Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Outdoor Alcohol Gear for Drinking in the Wild

Man pouring a draft beer from a pressurized beer growler.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s a simple fact that food tastes better when you’re sitting outdoors. The same goes for booze. An ice-cold domestic lager by the campfire trumps even the best craft draft at your favorite watering hole. But, your outdoor drinking selection needn’t revolve around canned and bottled beverages. With the right gear, you can elevate your al fresco drinking game with a go-anywhere cocktail-making kit that rivals even the best home bar setups.

Related Guides

TrailKeg Pressurized Growler

Studio shot of a TrailKeg Half Gallon Pressurized Growler
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just because you’re roughing it in the wild for a few days doesn’t mean you have to drink your beer like a peasant. TrailKeg’s Pressurized Growler takes your outdoor beer-drinking game to the next level. The half-gallon capacity keeps 64 ounces of your favorite hoppy beverage cold for up to 24 hours and carbonated for a whopping seven days. So, you can enjoy fresh draft-like beer anywhere.

Jillmo Travel Bar Bag

The Jillmo Waterproof Travel Cocktail Bag set.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Safely transporting your cocktail kit is just as important as choosing the right booze to bring. The Jillmo Travel Bar Bag is a waterproof carry bag designed to tote your complete bar setup wherever you need it, making it perfect for camping. Inside, there’s enough room for three full-sized liquor bottles, a cocktail shaker, and all your essential tools. Individual pockets neatly organize your strainers, muddler, ice tongs, jiggers, and more.

Host Bar10der 10-in-1 Tool

The Host Bar10Der 10-in-One Cocktail for portable bartending.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Backcountry enthusiasts appreciate compact, ultra-lightweight hiking gear. The Host Bar10der fits ten must-have bartending tools into a single pocket-sized multitool. That includes essentials like a corkscrew, a bottle opener, a knife, and even a jigger, plus specialized tools like a muddler, a zester, and a reamer. The plastic and stainless steel construction make this the ultimate, durable tool for on-the-go bartenders.

Stanley Adventure Happy Hour All-in-One Cocktail Shaker Set

Stanley Adventure Happy Hour All-in-One Cocktail Shaker Set for portable bartending.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A good cocktail shaker is key to every bar setup, whether at home or in the wild. Stanley’s Adventure Happy Hour All-in-One Cocktail Shaker Set is designed to go anywhere with a 30-ounce cocktail shaker, two stainless steel cups, a citrus reamer, and a jigger cap. Plus, the entire set is made of dishwasher-safe stainless steel and weighs just 0.65 pounds.

GSI Outdoors Nesting Wine Glass Set

GSI Outdoors Nesting Wine Glass Set for outdoor wine drinking.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

No matter where you are, wine is best enjoyed out of a proper wine glass. The problem, of course, is that fragile stemware doesn’t exactly travel well. GSI Outdoors’ Nesting Wine Glass Set is constructed of nearly indestructible, BPA-free copolyester that’s strong enough to outlast you. The glasses unscrew at the midpoint, making for easy transport. Plus, each one holds a generous 9.3 ounces — almost two full servings — of vino.

High Camp Firelight 750 Flask

High Camp Firelight 750 Flask with enough room for a full bottle of liquor.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There’s something charming and nostalgic about old-school hip flasks. But, a few measly ounces of alcohol is hardly enough for hosting a group of friends around the campfire. High Camp’s Firelight 750 Flask holds an entire bottle of your favorite liquor (all 750 milliliters). Plus, the three-piece set includes two built-in stainless tumblers that attach to the massive “flask” (we use that word loosely) via a clever magnetic locking closure.

The Bitter Truth Cocktail Bitters Traveler’s Set

The Bitter Truth Travelers Cocktail Bitters Set is a selection of five popular cocktail bitters.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The right cocktail bitters can make or break a bar setup. The Bitter Truth’s aptly named Cocktail Bitters Traveler’s Set features five 20-milliliter bottles of the most versatile bitter flavors, including Celery, Orange, Creole, Old Time Aromatic, and Jerry Thomas Own Decanter. It’s a compact set that works equally well in the backcountry or on long-haul flights when you just can’t bear to be without a properly poured tipple.

IceMule Pro X-Large 33L Cooler

IceMule Pro XL X-Large 33L
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Coolers are the only real solution for bringing portable chill into the wild. But, even the best wheeled coolers are heavy and cumbersome for anything more than car camping. For the ultimate, go-anywhere ice solution, you need a backpack cooler. IceMule is arguably the best on the market, and its 33L Pro X-Large Cooler is the perfect outdoor alcohol companion. It boasts enough room for 24 cans of your favorite beverage with ice, and the thick PolarLayer insulation maintains ice-like temperatures for up to a full day.

Looking for fresh inspiration for your next open-air adventure? Check out our round-up of the easiest cocktail recipes for budding bartenders.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Kiss insect bites goodbye: Why insect-repellent clothing is the best thing since, well, insect repellent
Can clothing alone prevent insect bites? We find out
Closeup of a red tick and water droplets on a blade of grass.

Lousy weather, leaky tents, terrible Spotify playlists, and warm beer — all great ways to ruin a perfectly good outdoor trip. But nothing completely nukes an epic camping weekend like relentless biting bugs. From ticks and mosquitos to no-see-ums and horseflies, there's no shortage of bitey creatures looking to put the kibosh on your next getaway. The best insect repellents and bug sprays help, of course. But we can't help but wonder about the long-term effects of slathering our largest organ (our skin) in DEET and other unpronounceable, industrial-strength chemicals.

That's where insect-repellent clothing comes in. Today's best options use a variety of cleverly engineered chemicals, fabrics, and apparel designs to keep even the hungriest and nastiest bugs at bay. We took a deep dive into every option on the market to find the best clothing for repelling insect bites in 2023.

Read more
Take your booze, seltzer, or homemade kombucha anywhere with the best wheeled coolers
Ditch that cheap, bulky cooler you bought in college for one of these easy-rolling wheeled alternatives
Man pulling a wheeled Igloo cooler over sand at the beach.

It's still technically summer, so warm weather activities, camping, and barbecue season remain with us. And we all know what that means. Cold beer for backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, and outdoor excursions. Whether you’re into camping, surfing, kayaking, or tailgating with the crew, the common thread linking them all is the need for refreshing beverages packed inside your best well-chilled cooler. However, most coolers lack portability. The best, most insulated models are bulky even when empty and considerably more so when laden with ice and beer. If you want to level up your cooler game in 2023, you need a cooler with wheels.

Rolling coolers let you transport your favorite drinks from one point to another without breaking your back or shoulders. What’s noteworthy about wheeled coolers is their versatility, serving either as a makeshift dinner table or as extra storage space for your gear. Are you ready to keep your beverages cool? Below are our picks of the best wheeled coolers to shop for right now, all recommended and praised by adventurers.

Read more
Hit the road in style (and luxury) this year with the best motorhomes and drivable RVs
Just because you're leaving home doesn't mean you have to leave behind all the comforts of home
Three campers and a dog relaxing at a wilderness campsite with a Winnebago Revel campervan.

In the last few years, Americans have gone completely RV crazy. That's largely thanks to people going stir-crazy with cabin fever and Zoom overload during the pandemic. If you’ve decided to pull the trigger on buying a new recreational vehicle or ultra-light travel trailer of your own, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

Motorhomes, in particular, offer the most convenient way to travel by combining the comforts of home into a single, drivable vehicle, sometimes not much larger than a traditional van. We’ve done the legwork for you to round up the 12 best motorhomes to shop in 2023.

Read more