BEST OVERALL

Aqua Original 4-in-1 Monterey Hammock Pool Float

We’re lucky to exist in the same world as the Aqua Monterey Hammock Pool Float. It’s one of the few affordable options that will last buyers years instead of months. How? Well, the patented non-stick PVC is a hell of a lot thicker (around 50 to 70 percent) than typical plastic, meaning there is less of a chance the float will pop. Users can sit in the traditional hammock setting or utilize this float in chair, drifter, and exercise saddle configurations with the help of a mesh center. Plus, it’s just $12. That’s borderline impossible to beat.

RUNNER-UP

FUNBOY Clear Rainbow Chaise Lounger Pool Float

FUNBOY has been making a name for itself with its huge, eclectic pool floats that have been taking the Instagram algorithm by storm. At 70 inches long, this ombre option melts pink, orange, and yellow hues seamlessly for that ultimate summertime feel. Each lounger uses an ultra-thick plastic material that will stand tall for ages in the pool, on the lake, or even on the front lawn. Lounge wherever, whenever.

BEST VALUE

JOYIN 3-Pack Inflatable Pool Floats

Three for the price of one doesn’t mean that these will last the whole summer, but it does mean buyers are picking up a pretty solid deal. Each fruity float costs just over $5 apiece, styled in the likes of a watermelon, a lemon, and a kiwi. The rings are 32.5 inches each and perfect for kids and adults alike. Plus, if one pops, the set comes with repair patches that the buyer can use for quick fixes.

BUDGET BUY

Sun Squad Glitter Tube Pool Float

This is almost the exact same pool float Iaconis picked up for 90 cents. The only difference is that hers was pink. Who knows — if you wait a few days, maybe teal will go on sale for 90 cents, too.

MOST DURABLE

Frontgate Resort Collection Pool Float

Looking for something unsinkable? Seek out the Resort Collection Pool Float from Frontgate. As children, we all knew someone with a pool who owned something similar. Now, adult buyers can have one of their own. This float is made from what Frontgate calls the “highest-quality marine-grade closed-cell foam,” which is ultra-buoyant and compatible with both salt and chlorinated water. Bonus: each float is also easy to clean and dries on the fly.

THE NEW CLASSIC

Jasonwell Inflatable Unicorn Flamingo Pool Float

Sometime during the mid-2010s, the unicorn float began appearing in swimming pools across the country. Today, they’re still everywhere. Snag one at an affordable price point, alongside a flamingo friend, over at Amazon.

BEST SUPER-SIZED

FUNBOY Giant Cabana Dayclub

To keep it real, this is the pool float of all pool floats. The Giant Cabana Dayclub is a massive, four-person float built for lounging the day away with VIP pals. It’s designed with extra-strong materials, thicker seams, and backrests for effortless comfort. Tied together with footbaths (plus a storage compartment to keep drinks cool), the Giant Cabana Dayclub is like a party yacht for people who don’t have an actual party yacht.

BEST FOR GAMES

GoPong Pool Lounge Beer Pong Inflatable

This isn’t necessarily a pool float buyers will float on, but it is a must for anybody who plans on hosting a pool party this summer. Come on, who wouldn’t want to play a game of beer pong waist-deep in the water?

BEST RECLINER

Intex Floating Recliner Inflatable Lounge

Heavy-duty handles, two cup holders, and a reclined back for maximized comfort? This is the kind of pool float that’s sure to cause a fight or two in the swimming pool. Everyone’s going to want to lay out on it this summer. 

HONORABLE MENTION

Lapras Pokemon Sunset Pool Float

Pokémon lovers, rejoice. This Lapras float is the ultimate nostalgia trip in pool float form.

Robin Men's Essentials 9-Club Golf Set

Two, Robin’s set has the potential to be one that a new golfer could grow into as their skill level increases. The brand’s driver, for example, is adjustable, which allows players to change the club’s loft, as well as its center of gravity. Meanwhile, the putter features a milled face, which apparently offers an enhanced sense of feel but is mainly a marker of quality that will cause golf nerds to nod approvingly. 

As for the rest of the set, there’s a fairway wood, a hybrid, pitching and sand wedges, and a five, seven, and nine iron. That’s nine clubs; the max number allowed on the course is 14. Though Robin also offers a 13-club set, I’d argue that nine is just as many as you need — fewer clubs cut back on unnecessary decision-making, as well as back pain if you’re walking (which you should be!).

