Outdoor Gear Upgrades to Make Any Memorial Day Party Infinitely Better

Sheltering in place doesn’t exactly suit your hankering for adventure, but it does draw a greater emphasis on spending time with loved ones and reimagining spaces. Your apartment may be small, but your rooftop can serve you well for an intimate gathering. And your patio might not be your top choice for a Memorial Day party (or any other summer get-together, for that matter), but we’re on board for this reinvigorated interest in backyard parties.

Now you might already have outdoor furniture and enough odds and ends to feed your guests (even if that’s just who you’re isolating with). But when’s the last time you updated your grill? Or invested in a proper cooler? Or a party-worthy speaker? You don’t need to overhaul your entire outdoor space, but a few choice pieces of gear can make all the difference.

No matter where you’re enjoying a Memorial Day party this year, we’ve gathered six product upgrades (from trusted brands like Yeti, Weber, and JBL) that will serve you in your own backyard and beyond—once those shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted. They’ll be your companions hiking, fishing, boating, and everywhere in between.