Ooni’s electric pizza oven lets you get the perfect New York slice right in your own kitchen

The electric version of Ooni’s wildly successful series of pizza ovens lets you make incredibly authentic New York and Neapolitan-style pizza pies without needing to build a massive brick oven. The Volt 12 is a compact, kitchen-and-outdoor-friendly oven that reaches ripping temperatures of up to 850°F (450°C), allowing you to bake the perfect pizza in under 90 seconds, just like your favorite pizzeria.

Unlike Ooni’s other pizza ovens, the Volt doesn’t need firewood or gas to heat up. This upgrade to electrical heating significantly reduces the pizza oven’s overall footprint, allowing it to be as compact as the Volt 12 is. About as wide and deep as your regular oven (but half as tall, given how pizzas are usually flat), the Volt 12 sits anywhere inside or outside your house. Coils on the top and bottom of the oven let it heat up to the high temperatures required to rapidly cook pizza dough, giving them a great crust on the outside but keeping them soft and pillowy on the inside, and a 13-inch cordierite baking stone gives your pizza its signature browned base – a feature that any chef will tell you is the difference between a decent and a legendary pizza. And no, we’re not getting into the whole pineapple-on-pizza debate here.

Designer: Ooni

The Volt 12 captivates you with its slick design that fits an entire pizzeria into its tiny, 10-inch-tall frame. The Volt 12 comes with an incredibly sleek powder-coated outer surface, and a triple-paned borosilicate glass door that retains heat within the oven, but gives you a clear picture of what’s inside so you don’t ever accidentally burn your crust. A 13-inch stone on the inside is the perfect size for a nice 12-inch pizza, which you can cook in a variety of styles, thanks to the Volt 12’s intuitive set of controls.

The Volt 12 comes with three knobs, one for timing, another for temperature, and a third to toggle the power between the lower and upper coils. Combined, the three controls give you the ability to make more than just your conventional pizza. The Volt 12 lets you cook other styles too, including thin-crusts, deep-dishes, Detroit-style pizzas, garlic breads, and the occasional focaccia. Heck, you can use the pizza oven to grill veggies, roast steaks, and even make desserts. The Volt 12 heats up to its highest temperatures in under 20 minutes, making it faster than conventional pizza ovens that take time to get to temp, and after 45 minutes of inactivity, the Volt 12 will automatically switch off to help save electricity.

The all-electric Volt 12 may just be Ooni’s first clean-energy pizza oven. Given that it can plug into a power outlet, the Volt is suddenly a perfect pick for the indoors, offering a major deviation from other gas and wood-powered ovens that can only be used outdoors or in large, ventilated spaces. The Ooni Volt fits any standard kitchen countertop, and given its compact size, can even be carried around, letting you set up your portable pizzeria anywhere you go… because it’s always pizza-o’clock somewhere!

The post Ooni’s electric pizza oven lets you get the perfect New York slice right in your own kitchen first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ooni’s Dual-Sided ‘Grizzler’ Plate works equally well for grilling hamburgers or sizzling veggies

A grill and a flat-top, built right into one design!

Meet the Grizzler. If you haven’t figured out already, this little bad-boy is a literal and verbal mashup of a griller and a sizzler. It effectively replaces a grilling rack as well as a flat-top, letting you make steaks, smash-burgers, and even a mean stir-fry. Designed by Ooni (the folks who make some of the best pizza ovens us regular folks can buy) the Dual Sided Grizzler can be used in a regular oven or even on a stovetop, but it’s best paired with Ooni’s pizza ovens. The folks at Ooni realized that a lot of people weren’t using their pizza ovens to make anything apart from pizzas… so they decided to expand their accessory arsenal to unlock their oven’s true potential. The Dual-Sided Grizzler, as its name suggests, comes with two sides – a flat side that’s ideal for bread, veggies, and even patties, and an undulating side that resembles a grill rack, perfect for steaks, chicken, kebabs, and anything else you want those beautiful sear lines on.

Designer: Ooni

Click Here to Buy Now

The Dual-Sided Grizzler comes made from cast iron, which aside from having great health benefits, also has the ability to turn super hot, cooking food in a jiffy. Each Grizzler comes with two detachable gripping handles that lock into the grizzler when you want to carry it or maneuver it around, along with a wooden base to rest the plate on when it’s just out of the oven.

