Essential Tailgating Gear to Get You Back to the Stands in Style

Tailgating gear has improved tremendously since you, too, last partied in a parking lot with friends, family and face-painted strangers. So think about what you’re packing before you storm the asphalt, making up for lost time. From coolers that double as on-the-go kitchens to energizing speakers and portable chargers that can power all of your devices, we found the gear to ensure this year’s festivities are worth the wait.

Parkit Voyager

A Comfier Seat

This modern lawn chair retains the best traits of the classics—woven webbing, easy setup—but adds handsome beech wood armrests and a detachable cooler underneath to keep drinks and snacks handy. An aircraft-grade aluminum frame means the chair is light enough to wear as a backpack (with straps), yet strong enough to support a 350-pound fan. Our favorite feature is the height: Unlike many camp chairs whose undersides practically scrape the ground, the Voyager sits higher to make getting in and out easier. ($220, parkitmovement.com)

Nikon

Sportstar Zoom 8-24×25

Discreet Peepers

Once you’re inside the stadium, these Nikon binoculars will let you read the catcher’s signs from the nosebleeds. A top-mounted lever makes for easy switching between four zoom distances with your index finger, while coated optics brighten the view. It weighs less than a bottled water, so you won’t strain your neck during the seventh-inning stretch. ($150, nikonusa.com)

JBL Charge 5

A Hardy Speaker

Your smart speaker from home won’t do in a WiFi-less stadium parking lot. Instead, opt for JBL’s new, thermos-size speaker with Bluetooth connectivity, great sound and a 20-hour battery life per charge. The Charge 5 is waterproof in case of spilled suds, and, should it tumble off a table, its rugged housing will ensure it hits the asphalt intact. ($180, jbl.com)

RovR RollR 45

A Better Beer Wagon

More of a mobile kitchen than a cooler, the RollR’s internal bin keeps 24 cans frosty while a separate compartment guarantees that burger patties, bacon and salad fixings don’t get soggy. Factor in its cup holders, cutting board and umbrella stand (available from $40) and you’ll see why this cooler becomes the heart of the tailgate. With its telescoping handle and toothy wheels, it’s easily rolled through gravel and over curbs. (From $400, rovrproducts.com)

Goal Zero Yeti 200x Power Station

A Personal Power Plant

Don’t power your devices by running an emission-spewing gas generator, or worse, by plugging them into your console’s USB port and sapping your car’s battery. If you charge this 5-pound lithium-ion battery for four hours before heading out, you’ll have enough juice to power a small refrigerator and your phones—or those of fellow revelers in exchange for their sausage and peppers. ($300, goalzero.com)

Hitchfire Forge 15

An Easier Grill

To a tailgater, a grill is as quintessential as the stadium’s overpriced beers. After you park, this two-burner propane grill can be quickly deployed: it travels attached to your SUV’s hitch as would a bike or kayak rack. Swing the grill out and you’ll be cooking on 400 square inches—enough room to fit 10 burger patties—at a comfortable height. Or, disconnect it from the hitch and cook on a tabletop. The best part: With the grill mounted outside of the car, grease won’t be riding shotgun on the way home. ($549, hitchfire.com)

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