Fall means it’s time for fire pits, tailgating, and cozy backyard movie nights. Setting up your outdoor get-together as the temperature begins to drop means cordless power for portability and comfort. Setting yourself up with some cozy gear can extend your backyard time well into fall—here are some of my favorite cordless essentials.
Log splitters
Cutting firewood to fuel your fire pit is easier with a log splitter. If you got your wood from chip drop, chances are it needs to be split. To cut firewood without access to an outlet, you can use a cordless log splitter. There are gas-powered models as well, but the battery-powered electric ones are quieter and often lighter. The downside of a battery-powered one is just that you’ll have to recharge the battery between uses.
Powered coolers
To keep beverages cold for longer when you’re tailgating, a cordless powered cooler is the best option. You can use one that goes with tool batteries you already have, like a Ryobi iceless cooler, or you can opt for a standalone version that has a built-in rechargeable battery. A cooler that uses removable batteries has the added bonus of making the batteries interchangeable with anything else that uses that battery system, while the standalone version can only power your cooler.
Portable heaters
Battery-powered heaters are trickier than other types of electric gear because they use a lot more power. However, you can use rechargeable battery-powered hand warmers for your pockets or you can try a neck warmer for portable heat. Ryobi also makes an 18-volt hybrid propane heater that can be used outdoors. You’ll need propane as well as some charged 18-volt Ryobi batteries for the portable propane heaters to work.
Heated seats
Thanks to tailgating ingenuity, there are a variety of options for portable heated seats, from cushions to camp chairs. There are also cordless seat cushions with a back cushion for more coverage. These heated seats are just as good for a backyard movie night as they are for a tailgating party or a game, and you can outfit patio furniture with heated cushions to make them more comfortable for group activities.
Power stations and inverters
Cordless power stations that work with tool batteries can allow you to charge devices and other small electronics. Larger power stations will run for about eight hours, depending on what you plug into them while smaller ones have fewer outlets and can run for about six hours, but with a smaller total output. The advantage of a smaller inverter for a tool battery is that they’re usually less expensive—about $100 each—while larger power stations can cost as much as $1,200, depending on the size and accessories.
Cordless speakers
Cordless speakers for your outdoor event are essential. There are a variety of cordless tool brands that make speakers for their battery sets, so you can try a Ryobi 18-volt speaker for those batteries, a Makita 18-volt speaker if you have a Makita set, or a DeWalt 20-volt speaker if you have a DeWalt set. These are usually referred to as “job site speakers,” but you can use them wherever you like. They operate on Bluetooth as well as phone-jack inputs.
Battery-powered projectors
Portable mini projectors are gaining popularity, as engineering breakthroughs for lenses and batteries have allowed them to get smaller and lighter. Batteries for an LED projector will also last about ten times as long as their conventional filament light bulb counterparts. A tiny battery-powered projector that can project up to a 100” display onto any surface and fits in the palm of your hand is around $180. These projectors will work better with a speaker, as the built-in speakers aren’t very large, so they don’t have a long-range sound output for outdoors.