Using the Dual-Sided Grizzler is fun even if you don’t have an Ooni pizza oven. The grill plate measures 14.5″ by 12.9″ and can fit into a large enough oven. You can even put the Grizzler directly above your stovetop if you want to make a few smashburgers and firing up a pizza oven feels like overkill. The Dual-Sided Grizzler also lets you do other stuff like make pancakes, eggs, taco and fajita fillings, and anything else you’d otherwise use a grill or a flat-top for. Plus, since it’s made from cast iron, it naturally becomes non-stick the more you use it, and can last practically forever!

Click Here to Buy Now

The post Ooni’s Dual-Sided ‘Grizzler’ Plate works equally well for grilling hamburgers or sizzling veggies first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top modern gifts for people who love great design – YD Holiday Gift Guide 2021

We took the thinking and planning out of gift-giving so you don’t have to worry about what to buy for yourself or for a loved one this holiday season! Here’s a list of great home, kitchen, and lifestyle products to spark joy in your life and the lives of the people around you. The one thing that’s common across all of them? The fact that they’re clever and innovative products that get the stamp of approval from the design-elves at the YD headquarters.

Be sure to snag some of these products while they’re around (and on discount), or share them with a friend/relative/partner if you want to give them hints!


Air6+ Air Purifier by YFLife

The AIR6Plus purifier by YFLife is about the size of a smart speaker and can be placed anywhere within the house… yet within it is air purifying technology so advanced, it’s even used by NASA. Referred to as photocatalytic oxidation or PCO, this technology obliterates any kind of germ or organic compound, turning it into CO2 and water. The technology would normally sound like overkill for using inside our homes on planet earth, but considering deteriorating air quality, the presence of pathogens, and a whole host of other organic compounds (smoke even) … it actually makes for a rather advanced air purifier that gives you the cleanest breathable air possible. Operating with a simple touch of a button, the AIR6Plus comes with 3 fan modes, and can sanitize the air down to 0.001 micrometers within a space of 360 sqft without generating any sound or even any waste… and with a ridiculously energy-efficient power consumption of 13W (that’s about as much as an LED bulb). Grab one for a YD-special discount below!
Click Here to Buy Now. 15% Discount Code YankoHolidays15

Nanopresso Handheld Espresso Maker by Wacaco

An espresso-maker that’s smaller than a Starbucks cup, the Nanopresso from Wacaco is designed to give you the most luxuriously rich and crema-laden coffee wherever you go. Just load hot water into the Nanopresso, pack coffee grounds into the pod (or use a Nespresso pod of your own), and the Nanopresso’s custom-designed pumping system can generate a whopping 18 bars (261 PSI) of pressure, pushing the hot water right through the tightly packed coffee grounds to produce up to 80ml (or two shots) of pure concentrated espresso. The Nanopresso also comes with a cup to dispense your fresh coffee in, and requires no electricity to use, making it perfect both at home or even outdoors. Once you’re caffeinated for the day, the Nanopresso is easy to clean, and even comes with a nifty EVA foam case to carry it around in!
Click Here to Buy Now

Koda 12 Compact Pizza Oven by Ooni

Imagine never having to stand for hours outside Lucali’s to get some crazy good Neapolitan-style pizza. Or rather, imagine being able to make that pizza right at home! That’s what the Koda by Ooni promises, with its ridiculously compact design that can frankly sit on most outdoor tabletops, letting you turn any table into an instant pizzeria. The Koda 12 is small enough to make a 12-inch pizza or calzone, and comes with a foldable design that you can flat-pack and carry home with you once you’re done (and once the pizza oven’s cooled down, obviously). The compact little gas-powered oven takes mere minutes to set up, and can heat up to ripping dough-baking temperatures in just 15 minutes. Use it to make pizzas, breads, babkas, steaks, or even grill veggies!
Click Here to Buy Now

