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Want to properly equip yourself for an epic season? Here’s a look at gear that promotes sustainability, giving back and is also pretty awesome.
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UMMER IS HERE. That means road trips, days at the beach, hanging by
the pool and spending time enjoying the long days under the sun, soaking in the wonders of creation. It also means looking pretty sweet on Instagram in your brand-new shades. In other words, it’s a good time to restock on the gear you’ll need to take your summer memory-making to the next level. This year, not only have we tracked down the best books to round out your summer reading list (what’s a day at the beach without a good book in your bag?), but we’ve also curated the apparel, electronics, outdoor equipment and quality gear that does more than just look great and function well. These items help fund meaningful causes, support sustainability and represent high-end craftsmanship and cutting-edge design. From bamboo skateboards to hammocks made by women in developing countries, here are the essentials to an unforgettable summer:
The Merry Spinster Mallory Ortberg ( I V P B O O K S)
Capital Sunglasses The ultimate summer accessory also supports young entrepreneurs: 10 percent of every sale goes into a fund for young people starting businesses. $95-$145 CAPITALEYEWEAR.COM
Bamboo Skateboards Looking for another way to get around town? Pick up a longboard from Bamboo Skateboards. Not only is longboarding an easier alternative to skating, the bamboo used for these is actually way more environmentally sound than the usual maple decks.
SWIMS Loafers These water-friendly shoes have an emphasis on comfort, and the company provides ethical, transparent sourcing.
$42.50
$160
BAMBOOSKATEBOARDS.COM
SWIMS.COM
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Ortberg applies her dynamite wit and sly observations about millennial culture to well-known fairy tales, and the result is a laugh-out-loud funny collection of familiar short stories given endlessly droll twists. The book is like an expanded version of “Children’s Stories Made Horrific,” a fan-favorite column from her now-defunct website, The Toast. But there are plenty of writers doing the “darker” or more “woke” version of fairy tales. What makes Ortberg’s work stand out? Unlike many, she’s not trying to fix the old stories but trying to tease out what’s already there—things we normally miss. And it turns out there are deep, universal questions in those stories. And there’s a ton to laugh at at the same time.
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I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
SLXTREME Case
Thousands Bike Helmets
These high-tech cases for your phone are dirt-resistant, waterproof and have a solar panel. They can also save you from having to buy a new phone every few months.
These are cycling helmets you’ll actually want to wear. And the eco-friendly company incorporates a Carbon Offset Program into the production process.
$99-129
$85-95
Michelle McNamara ( H A R P E R C O L L I N S)
True-crime writer Michelle McNamara passed away before she got to see the Golden State Killer apprehended, but her writing was a key part in finally identifying one of America’s most notorious and elusive serial killers. Be honest: There’s something engrossing about a crime drama, hence the success of shows like Law & Order. But in McNamara’s book, the cases are real. And the way she writes about the people left in the killer’s wake is what makes her work most compelling—that and her decadelong pursuit of solving the mystery. In the book, she imagines her work turning the tables on the criminal: sneaking up on him to deliver him to justice, just as he sneaked up on his victims to deliver death. And knowing that even though she didn’t get to see it, her work accomplished that, makes the
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MoviePass
Bearbottom Swim Trunks
MoviePass is as good as you’ve heard: unlimited trips to your local movie theater for one low monthly fee. Catch up on every summer blockbuster for a fraction of the cost.
Bearbottom shorts aren’t just inexpensive, fun and appealingly preppy. Every time someone buys a pair, a child in need gets a pair.
$9.95/month
$30
MOVIEPASS.COM
Corkcicle Water Bottle Not only does this line of high-end water bottles prevent you from buying a ton of disposable plastic ones, but Corkcicle donates a percentage of sales to a nonprofit that provides clean water. $19.95-$49.95
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Beach’d Ethical Beach Tote
Beach’d specializes in versatile, durable, lightweight, heatproof bags that are great for a beach day or travel. $98 BEACHDSHOP.COM
A Pouch Couch
Olli’s Eco Fair Trade Sandals
Inflatable chairs are a pain and take forever to inflate. The pouch couch achieves the impossible: an easily transportable couch that inflates on its own. Trust us, you’ll never go back.
Keep your toes free and the soles of your feet clean at the beach with these biodegradable flip-flops made from chemical-free, natural rubber.
$39.99
$29
POUCHCOUCH.COM
OLLIWORLD.COM
An American Marriage Tayari Jones (A L G O N Q U I N )
A pair of newlyweds, Celestial and Roy, find their vision of the future upended when Roy is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, and that’s just the start of Jones’ deeply felt exploration of independence, intimacy and the ways the criminal justice system touches relationships. When Roy is unexpectedly released from prison early, he finds Celestial’s love has waned and that she’s been spending a lot of time with one of their mutual friends. Aren’t relationships fun? In this gripping novel, they sure are.
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A Higher Loyalty James Comey ( M A C M I L L A N P U B L I S H E R S)
Political writing—well, political everything—is mostly bad these days, but Comey is a gifted wordsmith and his recounting of his time working with, and sometimes against, President Donald Trump’s administration is enlightening, regardless of your politics.
Firewire Surf
STATE Backpacks For every one of these killer-looking backpacks you buy, STATE donates one to a child in need, and they come loaded with helpful goods for the kids. Pack for your next bike day or beach trip and feel good doing it.
This surfboard company veers away from typical chem-based boards for something with a smaller impact on the environment and partners with a lot of ocean-centric humanitarian organizations.
$90-165
$350 - $900
STATEBAGS.COM
FIREWIRESURFBOARDS.COM
Yellow Leaf Hammocks
Made with sustainable materials by women in developing nations, Yellow Leaf Hammocks can turn your backyard into an island getaway. And the “triple-weave” construction means they won’t fade or get torn up in bad weather. $199 YELLOWLEAFHAMMOCKS.COM
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Nomadix Festival Towels They make beach towels from plastic bottles, and their towels are multipurpose for everywhere from the bathroom to the beach. $70 NOMADIX.CO
Rawganique Linen Rawganique makes cool linen clothes and home accessories, and they tell you where all of their products are made, none of which are sweatshops. PRICES VARY RAWGANIQUE.COM
Patagonia Fanny Pack
UE Boom 2
Yeah, fanny packs (or “belt bags,” if you’re on top of things) are back and nobody makes a better, more environmentally friendly one than Patagonia. Wear it loud and wear it proud.
No summer is complete without a portable speaker, and UE makes our favorite: quality, totally waterproof, (pretty) affordable and available in snazzy color schemes.
$29 PATAGONIA.COM
$179.95 ULTIMATEEARS.COM
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