The Top 73 Shade Garden Ideas
“Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.”- Helen Keller
You’ve tried everything under the sun to grow plants in your backyard. No matter what you do, they seem to slowly die off until they are a shriveled shadow of their former glory. There are several reasons that this happens. One of the most common is a lack of sunlight.
Shade gardening is the solution. You’re buying plants that require more sun than what your backyard gets. Instead of struggling, start focusing on plants that are happy with the amount of sunlight that your property can provide.
These shade garden ideas will help you switch gears and start growing plants successfully. Consider the type of garden you want to have to help narrow down your shade plant options.
1. Backyard Shade Garden Ideas
A shady backyard is a perfect place for relaxing with a cool drink on a hot day. It’s also a great place for growing plants. You just need to choose the right plants that can thrive with the amount of sunlight you have. Sit in your backyard and determine how much sun each area gets throughout the day.
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Some areas may get a short time of direct sunlight and then shaded throughout the rest of the day. Other areas may get light to heavy shade and never see any real sun. Try planting heuchera; they have tons of bright colors and enjoy semi-shaded areas.
If you struggle to grow plants in the shadiest areas, then lay pavers and turn this area into your sitting area. Now you’re working with your backyard instead of against it.
2. Cottage Shade Garden Ideas
Turn your backyard into a cottage escape with a stone or gravel path that winds around the trees and bushes. Have a hidden away spot that’s large enough for a small cafe table and chairs. Choose taller plants for placement around the perimeter that will create a natural barrier. Then arrange shade garden plants underneath the trees and along the walkways.
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The result should be a shady garden that isn’t perfectly manicured. Everything should blend together. Choose plants with a wide variety of colored flowers. Scatter them and mix them up to create a beautiful display.
Finish your garden with decorative elements. You could have small figurines or large statues. If you have space, add a water feature, such as a fountain or small pond. The sound of running water will give your cottage garden a natural soundtrack.
3. Front Yard Shade Garden Ideas
If your front yard has large shade trees, then you may struggle to grow anything under them. Even grass has a hard time finding the strength to grow in partial shade. This is incredibly frustrating, considering that your front yard has a direct influence on the curb appeal of your home.
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The trick that makes your front yard a success is to choose flowering plants that thrive in the partial shade. Create landscaping areas around the trees’ base to fill in the most shaded areas. Use this to your advantage by creating plant beds that cover the areas where the grass struggles to grow the most.
Spread mulch out over the plant beds to create a moist growing environment. Then arrange plants that like to grow in moist soil with shade. You could have several individual plants of the same variety to create a ground covering.
4. Garden Path Shade Ideas
To fully enjoy your garden, you need to have a path that allows you to easily navigate the area. For a rustic path, you could have pea gravel as your paving material. Something a little nicer would be large stones set into the earth.
To create an elegant path, you could use pavers. Since you have a shaded yard, use moss as your ground cover. It can line the path and grow between the stones like a natural grout.
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On either side of the path, arrange foliage plants that flower to create a colorful lining. If you have trouble with drainage, dig a trench and fill it with large pebbles and stones. This creates a natural drainage system to prevent standing water. Without direct sunlight, you won’t have the same evaporation that sunnier yards have.
5. Japanese Shade Garden Ideas
If you struggle to grow plants no matter what type of plant you try to grow, then a Japanese rock garden can eliminate the plant problem. Build a sand gravel layer covering the ground. Rake it into specific designs to symbolize water. Place large rocks strategically around the yard to symbolize mountains.
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Another great option is a Japanese moss garden. Moss loves humid and shady climates, making this style of garden perfect for your shady backyard. You don’t need a Japanese maple or variegated foliage. All you need is a moss bed and some stones or decorative statues.
You don’t have to turn your entire backyard into a Japanese garden. You can keep it small and only build it where plants struggle to grow the most. Start by pulling out all of the grass and dead plants and creating a mud slurry. Then transplant your moss. It should begin to take hold and thrive, making a soft blanket covering the earth.
6. Landscaped Shade Garden Ideas
When planning out your shady garden, the best time to do your planting is in the early to late spring. Most of the plants you’ll work with experience a growing season from spring through summer. Planting during this time gives them the best survival rate.
