10 Diverse, Multi-Purpose Outdoor Gear Items We Love
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Let’s face it: outdoor gear can be pricey. But a piece of gear with long-lasting, timeless qualities evens out the expense over time — and that makes it a worthwhile purchase in our eyes. One way we spread out the cost is to look for items we can use lots of different ways, in lots of different settings. Whether we’re camping, sailing, or at home, here are ten of our favorite multi-purpose gear items and how we actually use them.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants. Honestly, just about anything in the Ferrosi line stands up to the test. It’s a more technical pant with a water-resistant DWR finish that even handles some abrasion. Super flexible — they move with you on the crag or as you chase a toddler — and they still look great at work, dinner, or the brewery. I’ve had a pair for over six years.
Solar lanterns. Ours are inflatable MPOWERD-style lights, and they come with us almost everywhere. They’re compact, a full charge lasts up to 50 hours, and they double as a backup phone charger with several lighting modes. We use them as tent lights, picnic-table lights, nightlights, sailboat cockpit lights, and backyard-BBQ ambiance. Ours lasted nearly four years of hard use before the adhesive finally gave out — pretty good, considering.
Buffs. Headband, balaclava, sweatband, hair-tie, washcloth, and a dozen other uses. Such a simple thing to throw in a pocket or loop around your wrist and go.
Osprey Poco Series Kid Carrier Backpack. This one’s specific to a season of family life, but it covers so much ground we had to include it: backpack + stroller + baby sling + water carrier + sunshade + semi-high-chair. It adjusts to fit mom, dad, grandma, grandpa — anyone. Still doubtful? Go try one on at your nearest gear shop.
A good rain jacket. Ideally something GoreTex, because it works. A solid, well-priced example is the REI XeroDry GTX Jacket, available in men’s and women’s plus tall and plus sizes. A truly waterproof jacket becomes your go-to for both rain and wind, in any sport or setting.
A travel bed. We love the KidCo PeaPod Portable Travel Bed — basically a hoop tent that folds into itself and its own little bag. For us it was a bed, sun-and-insect protection, and playpen in one. We brought it to family gatherings as a secure place for The Dude to nap, and he had just as much fun filling it with toys.
Patagonia Capilene. Its original job is as a base layer, adding lightweight warmth under your mid-layer and shell — but it also looks good, washes easily, doesn’t wrinkle, travels well, and lasts forever. We run, relax, bike, and sail in it, layer it, and wear it as sun protection. There are options for the whole family, right down to the little ones.
A hammock. ENO (Eagles Nest Outfitters) is the well-known name, but we also love Kammok. Lightweight and packable, a hammock works for naps, a place to sit, a swing, part of your sleep system, or somewhere to bundle up while you wait your turn at the crag. With a few tricks it can even replace a tent and a camp chair — all you need is a couple of trees (or a tree and a post, or a vehicle and a tree).
A tech blanket. We’ve tried a bunch; Rumpl and Therm-a-Rest are two favorites. A tough blanket that won’t hold odors, washes easily, packs down small, and is surprisingly warm for its size. One blanket to rule them all: picnic groundcloth, diaper-changing pad, dog bed, RV comforter — and it just keeps going, plush and ready for more after a run through the washer.
We know this is a mishmash of gear, and the list could go on forever. It’s easy to justify a purchase but hard to decide what’s worth it on a budget — especially for a growing, changing family. Hopefully a few of these help you find what counts as “multi-purpose” for your own needs. Anything you’d add that we missed? We’d love to hear it.
