The best outdoor gear for the fall

While it’s nice to have the versatility of a multi-fuel pizza oven, there’s no denying that a gas-powered setup is easier to use. It allows you to quickly adjust the heat while also being able to focus on making pizza, instead of also having to manage a fire. Solo Stove’s pizza ovens, including the Pi Prime, have a circular, “panoramic” opening that makes launching and rotating pies a simpler task than it is on other models. Plus, the whole thing is built out of stainless steel like the company’s fire pits, so it’s made to last. And like most outdoor pizza ovens, the Pi Prime is ready to cook in 15 minutes and bakes pies in as little as 90 seconds.

$350 at Solo Stove

Beats surprised us when it re-entered the Bluetooth speaker market over the summer, following a two-year hiatus from the portable devices. The company completely re-engineered the inside of the new Pill to improve sound quality and made some modest changes to the design to further bolster the experience. All of the updates lead to improved sound quality, a more durable build and 24-hour battery life. Simply put, this is the best-sounding speaker you’ll find at this price point for keeping the tunes going on the porch, patio or at your campsite.

$130 at Adorama

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.

$109 at ThermoWorks

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.

$40 at Amazon

To achieve peak backyard grill mastery, you need a reliable device that allows you to accurately monitor both ambient and food temperatures. There are a lot of options for this, but wireless probes are the most convenient choices since you don’t have to navigate a maze of cables when maneuvering foods around the grill. I’ve been using the Meater 2 Plus for a year now, and the accuracy of the probe’s temperature sensors is well-proven on my stable of grills. The estimated doneness times aren’t always spot on, but they’re typically in the ballpark, and I love being able to watch everything from my phone. That’s especially useful for long, low-and-slow smoke sessions.

$130 at Amazon

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 $700, are portable(ish) and burn whatever variety of wood you happen to have. I’ve tested 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.

$200+ at Solo Stove

I tested the Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug for our first backyard guide and I was immediately hooked. TP-Link has a newer 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.

$17 at Amazon

When they debuted in 2019, Traeger’s Ironwood pellet grills were the company’s best mix of features and value. The company debuted a redesigned model in 2023, and while they will save you some money over the expensive Timberline series, the price tags aren’t as attractive as they once were, but they’re still the best option in the company’s lineup. Traeger added touchscreen controls to the latest Ironwood to mirror the Timberline and the handy pellet-monitoring sensor now comes standard. You still get a roomy side shelf and remote control/monitoring from the Traeger app, which allows you to keep tabs on things from anywhere. The big thing you miss out on from the Timberline is the induction burner, but you may not need it anyway.

$1,800+ at Traeger

Flat-top griddles are all the rage among grill enthusiasts right now for several key reasons. They allow you to make smash burgers, fajitas, hibachi meals and more with ease with plenty of room to operate. Plus, they’re breakfast machines where you can cook a full meal at once. Weber’s Slate is a great griddle option thanks to its modular design and rust-resistant cooktop. You also get a digital temperature gauge so you’re not wondering about surface temps, and you can count on event heat distribution across the entire cooking area.

$799 at Weber