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Arrange your plants by their shade tolerance and what will visually look the best. Create levels for visual height. Look for plants that grow to different heights and place the tallest furthest away. Think about the blooms your shade perennials produce. You could group several begonias together for a multi-colored display. Or choose plants with white flowers for a clean and crisp look.
When arranging your plants, think about the amount of light the plant needs and where it will get that in your yard. If a plant loves afternoon shade, you don’t want to put it in a spot that gets tons of afternoon sunlight. Similarly, a plant that likes the dappled sun won’t be happy in a spot that never sees the sun.
7. Moss Shade Garden Ideas
Perhaps the majority of your backyard gets plenty of sunlight. You just have one spot that seems to suffer from an abundance of shade. Turn that shady spot into a mini moss garden. Moss and succulents love the moist soil and do well in dry shade as they don’t need a lot of rain.
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Give your moss garden personality by building up the earth in places, so there are high and low spots. Then place large rocks or stones around. Use moss to cover the ground. If you want to add some height, plant scattered ferns towards the back or place a statue in the center.
8. Shaded Patio Ideas
Patios are wonderful for giving you an outside living area. However, depending on what side of your home it’s located on, it can experience a high degree of shade. This is because they’re built right off the side of your home. Buildings tend to block the most amount of light, making it difficult to grow plants on your patio.
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What you need are pots filled with shade-loving plants to decorate your patio. These shade-tolerant plants won’t mind that they don’t get much face time with the sun. If you want plants that are even lower maintenance, stick with flowering perennials or an ostrich fern. These won’t require you to change them out year after year. They’ll also add plenty of colors and lush greenery to your patio.
Tropical plants can grow happily in large pots. Place these around the perimeter of your patio to create a lush and secluded feeling. You and your guests will enjoy the natural privacy created.
9. Side Yard Shade Garden Ideas
A skinny side yard area tends to get the least amount of light. It’s usually sandwiched between two homes or a fence, which blocks the sunlight from two directions. With the limited amount of mid-day sun, you’re limited on the plants that will grow. Look for plants that want to avoid the full sun, and place them along the side of your home. This will allow them to get plenty of indirect light, but they won’t burn from direct sun exposure.
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The easiest way to care for this shady landscape is to keep your plants in pots. Move the pots around your home to find the ideal growing conditions for each plant. Transfer them to larger pots in late spring as they grow. If you want to create a colorful walkway, consider the astilbe. It grows in numerous shades of red, pink, white, and purple.
10. Tropical Shade Garden Ideas
When you think about tropical plants, you immediately think of tons of sunshine. How could you grow a tropical garden in a shady backyard that lacks the sunlight that tropical plants crave? However, not all tropical plants like the bright sun. Some prefer light shade.
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Look for the smaller tropical shade plants that grow underneath the larger sun-loving ones. These plants, like the dicentra spectabilis, prefer dappled shade. They grow closer to the ground and underneath the leaves of the larger palms.
Elephant ears are a classic tropical plant that has huge leaves, and yet it loves the shade. These are perfect if you need a plant that will act as a natural barrier and fill in an area with a large height and width. A giant bird of paradise is another shade-loving tropical plant that also comes with the benefit of colorful orange and purple flowers.
11. Water Feature Shade Garden Ideas
Adding a water feature to your garden gives it a unique look and sound. If you don’t have a lot of room, then stick with a small self-contained fountain. Slightly larger patios and backyards can have a larger water feature that’s a small pond. Build up around it with stones to create a waterscape feature.
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Large backyards can support a full pond. This is perfect if you want to have goldfish or koi. Build up around the water with moss and succulents that will enjoy the moisture-rich environment and lack of sun. Construct a small decking area around one portion for a sitting area. For a creative touch, build a bridge over the pond or have a large stone path walkway through the middle of it.
12. Woodland Shade Garden Ideas
If you have several tall trees in your yard, you’re probably contending with deep shade. Embrace the dense shade and pine trees and other large trees and create a woodland atmosphere? Plant smaller ground cover plants to protect the tree roots and create a layered effect.
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When choosing your low to the ground plants, stick with ones that you would find in the woods. A few hosta shrubs or ferns can produce numerous leaves and spread out to be effective ground covers.
The key to creating a beautiful and successful woodland garden is to follow the cues of nature. Look at natural woodlands, and you’ll see high and mid canopies. Then there’s an understory and ground covering.
