The Verge's Summer Upgrade Week series recommends various outdoor and indoor gear for summer, including pizza ovens, the Nintendo DS, portable lights, and espresso makers, aimed at enhancing leisure time.
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<p class="has-text-align-none">The sun is out, the sky is clear. It’s time to get outside and disconnect — from work, at least. This summer, we’re looking at all the ways to upgrade our free time indoors and out, from smart lights for the backyard to great gadgets to bring camping to ways to wind down at the local library.</p>
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<li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/942678/nintendo-ds-rules-for-travel">The Nintendo DS is still the best gaming handheld for travel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/942932/portable-light-camping-work-travel">This portable light is great for way more than camping</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/943057/ooni-portable-pizza-oven-is-great-for-bbqs">Sorry, the Ooni pizza oven is totally worth it</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/942873/ikape-cera-portable-espresso-review">I went to the woods to drink surprisingly great espresso</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/942657/library-ebook-borrowing-stream-tv-movies-hoopla-kanopy-overdrive">The library rules (and so do library streaming services)</a></li>
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# Summer Upgrade Week
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/942658/summer-upgrade-week-2026](https://www.theverge.com/tech/942658/summer-upgrade-week-2026)
All the gear we’re bringing outdoors, on trips, and to relax inside\.
Image: Asya Demidova for The Verge
The sun is out, the sky is clear\. It’s time to get outside and disconnect — from work, at least\. This summer, we’re looking at all the ways to upgrade our free time indoors and out, from smart lights for the backyard to great gadgets to bring camping to ways to wind down at the local library\.
Image: Asya Demidova for The Verge
## Everything in Summer Upgrade Week
Jess WeatherbedAn hour ago
Andrew WebsterTwo hours ago
Thomas Ricker11:30 AM UTC
The Verge's Father's Day 2026 gift guide features a curated selection of gadgets and lifestyle products, including flashlights, jump starters, and other tech gear, tailored to various budgets.
A Wired guide to the best pool accessories for 2026, including robotic skimmers, smart water monitors, and pool floats, aimed at upgrading the summer pool experience.
Summer Game Fest 2026 covers the major gaming events from PlayStation, Xbox, and others, with industry challenges like console price hikes and the looming release of GTA VI.
The Verge's guide to Amazon Prime Day 2026, covering the best tech deals from June 23rd to 27th across categories like smart home, headphones, and TVs.