The Best Gear Outside’s Editors Tested This Month (July 2025)

In July, our gear editors and testers had one goal: find the apparel, accessories, and equipment that make sweltering summer adventures not just tolerable, but genuinely fun. From sweat-wicking shirts to cushy trail runners to bug-busting gadgets, this is the gear we grabbed when the heat cranked up and the mosquitoes came out swinging.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail Running Shoes

$230 at Puma 

Several brands have now attempted to apply the tech of road super shoes to the trail, with varying success. For my money (and stride and terrain), Puma has done the best job of balancing the lively bounce of a road model with the stability and adaptability needed for uneven and unpredictable off-road running. The Deviate Nitro Elite Trail’s foam—a new compound called A-TPU that is replacing PEBA as the king of super foams—is springier than any I’ve experienced, so springy that it starts to push back as soon as I put weight on it, reducing the squish. That responsive platform, combined with a wide base, a low, balanced, six-millimeter heel-toe drop, and a semi-flexible carbon-composite plate that adapts to underfoot irregularities, make the shoes agile and sure-footed on tricky trails and encouraged powerful, efficient push-offs when the terrain opened up. The shoe made me feel nimble and fast, which made every run in them more fun and led to spontaneous bursts of speedy joy. —Jonathan Beverly, Senior Gear Editor

Smartwool Women’s Active Ultralite Hoodie 

$85 at Smartwool  $85 at REI

Smartwool doesn’t market the Active Ultralite Hoodie as a sun shirt, but it’s been my go-to summer layer for two years—for two reasons: it’s incredibly lightweight and comfortable next to skin, even in 100-degree heat; and it’s the fastest-drying layer I own, drying within 20 minutes even in humidity. The magic lies in the airy, buttery fabric: a Merino wool and Tencel Lyocell blend that regulates temperature, fights odor, and dries fast. I also love the relaxed fit, drop tail hem, and high neck that provides extra coverage when the hood is up. I just spent a week in North Carolina, where the heat index hit 105°F, and I happily wore this hoodie to the beach and splash pads with my kids. Bonus: Merino provides natural UPF protection. The Active Ultralite Hoodie might not be labeled as a sun shirt, but I’ll take it over a synthetic option any day. —Jenny Wiegand, Associate Gear Director 

Bug Zapper Racket 

$22 at Amazon

There’s something in my blood that makes me completely irresistible to mosquitoes, so the second I hear that tell-tale buzzing, I’m on the offensive. There’s no mercy when I’m hunting down these tiny vampires—I’ll swing, swat, and splat until my enemies are vanquished. My number-one ally in the eternal fight against the itchy insurgents is this electric bug zapper a friend got for me as a gag gift one year. Joke’s on you, Jeff—I use it daily in the summer, especially during golden hour cookouts and weekend trips to our swampy, muggy lakehouse in northwest Indiana. It’s battery-operated and the size of a pickleball paddle, with one simple button to press. The mosquitoes may be winning the decades-long war, but I’m winning the battles these days. —Kristen Geil, Gear & Affiliate Director

NEMO Persist 45L Backpack

$260 at NEMO $260 at Jenson USA

NEMO is always pushing innovation, and the Persist carries that ethos forward with a versatile all-adventure day pack made from mostly recycled materials, all of which can be recycled again after you’re done with it. I love a green initiative, but it’s the versatility of this pack that won me over during the last couple of months. I’ve been testing the 30-liter version, which is classified as a daypack, but I’ve found it to be spacious enough for overnights as well. And it’s designed to accommodate a slew of adventures, from backcountry skiing (dedicated spots for rescue equipment and skis) to rock climbing. The lash-down straps can be moved to different locations on the pack to accommodate all kinds of gear depending on the adventure at hand and how you want to carry it. Consider the Persist a bag of many uses. —Graham Averill, gear and travel columnist 

Arc’teryx Sylan Pro Trail Running Shoes

$200 at Acr’teryx

As a gear editor, my closet is full of running shoes—so many, in fact, that I rarely get to return to a pair that I’ve already logged plenty of test miles in. But I always find an excuse to come back to the Arc’teryx Sylan Pros because they check all of my boxes. The midsole is cushioned but not overly so; they are stable on technical, vert-heavy trails; they feel fast when it’s time to pick up the pace; and the knit collar does a great job of keeping out debris. And, when days get long and the miles start to add up, I have no issues with comfort—my toes have plenty of space, the midfoot is secure without choking out my metatarsals, and the padded heel cup prevents slippage, even without lacing up a heel lock (though they do have an extra eyelet should you choose to do so). I went backpacking in the Eastern Sierra this past weekend and the Sylans were the first piece of gear I packed. And when I have a particularly long trail run slotted into my training plan, the Sylans are the first pick in the draft.  —Will Porter, contributing gear editor

Ten Thousand Tactical Utility Shorts

$98 at Backcountry $98 at Huckberry

I’m typically turned off by gear designed to be “tactical,” mostly because I don’t carry weapons and rarely get into knife fights, so I don’t need pockets dedicated to carrying bullets or machetes. But Ten Thousand’s Tactical Utility Shorts are an exception, because they provide the practicality of an old-school cargo short without the sloppy vibes of an old-school cargo short. These shorts have six pockets (two hand pockets, two back pockets and two thigh pockets) all packed into an eight-inch inseam cut, so there’s plenty of room for all of the things we need to carry; and yet, the shorts never look bulky or overstuffed. Yes, these shorts were built with the Special Forces in mind, but all that means is that they’re tough as hell, crafted from a durable canvas that resists abrasion, stains, and odor, but also has plenty of stretch. The material is given a DWR treatment too, so when I spill my beer, it just wipes right off. —G.A. 

Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra Trail Sneaker

$220 at Huckberry

I recently re-learned how to run after injuries started cropping up. Turns out, I was landing on my heel and midfoot, when I needed to be striking with my midfoot and toes. It took several physical therapy sessions and these shoes to get me back on the right path. Their aggressive but well-designed rocker naturally shifted me forward in just the right way. The Agravics are high-performance trail shoes with features like embedded energy rods, so I save them for big mountain days or local trail races rather than everyday training. The Continental rubber outsole grips confidently on fast descents, and the stack height strikes a perfect balance: cushioned and bouncy without making me feel unstable on technical terrain. Also, not to be vain, but I love the green colorway. —Jakob Schiller, gear columnist

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