You already have the high or mid-canopies with your trees. The shrubs you plant will be your shade-loving understory shrubs. For a ground cover, you can use moss.
Shade Garden FAQs
Consider planting Coral Bells, Foamflower, Plumeria, Foxglove, or Primrose. These are all plants that thrive in shady areas that may lack natural sunlight. This will give you a beautiful mix of leafy greens and colorful blooms in reds, whites, pinks, and purples.
Embrace the cool feeling of your shade garden by using stones and water features. Pick a few types of plants that enjoy the shade and look beautiful together. Then use several of them throughout your garden for a feeling of unity and balance.
Add bright colors by planting flowering plants that will create a splash of color. Add decorative fairy lights to your garden. String them around the perimeter or above the walkways. Choose pavers or stones that are a light color for the walkways and sitting areas.
Where To Buy Art Online: 16 Awesome Stores
A home should represent a person’s personality. One of the very best ways to show off your personality is to have a home with some fantastic art. Even when you have the best furniture, lighting, and decor, no room is wholly complete without artwork. Before you can decide what artwork you want to buy, you need to identify your style.
Think carefully about what type of artwork you gravitate towards, as this will be an excellent indicator of your style preferences. Do you find yourself drawn to seaside watercolors, vintage caricatures, contemporary pieces, or abstract pieces? If you know what you like, you’ll have a better idea of what online art platform you should scope out.
The online art sites on our list are some of the best places you can buy art. We’ve rounded up 16 sites you should consider. At each of these sites, you’ll find unique pieces representing a broad range of artistic styles. Even those who have a smaller budget will likely find the perfect piece for their blank wall.
Additionally, you won’t have to leave your house as online art platforms make purchasing art more accessible than ever. Whether you’re interested in graphic paintings, pieces from up-and-coming artists, fan art, or vintage oil paintings, there’s something for everyone.
1. Artfinder
If you’re seeking authentic hand-crafted art pieces from little-known artists, you might want to have a look at the Artfinder online art website. Artfinder was founded in 2013 by a Swedish art enthusiast who had spent some time working in the prestigious New York art world.
Essentially this website is an online marketplace that advertises original and unique pieces of art from more than 10,000 international artists worldwide. The site conveniently sorts the more than 200,000 art pieces into categories of style and medium, making it easy to identify what you’re looking for.
Artfinder features abstract paintings, sculptures, photographic pieces, fine art prints, digital art, and collages. Additionally, art on this platform is quite affordable as pieces start at $25, but can go up to $65,000. Moreover, unlike other online art companies, Artfinder offers dedicated services for interior designers.
2. Fine Art America
The title for the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology belongs to Fine Art America. This company was founded in 2006 in California and ever since has been providing an artistic avenue for illustrators, graphic designers, artists, and photographers.
Fine Art America specializes in print-on-demand art. They have 16 facilities capable of printing the artwork of more than 500,000 independent artists. When selecting artwork, potential clients can choose between wood prints, canvas prints, metal prints, framed prints, and many more.
One of the standout points for Fine Art America is that they also offer artwork that can be printed on pillows, tote bags, clothing, and tapestries. Additionally, unlike a few other online art marketplaces, Fine Art America allows artists to set their own prices for print-on-demand products.
3. Art.com
One of the easiest websites to buy art online at is Art.com. When you’re looking for prints of famous works, or if you’re looking to discover new art styles, this website might be the perfect starting point. Art.com was founded in 1998 in California and is one of the longest-running art platforms.
On the Art.com website, you can search for a particular artist or browse by subject, and you can filter the art pieces by price. If you fancy yourself an artist, you can have your own artwork sent to Art.com, where they can print and frame the photos for you.
Handcrafted framed artwork starts at $79, while large canvas prints start at $129. Additionally, Art.com offers free returns with their zero risk gifting policy, and they offer free design advice seven days a week with one of their art specialists.
4. One Kings Lane
If you’re looking for a one-stop online shop where you can purchase antiques, furniture, decor, and art, you should consider One Kings Lane. Founded in 2009, this company is a home decor business that deals in luxury outfittings. On their online platform, you’ll find a range of up-market styles that include designer and vintage pieces.
