We love gear. Here, for Mother’s Day, for Memorial Day, for May, are five pieces of gear we’re loving a little bit more this month.

Patagonia Lightweight Travel Tote Pack. You’re traveling and with luggage restrictions being what they are, the last thing you can afford to do is take up valuable suitcase space with a voluminous pack. Herein lies the beauty of the Patagonia Lightweight Travel Tote: it crumples down to football size, but when it’s expanded, holds a whopping 22 liters of stuff (and that’s not including the zippered outside stash pocket or the dual stretch-mesh water bottle pockets. Made of tear- and weather-resistant ripstop nylon, and with breathable mesh shoulder straps, the pack itself doesn’t add to your load — a load that can be compressed, btw, by side compression straps. Perfect gear for the mom (Mother’s Day is May 13, don’t forget) tasked with taking care of her marauding tribe. Learn more here.

FäjllRäven Kånken Backpack. In the U.S., we have Star Wars technology, in Sweden, they have school-kid technology. Back in the late 1970s, the Kånken was devised as the ideal rugged school pack for Swedish children. After a while, though, someone thought, “Hey, why should only the kids have these stylish and rugged packs?” Thus was born the adult version of this simple pack with a zippered sidepocket, durable and water-repellant Vinyl F fabric (which cleans easily), and a name that’s fun to say. And lest you think the Kånken may not hold its own in the pack world, our own Jaala Freeman, who has thru-hiked both the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, is a big fan: “I use mine as a purse.” Comes in great colors, too. Learn more here.

Outdoor Research Aspire rain jacket. Pit zips are great on a waterproof rain jacket, offering much-needed airflow on a wet-but-warm hike. Trouble is, they rarely vent enough to fully relieve you of pent-up perspiration. If only it vented a little more. Or all the way down, to become basically a poncho on the warmest of rainy days. All the way down like the Outdoor Research Aspire does with its TorsoFlo ventilation system. While the vents are keeping your underside dry, its Gore-Tex™ Paclite™ shell is keeping the rain out (that and its sealed zippers and snug hood). It may seem a tad heavy for backpacking (13.7 ounces), but the extra assurance of staying dry makes this piece of gear worth its weight. $220.

Yeti Hopper Flip Series. As Memorial Day ushers in the summer beach season, we think of one thing: establishing a firm beachhead in the am that won’t have to abandon until late in the pm. And that means heading in with a full supply of cold ones that will stay that way throughout the day. And that’s where the Yeti cooler excels: at keeping its cool. The Flip series is especially good for beach and other off-road destinations: it’s lightweight, it’s got a comfy shoulder strap, it’s got a full-zippered top that let’s you take a quick overview of contents, make your decision, zip up to retain your cool. Just you? The 8-liter size should do. You and a friend? Try the 12L. And if it’s a family affair, better go for the 18L. Learn more here.

Eno Lounger DL. When it comes to true relaxation, it’s hard to picture a better scenario than a comfy chair perched in the perfect place. The beach, maybe. Or the deck of a cabin in the mountains. Put a book in one hand, a cold beverage in the other and … well, provided the chair is comfortable enough is there any reason to leave? Certainly not when the chair is the Eno Lounger DL. Adjustable leg height, cup holder, cargo pockets for snacks and a pillow built into the top of the high back — yeah, this piece of gear is the real deal. And it comes in all sorts of festive colors — or gray, in case you don’t want to draw attention to a chair that everyone will want to try, “just for a minute, honest.”