Nanoleaf Shapes Modular Wall Lights by Nanoleaf

The year is 2021 and wallpaper has just been rendered obsolete. Meet the Nanoleaf Shapes, a series of slim, smart LED panels that come in geometric shapes and can be connected to one another to create a dynamic work of art on your walls. The modular panels can be used to create shapes, patterns, textures, even text, and they add a touch of color to spaces when off, but completely transform the ambiance of a room when switched on! The smart LED panels work via touch, and can instantly be transformed into an interactive installation that changes hues when you touch any of the panels. Alternatively, they can connect to your smart speaker and change colors to the rhythm of the music you play, or better still, hook them to your television and activate Match Mode, which lets the Nanoleaf panels light up to match the colors on your TV screen, creating an immersive experience that’s nonpareil!
Click Here to Buy Now

Bradley Element Tactile Wristwatch by Eone

Easily one of the most iconic watches of modern time, the Bradley watch from Eone comes with a spectacular design that’s backed by an even more incredible story. Named after former naval officer and Paralympic Gold medalist Bradley Snyder, the watch hopes to champion inclusive design by being a timepiece that you can read not just with your eyes, but with your hands too. The watch hopes to celebrate the brave legacy of officer Bradley, who lost his vision while diffusing bombs during his time stationed in Afghanistan. Championing Bradley’s no-can-do attitude, the watch features two ball-bearings that magnetically travel around the timepiece’s face to read the time (one bearing on the front tells the minutes, and another on the rim tells the hours). The wearer can simply run their finger across the watch to feel for the bearings and get an immediate sense of what the time is. If the bearings shift position while you touch them, they can slide immediately back thanks to the underlying magnets… which make the award-winning tactile timepiece double up as a nifty toy too!
Click Here to Buy Now

Millo Wireless Blender by Millo

Designed like something out of Apple’s or Dyson’s design studio, the Millo is a smart, sophisticated, and silent blender, that makes 4x lesser noise than your conventional blender, generates twice as less heat, and 2x more energy efficient. Moreover, using it is bafflingly futuristic. Just load your smoothie ingredients into the Millo, screw the top on, and rest it inverted on the base… and just like a phone starts charging the moment you rest it on a wireless-charging surface, the Millo begins whirring and blitzing all your ingredients into a fine smoothie. You can control the Millo’s intensity by sliding your finger around the rim of the base, as lights under the surface come to life, letting you see what power you’re running the blender at. When you’re done, lift the blender up and the blade magically stops spinning. It’s a sight to absolutely admire! Yes, this blender is everything Steve Jobs would love. It’s sleek, wireless, quiet, and removes any ugly mechanical details that would blemish the blender’s pristine design. Oh, and the base is made out of Aluminium too!
Click Here to Buy Now

ZenBeam Latte L1 Portable Projector by ASUS

Rather adorably named the Latte, this coffee-glass-shaped device from ASUS is actually a portable projector, capable of delivering 720p content while also functioning as a speaker-system. The ZenBeam Latte blends 720p HD projection and Harman/Kardon audio performance into a compact, lightweight, and ultra-portable design that’s similar in size, shape, and weight to a grande cup of coffee. The tiny projector can project screens measuring up to 120-inches in size, and works seamlessly with iOS and Android devices. Go ahead and Netflix & Chill in style!
Click Here to Buy Now

Levitating Smart Moon Lamp by Gingko

Dim the lights and switch the Gingko Smart Moon Lamp on and it quite literally looks like you’ve got a supermoon inside your home! Having gone certifiably viral on TikTok, its gravity-defying levitating design completes the illusion, creating a pretty remarkable-looking prop that’s great for decor as well as photography! The floating moon comes 3D printed from translucent PLA, complete with craters and undulating surface details to make it look like the real thing, and it floats on its base too, gently rotating as a planetary object would. 140mm (5.5 inches) in diameter, the moon floats on a wooden base made of dark walnut or light ash wood, suspended in place by a strong rare-earth magnet. It comes with built-in LEDs that give the moon its signature glow, with 3 light temperatures to choose from – warm white (3500k) and white (5000k), and a special yellow warm (2700k) for that rare blood moon effect! Each Smart Moon Lamp comes with its base and a 12V- 1A AD adapter to power the entire experience. Plus, Gingko offers a cool 2-year warranty that should quite literally send you ‘over the moon!’
Click Here to Buy Now

The post Top modern gifts for people who love great design – YD Holiday Gift Guide 2021 first appeared on Yanko Design.