One Kings Lane has many quick ship art pieces available and mixed media, vintage reproductions, drawings, paintings, posters, and photographic pieces. These categories comprise more than 5,000 art pieces, and prices range from $45 to $30,000.
5. Saatchi Art
Saatchi Art is not just an online art retailer. They’re also an online art gallery that lets you explore artistic pieces by price point. If you’re looking for more high-end or fine art options that include original paintings, you might want to look at Saatchi Art. However, this company does offer a large selection of affordable prints for those who have a smaller budget.
Interestingly, the Saatchi Art site runs a complimentary art advisory service. This service provides potential clients with a team of curators that can build an art collection based on specific tastes or interior and exterior spaces.
There are more than one million available art pieces from more than 90,000 artists advertised on the platform that include photographic works, canvas prints, oil paintings, sculptures, and collages. Cheaper prints start at $50, and limited edition prints at $95, while some pieces such as sculptures can have a price of $50,000.
6. Etsy
One of the most popular places to buy awesome art online is Etsy. Etsy is a platform that offers not only incredible handmade and vintage art pieces but also thousands of home decor items. This site offers something for everyone, and art lovers can even commission pieces for their homes.
There are many framed and unframed print options, and they even have an instant download option with some art pieces depending on the vendor. The instant download option lets you print the art piece you are interested in as soon as you have purchased it.
Etsy has numerous style pieces that include black and white photographic images and bespoke oil paintings. There are thousands of independent artists and small businesses advertising their art wares at various price points, so it’s likely you’ll find an incredible piece for your home within your budget.
7. Society6
If you need to fill up large gallery walls or require numerous art pieces to give your home or office space character, you’ll want to look at the Society6 website. This online art platform offers an extensive range of affordable, quirky, colorful, and unique art pieces. Additionally, Society6 has a range of giant wall murals that are incredibly eye-catching and show-stopping.
The website features various art pieces from more than 300,000 independent artists and designers in more than 160 countries. At Society6, you can have prints supplanted on anything from clocks to pillows. The site has many categories, and you can find everything from minimalistic line drawings, cheeky sayings, abstracts, nature scenes, watercolor florals, prints, and tapestries.
Society6’s user interface is incredible. Customers can easily search by color, keyword, style, and artist. Additionally, most designs can be purchased unframed or framed. Prices start from as little as $20 for canvas prints, with the more expensive prints costing roughly $300.
8. Sotheby’s
One of the most popular go-to online consignment marketplaces for design enthusiasts eager to buy and sell antique art is Sotheby’s. Those with a mid-range budget will likely find a piece at this online store easily.
There’s a broad range of original art, sculptures, paintings, photographs, and vintage-related items such as posters and prints at Sotheby’s. The vintage-related items might not be one of a kind, but they’re definitely not easy to find elsewhere.
On the website, customers can easily find what they are looking for by filtering their search based on style, period of movement, and even condition. Starting prices for art at Sotheby’s are $150, but many pieces are upwards of $2,000.
9. 20×200
It’s often hard to come across affordable museum-quality art that is limited edition. Not everyone wants mass-produced art that can be found in thousands of people’s homes. Fortunately, there’s an online art company that offers limited edition art pieces that cannot be found anywhere else.
20×200 has an extensive range of modern photography pieces that are incredibly affordable. With more than 1,000 editions, you’re bound to find a photograph that catches your eye. Prices for the art on 20×200 start at $24 but can go as high as $10,000.
Interestingly, one of the most unique aspects of 20×200 is that they offer customers documentation on each piece that is bought. This documentation includes details about the artwork. Additionally, the website announces each launch with an informative description of the artist and project being exhibited.
10. 1st Dibs
The 1st Dibs online platform serves as a middleman and curator for artists and their amazing artwork. This platform is constantly seeking out and acquiring new art. Presently the site is a must-see and go-to destination for anyone looking for originals and copies.
1st Dibs is well known in the art world for hosting a large inventory of art from numerous reputable and established galleries. You’ll find art from contemporary specialists and old master dealers on this site. Most of the artwork displayed is available for purchase immediately, with prices varying between $50 and $2 million.
Additionally, 1st Dibs curated sales on their website is a great place to learn how different art forms can be mixed. It’s also a place where you can search for art by artists you may know.