I started off my highly scientific testing by taking the clubs to the range with my friend Zach, who I recently introduced to golf and who volunteered to test Robin’s clubs with me and offer his feedback as a beginner. (A bonus: as a fashionable Millennial, he falls squarely in the brand’s target demographic.) 

The last time we’d played together, Zach had used some random clubs that live in my basement, most of which are the sort of ill-suited thrift store clubs that Robin’s offerings might hope to displace. He noticed a difference with the Robin clubs immediately, especially when hitting the driver. One of his problems is slicing the ball right, and the forgiving, left-biased design of the Robin irons helped him straighten his shots out enough to keep them in play.

Similarly, I was able to adjust Robin’s driver to its most anti-slice setting, which helped Zach start hitting lasers off the tee. As a control for our experiment, I also had him hit shots with the clubs I use every day, all of which were designed for serious golfers. He had a much tougher time with them, especially when it came to hitting with my Mizuno MP-60 irons, which are basically just tiny bits of metal that offer no forgiveness whatsoever. Later that evening, Zach texted me his review of the Robin clubs: “I’m thinking that’s a birdie.” (He is still getting the hang of golf terminology.)

So let’s imagine that Zach, armed with the confidence provided by his Robin golf clubs, played every day for two years straight and worked his way into intermediate golfer territory. That’s where I, an intermediate golfer, come in. Would they perform the way I wanted them to on the course?

A bit of a caveat here about the clubs I normally use: My current setup favors aesthetics over utility — i.e. I want my golf clubs to look cool more than I want them to help me hit good shots. That’s my personal preference, and not one that every golfer shares. Unsurprisingly, then, I found Robin’s clubs wildly simpler to hit than my own. The brand’s driver beat my decade-old Titleist 913 D3 by far in terms of ease of use.

Robin’s sand wedge, meanwhile, is much less forgiving and is instead geared towards flexibility. Its design focuses on helping the player hit an array of shots around the green and all the way to a hundred yards out. I was able to hit wind-killing knockdowns, high-flying flops, and delicate pitches with the thing — a versatility I wouldn’t have expected given the idiot-proof, point-and-shoot nature of these irons.

The real star of the set, though, is the putter. In addition to its milled face, it’s got substantial heft that gave me a sense of confidence and control. After a few practice putts with it, I found myself draining almost every short putt I tried, and giving medium-length and even long putts a chance of going in. While nobody will confuse this thing with a rare Scotty Cameron, having a murdered-out milled putter is just genuinely cool on its own merits.

In terms of cons, I’m hesitant to levy too many criticisms at these clubs, because they’re not really pretending to be anything they’re not. While I struggled to hit basic bump-and-runs with these irons around the greens, that might have been a function of me not being used to them rather than some sort of inherent flaw.

Similarly, I experienced problems with hooking basically all of these clubs besides the sand wedge, but I have a left miss no matter what — the design of these clubs merely accentuated it. (Newer golfers, the type who might buy these clubs, tend to miss right, so the elements that were tough for me might make things easier for others.)

As for the price and quality, you can definitely get better used clubs for less money if you know what you’re looking for — but really, you’re paying not to have to think about any of that stuff. That’s not a knock on Robin, especially when considering the frictionless purchasing experience the brand offers: fast and free shipping, the ability to try them at home with a $150 deposit, etc. Overall, Robin offers a very specific thing for a very specific type of customer. If that’s you, then you’ll be satisfied.

BEST OVERALL

Easton Rival 2.0 Slowpitch Softball Bat

The Easton Rival has a price tag that’s south of more serious bats — something that pairs nicely with its status as one of the few bats designed for the kind of casual softball experience most adults are looking for. Its lightweight aluminum alloy is easy to move quickly through the zone, with large sweet spots so there’s more of an opportunity for the “trampoline effect” — the additional “pop” of hollow aluminum bats compared to solid wooden bats — to get the ball out of the infield.

The Rival isn’t guaranteed to turn dribblers into line drives, but it is designed to maximize bat speed and hitting distance. For amateurs who just want something to happen — strikeouts are the most boring way to make an out in softball — the Rival is a good bat to get the game going and avoid the dreaded whiff.

