
The start of the spring season doesn’t just mean getting to explore new off-grid regions and locales and take on new outdoor hobbies and activities, it also means getting to deploy new kit. Unsurprisingly, a great many of the manufacturers in the broader outdoor space opt to debut their latest wares towards the start of the spring season. With so many novel releases all dropping within such a short period of time, it can be exceedingly difficult to sort through the proverbial sea of freshly-released pieces of outdoor gear in order to hone in on this season’s legitimate standout items —the best of which we’ll be highlighting today in this guide to the essential gear for your next outdoor adventure.

Gerber Armbar Scout
Engineered from the ground up specifically for off-grid use, the Gerber Armbar Scout is an ultra-pocketable 3.625″ x 0.7” multi-tool that packs over half a dozen tools and functions including a frame-locking 2.5” plain blade, a saw, a pry bar, bottle and can openers, scissors, and a hammer. Sold in multiple color options, the Armbar Scout also comes backed by Gerber’s lifetime warranty.

Gerber Gorge Shovel
Also protected by the brand’s lifetime warranty, the Gerber Gorge Shovel is a modernized take on the classic folding shovel. Sold with an included drawstring-secured nylon carrying bag, the Gorge Shovel features a glass-filled nylon shaft and a rubber-coated handle. Deployed via a push-button slide mechanism, the head of this folding shovel also sports an integrated hammer at its base. Dig a fire pit or clean up camp with this foldable tool.

YETI Rambler 26oz Water Bottle W Straw Cap
The YETI Rambler 26oz Water Bottle W Straw Cap is a hardwearing vessel that sports a BPA-free double-walled vacuum-insulated construction crafted from puncture and rust-resistant, kitchen-grade 18/8 stainless steel. Dishwasher-safe, this bottle also features YETI’s leak-resistant Straw Cap and super durable TripleHaul Handle.

Gerber Freescape Camp Saw
Having a multi-tool with a built-in saw is incredibly helpful and useful when camping or off-grid, however, if you plan on heavily utilizing the tool, there’s no replacement for a dedicated full-sized model like the Gerber Freescape Camp Saw — which features a rubber over-mold grip, four pivot points, and the ability to accept standard 12″ saw blades.

Gerber Bushcraft Axe
Spanning 26.25” overall, the aptly-named Gerber Bushcraft Axe is a heavy-duty outdoor-specific axe and splitter that sees a modern visual design backed by ultra-rugged materials, with a forged single-piece construction head that’s fitted with an overstrike guard, plus a rubber over-mold grip. This axe’s ported shaft also houses an included waterproof gear storage stick for stashing a lighter or dry tinder.

Fenix HM71R Rechargeable Headlamp
An absolute powerhouse of a headlamp, the Fenix HM71R is a USB-C rechargeable item that features a wildly impressive 2,700-lumen output and an equally generous 755’ throw. Weighing less than 7.5oz, this ultra-potent headlamp also boasts eight different power modes, a memory function, an IP68-rating, and a battery level indicator.

VSSL Camp Supplies II Kit
The VSSL Camp Supplies II Kit is an outdoor-specific bundle containing over 50 pieces of outdoor gear essentials such as a complete fire-striker kit, a P-38 can opener, a sewing kit, a wire saw, a fishing tackle kit, multi-purpose adventure tape, and a one-liter water bag — just to name a few. Each component comes in a tin puck that neatly stores away in this items military-grade cylinder housing.

Matador Beast28 Ultralight Technical Backpack
A new and improved, more lightweight version of what was already an absolutely stellar outdoor pack, the Matador Beast28 Ultralight Technical Backpack is a 28-liter carry solution that boasts a built-in steel frame suspension system and offers a wealth of storage and organizational amenities in an ultra-packable package.

Sea to Summit Ikos TR2
Also offered in a larger three-person size (known as the TR3), the Sea to Summit Ikos TR2 is an ultra-lightweight two-person, three-season camping tent that features eco-friendly anodized aluminum DAC MX poles draped in a 68-denier ripstop polyester shell and rainfly.

Oyster Tempo 23 Bundle
A high-end vacuum-insulted cooler that doesn’t require the use of any ice, the Oyster Tempo 23 Bundle comes with special COLD and FROZEN thermal packs that allow the cooler to act as a fridge or freezer. This 23-liter camp cooler is constructed from an amalgamation of wrought and cast aluminum, fumed Silica, and foamed EVA.

Garmin Instinct Crossover Hybrid GPS Smartwatch
Offering the best of both analog and digital timepieces, the Garmin Instinct Crossover Hybrid GPS Smartwatch is a cutting-edge GPS-equipped item that sports a bevy of health and fitness tracking features, as well as back-tracking routing, an altimeter, a barometer, and a compass. What’s more, this hybrid watch’s digital display sits beneath an analog handset coated in Super-LumiNova lume.