11. Central & Grand
Should you want to fill your home or place of work with unique photographic pieces, you may want to consider buying artwork from Central & Grand. Each season the website adds new photographic art from 52 photographers. Currently, this website has print artwork from five seasons available for purchase framed or unframed.
Curiously, the photographic prints that are available come in two sizes. Customers can purchase 30 x 30 or 60 x 80 museum-quality prints. The photographers specifically mention that every image purchased is printed directly from the photographer’s master file. Additionally, each photograph is printed exclusively on Hahnemuhle 100% cotton photo rag Baryta paper. The pricing for the photo prints varies, but on average, a 30 x 30 image costs upwards of $2,000 depending on the canvassing and other design print options.
12. Poster Child Prints
Poster Child Prints is arguably one of the best places online to find limited edition and eccentric screen prints that are affordable. The company has a range of accessible artworks that are perfect for novice or seasoned collectors. Every piece the company sells is authenticated to guarantee its uniquely limited edition status.
Poster Child Prints doesn’t only offer limited edition prints. They also have photographic works, minimalistic line drawings, posters, tapestries, original artwork, and art pieces under $100. Unlike many other online art websites, Poster Child Prints have numerous interesting graffiti-style art pieces. Although most pieces featured are incredibly affordable, there are a few that are over $2,000.
13. Minted
Although Minted is well known for their photo gifts and holiday cards, they actually have a broad range of original artwork by many different artists. Much of the artwork featured on their website can be bought in many different sizing and framing options. Minted also offers a limited edition collection that only sells each artwork a few hundred times.
Minted offers customers a variety of different drawings, modern photographic pieces, and abstract watercolor prints. On the website, artists have their own landing pages with links and bios to all their art. Additionally, one of the best benefits for emerging artists on this site is that they can participate in a crowdsourcing system that will allow them to find a platform.
On this site, you can easily navigate it to find what you’re looking for. You can narrow your search by filtering by size, color, medium, style, and artist. Moreover, most pieces on offer are affordable, with the starting price for a print being $24, while most art is around the $100 mark.
14. Tappan Collective
Arguably the best online website where you can buy art from emerging artists is the Tappan Collective. The Tappan Collective was founded in 2012 by Jordan Klein and Chelsea Neman. This artistic platform aims to support and nurture emerging artists by connecting them with seasoned collectors.
The Tappan Collective features numerous different art forms such as ceramics, mixed media, sculptures, and large-scale paintings. Additionally, the Tappan Collective is not only an internet-based platform to sell artistic works. They are also curators that have curated many exhibitions in assorted spaces by different artists throughout Los Angeles.
The pricing for the artwork featured in the Tappan Collective varies greatly depending on the type you select. For example, some ceramic pieces are only $100, while large-scale prints can cost upwards of $10,000.
15. 1xRun
If you’re seeking one-of-a-kind or rare graffiti and streetwear vibe art, you should consider 1xRun. This website is one of the premier online art dealers for this type of art, yet they don’t only sell this style, as customers can find some lovely traditional art and modern photographic prints.
1xRun was founded in 2010 and has since expanded to become a global platform that ships internationally. Many aspiring and seasoned artists have their work featured on this Detroit Michigan based company’s website. Most of the artwork sold by 1xRun is affordable, with prices starting at $100.
16. Buy Some Damn Art
Finding affordable, quirky abstract art can be immensely challenging. Fortunately, the online art gallery Buy Some Damn Art provides funky original artwork that will suit anyone with eccentric or creative tastes.
Buy Some Damn Art was founded by Kate Singleton in 2010. She started the website with the aim for it to be an affordable art platform where emerging artists could showcase their works. Presently most of the creative works on the platform fall into the modern and fine art categories.
Additionally, the artworks on the website are sourced primarily from independent artists from the US and UK. However, a smaller minority of the artists are from further abroad.
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The 12 Best Survival Food Kits For The Outdoor Man
Are you ready to roll when things go sideways? Maybe you want your family to be prepared in case of an earthquake, hurricane, or blizzard. Maybe you don’t want to be caught with your pants down next time there’s a global pandemic or a zombie outbreak.
In any case, you need to be prepared. A survival food kit is a great way to ready yourself for any disaster – natural or otherwise – that may befall you. You’ll be able to focus on other important tasks knowing that nutrition is covered.