The best outdoor gear for the fall

The weather has started to get cooler, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to head indoors for winter just yet. There’s ample time to enjoy the backyard, porch or balcony before the first snowfall. We’ve rounded up the best outdoor gear for cooking, relaxing and imbibing this fall, from a pizza oven, to a uniquely designed fire pit and a smart outlet for your outdoor lighting.

Solo Stove Pi

Solo Stove Pi
Solo Stove

Ooni may be the biggest name in at-home pizza ovens these days, and rightfully so: Those products produce outstanding results. If you’re looking for an alternative, fire pit maker Solo Stove has entered the pizza chat. With the Pi, the company has built a dual fuel option (gas burner sold separately) with a stone cooking surface for restaurant quality pizzas on your deck or patio. The Demi-Dome construction and wide opening gives you easy access to launch and rotate pies with ease. Plus, the Pi is made of stainless steel just like Solo Stove’s fire pits so it should last a good long while. Lastly, the company also offers a range of cooking accessories and supplies, including a Neapolitan pizza box with dough, sauce, whole-milk mozz and pepperoni. I’d highly recommend the stand, which can be easily rolled out as needed.

Buy Pi at Solo Stove - $400

Traeger Timberline (2022)

Traeger Timberline (2022)
Traeger Grills

Traeger completely redesigned its Timberline pellet grills earlier this year, turning them into a full-on outdoor kitchen with the addition of a built-in induction side burner. The company’s changes touch every aspect of the grills, from making assembly and cleaning much easier to creating a more efficient cooking chamber. The new Timberline grills also have an integrated rail system on three sides to accommodate a range of accessories and the new models work with Meater+ wireless food probes (Traeger bought Meater in 2021). Just like before, you can trust these grills with everything from high-heat searing to low-and-slow smoking, and you can monitor all of it on your phone from a comfy seat.

Buy Timberline grills at Traeger - $3,500

Weber Genesis EPX-335

Weber Genesis (2022)
Weber

After initially debuting its smart grilling tech on a standalone device and pellet grills, Weber brought its Weber Connect platform to gas grills. The company has a number of new connected models for 2022 starting at $1,179, but the pricier EPX-335 adds conveniences like an LED-lit grill surface and control knob lighting. This three-burner model has enough cooking space for 20 burgers, a dedicated sear zone for putting the final touches on steaks and a side burner for preparing sauces or sides. The EPX-335 works with Weber’s Crafted line of accessories and ships with a frame kit needed to accommodate some of them. There’s also extra storage space where you can stash those extra items if you choose to purchase them.

Buy Genesis EPX-335 at Weber - $1,700

Thermoworks Thermapen One

ThermoWorks Thermapen One cooking thermometer
ThermoWorks

The Thermapen is the grilling tool I use most often. It’s handy for making sure I’m not serving undercooked chicken or overcooking a pricey steak I’ve had in the sous vide for hours. It’s also great to have in the kitchen to instantly check temps of things like bread. Thermoworks unveiled the successor to its wildly popular Thermapen Mk4 earlier this year with the Thermapen One. The device is super fast, giving you a reading in one second. It’s also more accurate and has a brighter display than the previous model. The screen automatically rotates depending on how you hold it, plus an auto-wake and sleep feature and IP67 rating keep things running smoothly.

Buy ThermaPen One at ThermoWorks - $99

Meater Plus probe thermometer

Meater Plus probe thermometer
Meater

I’ll admit it: when I first saw Meater’s wireless food probes I was skeptical that they would work well. The Meater Plus has all of the convenience of the company’s original wireless probe, but with extended Bluetooth range. Each one has two sensors, so it can monitor both internal food temperature and the ambient temp of your grill. All of the info is sent to the company’s app where you can set target temperature, get estimated completion times and follow step-by-step directions if you need them. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about routing wires since the Meater Plus is completely wireless and stays out of your way. Not having to fight food probe cords is a grilling innovation I’m sure a lot of people can get behind.

