Unlike indoor smart devices, outdoor ones have arrived more slowly, and so getting enough good picks for this guide has spanned several visits to the annual Consumer Electronic Show along with keeping a constant eye on new product releases. Once we had a solid list, we spent four weeks in a South Carolina green space testing wireless range, downloading apps, charring meats, tightening hose connections, and measuring lumens. We also drew on the combined experiences of Wirecutter’s kitchen, lighting, and audio experts to discover which smart gadgets make sense outdoors and, most crucially, which ones work best and provide the most value.