BEST BASEBALL BAT

Easton 2023 ADV 360 Baseball Bat

The handle and the barrel of this bat are separate pieces that meet at a point surrounded by shock-absorbing foam. It’s a design choice that, along with the soft knob, reduces the potentially painful vibrations that can come from making solid contact. And along with being comfortable to use, Easton promises that the Launch Comp technology gives it a bigger barrel contour and a “massive sweet spot.”

BEST SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL BAT

Miken Freak Primo Balanced USA SlowPitch Softball Bat

This balanced bat is easy for smaller players to pick up, but it’s also available in three different weights for hitters who want a bit more heft at the plate. The real standout feature is Miken’s Tetra-Core+ technology, which utilizes an inner tube, increasing compression, and an outer core that increases flex. Together, they’re meant to maximize the trampoline effect, meaning less energy is lost in the contact between bat and ball so there’s more pop, to use a technical term.

BEST FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL BAT

Easton Ghost Unlimited Fastpitch Softball Bat

Easton says that this bat offers “the lowest barrel compression on the market” — which, in theory, means more power in each swing. The newly designed soft knob means more leverage and a more comfortable swing. The barrel size of two and a quarter inches is smaller than lots of other options, but Naber says that a bigger barrel doesn’t necessarily equate to more or better contact — the tech inside is actually more of a difference-maker.

Former baseball player and blogger Josh Ahrens says that this bat is his “favorite without question,” even though it’s technically marketed as a softball bat. “Playing on a baseball team, you’ll find that even though everyone has their own bat, the team only uses around three or four,” he says. “People try out other people’s bats and use what they like best. One summer, one of my teammates repped a new white Easton Ghost bat, which everyone on my team loved. Six or seven of the guys in our lineup used the same bat that year and later, some of us went on to buy our own.”

BEST WOODEN BAT

Louisville Slugger Series 3 Genuine Ash Baseball Bat

As anyone who’s ever seen the shards of a broken bat flying across a Major League infield can attest, wooden bats are much less durable than metal bats. Still, the crack of a wooden bat hitting a ball is the defining noise of American sports, and the ping of metal bats is a very different animal. Those interested in trying a wooden bat would do well to give Louisville Slugger’s Series 3 a shot. Plus, this bat is priced reasonably enough that cracking one at a beer league game won’t be the end of the world.

BEST WIFFLE BAT

Wiffle Bat & Ball

There is at least one wiffle ball league out there — and, accordingly, a surprising number of brands are making plastic bats and balls. But as a sport, wiffle ball will always be less serious, which is why there’s no need to overthink the equipment. A plastic bat and a ball from the brand that gave the sport its name? That’s a home run.

BEST OVERAL

Franklin Sports CFX Pro Batting Gloves

As close to iconic as batting gloves get, Franklin’s CFX Pro gloves adorn the hands of many A-list major leaguers like Francisco Lindor — and they’ve even escaped the baseball bubble via a collaboration with Supreme. Their popularity is rooted in their performance, which is in turn rooted in their thoughtful design and construction. The official batting gloves of Major League Baseball are built around a single, seamless piece of leather from Pittards, a centuries-old UK-based leather maker, that’s etched with grooves to improve bat grip and reduce palm bunching.

The rest of the glove is cut to mimic the natural curves of the hand. Ahrens says that low-quality gloves will have “thin cloth on the back of the hand,” so he recommends looking for a pair “that feels a bit thicker and more secure in that area.” These gloves definitely fit the bill.

BEST LEATHER

Bruce Bolt Adult Long Cuff Chrome Batting Gloves

The 0.9-millimeter Cabretta leather is the headliner, here — its softness and durability are truly impressive — but it’s the cuff on these gloves that has the most direct effect on the wearer’s swing. That’s because the patent-pending double-inverse design provides plenty of support to keep wrists straight, producing more power and also protecting against the types of nagging injuries that can end a hobby prematurely.

BEST SYNTHETIC

EvoShield SRZ-1 Batting Gloves

Batting gloves that use synthetic materials instead of leather tend to be less expensive but just as durable if not more. The pebbled palm is plenty grippy, while the mesh back ensures breathable comfort for as many innings as it takes. The Lycra gussets, which run up and down the sides of the fingers, are flexible and help ensure a snug fit.