Buy Meater Plus at Amazon - $100

Thermacell E-55

Thermacell E-55
Thermacell

In 2020, the Thermacell Patio Shield kept us mosquito-free for socially distanced outdoor activities. But the company’s newer E-55 offers a 20-foot coverage area and is fully rechargeable. This slightly larger unit runs on a Li-Ion battery instead of burning fuel to keep the biting bugs at bay for up to 12 hours. If you need more protection for you and the fam, you can buy refills for up to 40 hours of use. Also, like other Thermacell products, the E-55 doesn’t give off any odor, so you’ll barely notice it’s there.

Buy Thermacell E-55 at Amazon - $40

Thermacell LIV

Thermacell's Liv smart mosquito repellent system
Thermacell

If you’re looking for a much more robust and permanent remedy for your mosquito woes, Thermacell also sells a fixed system called LIV. The setup works like Philips Hue, but for bugs. Repellers connect to a base station via cables and then you can connect other repellers to each other to create a system that’s as large as you need it (up to five). That controller then connects to your home WiFi so you can monitor everything from your phone. Thermacell says each LIV repeller can protect a 20-foot radius and the cartridge inside will last for up to 40 hours. The company sells three-, four- and five-unit setups starting at $699. That’s certainly not cheap, but the LIV system does over the same mosquito protection I’ve enjoyed on the smaller products like the E-55.

Shop LIV Collection at Thermacell

Solo Stove 2.0 firepits

A Solo Stove fire pit sitting on grass next to fire wood and an American flag at a backyard party.
Solo Stove

As the temperatures drop, a fire pit is a cozy place to spend your time. However, most of the cheap options you’ll find at your local big box store aren’t really designed to channel smoke away from you or to maximize airflow. Solo Stove’s stainless steel fire pits do both, creating a roaring fire that won’t smoke you out. Each of the three models, ranging from $200 to $440, are portable(ish) and burn whatever variety of wood you happen to have. I’ve been testing the Bonfire, the medium-sized option, and the addition of the removable base plate and ash pan makes cleanup a lot easier (all 2.0 models have this). While you can certainly set these right on the ground or a concrete patio, I highly recommend splurging for a stand and a weather-proof cover which adds around $100 to the Bonfire model.

Shop fire pits at Solo Stove

TP-Link Kasa outdoor smart plug and dimmer

TP-Link Kasa outdoor smart plug and dimmer
TP-Link

I tested the Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug for our first backyard guide and I was immediately hooked. TP-Link recently announced a new model of the smart plug in addition to a dimmable single-outlet version. Both are waterproof and plug into your existing outside outlet to give you one or two spots for lights and other gear. With the two-plug option, you can control each one independently. The Kasa app allows you to set a schedule, timer, runtime and more for each plug, so you can automate when those string lights over the deck turn on. Additionally, they work with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you don’t even need to pick up your phone most of the time. Plus, 300 feet of WiFi range means you shouldn’t have trouble connecting these to your home network for use.

Buy Kasa outdoor smart plug + dimmer at Amazon - $25

Brumate Toddy and Toddy XL

Brumate Toddy
Brumate

I’ve been a big fan of Brumate’s beverageware since I bought myself a Hopsulator Trio for a beach vacation a few years ago. I still use it all the time, during both warm and cool months. However, when the temperatures begin to dip, I tend to reach for hot beverages more often, so Brumate’s Toddy insulated mug is a better option. The cup works well to keep drinks hot or cold and the trademark feature is the spill-proof lid. That thing has saved me from massive cleanup more times than I can count. The regular Toddy can hold 16 ounces while the Toddy XL doubles the capacity to 32 ounces.

Shop Toddy collection at Brumate

Sony SRS-XB13

Sony SRS-XB13
Sony

When you need tunes outside, whether that’s at home or on the go, Sony’s tiny XB13 speaker is a great option. Its small size makes it insanely portable, but it still manages big sound thanks to Sony's Extra Bass feature and Sound Diffusion Processor. It’s rated IP67 for dust- and water-proofing so taking it outside shouldn’t incite anxiety. What’s more, it has a UV coating for protection from the sun. You can use the XB13 for hands-free calls and employ two of them at once for a stereo pair. It lasts up to 16 hours on a charge and will only set you back $60.

