3 summer camping essentials for adventures in 2026

Choosing water-capable hiking footwear is mostly about deciding where you sit on the spectrum between sandal freedom and shoe-like protection. Open sandals are cool and airy but expose your toes to rocks, roots and general trail stupidity. Trail shoes protect better but stay wet longer and can feel miserable after repeated river crossings. Hybrid sandals try to split the difference, and most of them end up feeling like compromises.

The KEEN Hyperport H2 is deffo one of the more convincing attempts. It takes the brand’s long-running closed-toe sandal idea and makes it lighter, more cushioned and easier to live with. Think water shoe, hiking sandal and casual summer trainer blended into one admittedly unconventional-looking package.

It takes the closed-toe protection and amphibious DNA of the long-running Newport line, then adds a lighter build, much thicker cushioning and a more modern fit. Think less old-school “dad sandal,” more fast-and-light shandal for people who actually hike to the swimming spot instead of driving to it.

Some camp blankets prioritise warmth above everything else and become bulky monsters. Others pack down small but leave you questioning your life choices the second the temperature drops. The best ones sit somewhere in the middle: warm enough for cold campsite mornings, versatile enough for road trips and beach fires, and compact enough that you’ll actually bring them along.

The Nomadix Graphene Puffer Blanket is aimed squarely at that sweet spot. Rather than being just another insulated blanket, it combines graphene-infused GrapheneLoft™ insulation, a water-resistant recycled ripstop shell and a snap-closure design that allows it to transform from blanket to wearable cape or minimalist sleeping bag. It’s essentially a camp blanket designed for people who spend more time outside than inside. Best as part of a layering system rather than a miracle solution for serious cold.

The Nomadix Graphene Puffer Blanket is available through WildBounds.

A shaker bottle that is far more relevant to camping than the marketing suggests. The lightweight BPA-free construction keeps pack weight down, while the 100% leakproof lid means you can throw it into a rucksack without wondering whether your sleeping bag is about to smell like vanilla protein powder. The real appeal for campers, though, is its versatility. Whether you’re mixing electrolytes after a long day on the trail, powdered greens at breakfast or recovery shakes after a mountain-bike ride, it handles all of them without requiring separate mixing components.

The Yonder also avoids one of the biggest annoyances of traditional shaker bottles: cleaning. With no whisk ball or mesh insert to remove and wash, it’s easier to rinse out at a campsite tap or clean properly when you get home. The bottle is dishwasher-safe, made from 75% recycled plastic and weighs just 0.36 lb (163g), making it a practical addition to a camping kit rather than another bulky accessory.