This next-gen beach tent and hammock will make the last weekend of summer even better.
Beach tent
I’m trying to (safely) spend more time outside. But as a pale person with auburn hair, this means looking for shade in an attempt to not get too much sun. With trees in my local park at a premium (apparently everyone else has the same idea, making social-distancing tough), I need another option.
A beach umbrella seemed too unwieldy to carry (and prior experience taught me it can flip inside out without warning or blow away). Besides, the park powers-that-be might not like me driving a big pole into their nicely-trimmed grass.
A friend from Italy suggested a beach tent, something I had written off as being, well, for babies and the elderly. But in this era of embracing comfort over cool—WFH sweatpants anyone?—and after poring over Amazon reviews, I came up with four candidates. I tried them all, returned three, and crowned the ONIVA Brolly Sunshelter the winner.
Why? It’s lightweight (polyester shell and fiberglass frame) and collapsible (comes with its own carry tote), so I can keep it in my car trunk or sling it over my shoulder when I’m on my bike.
Plastic stakes and tie-down cords are included in case I ever want to take it to a breezy beach. At my local park, I just pop it open and I’m set under what is essentially a giant (70.5″ x 35.5″ x 43.5″) food umbrella that lets me enjoy the great outdoors sun-free for as long as I want.
My almost six-foot-tall bod fits in lengthwise just fine; if you want only your head and torso shaded, there’s room for one or two other people. Four interior pockets can hold stuff like phones, keys, and tablets, and the moisture-resistant floor keeps grass stains off my white shorts.
It’s available in solid blue or red, plus my choice, the snappy blue-and-white stripe.
The next time you’re heading for turf or sand, give it a try; your non-sunburned skin will thank you.
Hammock
I always loved the idea of a hammock. But real-life versions were disappointing—they were too hard to tie up, damaged trees, took forever to dry after getting rained on. Then I discovered the Kootek Camping Hammock.
It’s easy to assemble (you clip carabiners to nylon straps with loops instead of knotting ropes) and tree-friendly, plus the triple-stitched parachute fabric is durable, cleans easily, dries quickly (unlike cotton), and isn’t scratchy or rough like nylon.
The Kootek comes in two sizes: small when I want to cocoon solo and large for when I want to snuggle with Husband. (The large holds up to 500 pounds, so you can pile in the family dog and chilled beverages, too.) The sides come up over my legs and arms, wrapping around like a cozy blanket (and protecting me from the sun; see Beach tent, above). I can comfortably sit in it to read or stretch out and sleep.
It folds away into a small attached sack (that doubles as a place to store stuff like your phone or a book when it’s in use), which can fit easily into a backpack. There are lots of color options (solids trimmed with a contrasting shade)—blues, greens, gray, black, orange, and a very cool pink-with-violet combo. At $23 for the one-person and $25-$33 for the two-person, it won’t break the budget. (It makes a fun wedding or graduation gift.)
String up the Kootek under a rain fly and you’ll be set on your next camping trip. Or just hang it on your balcony or in your backyard for a romantic night under the stars.
Twist’s Take: This next-gen beach tent and hammock will take your relaxing to the next level.
