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Now that the calendar says it's spring, I'm using the firefighter method for when my friends wanna go to the park.

I think we can all agree that after this winter, we want to be outdoors as much as possible. And with a little bit of preparation, you can make that so much easier! As someone who resides in a small New York City apartment and tries to get to the park as much as possible, I can already feel it in my bones. I wanna be outside! I gathered up some handy things you can even mostly just leave in a designated park bag (yes, I have one) for when you're texting the group chat or decide to take the kids away from their screens for a bit. Get ready to kick back, and relax on the inflatable couch lounger you'll be glad you bought. 

Parents especially love this because babies and toddlers can lay on it without getting sand in their mouths. It has four corner bags to fill with sand to keep it down, straps with pegs to hold it in place on extra windy days, a convenient carry bag with a shoulder strap, and a zipper pouch for secure storage.

Promising review: "This was the BEST purchase I've ever made for a beach trip. We took this to Hawaii and it fit perfectly in my bag. We used this every single day of our trip and there was more than enough space for all four adults and all of our things, we sat out in the rain in it and it was dry within 30 minutes of laying in the sun. This will for sure be coming with me on all of my future travels!" —Hannah

"Perfect for the park. Really big! Great quality. Love the color!" —L.Smiley

Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "So fun and easy to use! I loved these for a shower that I threw using a mixture of flowers and fruits. They were easy to fill and froze overnight. They worked perfectly for the duration of the shower and added the perfect touch!" —Megan

Promising review: "I had planned to do a full charcuterie board on this tray, but once I pulled everything out, I realized I had way too much. So I used it as a prep place for crackers. I was able to set this up hours ahead of time, put the lid on it to keep them fresh, and nothing rolled away because of the little lip around the edge. The crackers stayed fresh until they were gone — four days! My family loves it too! We’re bringing it back out for New Year’s Eve for our family party." —GrecianErn

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in a variety of configurations).

Ponyflo is a small biz specializing in ponytail-friendly hats. 

Promising review: "I purchased this hat for the beach to cover my face and ears. It did the job and was way cuter than I thought! If you’re looking for a hat for the pool, beach, or a sports mom, this will be great!" —Matthew & Brittney Odom

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in eight colors). 

Promising review: "I packed this hat into my suitcase twice and both times I just had to readjust it a bit and then it was the perfect shape again! There is a natural fiber smell when you first open the package for the first few days and then it goes away naturally. It’s super cute on and you can adjust the size inside with a strap as well!" —Jetsetgigi

Get it from Amazon for $65 (available in three colors and two sizes).

Promising review: "Great product! I bought it for my backyard picnic table. I think the table and bench covers are well made for the price I paid." —Maria

Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in nine patterns).

Cliganic is a small biz specializing in health and wellness products. 

Promising review: "I bought this to take on a cruise. Never had issues with bites. Once back home I put them on my son who is allergic to some bites and always itchy after time outdoors. Since he’s had these on outside it’s hardly an issue anymore. Very cool." —MardiGrasGirl

It's also designed to be easy to disassemble and clean, and the lid and straw are dishwasher safe! Oh, and the 24-ounce bottles are designed to be universally cup holder-friendly.

Get a closer look at it on TikTok of the Owala Freesip!

Promising review: "Stanley who??? I absolutely LOVE this water bottle. Way better than other name-brand tumblers with a straw that sticks up! Love that the straw is covered, and the water bottle has a carry loop, making it easy to carry when your hands are full. So much easier to drink from and you have the option to drink from the straw or sip. This is truly leakproof and keeps drinks cold for hours! It's also durable. I have dropped it a few times and there wasn't even a scratch on the bottle. I will definitely be ordering more!" —BAJ

Get the 32-ounce size from Amazon for $32.99 (also available in 16, 24, and 40-ounce sizes, and in 22 colors).

MugGiez is a small biz specializing in this product. 

Promising review: "I absolutely have fallen in love with this universal cup handle. The picture I have is with a 40-ounce insulated cup, but it also fits my 32-ounce. It is awesome paracord covered with a very manageable silicone over the paracord. I love it… Buy it. You won’t be disappointed." —Ed Hicks

Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in nine designs).

Check out a TikTok of the portable fan in action. 

I own this and use it ALL the time. It comes in handy in a variety of situations at home *and* while traveling — especially when you're sitting in a stuffy plane in Miami in July with the doors open, waiting for the pilot to board and take off. I def got some jealous side-eyes from other passengers as I kept myself cool with this. 

Get it from Amazon for $14.39+ (available in four colors). 

Promising review: "What I love most about it is its durability. Even on extremely windy days, it has consistently held its own without flipping inside out, which is truly remarkable. The automatic open and close function works smoothly, and the handle is comfortable to grip, making for a pleasant user experience. And, of course, it keeps me perfectly dry. If you're looking for a sturdy and compact umbrella, I highly recommend this one! It's perfect for travel and a reliable companion for everyday use." —Amazon Customer 

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in 10 colors and multipacks). 

Check out a TikTok of the Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar in action. 

