Every month, the Cool Material team tests, tries, and lives with all sorts of new (or new to us) goods. The Black Book is where we showcase the ones we most recommend right now.
This month, we’re loving water shoes you’ll want to wear all day long, adventure-ready swim shorts, luggage that’ll take you anywhere, and more.
Nike ACG Watercat+
[PARTNER] Don’t get caught in a position where you have to buy a throwaway pair of water shoes this summer. Nike’s ACG Watercat+ has a woven upper with moisture-wicking, quick-drying cords, and the mixed-rubber outsole has a strong grip to keep you steady even when you can’t see your feet. This being Nike, you can also trust high durability, style, and comfort to the point where you won’t feel like you need to take these off long after you get out of the water.
Buy: $125
Duluth Trading Co. AKHG Lost Lake Swim Shorts
[PARTNER] Nothing against the neighborhood pool, but the lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans are where you’ll find the most fun on the water in the summer months. And for that, you need swimwear that can take you there in comfort. Duluth Trading Co.’s AKHG Lost Lake Shorts have a flexible fabric made with 92% recycled polyester and 8% Spandex, and a gusset in the crotch for better mobility–perfect for climbing over that outcrop of rocks keeping most people out of your favorite secluded swimming hole. Not to mention a back zip pocket to go along with the two side pockets for when getting there gets a little hairy. An Armachillo fabric liner uses the same cooling tech as Duluth’s famous boxers, so you know the inside is just as comfortable as the out. Plus, these are colorfast treated with a water-shedding finish to last season after season without drastically fading.
Buy: $44.99
Beardbrand Styling Paste
[PARTNER] Beardbrand’s Styling Paste, based on their popular Styling Balm formula, gives your beard and head hair a medium hold and natural look. It leaves your hair feeling soft and touchable, not stiff or crunchy like some products. Their brand new Bold Fortune fragrance combines Leather, Whiskey, Saffron, Oud, and Tobacco for a warm, complex scent. Better yet, it’s easy to use on damp or dry hair, and lets you shape your style throughout the day with a flexible hold that stays comfortable.
Buy: $39
Sound Tower Party Audio ST90B
What’s a get together without music? For an outdoor speaker that delivers high-quality sound and won’t fall apart in outdoor conditions, Samsung’s water-resistant Sound Tower Party has bi-directional speakers with 1700 watts of audio – similar to what you get from a solid car subwoofer, and more than enough to drown out an ambient traffic noise for your backyard party (and it connects up to 10 speakers for a synchronized system). LED mood lights set the tone, and two mic inputs can quickly transition any night into karaoke night. And it’s all easy to control through the Sound Tower App.
Buy: $1199.99
Samsung The Terrace Outdoor TV
You don’t have to sacrifice screen quality just because your TV is outside with The Terrace. The 4K, adaptive brightness TV is water and dust resistant, with built in smart TV controls to access all of your content you enjoy. Quantum Dot color tech ensures no faded colors, and anti-reflection and 4K AI upscaling reduces image noise to keep the focus on what’s playing. There are two options depending on what you need: one that is perfect in full shade, another that can handle direct sun.
Buy: $2799.99
Rains Hilo Weekend Bag
Spontaneous weekend getaways are wonderful. Spontaneously picking up whatever bag can fit a couple days of clothes and gear is not. The Hilo Weekend Bag is travel-ready with the brand’s renowned waterproof fabric and a coated, full-length zip that opens to a 37-liter compartment that’s roomy enough for what you need and sleek enough to not be a chore to carry around (though the Rains handles and detachable shoulder strap makes carrying even heavier loads a breeze).
Buy: $110
Carl Friedrik Carry-on
Make this the year that you don’t just get where you’re intending to go for vacation, but get there in style. The carry-on from the Hackett London × Carl Friedrik collaboration has the former’s signature navy and green color palette, with Italian leather handles. True to the Carl Friedrik brand, the luggage is also built for whatever your travels throw at it with a polycarbonate shell and aluminum frame, plus a TSA-approved lock closure that’s more secure than a standard zipper.
Buy: $495
SweetWater 420 Variety Pack
SweetWater’s 420 Extra Pale Ale is already one of the top summer beers, as it has been since it was first released by the Georgia brewery in 1997. This year, SweetWater grew the 420 flagship with Mango Crush, Citrus Haze, and Extra Chill. All four are included in the variety pack, and there’s no better mix of beers for being outside on hot summer days.
Buy: $17.99