BEST COMFORT

Rawlings Adult Workhorse Batting Gloves

These gloves, Rawlings’ most popular design, have a slew of comfort-focused features. There’s the soft leather palm, double-knit spandex gussets, extra palm padding, and a reinforced elastic wrist closure. It all adds up to a glove that stays snug and protects hands from the wear and tear of long at-bats and games.  

Ahrens, in particular, is a fan of this glove, which he recommends for its “thicker, more substantial” material. “I have used Rawlings’ batting gloves in the past and they served me well,” he adds.

BEST PROTECTION

Palmbard Adult STS Protective Batting Gloves

Whether it’s a brush-off pitch high and inside or a wild throw from an inexperienced hurler, getting hit in the hand is a painful and potentially catastrophic possibility on the diamond. These Palmbard gloves are made to protect hands from that and other potential injuries. The brand’s patented Shock-Transfer System can eliminate the sting of making contact, with wrap-around padding in the index finger and thumb areas plus heel padding to make a bat grip more comfortable.

BEST FOR SOFTBALL

Mizuno Adults' Finch Softball Batting Gloves

Designed in tandem with softball gold medalist Jennie Finch, these gloves are made with premium leather across the shock-absorbing palm and backhand, connected by lightweight, stretchy fabric. The result is a snug fit that doesn’t get in the way of the swing. And speaking of fit — the wristband is made of compression materials that provide stabilizing pressure on the joint, as well as neoprene, a durable synthetic material, for staying power. It’s all kept in place by a hook-and-loop strap that’s easy to adjust if it becomes dislodged after a particularly aggressive swing.

BEST GRIP

Spiderz Hybrid Batting Gloves

For the freedom to swing for the fences, having a glove that won’t let the bat slip is key (unless Luis Guillorme is in the dugout). Naber points out that batting gloves have become more of an aesthetic statement in recent years, and the aggressive styling of these gloves is proof positive.

And while they won’t win any points for subtle design, these gloves do the trick. Their unique spider web design is made of silicone, which can also be found in gloves worn by football receivers to snag passes out of the air. It’s nice and grippy, in other words.

BEST OVERALL

Oakley Encoder Strike

Oakley’s Encoder Strike sunglasses feature a single lens perforated with a series of holes across the top to facilitate airflow (and minimize the chance of fogginess). This large lens covers more of a player’s field of vision and features Prizm technology, which increases contrast in bright conditions, while the temples are designed to fit comfortably under both hats and helmets. Aesthetically, these frames have the classic aggressive styling for which Oakley is known — they look at home anywhere on the diamond, whether in a stock color combination or a custom option available on the brand’s website.

Oakley doesn’t cite meeting the ASTM standard as a feature of these sunglasses, but the brand, ubiquitous in baseball at all levels, does say that its lenses “are designed and tested under extreme high-mass and high-velocity circumstances to ensure uncompromising protection across a wide range of demanding conditions.”

BEST SAFETY

Shaq Eye Gear 103X

Believe it or not, the sunglasses Stewart recommends for safe competition in eye-risk sports are those endorsed by none other than basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. “Look for independently tested eyewear that meets the proper standards for each sport,” she says. “For both baseball and softball, this standard is ASTM F803-19, or the Standard Specification for Eye Protectors for Selected Sports.” It applies to prescription and non-prescription eyewear, and these glasses meet it.

BEST DOUBLE LENS

Nike Show X3

On this Nike pair, holes in the frame facilitate airflow and the adjustable temple arms are coated in rubber to keep them from slipping. The two-lens construction makes them feel a bit more compact than single-lens options, but their curve means they still cover plenty of real estate.

BEST INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES

Roka Matador Full-Frame Cylindrical Shield Sunglasses

The superstar feature of these sunglasses from Roka are the interchangeable lenses. This allows players to change their look from game to game, but more importantly, it means that they can slot in different lenses to match their conditions, from one that allows just 14 percent of light (for super sunny days) to another that allows 40 percent (for overcast skies).

