The Best Lawn Game Accessories 2023
We ask this question: What good is a recreational sports game or a lawn game without the right accessories on-hand? No good at all. It’s important to arrive with the right stuff for post-game playing, from a park blanket to the perfect soft cooler for beverages of all stripes. (Dog not included, unfortunately.)
BEST PARK BLANKET
Pendleton Packable Throw
A park or picnic blanket is a non-negotiable for spectators and lounging players alike. Pendelton may be known for its wool apparel and blankets, but the brand’s packable throw shouldn’t be slept on (though we’d wager that it’s comfortable enough, literally, to nap on). Made from recycled polyester and machine-washable, it’s easy to spot-clean and deep clean if (or, let’s be honest, when) any spills happen. It also comes in fun colors and patterns, and includes a stuff sack for easy transport.
BEST WATER BOTTLE
HydroFlask 24-Ounce Wide Mouth
Simply, one cannot go wrong with a HydroFlask. The brand’s reputation — for making sturdy, pleasant-to-drink-from water bottles — is 100 percent earned and accurate. This particular wide-mouth, 24-ounce water bottle proved indispensable during several park days, trips to the gym and the office, and more. It’s totally leak-proof, it keeps liquid cold over the course of several hours in the sun, and it comes in a bunch of vibrant colors, with new ones launching all the time.
BEST COOLER
Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler
Whoever brings a cooler to a park hang or sports league outing is in the running for MVP of the day. Whoever brings this Yeti soft-sided cooler to a park hang or sports outing is, far and away, the real MVP without question. It checks all the boxes. It’s durable and puncture-resistant. Its strap is comfortable to schlep, across public courts and through subway stations. It fits up to 24 cans, so it’s perfect for a small group, though the brand offers a slightly larger soft version and larger hard coolers, as well.
BEST TOWEL
Lululemon The Towel
Calling a product “the” anything is a bold statement. It promises something definitive and worth replicating: a position of honor Lululemon makes a good argument for with “The Towel.” It’s shockingly compact in both small and full-sized varieties, but both easily fit in a fanny pack or tote bag.
It’s the perfect towel for post-game or post-gym, especially if you attend a pocket-change-per-month one like Blink Fitness, where austerity (read: no towels) is built into the cost of membership. The Towel is easy to clean, and is much bigger than it looks rolled up — it stretches across the length of a typical yoga mat, perfect for those who hate the pre- and post-cleaning process. It’s also far more absorbent than you’d expect, especially good for those who sweat a lot; you could perspire the volume of the Hudson River before you’ve exhausted the capacity of this thing.