Promising review: "NO WHITE CAST! I've been looking for a stick sunscreen and this was just exactly what was needed!! I'm a medium-toned Black woman and looking for something without a white cast is always a challenge. I have applied it on my bare skin and there isn't a white cast at all! It's a 'soft matte' finish, for sure, and looks like natural skin. Like you're not wearing anything at all." —Martina

Promising review: "We have owned this picnic basket for a couple of years. We take it to the beach, sporting events, and road trips. It has been great for our family. Refolding it was an education, but with a couple of tries it was pretty easy. All in all, glad we purchased it." —JANAY

Get it from Amazon for $44 (available in eight colors and patterns).

Promising review: "Can’t beat this for the $ — the 40-ounce Hydro Flask fits on the side pocket, along with two other bottles on the other side. Lunch and snacks for four will fit and stay cold all day. Great job, Titan. I couldn’t justify spending $150 plus on a cooler/lunchbox. It’ll hold quite a few brews as well :)" —Corey

Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Love, love this cooler! Needed something lightweight with good capacity for road trips, and this worked amazingly well! Loaded it up with food and drinks, along with plenty of ice packs. Kept things ice cold in the car with 80–90-degree temps outside. Added ice as needed over the course of a week. I did take care to move cooler to the shady side of the car during the day to help stay cold. Quality item. Zippers smooth and love the side pockets for paper plates, napkins, wipes and silverware! No digging stuff out on a lunch stop. Haven’t used wheeled cart yet but may just around the house or next trip!! 😊 Highly recommend!" —Lorrie Z

Get it from Arctic Zone for $89.99 (available in three colors).

This organic wine company specializes in pouch wine...complete with a spout.

Promising review: "I found these on sale! They already seemed like a great deal, but on sale, it was even more of a no-brainer of a purchase. I use these for traveling with coolers on long road trips and at the beach in my backpack cooler. They are perfect for 24-hour travel and stay cool even in Florida heat at the beach!" —Mkirby

Get four from Amazon for $29.99 (available in other sizes). 

Psst, you can find the Attitude Oceanly Lip Balm that reviewer is wearing on Amazon! 

Promising review: "Like a lot of women over 50, I prefer to use a tinted sunscreen instead of foundation these days. I have tried a dozen, and this one is the winner, hands down! It has a thin, nongreasy texture, no odor, and is lightweight and buildable if you want a little more coverage in certain areas. Best of all, it does not settle into pores or fine lines at all. So many of the others I've tried, including high-end expensive ones that are pushed heavily on social media, are greasy and settle into every pore and line. I've put this on auto ship and hope it never gets discontinued!" —Chartwell

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four tinted and non-tinted). 

Black Girl Sunscreen is a Black woman–owned business whose sunscreen is designed not to leave a white cast on melanated skin. It's ultra sheer, water-resistant, and super nourishing thanks to its all-natural ingredients. Plus, it's cruelty free! They also make sunscreen for kids with SPF 50.

Promising review: "I’ve been using this creamy SPF daily and it's a game‐changer. It absorbs easily, zero white cast, even with darker tones, and feels more like a moisturizer than heavy sunscreen. Makeup goes on smoothly and without streaks." —Kiki

Get it from Amazon for $10.96 (cruelty-, fragrance-, oxybenzone-, octinoxate-, silicone- and aluminum-free, and vegan).

Promising review: "I got a ton of compliments. 💖" —Tasha

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 45 prints).

Check out a TikTok of the drink holder in action. 

Promising review: "I am obsessed with these! I bought one for myself and immediately turned around and got a four-pack so I can keep extras in my desk at work and my car and give a few to friends. The cardboard carriers that you usually get from restaurants are wasteful and still need to be supported with two hands. With this, I can carry two to four beverages and a bag of take out food all in one hand with a hand free to open doors and such! There is no support underneath so you cannot leave them sitting in the carrier once you're in a car, but I wouldn't trust a cardboard carrier on the seat of my car full of drinks anyway. It is incredibly sturdy and everywhere I go I get constant compliments when I use it! I have run into very few cups that are too large, overall this is a total win! Can't recommend enough." —Allison

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in multipacks). 

Promising review: "I used to play Ultimate Frisbee in college and it took me a lot of practice to get my throws down. Wanting to teach my kiddos how to throw, I researched and ended up buying these. I REALLY like them! I bought one set of two. And want to buy more. They are super easy for beginners to learn on and almost always fly true. They also don’t hurt when they hit you and my kids can catch them. Win. Win. Great colors and design! And they can skip a little bit. 🥏💗" —asnowmomma

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.99 (available in nine colors). 

Promising review: "All the cheap-os EVERYWHERE were sold out (June), so I had to buy more expensive chairs for our beach trip. I was a little apprehensive about these....between reading some of the reviews and the price, but SO GLAD I bought two. They are very comfy, beautiful-looking, easy to setup and carry. Worth the money!" —Kevin S.

