you don’t want to overthink your outerwear. Fit runs true, but size up if you’re on the fence or layering heavy.
Solid pickup for weekend trips or day-to-day wear.
This thing nails the classic denim jacket look but throws in just enough weird detail to make it feel like it came out of the game. The “infected” wash gives it that worn-in, end-of-the-world vibe without feeling like a costume. It’s tough, fits clean, and those leather patch details are actually real—adds a nice texture without going full cosplay. The fit’s regular but leans structured, so you can size up if you want more of a boxy, throw-over-everything look. Works for camping, layering, or even day-to-day if you’re into that rugged aesthetic.
It’s one of those pieces that feels like it’s got a backstory, even if you’re just wearing it to the grocery store. Wrangler got this collab right—easy to wear, hard to beat.
If you’ve got a power source at your campsite—like an RV, a generator, or even a good solar setup—this is the ultimate glamping upgrade. I brought the NEXGRILL Fuse Electric Griddle out to our cabin spot, and it handled everything I threw at it. Flank steak? Perfect sear. Veggie skewers? Even cook. Bacon and eggs the next morning? Crispy and dialed in. I’ve also made it a regular cooking tool at home as well, and in many instances, it has replaced my traditional grill.
It has dual heat zones, so I could run one side hotter for meats and keep things mellow on the other. Cleanup was super easy too—the whole griddle top pops off, and once it cools down, it’s way easier to wipe clean than scrubbing a bunch of greasy pans. This thing has basically become my new camp kitchen staple.
Even at established campgrounds, I’ve learned not to trust the tap water. Enter Sawyer water filters. I tested their Squeeze Water Filtration System using a 1-liter soft bottle, as well as the version paired with a sturdy 2-liter Cnoc bladder. Both setups are super lightweight, easy to pack, and—most importantly—they are an easy way to protect yourself from nasties in unknown water supplies, like lakes and creeks. I even used mine on a recent trip to Mexico, and it definitely improved the taste of the “filtered’ or salinized tap that was coming out of the spiget.
The 1-liter is great for day hikes or quick hydration stops, and the bottle stands up on its own when full, which is a simple, but handy feature. The Cnoc 2-liter version is more for group outings or longer stays—it’s got a wide mouth for easy scooping and a rugged TPU build. The 2-liter can also be hung from a stand or a tree to create an easy fill station for your camp. If you are doing longer hikes or backpacking trips into the wilderness, not having to pack heavy bottles of water is a huge deal, as long as you have water along your route.
I first discovered Untitled Art during the Covid pandemic; they created a magical elixir called Florida Seltzer, which at the time was extremely hard to find. For the most part, seltzer is about as interesting to me as a trip to the DMV, but this stuff was magical.
Enter 2025, and UA is a THING, and they do just about every form of beverage you could dream up. Enter the D-9 THC Soda, aka Mystic Orbit. This is pure THC from hemp, not strains here and nothing too powerful either, so it’s good for newbs or people less tolerant to cannibas like me. The flavors are good, calories are low and the intoxication is gentle, so if you are thinking about an alternative to alcohol this summer, these are a great way to vibe check your tolerance.
- 4 mg of hemp-derived THC
- All-natural flavors
- Electrolytes
Camping food is typically a bland affair, packed with calories to keep you going on the trail or during your campout. Dehydrated food packs are convenient, as they are light, sealed, and easy to port on backpacking trips or even if you have a small car and not a lot of room for tons of food. Wild Zora steps up the experience of eating dehydrated food outside with a variety of healthy meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
They can range from about fifteen dollars for a full meal pouch, so slightly higher than your typical camping food pouch, but significantly better taste and ingredients for those who want a healthier option in the wild.
Okay, so these are a little ridiculous, but I don’t care; they’re awesome. So, yes, they are little jackets, shirts, etc. for your beer, soda, seltzer, etc., and a great way to ensure your beverage stays cold and no campmates put their lips on your drink. Everyone gets a little jacket for their drink, so no one forgets whose drink is whose, easy enough, and if you do forget, it’s time for you to go back to your tent. Think of the theme parties you could have?
So that’s the Summer Gear Guide
I hope this batch of gear inspires you to get outside, sleep in a tent, and cook over a fire. It’s easy, it’s usually free, and your brain will thank you for it. Creativity needs to be nourished; otherwise, it will lapse or stop providing what you need. Unplugging ironically helps you recharge.
So, put the phone away, fold up the laptop, and stare at the stars/clouds. Make sure to bring some bear spray, some cold beers or bourbon, and respect your surroundings – Grizzly Adams OUT!