All that being said, survival food kits really do come in handy in a lot of real-world scenarios. You can take them hiking or camping, or stock your hunting cabin so you don’t have to worry about food when you get out there this fall. Throw one in your truck in case you break down and have to spend a night somewhere.
There is, of course, a pretty wide range of quality when it comes to survival food. Some could almost pass for a home-cooked meal, while others taste more like warmed-over cardboard. And ultimately you might favor sacrificing taste in the name of convenience. Survival food, after all, is about survival, not savoring every bite.
You’ll find a host of options on this list, from the basic to the luxurious. Here’s to eating well in the end times!
Best Buy
1. ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply
This one will keep you going for a while! Containing 60 servings of meat with a 15-year shelf life, the ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply will have you well-stocked well into whatever apocalyptic scenario may come around.
In all seriousness, this is a great choice for anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency/survival scenario. The whole Emergency Food Supply weighs just over 5 pounds and comes in a sealed plastic bucket; the individual portions within are more easily portable, should the need arise.
This particular product is ReadyWise’s somewhat comically named (but accurately named, it must be said) Meat Bucket. They also make a Vegetable Bucket and a Fruit Bucket, and it’s a good idea to get all three for a balanced diet.
The Meat Bucket contains 60 total servings of four different entrees: savory roast beef, Teriyaki chicken, Southwest style chicken, and cheesy beef. Twenty bonus servings of long-grain instant white rice are also included.
2. NuManna Emergency Survival Kit
For anyone in need of long-term emergency foodstuffs in larger quantities, the NuManna Emergency Survival Kit is a great option. While it isn’t cheap, it’s head-and-shoulders above many of its competitors when it comes to quality.
Inside this kit, you get a total of 20 pounds of freeze-dried rations. It includes several different dishes to cover every meal of the day, divided into 18 multi-serving individual packs.
The most surprising thing about it is that these meals are actually pretty tasty. Dishes include sweet habanero chili with pineapple, cheesy potato soup, rice pilaf, oatmeal with brown sugar, and others. The shelf life is at least 25 years.
The NuManna Emergency Survival Kit is something you can tuck away and rest assured that it will be there when you need it. NuManna also offers various other kits with different meal options.
3. Mountain House 3 Day Emergency Food Supply Kit
The Mountain House 3-Day Emergency Food Supply Kit is just as it sounds. Inside you’ll find enough freeze-dried meals to keep one person well-fed for three days. They’re pretty good meals too!
The package contains three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners, with some surprisingly appetizing options (sausage gravy and biscuits, chicken fried rice, beef stroganoff with noodles). To make each one, all you do is add hot water and wait 10 minutes.
This is a great thing to tuck away in your cabin or RV. You can also pick and choose individual meals to take with you on hiking and backpacking trips. Net weight is just over 2 lb, 7 oz.
One small strike against the Mountain House 3-Day Emergency Food Supply is its packaging. Each meal is in its own foil/plastic pouch, but they arrive loose in a cardboard box. Storing them that way does leave them vulnerable to pests or accidental puncture.
4. Xmre Blue Line Meals
Containing 12 complete meals, the XMRE Blue Line Meals case is made to feed you in any emergency. These are essentially military-style rations, each one already cooked and ready to eat right out of the package.
Each one of the XMRE Blue Line Meals provides 800 to 1,200 calories of balanced nutrition, including an entrée, two to three side items, and a beverage. No heating or refrigeration is needed; shelf life is three years with proper storage.
Spoons, napkins, a condiment kit, and an optional flameless ration heater (FRH) are also included. The whole kit and caboodle comes packed in a high-density water and tamper-proof outer bag, embossed with the pack date.
5. LaunchPro Emergency Survival Kit
If bare-bones survival is your style, the LaunchPro Emergency Survival Kit might be for you. It’s designed to provide your essential needs (hydration, nutrition, warmth) and nothing more. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what you’re looking for.
The Emergency Survival Kit from LaunchPro contains three days’ worth of food and water for one person, plus a thermal blanket that makes it a well-rounded survival kit. One can imagine it being useful in a shipwreck-type scenario.
