17 Random-But-Useful Finds That Have Totally Saved Our Summers

Turn any cocktail (or mocktail) into a frozen one with these ingenious tumblers. Just pour in your ingredients and freeze. When you're ready to sip, let them thaw for a few minutes, squish the base with your hands to break things up, and enjoy. (Psst: In case you're looking for inspo, try pureed watermelon, a spritz of lime juice and—if you want to make it boozy—a shot of tequila.)

No sleep sweats here! PureWow readers are flocking to this lightweight linen/cotton quilt that one editor swears by for staying cozy (but cool) on warm nights. You can choose from 11 different colors, ranging from mellow neutrals to rich, saturated pine green and espresso brown, that all impart a posh, quiet luxury vibe.

When my husband faced 114-degree heat on a recent trip to Arizona, the Shark ChillPill was a lifesaver—and became the envy of his office. Calling it a portable fan doesn't do it justice; that's just one aspect of the gadget. It's billed as a "three-in-one cooling system" and it delivers. Beyond serving as a ten-speed fan, it has a dry-touch mister that can be used indoors and out (the mist is so fine that it doesn't leave things around you damp) and a cooling plate you can apply directly to your skin for instant relief when you're feeling scorched. (It can reduce your skin temperature by up to 16 degrees, per the brand, and a single charge can last up to 11 hours.)

You may have seen Bogg bags take over TikTok in recent years. They're like the Crocs of bags, with their water-resistant, easy-to-clean EVA material and holes on the sides. That's also what makes this bag so ideal for beach days: It holds its shape, doesn't tip over easily and if it does get sand in it, you can easily dump it out. "I’m never setting off on an outdoor adventure without one again," says senior commerce editor Stephanie Maida, who recommends it for baseball games and summer picnics too. (But notes that it's a bit bulky for a carry-on, so maybe skip it for long-haul vacations.)

If you do spring for a Bogg bag, you may want to throw in this removable topper, which effectively turns the bag into a cup holder and snack tray for your beach, pool and park hangouts.

Any '90s kid will remember being slathered with Avon Skin So Soft before going outdoors. These wipes will bring back the nostalgia, only they're designed to be bug-repellent, featuring Picaridin to keep away mosquitoes and ticks. They're ultra portable, TSA-friendly and don't require spritzing and scrubbing down wriggling kids. Everybody wins.

Take it from PureWow's Editor-in-Chief, Jillian Quint: "A headlamp is the number one thing I need for camping so I can see where I'm going while leaving my hands free. (It's also great for reading in the tent.)" This Lepro style features five light modes—so you can see up to 500 feet away—and it provides up to 30 hours of light per charge, so you're well equipped for a long weekend away.

My toddler thrashes in his sleep like he's attempting to breakdance—and now that he's too big for a pack-and-play, I've needed a low-to-the-ground mattress that doesn't take up a ton of space while traveling. That's where this Target find has been a game-changer: It comes with an electric pump, so it's ready in minutes, and he's genuinely excited to sleep on a racecar. I usually pad it out with a thick, folded blanket on top to make it a bit cushier (and less squeaky), and we all sleep sounder knowing that if he does roll off, it's a couple inches to the floor.

Growing up in Florida, this was a summertime staple in every parent's medicine cabinet. But somewhere between graduating college and moving to the Northeast, it fell off my radar—until I had kids, and pool days turned into achy ears at night. Any time my kids (or I) feel like my ears are clogged, we pop in a few drops of this quick-drying solution and feel sweet relief.

Ever since Isle of Paradise discontinued its Day Dew Facial Mist, I've been looking for an alternative that offers a fine, hydrating mist and subtle, non-streaky or splotchy glow. I've finally found it with Sunnee BAEskin's Sea Mist Tanning Water. It provides a buildable tan while moisturizing, and you can wear it on its own, under makeup or as a setting spray.

Not only does this editor-loved fire pit look stylish and provide heat for chilly summer nights, it also offers a smokeless burn. Quint has had hers for years and raves about how easy it is to use and how well it's held up over time.

Kayaking is a summer bucket list item, but hauling a kayak—and storing it later—can be a pain. That's where this Retrospec number comes in. "I love this inflatable kayak, which folds up to the size of a tent and inflates and comes together in about 15 minutes," Quint says. "And most importantly, it doesn't feel flimsy like other inflatable boats I've tried." (To that last point, it has a 220-pound capacity and is made of 900-Denier puncture-resistant fabric with a heavy-duty Tarpaulin hull for added durability.)

I love a gadget that takes the guesswork out of grilling. I've used a MEATER for years, and it yields consistently reliable results, no matter what's on the barbecue (or skillet). It can handle temps of up to 1,000°F, with built-in WiFi, so you don't have to worry about connectivity issues. This version comes with two probes, so you can monitor multiple dishes at once, and it's air fryer and deep fryer safe.

Silk scarves are making a comeback, though in PureWow SEO Editor Marissa Wu's eyes, they've never gone away. "I LOVE a silk scarf. Because I'm a romantic and want one to tie up my hair so that I can pretend I'm Grace Kelly flying down the French Riviera in To Catch A Thief," she says. "Clementine is my favorite silkwear brand, and they recently launched a collaboration with the NYC Ballet, inspired by the costume archives! I also love it as a handbag embellishment or the trendy scarf top that's making a comeback."

"I'm strictly a no-hot-coffee-in-the-summer person, and this makes at-home cold brew so easy to make in batch for the week," says PureWow Director of Social Strategy Emily Brozyna. (Truly: Pour grounds into the filter, add water and let it steep in your fridge overnight.) Another perk? Brozyna says it's very easy to clean too.

With fine, easily breakable—yet very tangle-prone—hair, I have tried just about every detangler and leave-in conditioner under the sun. And I will continually spring for this hexagon bottle, because it's that good. Post-pool or beach, it lets me comb through my hair with ease, adding shine without weighing it down. (It doesn't hurt that the woody, violet-meets-musk-meets-bergamot scent is incredible too.)

OK, so you don't live anywhere near a beach, but you want that fresh-linen-and-salt-air feeling at home. Balmy Breeze is the scent to choose—it's a blend of palo santo and coconut that's somewhat smoky and lightly tropical, not piña colada-sweet. The raffia holster just adds to the beachy aesthetic, and the diffuser sticks ensure the fragrance slowly wafts through the room, all day every day.