The Best Outdoor Tech of 2024

Living in Virginia means I have cool winters and hot summers. My backyard is positioned just right so the wind doesn’t hit it, making the summer a suffocating, needed breeze. The Shark FlexBreeze has been a godsend since it hit the market because it provides wireless cooling directly to me and my family. The battery charges quickly and lasts for hours, and if you’re not using the sprayer you can plug it in to keep it powered. Oh, by the way, it also has a sir, which is great if you don’t mind the humidity. And for a party trick, the Shark can be broken down into a shorter table fan, making it a truly multi-functional product.

This large solar light has an elegant design that screws into your deck near your pool or walkway to provide a beautiful glow all night long. Or you could do what I did and use it in place of a real flame fire pit. Soft, warm light creates the same ambience as a fire pit without adding heat to the surrounding area.
My family and I love hanging out in the yard in the summer, but with temperatures in the mid-80s, it’s too hot for a real fire. The Skye from Mod Lighting is a good compromise.

There are two problems with most propane patio heaters: They’re ugly, and they heat from the top. The East Oak Patio Heater features a cool flame effect running through the center that looks great and will help keep you and your friends warm. A regular heater dumps heat onto your tall friend’s head, but this heater moves the heat away so you can enjoy the 48,000 BTUs it emits, enough to heat a 15-foot-diameter space.

It’s easily the most luxurious thing on this list, but if you spend hours in the backyard like we do, it’s well worth it to have a TV that’s built to last. This product from Sylvox is waterproof, repels rain and pool splash, works in freezing temperatures and hot weather, and is smart, too.

Google TV integration makes the whole TV come alive, giving you access to all your favorite apps. The volume is decent, and while it’s nothing to write home about, the screen is very bright. Even on the brightest day, I can watch Miraculous Ladybug with my daughter without any issues.

Over the past two years, we’ve collected coolers at a variety of price points, from $10 disposable models to $300 rotomolded plastic coolers. The Igloo MaxCold isn’t the best performer, but it’s in the top five, ahead of coolers costing over $200. If you want to spend a little money, Cabela’s, Orca, and Yeti all have rotomolded designs that keep the contents colder for longer, but the slim difference between those models and this $100-ish Igloo MaxCold makes it hard to justify It makes sense to spend more.

I think we can all agree that roasting marshmallows over a fire pit is a time-tested good time. But what if we want to take it to the next level? This cowboy fire pit from Pit Boss lets you cook hot dogs, burgers, and chicken drumsticks over a full open flame, just like hanging out in the Wild West.

The entire fire pit is very sturdy and although designed for pellets, it can also burn logs with ease. It’s not as smokeless as some other fire pits we’ve tested, but when cooking food over a flame, you want some smoke to add flavor and ambience. If you want more than just sitting around the fire eating hot dogs, there are some great accessories that can cook just about anything you want – even pizza.

It’s great to have a solar generator with you when you go somewhere. Recently, I took my family to a local lake and by setting up the Ecoflow River and its solar panels, I was able to charge all of our devices and even help out some of our lakeside neighbors. I can also power the pumps for all the inflatables on the beach!

Even near my home, power stations are useful. I set it up at the other end of the yard, complete with lights and seating, to allow people to escape the noise and keep their phones charged.

While many Bluetooth speakers have poor bass reproduction, Treblab’s HD-Force sounds deep and rich at any volume. The battery will last the duration of any outdoor party, and the flashing lights on top add to the party atmosphere at night.

The HD-Force also has an IPX6 waterproof rating, which means it can withstand prolonged periods of high-pressure water or splashing water. You won’t want to drop it in the pool, but it can handle any splash or sprinkler you might want.

Outdoor lighting can be very boring, but it doesn’t have to be. These smart lights from Govee are designed to be fixed in the grass along the path, and they do a great job of highlighting your path in a variety of colors. However, I use them slightly differently.

I used command strips to attach them to the balcony railing. Now, because they are controlled by your phone and dance to music, I can watch a great light show when I have friends over for a party.