This summer, people are eager to enjoy the great outdoors. Camping, in particular, continues to be popular, with many viewing it as an ideal way to travel safely and avoid crowds. Last year 10.1 million households camped for the first time, and more than 60% of those first-time campers plan to pitch their tents or fire up the RV again this summer, according to a report from Kampgrounds of America.

“We’re certainly seeing more interest in our outdoor equipment,” says Nicole Gibbs, digital marketing specialist for Jarden Custom (asi/45647), a direct imprinter and decorator of Coleman brand products.

The six-person Coleman Skydome is one of Jarden Custom’s most popular tents right now.

Tents and coolers are particularly popular right now, according to Gibbs. Family-sized dome tents that offer extra headroom and enough sleeping space for a family of six are selling well. Easy setup is also an important consideration for the significant contingent of vacationers who are still new to camping. Going along with family-sized tents are large coolers. The Coleman 54-quart steel-belted cooler, for example, can fit 85 cans and holds ice for up to four days.

Jarden Custom’s “bread and butter” is its outdoor products, says Gibbs. “We’re seeing sales go up significantly as people head outside,” she adds.

Travel, in general, is on the rise. In fact, more than 60% of Americans say they’re planning to travel more this year than they did in 2019, according to a survey by RV membership club Harvest Hosts.

Many families are commemorating their reunions this year with graphic tees.

“Demand for vacations of all kinds is up this year,” agrees JP Hunt, co-founder of InkSoft, an e-commerce platform for promo and decorated-apparel businesses. He points out that after more than a year apart, many are planning family reunions or group getaways. What better way to commemorate the experience than with a graphic T-shirt? In a recent blog post, Hunt suggested setting up online stores for family reunions, to make the ordering and fulfilment process seamless.

Also popular this summer are games and gear to stock company picnics, backyard barbecues and outdoor parties. “The biggest trend I’m seeing are games that can be shared by multiple people,” says Dan Edge, North American director of sales at Peerless Umbrella (asi/76730).

Outdoor checker sets and other classic games are trending this summer.

Many classic indoor games, like checkers or Jenga, have oversized, outdoor versions available for customization from promo suppliers. Cornhole sets are also ripe for branding – from the wooden playing boards to the beanbags that are tossed inside. These outdoor games can easily be paired with other swag to up the branding potential, whether it’s a shade-providing umbrella or a comfy Adirondack chair.

As travel and large-scale gatherings continue their return, keep an eye on the many promo possibilities available – whether it’s a logoed cooler, camp chair or just a cool graphic tee.