Danny

When summer evenings stretch long and the grill is fired up, the best Adirondack chairs for backyards turn an empty patio into the hangout spot everyone gravitates toward. I bought my first Adirondack chair about twelve years ago, and I’ve been replacing, upgrading, and testing different models ever since. Some warped after one winter. Others … Read more

Last summer, I spent $127 on a backyard hammock stand that rusted through after one season. That mistake cost me a whole summer of lazy afternoons. Our team of outdoor gear testers spent 90 days evaluating 10 of the best hammocks with stands for backyards to save you from making the same expensive mistake. We … Read more

When I installed my first patio pergola six years ago, I had no idea how much it would change the way we use our outdoor space. We went from rarely stepping onto the patio to eating dinner outside at least four nights a week. After testing eight of this season’s best pergolas for patios side … Read more

I’ve spent the last three summers testing backyard gazebos with my family, and I can tell you this: the right one changes how you use your outdoor space. We grilled through storms, hosted birthday parties under monsoon-like rain, and left one frame up through a full New England winter. After all that, I’ve narrowed down … Read more

When I set out to find the best cantilever patio umbrellas for , I spent three weekends testing 8 popular models in my own backyard, comparing shade coverage, wind resistance, and crank smoothness side by side. A cantilever umbrella (sometimes called an offset umbrella) uses a side-mounted pole and articulating arm, so the canopy floats … Read more

Nothing ruins a backyard barbecue faster than pulling out soggy, mildew-covered cushions. I learned that lesson the hard way after a surprise thunderstorm turned my patio seating into a wet mess overnight. That experience sent me on a mission to find the best outdoor storage boxes for cushions that could actually keep my patio pillows … Read more

There’s something about a charcoal smoker that turns a regular backyard Saturday into an event. The smell of hardwood smoke drifting across the lawn, a brisket bark cracking under the knife, neighbors wandering over with paper plates. We have spent the past three months running ribs, pork shoulders, and whole chickens through eight different charcoal … Read more

I have been testing camping gear for over a decade, and my garage looks like a cooler museum at this point. After logging more than 200 nights of field testing with 55 different models over the past year, our team narrowed down the best coolers for camping that actually keep ice cold past day three … Read more

If you have ever opened your cooler on day three of a camping trip only to find everything swimming in lukewarm water, you already know why people upgrade to rotomolded coolers. These hard-sided ice chests use a rotational molding process that creates seamless, thick-walled construction with serious insulation. The result is ice that lasts days, … Read more

Dragging a heavy cooler across soft beach sand is nobody’s idea of a good time. That is exactly why wheeled coolers for beaches have become essential gear for families, anglers, and weekend beachgoers who want cold drinks without the backache. Our team spent weeks comparing 10 of the most popular rolling coolers on the market, … Read more