Celebrate the new urban outdoor aesthetic with some great-looking gear for hikes, overnight camping stays, and weekend-long adventures.
The beauty of the great outdoors is that the longer you spend in it, the more time you want to linger there.
Invest in some wise buys that look good and also function as they should, and make more of that precious time.
Practical and durable gear
Ikea’s new Solluppgang range is hard-wearing, well-designed and durable.
It includes many elements to covet, including a folding stool, €19, and folding table, €35, shown, both made of eucalyptus, along with a small cast iron barbecue, 21 cm by 43 cm, an LED lantern, €17, stainless steel sporks, €3 each, enamel mugs, €4 each and a very cool cooling box made of woven bamboo, €39.
All have many purposes, post-trip.
Rug up
If overnighting or longer, an outdoor rug to step out onto instead of the grass or pine needles can add a level of creature comfort to base camp.
This Green Decore sharkskin grey and white patterned reversible design is made of recycled plastic.
And after the excursion, it will work well in the back garden and as a picnic blanket. It measures 180 cm by 270 cm, and costs €29.80, ex delivery from Amazon.ie.
Hot beverages on tap
A kettle that also does duty as a French press for a morning cup of Joe or a teapot for a cuppa is a thing to covet.
This 0.6 to 0.8 litre steel design costs €18 from Decathlon and will make time in the outdoors all the more enjoyable.
Pack a tot of whiskey along with honey, lemon and cream, and you can make warming hot toddies or Irish Coffees as sun-downers. This is Ireland after all.
Stay warm, no matter the weather
Don’t let a drop in the mercury put you off time outdoors.
The Cosiseat Lite has an infrared heating solution that will wonderfully warm your back and seat, no matter what the weather does, through its two heating elements.
Wireless, durable and super comfortable, it is rechargeable.
You can choose from low, medium or high options. It measures 110 cm long by 45 cm wide and is available through Meadows and Byrne, in beige only.
The cover is washable and costs €125.95.
The green colour shown is available from Camping Cocooning and costs €119, excluding delivery.
Keep damp at bay
JYSK’s Slappa picnic blanket measures 150 cm by 200 cm and comes in a water-resistant finish, so no more chills or soggy bottoms.
It costs €15 and is part of a wider picnic range that includes a selection of cool bags.
These include Hulma, a four-litre size, which costs €3; and Myra, which comes in two sizes, the 19-litre one costs €10 each, while the larger 25-litre version with a handle costs €15 each.
For drinks, Bris is a polypropylene jug with four cups that costs €5, while the glass jars with lids and straws, also seen, cost €1.50 each.
Fashion finds its wild side
Outdoor Market by English furniture and product designer, Jasper Morrison, seen in the lead pic, is a collection of chic camping accoutrements in striped canvas, from folding furniture, the side table is €69, the stool €115, and the chair, €229 each.
The luxe-looking canopy costs €559.
There's also a steel firepit, €279, above, and a neater but similar BBQ, €185.
The range will suit a picnic in the park to weekend camping. The collection is available on the Danish site, Hay.