The food rations are essentially lemon-flavored energy bars, each delivering 400 calories. You get nine of them. The water is packaged in six pre-measured 4 oz airtight, sterilized packets. Shelf life: five years.
6. The Survival Tabs Emergency Food Supply
These are chocolate-flavored tablets packed with vitamins, and the Survival Tabs company has been making this Emergency Food Supply product since the 70s. You get five pouches, each containing 24 tablets with 20 calories each.
The big advantage here is portability. You can easily store packages of Survival Tabs wherever you want so they’re ready when you need them. They’re relatively lightweight, and ideal when you need to stay mobile.
It’s worth noting that these are not really meant to be your sole source of nutrition in the long term. Eating them for a day or two in an emergency will keep you going, but Survival Tabs are really best used to supplement another food source.
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7. NorthWest Fork Gluten-Free 30 Day Emergency Food
So, right off the bat, the NorthWest Fork 30 Day Emergency Food Supply is both gluten-free and entirely vegan. Some of you will love that. Others will have already moved on to the next item on our list. That’s totally fine.
This kit gives you 30 days’ worth of freeze-dried meals, all of which contain complete nutrition including plant-based protein. The 30 Day Emergency Food Supply includes 90 total meals, including strawberry oatmeal, green pea soup, and black bean chipotle stew.
The individual meal packets are great for backpacking. They stand on their own, making it easy to add hot water and eat straight out of the pouch. They’re also really nutritious and flavorful and have a 10-year shelf life.
8. AlpineAire Foods Ready Meal Kit
AlpineAire products tend to be marketed more toward campers and hikers than to the prepper and survivalist crowd. Even so, they’re really perfect for anyone who wants lightweight, easily portable freeze-dried meals with a long shelf life.
First and foremost, these are some of the best-tasting freeze-dried meals you can get. With the AlpineAire Foods Ready Meal Kit, you get options like three-cheese lasagna and chicken gumbo that are genuinely tasty.
The AlpineAire Foods Ready Meal Kit contains “28 servings” which could be a little misleading. It includes 14 meal packages, each of which is made up of two servings. Realistically, a person with a reasonable appetite is not going to want to make two meals out of each package.
9. S.O.S. Food Labs Ration Kit
The S.O.S. Food Labs Ration Kit is a well-rounded option that includes 12 portions of purified water, eight S.O.S Food Ration Bars, eight Millennium Energy Food Bars, and a book of survival tips. Each ration is bagged in a polymer-foil sachet with a five-year shelf life.
These tend to get put into a lot of people’s disaster-preparedness kits, and they’re great to have in the event of an earthquake or hurricane. That being said, if you’re looking for nutritious rations for camping or hiking, these fit the bill pretty well.
The S.O.S. Rations also taste surprisingly good, although the flavors get tiresome after a while. These are essentially 16 energy bars, and they’re quite sweet. It’s hard to imagine wanting to eat them for long periods of time.
10. Augason Farms 30 Day 1 Person Emergency Food Supply
A great option for long-term emergency sustenance, the Augason Farms 30 Day 1 Person Emergency Food Supply delivers on its promise to keep one person fed for a month. The meals are nutritious, and pretty tasty too.
This Emergency Food Supply includes freeze-dried entrees like macaroni and cheese and creamy potato soup, along with a powdered milk alternative beverage and banana chips for snacking. It all comes in a handy, watertight 8.5-gallon pail.
It’s Quality Survival Standards (QSS) certified and contains 307 Servings that provide an average of 1,854 calories per day. And with a shelf life of 25 years, the Augason Farms Emergency Food Supply can be safely stored until needed.
11. Patagonia Provisions Kit
Designed to feed two people for two days in the backcountry, the Patagonia Provisions Kit is made with weekend backpackers in mind. But this kit can come in handy in an emergency too.
One of the great advantages of the Patagonia Provisions Kit is that by only including enough food for a relatively short time, they’re able to put more into the quality. These are some genuinely delicious meals, with a healthy assortment of snacks thrown in.
Each meal can be made in 10 minutes or less by adding just hot water, and a cookbook is included with instructions on combining ingredients to create dishes like banana pancakes, or seafood paella. You will need a stove of some sort.