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT

100% Hypercraft Sunglasses

Some players might only wear glasses on the field and thus prefer the lightest frames possible. At just 23 grams, these featherweight frames fit the bill. The specially coated lenses resist scratches, water, dirt, and oil — all substances that are common on a baseball field.

BEST GOGGLES

Rec Specs Helmet Spex

These prescription-compatible goggles offer ASTM-compliant lenses and frames that are held in place by an adjustable elastic strap. The snug fit around the eyes means they offer protection from wind and dust that traditional sunglasses can’t match.

BEST PHOTOCHROMATIC

Under Armour Playmaker Photochromatic Sunglasses

Under Armour’s Playmaker sunglasses feature lenses that automatically adjust to conditions so players can see clearly, no matter how much sun there is during a game or, crucially, throughout a game that begins at dusk and ends after sunset. They block 100 percent of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, which Stewart says is a crucial feature.

BEST OVERALL

Rawlings RSB 13-Inch Softball Infield/Outfield Glove

Players who are new to softball or haven’t played since Little League generally don’t have strong opinions or specific needs the way that a more experienced player does. This glove from Rawlings, expressly marketed as an infield-outfield model, is a great choice for the generalist amateur who will likely play a few different positions and doesn’t really want to own a glove for each one.

This glove is reasonably priced despite the fact that it comes with an all-leather palm and built-in cushioning under the palm and lining the fingers. It’s moderately sized, at 13 inches, and comes with a pocket that’s deep enough to play the outfield without being so deep that it’s hard to get the ball out quickly. There’s very little break-in required (Rawlings says it’s already 90 percent broken in when purchased), thanks to the synthetic material on the back part of the glove, as well as the webbing. Naber says using both materials is “the best of both worlds” because, in addition to the reduced break-in time, the synthetic makes for a lighter glove than an all-leather model.

BEST ALL-PURPOSE

Mizuno 12 MVP Prime Series

For baseball players, the Mizuno 12 MVP Prime Series is a similarly versatile glove at a reasonable price point. The Japanese brand’s Bio-Soft leather is soft and durable, while the design — the pocket is located under the index finger — makes for a more natural break-in period and an easier securing of the ball.

“I like the Mizuno MVP Prime outfield glove,” says former baseball player and fitness blogger Josh Ahrens. “I’ve used this glove for a few years and see no reason to replace it any time soon.”

BEST INFIELD

Marucci 1175 Adult Oxbow M Type T-Web Baseball Glove

This glove from Louisiana-based Marucci sports has a leather palm lining with cushioning and a microfiber wrist lining with high-density memory foam. It’s adept at absorbing higher-velocity line drives and grounders, and its smaller, shallower profile helps players get to (and get rid of) the ball more quickly.

BEST OUTFIELD

Rawlings Heart of the Hide Outfield Glove

This glove features ultra-premium leather and lots of clever features that outfielders, in particular, will appreciate, from a spacious web (that swallows up fly balls) to a padded thumb sleeve (for a comfortable fit). The leather wrist closure is sturdier than hook-and-loop options, and it looks better to boot.

BEST CATCHER'S MITT

Wilson 34'' A950 Series Catcher's Mitt

“A glove has distinct fingers, just like a ‘normal’ glove,” says Herlich, pointing out a common misconception that the terms are interchangeable. “A mitt appears on the outside to hold all fingers in one place, like mittens.” He also points out that mitts are only worn by first basemen and catchers, often by rule. For dedicated backstops, this Wilson mitt is a great choice — it’s made from full-grain leather and has a low profile heel, which allows for more flexibility in reception, plus plenty of padding to cushion even the fiercest of fastballs.

BEST SYNTHETIC

Franklin Sports Field Master Baseball Glove

This glove, which is made entirely of synthetic material, has the lower price point to match. It comes with a pre-formed pocket that plays nicely out of the box and it’s also easier to break in than a leather model, even if it won’t last as long. Franklin advertises this glove as suitable for both baseball and softball, and it’s available in six different sizes, one of which will fit pretty much any hand.

BEST SPLURGE

Rawlings Pro Preferred Series Custom

Along with basketball shoes and hockey goaltender masks, major leaguers’ gloves often feature custom designs and colors that aren’t available to the masses. Rawlings decided to bring that level of personalization to everyone with an online tool that allows players to create their own glove from scratch — or, if it appeals, model it off of gloves used by players like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. Along with colors, fonts, and designs, smaller details like lace length, padding, and liner material are also available for customization.

