It’s the weekend before Labor Day weekend, the calm before the storm. Next weekend it’s gonna be all barbecues, hot dogs, and huge sales. That’s not to say that you can’t get started early. We already rounded up some early Labor Day sales this week, but this weekend, we’ve found a few more great discounts on barbecue gear, coffee grinders, and sex toys.
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Coffee and Outdoor Deals
Hario Skerton Plus
Photograph: Seattle Coffee Gear
This is one of our favorite hand grinders, an adorable little thing for hand-grinding coffee when you’re away from the comforts of electricity. The Hario Skerton Plus features an ergonomic shape and internal ceramic burrs to make sure you’re getting an even and flavorful grind from your coffee, no matter where you are. Read our Best Coffee Grinders guide for more recommendations.
The Solis Scala is a killer and super approachable burr grinder. With conical burrs, it’s capable of grinding your coffee fine enough for espresso or coarse enough for a French press. Aside from using fresh beans, a burr grinder is the number one way that we recommend to improve your at-home coffee game. You will get so much more flavor from your coffee if it’s burr-ground.
You might scoff at the idea of using a Keurig to brew your coffee, and that’s completely fair, but if you want to try your hand at making lattes and cappuccinos without spending a fortune, this is a good place to start. This hassle-free Keurig (8/10, WIRED Recommends) makes espresso-style shots that taste almost as strong as the real deal, but its frother is what makes it special. It froths milk to perfection for lattes or cappuccinos, and cleanup is very easy. Keurig’s coffee pods are also now 100-percent recyclable.
Solo Stove Bonfire
Photograph: REI
A fire pit can be a great addition to any backyard. You can build one yourself, but Solo Stove’s Bonfire is a nice, hassle-free option. It’s nearly smokeless but still burns wood hot, is practically indestructible, and it’s pretty easy to move around. Solo Stove is offering up to 40 percent off all its fire pits for Labor Day, so check out the Yukon (7/10, WIRED Recommends) or Ranger if the Bonfire isn’t right.
This was a bit cheaper during Memorial Day, and it’ll likely go on sale again on Black Friday, but this is still a good price. The FirePit+ is one of our favorite portable grills. It folds down flat for easier transportation, and the hybrid design offers warmth as well as a pretty user-friendly cooking surface. There are even USB ports that’ll let you charge your gadgets by the campfire. Talk about the best of both worlds. We reviewed the previous model, but the newer version is warmer and has a bigger rechargeable battery.
It’s expensive, but Traeger’s Wi-Fi-powered electric pellet smoker lets you become the neighborhood pitmaster without leaving the couch. It’s well built, and the companion app lets you control nearly every facet of the Ironwood 650 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) anywhere. Traeger recommends using only its own pellets though, which isn’t great. Read our Best Grills guide for more.
George Foreman Electric Grill
Photograph: Amazon
You don’t need to have a backyard to get in on the grilling action. This simple, cheap George Foreman electric grill will do the trick and it can fit four servings. It has a drip pan to catch grease and can double as a panini press.
This hybrid grill can switch between charcoal and gas, so you can try to end the charcoal versus gas debate once and for all (or just enjoy both styles). There’s a side burner for heating up side dishes, and while you likely can’t load enough charcoal for smoking, it’s great for searing.
Sex Tech Deals
We-Vibe Melt and Pillow Talk Sassy Bundle
Photograph: Peepshow Toys
This one’s a bundle featuring an air pulse stimulator (the We-Vibe Melt) and a vibrator curved for G-spot stimulation (the Pillow Talk Sassy). Both are pretty small, which is great for anyone with smaller hands or grip issues, and when they’re used together, they provide quite the experience. But even flying solo, each one is a killer addition to any bedroom.
The Power Play is for fans of the big, original Magic Wand. It can massage knots out of your muscles just as easily as it can stimulate erogenous zones. It’s almost as big as a Maglite flashlight though, so make sure you have the forearm strength to properly wield it.
I’m much more of a fan of the mini-size wands myself. They feel great in the hand, and they’re easy to move around to use on yourself or a partner. This one doesn’t quite get to the intensity of its larger cousin but it’s still super powerful for a vibrator. That doesn’t mean it’s high intensity all the time though—on its lowest setting, it’s still delightfully gentle.
This vibrator is a bit of an odd one. It’s got a strange overall shape, but that makes it great for anyone looking to explore new sensations. The two prongs have rollers on them so you can roll them up and down your body, or a sore muscle, providing indirect stimulation. It’s a thoughtful design for anyone whose erogenous zones are too sensitive to be touched directly or, for anyone who really loves a good tease. Plus the other end of the vibrator is designed for internal use so you can really get a lot of fun exploration out of it.
Satisfyer Pro Penguin
Photograph: PeepShow Toys
Always a satisfying combo, the Satisfyer Pro Penguin air pulse stimulator and Pillow Talk Sassy are a match made in heaven. This bundle is a little different than the other bundle above because the Satisfyer Pro Penguin provides a different experience than the We-Vibe Melt. Its mouth is smaller, and the body is rounder so it fills the palm a little easier. That smaller mouth means it’s great for targeted stimulation of small erogenous zones, and it even comes with 11 intensity levels. Plus, it looks like a cute little penguin with an adorable bow tie.
These curved vibrators are designed for simultaneous internal and external use. One part fits inside, while the other part rests against the vulva and clitoris. They’re small and discreet so they can be worn during all kinds of activities. On top of that, this one includes a remote control to have extra fun with a partner, or just lie back and have some hands-free me time.
Strokers like this one eschew the sometimes gaudy designs you find on others. It’s not molded to look like anyone’s genitals, it’s just a soft silicone sleeve with some extra fun textured bits inside. These are a lot of fun for anyone with a phallus, and they’re even fun to use as a way to apply lube to an insertable toy.
Another entry in the nontraditional vibrator category, this one’s modeled to look like an adorable little bunny. It’s a different take on the traditional “rabbit” vibrator, one that makes indirect and direct stimulation easy to achieve with just one hand. You can feel the vibrations through the two little ears, or through the head or body, which makes it another good choice for anyone looking to explore themselves a bit more than a traditional-shaped toy might allow.
It may look a bit strange, but the Blush Neo dildo isn’t like those veiny old flesh-colored dildos. This one is a dual-density dildo. That means it has an outer sheath of soft silicone and an inner harder silicone core for a more realistic feel. The base is flared so it’s safe for vaginal or anal use, and it will fit in most harnesses. Plus, it glows in the dark, which makes it really easy to see in a dark bedroom, but also makes for an interesting experience with a partner.
Temptasia’s Harness briefs are another long-time favorite of ours. They’re super approachable for first-strap users, and they’re as comfy as any other pair of briefs. The built-in O-ring and pocket can fit just about any dildo but also work great for packers. There’s an internal pocket too, where you can store a little bullet vibe for some extra stimulation.