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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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…
Pitch up in the best motorcycle tents for camping with your two-wheeler
There's nothing like cruising a backcountry road at sunset, wind in your hair, George Thorogood in your ear, and a few bugs in your teeth.
Wingman-of-the-Road Goose Motorcycle Camping System lake feature

After a few long years of pandemic-fueled "lockup," more and more of us are finally getting back to road-tripping. For some, that means camping across the country in an RV; for others, adventure awaits on the back of a two-wheeler (be it pedal or gas-powered). If you fall into the latter camp, we get it. There's nothing like the excitement of cruising down some backcountry road at sunset with the wind in your hair, George Thorogood in your ear, and a few bugs in your teeth.

If you're planning an extended trip, then you'll be looking to overnight along the way. If an ordinary roadside motel just won’t do, maybe you need a more adventurous alternative. Here are our picks for the best motorcycle tents for camping with your two-wheeler along the way in 2023.
Lone Rider MotoTent V2
Best motorcycle tent overall

Read more
Keep clean anytime, anywhere with the best portable showers for camping
After a weekend or a week in the backcountry, nothing makes you feel human again like a decent shower.
Man using a portable outdoor shower near the beach.

In spite of what soap companies want to implant in our minds, going outside and getting dirty isn’t going to be the end of us. Even eating dirt every once in a while can be good for us (seriously). If you’re trying to stay well-groomed and hygienic, however, you’re still going to have to clean off eventually — even in the great outdoors.

Whether you’re on the go, at a remote dispersed campsite in the middle of nowhere, or chilling in the beach parking lot after a morning surf sesh, a portable camping shower can be your best friend and get you clean with little effort. So, we rounded up some of the best portable showers of 2023. (Keep in mind that these aren’t just for showering yourself off either. Spraying down dirty kids, a muddy dog, or dirty dishes while in the front country are all easy enough with a portable hot water camp shower, too.)

Read more
These are the best skinning knives to up your hunting game this year
Whether you're after a single blade or a skinning set, we've got the right blade for you
Skinning knife

There are no shortcuts when it comes to hunting, and preparation is key to every success. You'll have your best hunting knives sharpened and ready to go, scent blocker on, and you'll stalk your game constantly. In a sport that takes so much patience, these are the elements that can make or break a hunting trip.

But once you take your shot and have your game, you need to skin it. While most hunters prepare themselves with the best hunting gear, they often overlook the importance of having the best skinning knife tucked away. To properly skin and dress in the field, you need the right knife. With a poor-quality knife, you'll struggle to clean the animal properly and risk repeatedly missing the skin, so get it right this season with the best skinning knives you can get your hands on.

Read more