Igloo Tan IMX 70 Qt Lockable Insulated Ice Chest Injection Molded Cooler

Given other coolers in this class can cost upwards of $400, the Igloo model is a good option for your outdoor needs this summer, especially if those needs involve keeping your hot dogs on ice and staving off salmonella.

BEST OVERALL

Weber Q1200

Available in six different colors, this portable propane grill is fundamentally sound, starting with its materials. Its cooking grates are made of porcelain-enameled cast iron, an easy-to-clean and heat-retaining material, while the cookbox is aluminum, which is a strong but relatively lightweight metal. The integrated grease management system is simple but effective, and it’s easy to wash out the grease tray and catch pan once the grill has cooled down. Starting the grill is as simple as screwing on a liquid propane canister, turning the gas on, and using the built-in electric starter to get a flame going fast.

There are also plenty of clever touches that make this grill stand out even more. A pair of side surfaces flip up on either side of the cookbox, offering valuable prep and rest space. There are two grates, which means it’s easy to switch one out for a griddle (sold separately) for more versatile outdoor cooking. The lid is taller than average, so even larger meats like roasts fit nicely with the lid closed. All in all, this is a well-made and smartly designed grill that’s a pleasure to use for beginners and seasoned veterans alike.

BEST CHARCOAL

Weber Jumbo Joe

Charcoal acolytes will recognize the Jumbo Joe as a shrunken but proportionally similar version of the Weber kettle grill. Phelps says it’s “hard to beat an original,” and the Jumbo Joe is a classic for a reason. Its small footprint (it’s just 18 inches wide) and lid lock, which doubles as a carry handle, means that it’s easy to take this quintessential grill on the go.

BEST PELLET

Traeger Tailgater

When many people think of pellet grills, they automatically think of Traeger, so it’s no surprise that the company’s portable model is at the top of its class. The Tailgater offers 300 square inches of surface area and a host of features — including a meat probe, a precise digital arc controller, and a keep-warm mode — that fans of the brand’s full-size grills will recognize and enjoy. Kevin Turner of The Grilling Master says pellet grills are actually great for beginners because they “work well with minimal attention,” so while it might be more intimidating than a push-button propane grill, the Tailgater leaves plenty of time to play cornhole in the parking lot.

BEST FIRE PIT

BioLite FirePit Cooking Kit

BioLite stoves are part of the new class of fan-powered, smoke-minimizing fire pits, and this portable model comes with a kit that turns it into a firewood- or charcoal-burning cooking machine. The fan needs to be charged, but having a big battery on board means it’s easy to hook up a light for night cooking.

EDITOR FAVORITE

Jackery Explorer 240

Jackery’s 240 portable power station is perfect for small households or two-person camping trips where electricity needs are limited. SPY Wellness Editor Taylor Galla has been using it for years during power outages and outings to the desert and loves how lightweight it is. It has two USB-A ports, one standard AC wall outlet, and a car charging port as well.

Jackery Explorer 300

Jackery’s Explorer 300 is an amped-up version of the 240 power station, as it comes with two AC outlets instead of one, a fast charge 3.0 port, USB-A, and USB-C ports. It can charge up to six devices at once and is compatible with Jackery’s SolarSaga 100 solar panels.

$750 OFF!

Jackery Explorer 1000 + 200W Solar Panel Bundle

This larger bundle from Jackery comes with their Explorer 1000 portable power station and two 100-watt solar panels that can charge it within six hours. The power station has the capacity to charge 90% of home appliances via its eight different power outlets and is designed to run with very little to no noise.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 PRO With Two 200-Watt SolarSaga Panels

This is Jackery’s newest power station built to fully recharge in two and a half hours with two SolarSaga solar panels and power everything from a refrigerator to a microwave, an air conditioner, and even an electric grill. It has eight different power outlets and 2200 watts of outlet power.

$300 OFF!

Segway Ninebot Electric Kick Scooter

Segway’s F40 scooter can reach speeds up to 18.6 miles per hour and can accommodate up to a 20% grade slope. It has 10-inch pneumatic tires built for shock absorption and a dual-brake system for safe riding in unpredictable urban environments.