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Escape the rat race with smart and affordable outdoor gear

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The work week may be a pressure filled blur of meetings and deadlines, but weekends are surely meant for taking a much-needed breather from the rat race. Even die-hard city dwellers need an occasional escape from the clamor of city life, and a jaunt into the great outdoors offers more than a few possibilities for decompressing and recharging. The good news is that communing with nature is easier than ever, thanks to innovative outdoor gear that makes the prospect of ditching daily conveniences something to eagerly embrace—not dread.

Below, we’ve selected a few pieces of affordable outdoor gear that anyone from the weekend camper to the daily bicyclist will appreciate. Whether gearing up for an annual camping trip or weekly outdoor escapes, these outdoor tools and equipment illustrate that investing in a few well-made products can be the difference between a bad trip and a great escape.

This oversized waterproof bicycle cover is big enough to protect 2 bikes from the elements. Crafted from UV protected 210D fabric, it features a 600D polyester heat shield, sealed seams and air vents that combine to protect bikes from both heat and moisture. Elasticized hems and 2 buckled drawstrings ensure that bikes are kept safe from rain and strong winds, while reflective strips enhance visibility at night.
$31 from Amazon $31 from Walmart

At a whopping 58 inches, this is all the umbrella you’ll need in rain, wind, or sun. In rain, the umbrella’s double canopy won’t let a drop of water in, and the non-slip handle ensures that strong winds won’t compromise your grip. While large enough to provide shelter for 2 people, this heavy-duty umbrella nevertheless folds down to 23 inches, and weighs just over a pound. A simple press of a button smoothly opens the canopy to provide instant protection from sun or rain.
$23 from Amazon

Relaxing in a hammock can be an idyllic experience—until the bug squad comes calling. Keep bugs and random debris at bay with this versatile hammock net from Wise Owl Outfitters, which is lightweight, roomy enough for diagonal napping, and cinches easily to any size hammock. Lots of head room and see-through netting keeps you comfortable and communing with nature, while the double sided zipper makes entering and exiting the hammock a piece of cake.
$21 from Amazon $28 from Walmart

Never sweat rain or moisture with these invaluable waterproof bags that remove inconvenience and uncertainty from any outdoor activity—camping, kayaking, fishing, white water rafting—in which weather can play spoiler. Fashioned from lightweight, yet strong and puncture-resistant, PVC fabric, these innovative dry bags are built to stay watertight enough for even the most avid outdoor adventure—and a choice of 3 sizes means a single bag, or all 3, can come along for the ride.
$29 from Amazon $18 from Walmart

Folding down to the size of a hockey puck, this collapsible camping lantern is both solar powered and USB chargeable, so you’ll never need to worry about running out of juice. 3 different light modes make this camping lantern versatile enough to be an overhead reading lamp when inside a tent, or a high-powered flashlight when walking at night. Built-in protection against overheating or overcharging brings an added dose of safety and peace of mind.
$25 from Amazon $25 from Walmart

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We know by now that breathing in fresh air, encouraging our bodies to move, and even briefly taking a break from the rigors of the work week are essential for both physical and mental health. If the prospect of embarking on a new outdoor routine sounds daunting, the smart and convenient outdoor gear featured above will, hopefully, illustrate that a cleaner, greener life doesn’t have to mean a wholesale retooling. By investing in a few innovative outdoor products, rejuvenating both body and mind can become a joyful, invigorating exercise.

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Promila Shastri
Promila is a New York-based writer, editor, and content creator, whose focus is on visual culture—product design…
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