What to put on your wishlist in the middle of summer

July and August have their own gift moments. A birthday that falls in a heatwave, a garden party that came together on Thursday, a camping weekend that needs a lantern you do not own. The wishlist you wrote in the winter has a jumper on it. Now is the moment to swap the jumper for things that get used before the schools go back.

Gear for time outdoors

A waterproof speaker earns its place at the beach and in the garden, and a proper cool bag keeps the drinks cold through a long walk or a picnic. A hammock turns any two trees into a reading spot for the afternoon. For campers, a compact lantern, a small portable barbecue or an inflatable kayak makes weekend trips happen that would otherwise stay an idea.

Be specific on the list. "A cool bag" gets you a supermarket one; "a 20-litre Yeti Hopper or similar" gets you the one that still works in three years.

Refreshing the terrace and the living room

Solar string lights change a terrace after dark for around €25, and weatherproof cushions make the outdoor chairs worth sitting in past ten o'clock. A few planters in different sizes are useful too, for a row of basil or a wall of geraniums.

Inside, summer suits lighter things: linen cushion covers, a diffuser running lemon or eucalyptus, a big glass carafe for the table so everyone drinks more water than they would otherwise.

Sun care and recovery

Good sunscreen and an after-sun lotion are practical gifts that actually get used. The La Roche-Posay SPF 50 that does not sting the eyes, an aloe gel kept in the fridge, a broad-brimmed hat that looks good enough to be worn. A sunscreen someone likes the feel of gets reapplied; the sticky bottle from the petrol station stays in the bag.

For the pace of a busy summer, a yoga mat for morning stretches on the terrace, a few months of a meditation app or a jar of bath salts for after a long day at the beach all help. An insulated tumbler keeps iced coffee cold through a full day outside.

Small tech upgrades

A power bank and a waterproof phone pouch solve the two most common summer annoyances: a dead battery at the festival and a phone beside the pool. A GoPro or a small phone gimbal turns holiday footage from shaky clips into something people will watch twice.

At home, a fan with a remote, a Bluetooth speaker for the shower or a smart water bottle that nags you to drink are the small conveniences that add up over eight warm weeks.

Gifts that are experiences

Concert tickets, a voucher for a cooking class or a season pass to the open-air pool give people something to do together, which is worth more in summer than anything in a box. A photo book of the spring trip holds on to the pictures that would otherwise never leave the camera roll.

A subscription box built around barbecue rubs, gardening or craft beer spreads the gift over several weeks, and the second delivery arrives when the birthday is long forgotten, which is a nice trick.

If a birthday is coming later this summer, or you simply want somewhere to keep the things you are hoping for, you can create a wishlist, paste in the links, and share it when someone asks.