Summer Outdoor & Grilling Picks
Summer is for cooking outside and getting out of the house. These picks cover the backyard (grills and pizza ovens), road trips and camping (a car fridge), and the basics (sunscreen and a tough GPS watch).
How we pick: we research specs, owner feedback and expert reviews. We haven’t tested these products hands-on. Scores are our editorial opinion, not Amazon customer ratings, and we never list prices because they change. We earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links.
Comparison at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Who it’s for | HashMonkey score | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Woodfire ProConnect Premium XL Outdoor Grill & Smoker | Grill and smoker | Patio and balcony cooks who want smoky flavor with electric convenience | 4/5 | Check price |
| Ooni Koda 2 Propane Pizza Oven | Pizza nights | Pizza fans with outdoor space who want restaurant-style pies and fast, easy setup | 4/5 | Check price |
| Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven MO201 | Easier pizza | Pizza lovers who want consistent results without propane or wood | 3.5/5 | Check price |
| ICECO APL35 | Road trips | Campers, overlanders, RVers and long-haul road trippers | 4/5 | Check price |
| Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 | Sun protection | Active people and families who want one dependable, pleasant sunscreen for face and body | 4.5/5 | Check price |
| Garmin Instinct 2 Solar | Outdoors | Hikers, runners and outdoorsy people who want long battery life and toughness over a flashy display | 4.5/5 | Check price |
1. Ninja Woodfire ProConnect Premium XL Outdoor Grill & Smoker: Grill and smoker
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: Grill and smoke in one backyard machine. Ninja's Woodfire grill brings smoky flavor to people who don't want charcoal or a full pellet smoker. This XL version adds app monitoring and room for a crowd.
Who it’s for: Patio and balcony cooks who want smoky flavor with electric convenience.
Keep in mind
- It needs an outdoor outlet
- Smoke flavor is lighter than a dedicated smoker
Read our full Ninja Woodfire ProConnect Premium XL Outdoor Grill & Smoker review · Check price on Amazon
2. Ooni Koda 2 Propane Pizza Oven: Pizza nights
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: Fast backyard pizza with propane. The Koda 2 is the backyard pizza oven for people who want great pies without managing wood. It's portable, quick to fire up and has more room than the original Koda 12.
Who it’s for: Pizza fans with outdoor space who want restaurant-style pies and fast, easy setup.
Keep in mind
- It runs on propane only; no natural gas
- There's a learning curve to launching and turning pies
Read our full Ooni Koda 2 Propane Pizza Oven review · Check price on Amazon
3. Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven MO201: Easier pizza
HashMonkey score: 3.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A friendlier outdoor pizza oven. The Ninja Artisan is the pizza oven for people who don't want to manage flames. It's electric, has presets for different styles and doesn't need turning mid-bake.
Who it’s for: Pizza lovers who want consistent results without propane or wood.
Keep in mind
- Needs a long preheat before the first pizza
- Limited to 12-inch pizzas
Read our full Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven MO201 review · Check price on Amazon
4. ICECO APL35: Road trips
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A real fridge for car camping. Coolers full of melting ice are road-trip misery. The ICECO APL35 is a compressor fridge-freezer that runs off your car's 12V supply and keeps food cold, or frozen, for days.
Who it’s for: Campers, overlanders, RVers and long-haul road trippers.
Keep in mind
- It's a big investment compared with a cooler.
- It's heavy and takes trunk space.
5. Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50: Sun protection
HashMonkey score: 4.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: Everyday SPF people actually wear. The best sunscreen is the one you'll actually wear, and Supergoop PLAY makes that easy. It's a broad-spectrum SPF 50 that's pleasant enough for daily use and tough enough for active days.
Who it’s for: Active people and families who want one dependable, pleasant sunscreen for face and body.
Keep in mind
- It has a light scent, which fragrance-sensitive skin may not love
- It's priced above many solid drugstore sunscreens
Read our full Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 review · Check price on Amazon
6. Garmin Instinct 2 Solar: Outdoors
HashMonkey score: 4.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A rugged GPS watch for hikes. The Instinct 2 Solar is for people who want a watch that can track a hike, a run and a week of sleep without begging for a charger. Garmin's rugged design and solar charging make it a favorite with outdoor types.
Who it’s for: Hikers, runners and outdoorsy people who want long battery life and toughness over a flashy display.
Keep in mind
- Its monochrome screen looks basic next to AMOLED smartwatches.
- Solar gains depend heavily on how much bright sun you get.
Read our full Garmin Instinct 2 Solar review · Check price on Amazon