6 Deals to Help Kick-Start Your Summer | Reviews by Wirecutter

2022-06-11 00:18:15 By : Ms. Renee Chan

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The start of summer heralds long, hot days ahead. Somehow, it still manages to pass by in the blink of an eye. Consider this your reminder to be deliberate about your leisure this season. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you. From soaking up the sun at the beach to hosting a backyard BBQ, here are six deals that embody the spirit of summer.

Merrell Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (Women’s) Deal price: $116; street price: $145

The Merrell Moab 2 Hiking Boots aren’t quite as durable or comfortable as some of our other picks, but they’re still a solid, more-affordable alternative for folks who don’t want to shell out for top-of-the-line boots. Our budget hiking boot pick is perfect for those who only take occasional, shorter hikes or have wider feet. They’re trustworthy, waterproof (to a point), and provide decent ankle support. The men’s version is also on sale for the same price. Right now, Backcountry members can save 20% off one full-priced item until June 9. The deal price applies once you add the boots to your cart and sign up for a free Backcountry membership.

Read our review of the best hiking boots.

Google Nest Smart Thermostat Deal price: $100; street price: $130

It’s hot out, y’all. For many folks, that means the AC is running around the clock. If you want to maximize your HVAC’s efficiency, the Google Nest Smart Thermostat is a good option. The Smart Thermostat helps balance the temperature of your home (even going as far as trimming your monthly utility bill). Affordable and streamlined, the Google Nest doesn’t use remote sensors, and it won’t automatically learn your heating and cooling schedule, but it pairs perfectly with a Google Nest ecosystem and utilizes a reliable home/away feature. The thermostat also has an HVAC monitoring feature that alerts you (in the app, on the device, and via email) to a problem with your unit. This deal matches the best price we’ve seen in 2022 for this no-frills thermostat.

Read our review of the best smart thermostat.

ThermoWorks ChefAlarm Meat Thermometer Deal price: $54 shipped; street price: $69

Want a few more bells and whistles from your meat thermometer? Our pricier (but feature-packed) meat-thermometer pick is back on sale for $54 including shipping. More than just a standard temperature probe, the ChefAlarm includes a timer, backlit screen, and volume adjustment. While the temperature reading takes a few extra seconds versus our top pick, it’s just as accurate and even comes with a case to hold the probe and the digital unit. We’ve seen the ChefAlarm sell for less in the past, but this deal is still a nice opportunity to save on a multipurpose, leave-in probe thermometer, especially now that we’re in barbecue season!

Read our review of the best meat thermometers.

Sonos Roam Speaker Deal price: $143; street price: $179

Nothing rounds out a good, summer day like the perfect soundtrack. And while a portable speaker is great for providing music in your backyard or on-the-go, a smart portable speaker can do it all with a little more finesse. The Sonos Roam is a compact and versatile portable Bluetooth speaker that’s able to connect with an existing Sonos or AirPlay 2 multiroom speaker system. It also has both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support built-in, so you can control everything—music, lights, the temperature of your smart grill—via voice command instead of having to fiddle with your phone. The Roam is a smaller, more compact version of our pick. As such, it’s not quite as powerful and we’re still taking it through our tests, but so far it’s a solid, portable alternative.

Read our review of the best smart devices for making the most of your backyard and garden.

Coleman Mountain View 12′× 12′ Screendome Shelter Deal price: $100 with Costco membership; street price: $130

Picnics and camping trips are great, but pesky bugs and the relentless sun are decidedly not. The Coleman Mountain View shelter is a bigger and more versatile canopy tent that helps shield you from UV rays and bugs this summer. It’s spacious (12 by 12 feet), adjustable, and offers more sun protection than either of our top picks. However, the Coleman also suffers more durability complaints. That said, not only is the Coleman canopy much cheaper than other options we recommend, but this deal is also a new low price.

Read our review of the best canopy tent for camping and picnics.

Huckberry Mediterranean Turkish Towel Deal price: $28 shipped; street price: $47

It’s beach season. If you’re looking to soak up the rays this summer, a good towel is a must for any beach lounger. This colorful, tasseled towel is handwoven in Turkey from long-staple cotton, which makes it both lightweight and durable. Each towel is portable, dries quickly, and—unlike bulkier beach towels—can fold down into small bundles, so they can easily be tucked away into a beach bag.

Read our review of our favorite things to bring to the beach.

This article was edited by Ignacia Fulcher and Nathan Burrow.

Jordan Thomas is a deals writer for Wirecutter. When she’s not scouring the web to find the best deals for the site and the daily deals newsletter, you can usually find her cooking elaborate meals or losing magnificently at trivia.

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