Buy SRS-XB13 at Amazon - $60

The best outdoor gear for the fall

The weather has started to get cooler, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to head indoors for winter just yet. There’s ample time to enjoy the backyard, porch or balcony before the first snowfall. We’ve rounded up the best outdoor gear for cooking, relaxing and imbibing this fall, from a pizza oven, to a uniquely designed fire pit and a smart outlet for your outdoor lighting.

Solo Stove Pi

Solo Stove Pi
Solo Stove

Ooni may be the biggest name in at-home pizza ovens these days, and rightfully so: Those products produce outstanding results. If you’re looking for an alternative, fire pit maker Solo Stove has entered the pizza chat. With the Pi, the company has built a dual fuel option (gas burner sold separately) with a stone cooking surface for restaurant quality pizzas on your deck or patio. The Demi-Dome construction and wide opening gives you easy access to launch and rotate pies with ease. Plus, the Pi is made of stainless steel just like Solo Stove’s fire pits so it should last a good long while. Lastly, the company also offers a range of cooking accessories and supplies, including a Neapolitan pizza box with dough, sauce, whole-milk mozz and pepperoni. I’d highly recommend the stand, which can be easily rolled out as needed.

Buy Pi at Solo Stove - $400

Traeger Timberline (2022)

Traeger Timberline (2022)
Traeger Grills

Traeger completely redesigned its Timberline pellet grills earlier this year, turning them into a full-on outdoor kitchen with the addition of a built-in induction side burner. The company’s changes touch every aspect of the grills, from making assembly and cleaning much easier to creating a more efficient cooking chamber. The new Timberline grills also have an integrated rail system on three sides to accommodate a range of accessories and the new models work with Meater+ wireless food probes (Traeger bought Meater in 2021). Just like before, you can trust these grills with everything from high-heat searing to low-and-slow smoking, and you can monitor all of it on your phone from a comfy seat.

Buy Timberline grills at Traeger - $3,500

Weber Genesis EPX-335

Weber Genesis (2022)
Weber

After initially debuting its smart grilling tech on a standalone device and pellet grills, Weber brought its Weber Connect platform to gas grills. The company has a number of new connected models for 2022 starting at $1,179, but the pricier EPX-335 adds conveniences like an LED-lit grill surface and control knob lighting. This three-burner model has enough cooking space for 20 burgers, a dedicated sear zone for putting the final touches on steaks and a side burner for preparing sauces or sides. The EPX-335 works with Weber’s Crafted line of accessories and ships with a frame kit needed to accommodate some of them. There’s also extra storage space where you can stash those extra items if you choose to purchase them.

Buy Genesis EPX-335 at Weber - $1,700

Thermoworks Thermapen One

ThermoWorks Thermapen One cooking thermometer
ThermoWorks

The Thermapen is the grilling tool I use most often. It’s handy for making sure I’m not serving undercooked chicken or overcooking a pricey steak I’ve had in the sous vide for hours. It’s also great to have in the kitchen to instantly check temps of things like bread. Thermoworks unveiled the successor to its wildly popular Thermapen Mk4 earlier this year with the Thermapen One. The device is super fast, giving you a reading in one second. It’s also more accurate and has a brighter display than the previous model. The screen automatically rotates depending on how you hold it, plus an auto-wake and sleep feature and IP67 rating keep things running smoothly.

Buy ThermaPen One at ThermoWorks - $99

Meater Plus probe thermometer

Meater Plus probe thermometer
Meater

I’ll admit it: when I first saw Meater’s wireless food probes I was skeptical that they would work well. The Meater Plus has all of the convenience of the company’s original wireless probe, but with extended Bluetooth range. Each one has two sensors, so it can monitor both internal food temperature and the ambient temp of your grill. All of the info is sent to the company’s app where you can set target temperature, get estimated completion times and follow step-by-step directions if you need them. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about routing wires since the Meater Plus is completely wireless and stays out of your way. Not having to fight food probe cords is a grilling innovation I’m sure a lot of people can get behind.

Buy Meater Plus at Amazon - $100

Thermacell E-55

Thermacell E-55
Thermacell

In 2020, the Thermacell Patio Shield kept us mosquito-free for socially distanced outdoor activities. But the company’s newer E-55 offers a 20-foot coverage area and is fully rechargeable. This slightly larger unit runs on a Li-Ion battery instead of burning fuel to keep the biting bugs at bay for up to 12 hours. If you need more protection for you and the fam, you can buy refills for up to 40 hours of use. Also, like other Thermacell products, the E-55 doesn’t give off any odor, so you’ll barely notice it’s there.