Promising review: "This was an impulse buy and so glad I did it. Took them on vacation and they worked so well on the beach and sand. Must have." —paul molacek

Promising review: "At the beach, in the yard, by the pool, you'll be playing Spikeball. It's so much fun. All of my friends wait around calling 'next' whenever we're playing. Never met a person who has played and doesn't love it. Just get it. You'll be glad you did.On a separate note...$50 seems steep, but the game is freaking great and I'm of the opinion that if you come up with a product that makes the world a better place (like Spikeball) then you deserve to get paid. If you're on LifeKraze ([...]) you might get lucky and catch a $10 discount." —J.E.T.

Promising review: "I was going back and forth between this and an off-brand to save a few dollars. Glad I got this, though, it really works great. My drink was cold hours later, even in 80 degrees at the beach." —roni

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 31 colors).

Promising review: "Saved us at the beach. My kids used this at the beach and it worked great!" —psychologistneedingbooks

Get it from Amazon for $8 (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "We just used our table for two days at the beach. It worked great to keep things out of the sand. It is so lightweight but plenty sturdy!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in small or large and in four finishes).

Also be sure to read up on some pet tips for the beach from ASPCA.

Promising review: "We have a dog who loves going to the beach and this is so easy to pack for a beach day!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $13.29+ (available in two colors and two sizes). 

Promising review: "I love this lounger! It is super comfortable and is so simple to inflate! It rolls up into a small compact bag for easy storage when you're not using it. It’s perfect for kayaking, camping, or hiking. If you just want a lazy day reading a book in the backyard, this would be great! I’m seriously obsessed with this thing!" —Sonya

Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in 12 prints).

The single version can hold up to 400 pounds and the double version holds up to 500 pounds. You'll get two 9-foot talon straps, a storage bag that doubles as a pocket, and two carabiners.

Promising review: "I've spent a total of six nights camping in this hammock this year and found it very comfortable. On my most recent trip, I spent four nights in it. I used it along with the Wise Owl bug net, rain fly, and under quilt. They are all good quality and easy to use. My two sons (ages 10 and 13) slept in the single sized hammock along with the accessories from Wise Owl. The under quilts kept us all warm, and the rain flies kept us all dry in a moderate rain that lasted about three hours. I recommend Wise Owl products to anyone wanting to get into hammock camping." —B. Masterson

Get it from Amazon for $19.25+ (available in sizes M–XL and in 17 colors).

Promising review: "I ordered speakers that were waterproof and could sit outside and I’m so glad I found these. They give off a nice ambiance when sitting out back, and the sound is loud but not too loud to disturb neighbors. Bluetooth connection is easy, and as for battery life not sure cause I just received and haven’t had them a month. So far so good, and I’m satisfied with purchase." —applefir

Get a set of two from Amazon for $71.99 (clip the $8 off coupon on the product page for this price; available in two colors). 

Promising review: "Very, very sturdy and easy assembly. We had a reunion, and this swing kept the kids busy for hours. I definitely will be buying another." —msbakwudhic

Promising review: "I live near water and have animals = I get bugs. With one of these placed at each of my doors or windows outside = I get no flying bugs inside. Finally. During winter, truly no flies inside. During summer, an occasional fly/mosquito slips through the circumference. Overall, it saved me one summer when we were getting 10 mosquito bites a day. After I started using this, no mosquito bites! (Dogs do not even notice its existence)." —Christine D.

Promising review: "I am a magnet for bites of all kinds and carry topical and medicines with me at all times — so I figured this would be a good product to see if it really works. It arrived on Monday and on Tuesday morning I woke up with a bug bite on my arm. I used this little tool (3x per the instructions) and documented with photos. Immediately after using, it stopped itching! And less than 24 hours later the bump/bite was gone! There is a very faint red mark from using the thing but a small price to pay IMO. Bottom line: it’s awesome. I’m carrying it with me everywhere!" —Rebecca

Promising review: "I knew I needed this product when I saw a family member toss one full of Goldfish in their beach bag, and after a bumpy car ride, a walk, and finally settling in the sand, there was no spill. I ordered the set right away. My toddler has no trouble getting snacks out of it, and my floors stay clean. It's a win in my book!" —Antoinette

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.96 (available in two color combos).

And there are LOTS more uses for this than just a beach day!

Promising review: "This wagon is a must have!!!! I love how compact it is when folded up (it also comes with a nice carrying back making it easy to move around!), this feature is important to me as trunk space is limited when packing the family up for a day trip to the beach or park. We found this wagon to be very easy to set up. Simply pull out of the bag and unclip and fold out! Simple as that, its now ready to use!!! I found the cargo area to be large enough to carry all of our items easily, it holds a lot and a good amount of weight, too. The wheels are great quality, easy to pull on pavement, grass even a dirt path. The front wheels swivel making it easy to maneuver. Overall, we are very impressed with the make, quality, and durability of this wagon. We highly recommend it and would purchase it again!" —Jess & Craig

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Elizabeth Lilly is a deputy editorial director with more than a decade of lifestyle journalism spanning a range of subjects under her (tool) belt that includes four and a half years at a home improvement magazine. 

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.