The warm weather is back from its winter hibernation, which means we’re back with a guide to the essential gear you’ll want this summer. It’s the season of backyard hangs, beach hangs, and live music excursions, so we’ve gathered together some must-have items you’ll want with you all summer long.
Whether you’re looking for the best in audio, the festival essentials, or the envy-inducing tech, this list has something for everyone. Check out the complete guide below.
And of course, you can find even more summer fun at the Consequence Shop, including our CBD lines like Flower Lab, Rome & Duddy’s Good Times (with select items on BOGO sale now!), and GWAR’s Bud of Gods, including the freshly launched New Dank Ages collection. You can also snag a range of apparel and accessories in our Summer and Festival merch collections.
Outdoor Essentials
Polaroid Music Players ($59.99 – $289.99):
The iconic camera company Polaroid has been making moves in the portable bluetooth speaker space. With their collection of four speakers, ranging from budget-friendly hand-helds to beefy and loud portables, Polaroid’s Music Players bring style to sound.
Each speaker provides clean, solid audio, but in a crowded product space, what truly makes Polaroid’s audio system special is the aesthetic, a colorful retro-futuristic vibe with a kindercore bend. Most portable speakers are black or white blocks, but the Polaroid Music Players are sleek and colorful, with quality design choices like the analog control wheel and 8×8 dot-matrix display. With the additions of hand straps, carabiners, and handles, they’re ready to bring the tunes wherever you happen to be headed.
Polaroid has also come up with a proprietary music app for access to Polaroid Radio, currently featuring five genre-spanning, ad-free stations. You can autolaunch the app on your phone by touching the players’ NFC tag, and it will allow you to control any app’s playback via the speaker’s own buttons and wheel. You can even “like” radio songs on either device to keep track of your favorite new discoveries in Polaroid Radio..
Each edition of the speaker looks and sounds fantastic, so your choice really comes down to how much you think size matters. You could go with the clip-on P1 ($59.99), the mid-sized P2 ($129.99), the robust P3 ($189.99), or the full-package of the P4 ($289.99). No matter your decision, you can’t go wrong, and you can see the full Polaroid Music collection here, where the company is also running limited-time deals and offers (up to 33% off!).
WEKAPO Inflatable Lounger ($38.95):
There’s a reason WEKAPO’s inflatable lounger is the best selling air sofa on Amazon. Not only is it easy to inflate by using the wind or running to catch the air (or fan, air bump, or even leaf blower), but the unique anti-deflation technology ensures up to 6 hours inflation. There’s also the unique pillow headrest, adding an extra level of comfort you won’t see on imitators. The lounger folds up into an easy-to-carry pouch, and a pair of pockets on the side give you quick-access storage options. Great for the festival field, beach, or pool-side, get yours in a variety of colors at Amazon.
The Ukiah Tailgater II ($599.99):
We can’t lie, we still love the The Ukiah Tailgater II. Thanks to the patented “reactive flame technology” and Beat to Music Mode, the flames dance to whatever’s playing through the built-in Bluetooth sound system, creating a truly hypnotic party centerpiece. Plus, with a killer 12V, 100 watt sound system with two 3.5-inch marine grade speakers and a subwoofer, it actually sounds as great as it looks.
Just portable enough for your next camping or tailgating hang, the Ukiah’s rugged, weather-resistant, powder-coated steel body is surprisingly light. You can even add a cast iron, double-sided griddle and grill cooktop accessory to make it a perfect camping stove. Pick one up (and check out their variety of other models, including fire only, pure audio, and tabletop designs) via Ukiah’s official site.
Tarpestry Water-Resistant Outdoor Blanket ($154-$198):
The visual appeal and comfort of a cotton tapestry, the versatility of a tarp. That’s Tarpestry’s product mission in a nutshell, leading to the perfect “blanket” for music festivals, camping, or beach trips. With beautiful, silk-screened designs printed by hand onto 100% pre-shrunk cotton, these things look great; but with the water repellent and UV resistant polyester backside, they also keep you safe from damp grass or other surfaces. (Just don’t toss it on a puddle and not expect to get wet, obviously.)
Measuring 7.5′ x 4.5′, they’re large enough for two (laying down) to six (sitting) people, and the various grommet arrangements let you keep it secure on the ground or use it as a pup-tent. There’s also a velcro pocket for additional storage. Sure to last longer and be more useful than your typical tapestry, you can check out Tarpestry’s Classic collection here, or the fade-resistant Epic collection here.
YETI Roadie Wheeled Cooler ($250-$500):
Whether you’re tailgating all day at a game or heading to your favorite artist’s stadium show, Yeti has made it easy to bring all your party essentials with you in the Roadie Wheeled Cooler. The smaller footprint and vertical design makes it easier to transport than your typical cooler while allowing for more versatile packing options. Rugged wheels and a periscoping handle mean you won’t struggle to move it to and from your vehicle. Get it in 24-inch, 48-inch, or the absolutely beastly 60-inch size.
Live Music Essentials
$25 All-In Concert Tickets for Concert Week
National Concert Week
Summer is the season of live music, with outdoor venues opened wide and artists mapping out massive tours. With so many shows to choose from, Live Nation is helping fill your concert calendar without emptying your wallet with its annual Concert Week $25 all-in tickets promo. From May 10th-16th, over 3,800 shows will be on sale for just $25 flat. Just some of the tours available during the sale include Fleet Foxes, Fall Out Boy, Janet Jackson, Beck and Phoenix, LL Cool J, The National, My Morning Jacket, Wu-Tang Clan and Nas, Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra, The All-American Rejects, Danny Elfman, and literally hundreds more.
Tickets go on sale May 10th and you can see the full list of qualifying events here.
Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs ($26.95):
There’s nothing better than enjoying live music outside. Whether you’re out on a bar patio listening to local bands, standing in a giant field watching a megastar with thousands of other fans, or filling the aisles of your favorite amphitheater, summer is built for live music.
So let’s make sure your ears can tolerate how loud all those good times can be. Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs are the perfect concert companion. More comfortable than disposable foam earplugs and specifically designed to lower the volume without turning down the sound quality, these discrete earplugs come in three sizes. Sure to feel good, keep the sound clear, and stay plugged in no matter how hard you headbang, you can grab yours via Amazon.
Fujifilm — Mini Link 2 ($99.95, $149.99 for kit):
So you’re at the show of the summer and you’ve shot dozens of photos and captured all those videos on your cellphone. Now what? Those images and clips just live in your photo gallery, maybe to be shared once and then long forgotten. Wouldn’t it be great to have a physical keepsake of all those fond memories?
That’s where the Instax Mini Link 2 comes in. This compact Bluetooth printer lets you print physical photos right from your phone. The companion app even lets you get creative by adding frames, stickers, emojis, and even your own drawings to your prints. Plus, there’s the INSTAXAir Function, letting you draw bubbles, petals, neon, glitter, and spray paint in the air by using the Mini Link 2 – and even capture the video of your drawing and have it play back from a QR code printed on the image. Get it in white, pink, or blue via Amazon, or get the kit that includes 40 photo sheets and a carrying case.
Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger ($25.99):
We’ve all had that experience: After a full festival day, your favorite headliner is about to take the stage. You pull out your phone to get ready to snap that entrance shot and… your battery’s dead. That’s why you need to battery pack like the Anker PowerCore 10000. While even the Ultra-Compact version is larger than your standard, cheap “lipstick” cylinder charger, the extra weight is worth it for the multiple charges it holds. A life-saving accessory that easily fits into your fanny pack or bag, it’s available in multiple colors over on Amazon.