Buy Thermacell E-55 at Amazon - $40

Thermacell LIV

Thermacell's Liv smart mosquito repellent system
Thermacell

If you’re looking for a much more robust and permanent remedy for your mosquito woes, Thermacell also sells a fixed system called LIV. The setup works like Philips Hue, but for bugs. Repellers connect to a base station via cables and then you can connect other repellers to each other to create a system that’s as large as you need it (up to five). That controller then connects to your home WiFi so you can monitor everything from your phone. Thermacell says each LIV repeller can protect a 20-foot radius and the cartridge inside will last for up to 40 hours. The company sells three-, four- and five-unit setups starting at $699. That’s certainly not cheap, but the LIV system does over the same mosquito protection I’ve enjoyed on the smaller products like the E-55.

Shop LIV Collection at Thermacell

Solo Stove 2.0 firepits

A Solo Stove fire pit sitting on grass next to fire wood and an American flag at a backyard party.
Solo Stove

As the temperatures drop, a fire pit is a cozy place to spend your time. However, most of the cheap options you’ll find at your local big box store aren’t really designed to channel smoke away from you or to maximize airflow. Solo Stove’s stainless steel fire pits do both, creating a roaring fire that won’t smoke you out. Each of the three models, ranging from $200 to $440, are portable(ish) and burn whatever variety of wood you happen to have. I’ve been testing the Bonfire, the medium-sized option, and the addition of the removable base plate and ash pan makes cleanup a lot easier (all 2.0 models have this). While you can certainly set these right on the ground or a concrete patio, I highly recommend splurging for a stand and a weather-proof cover which adds around $100 to the Bonfire model.

Shop fire pits at Solo Stove

TP-Link Kasa outdoor smart plug and dimmer

TP-Link Kasa outdoor smart plug and dimmer
TP-Link

I tested the Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug for our first backyard guide and I was immediately hooked. TP-Link recently announced a new model of the smart plug in addition to a dimmable single-outlet version. Both are waterproof and plug into your existing outside outlet to give you one or two spots for lights and other gear. With the two-plug option, you can control each one independently. The Kasa app allows you to set a schedule, timer, runtime and more for each plug, so you can automate when those string lights over the deck turn on. Additionally, they work with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you don’t even need to pick up your phone most of the time. Plus, 300 feet of WiFi range means you shouldn’t have trouble connecting these to your home network for use.

Buy Kasa outdoor smart plug + dimmer at Amazon - $25

Brumate Toddy and Toddy XL

Brumate Toddy
Brumate

I’ve been a big fan of Brumate’s beverageware since I bought myself a Hopsulator Trio for a beach vacation a few years ago. I still use it all the time, during both warm and cool months. However, when the temperatures begin to dip, I tend to reach for hot beverages more often, so Brumate’s Toddy insulated mug is a better option. The cup works well to keep drinks hot or cold and the trademark feature is the spill-proof lid. That thing has saved me from massive cleanup more times than I can count. The regular Toddy can hold 16 ounces while the Toddy XL doubles the capacity to 32 ounces.

Shop Toddy collection at Brumate

Sony SRS-XB13

Sony SRS-XB13
Sony

When you need tunes outside, whether that’s at home or on the go, Sony’s tiny XB13 speaker is a great option. Its small size makes it insanely portable, but it still manages big sound thanks to Sony's Extra Bass feature and Sound Diffusion Processor. It’s rated IP67 for dust- and water-proofing so taking it outside shouldn’t incite anxiety. What’s more, it has a UV coating for protection from the sun. You can use the XB13 for hands-free calls and employ two of them at once for a stereo pair. It lasts up to 16 hours on a charge and will only set you back $60.

Buy SRS-XB13 at Amazon - $60

The best outdoor gear for the fall

Fall is finally here. Or fall is already here, depending on your mindset. As the temperatures drop, the great outdoors become more enjoyable -- that is, until the winds of winter set in. To ensure you’re properly equipped for pumpkin spice season, we...