12. Sustain Supply Co. Premium Emergency Survival Bag
The Premium Emergency Survival Bag from Sustain Supply Co. is a handy kit containing a wide range of survival essentials in one convenient backpack. Just stow it somewhere safe, grab it when you need it, and you’re ready to roll.
This kit is meant to sustain two people for 72 hours following a disaster. To that end, it has potable water and food (in the form of freeze-dried meals) and a fully functioning backpacker’s stove with fuel for cooking.
What really makes this kit from Sustain Supply Co. stand out is that it also includes first aid supplies, a survival knife, lantern, fire starters, emergency blankets, signal whistles, sanitary wipes, and a water purification system. You’re basically all set.
See more about - Camping Essentials – Complete Guide To The Basics
Survival Food Kit FAQs
A survival food kit contains non-perishable, easy to prepare food to be eaten in case of an emergency. They are usually (but not always) packaged in an easily portable container, and individual portions may also be packaged separately.
The intended use of most survival food kits is emergency preparedness. You might get one to include in your go-bag in the event of a tornado, earthquake, or similar disaster, or you may carry emergency rations while traveling in case you get lost or have an accident. Some outdoorsmen may also take survival foods with them while camping or backpacking.
The actual contents of survival food kits vary widely. Freeze-dried meals are common, requiring only the addition of hot water to prepare. Some kits contain more complex meals, while some contain ready-to-eat military rations that need no cooking at all. Others may simply be nutrition-packed energy bars.
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The 12 Best Pairs of Dress Pants for Men in 2021
While you may think all dress pants are one and the same, we’re here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth – especially nowadays, as there’s a wide variety of styles, fits, cuts, and more when it comes to dress pants. From cotton-blend chinos and linen pants to cropped wool trousers and slim-fit khakis, there’s truly something for everyone in today’s day and age.
So whether you’re looking for a pair of dress pants that can take you from the office to happy hour, or a pair of trousers that will make you look like you stepped out of a business meeting straight onto the runway at fashion week, we’ve got you covered with the 12 best pair of dress pants for men.
Best Buy
1. Oliver Spencer Linen-Blend Canvas Trouser
There’s truly nothing better than a linen-blend trouser, and the Oliver Spencer Linen-Blend Canvas Trouser is the perfect lightweight pair of dress pants for warmer weather. These dress pants boast mismatched pockets for a unique, eye-catching detail from the back, have an elasticized mid-rise waist for all-day wear, and a relaxed fit for ultimate comfort.
Pair them with a white button down – short or long sleeve, depending on the occasion – and throw on a pair of loafers or Oxfords for a casual yet dressy look that’s perfect for attending a beach wedding, going to the office (if your dress code in on the casual side), or any event that requires smart casual attire.
2. Thom Browne Four-Bar Cotton Chino
The best thing about chinos is that they’re dress pants that are incredibly versatile, can be dressed up or down, and come in a variety of colors and styles. If you’re looking for an interesting spin on a classic pair of chinos, the Thom Browne Four-Bar Cotton Chinos should most definitely be on your radar.
Featuring four white bars across the left leg of the pants just above the knee, a design that “derives from the graphic patterns used on the sports uniforms of America’s Ivy League institutions,” these dress pants are sure to set you apart from the rest. Just be sure to check the dress code for whatever occasion you plan on wearing these bad boys too, as they err on the casual side.
3. UNIQLO Smart Ankle Pants
You can always count on UNIQLO for stylish clothes that don’t cost a fortune, and the UNIQLO Smart Ankle Pants are the perfect pair of dress pants that won’t break the bank, all while looking like you spent a pretty penny on your formal wear or business casual look.
These dress pants boast a hidden elastic waist for easy wear, hit right at the ankles as the name suggests, and come in three different colors – navy, black, and grey – so you can stock up on these dressy essentials for half the cost of some of the other dress pants on the market.
4. Bonobos Tailored Fit Stretch Washed Cotton Chinos
Slim fit dress pants are perfect for smart casual settings, so if you’re looking for a pair of dress pants that fit like a glove, the Bonobos Tailored Fit Stretch Washed Cotton Chinos will be a great addition to your wardrobe. These babies are fitted through the hip and thigh and slightly taper to the ankle, feature slant pockets and back welt pockets, and are made of 98% cotton and 2% spandex for ultra-comfortable, all-day wear that’ll take you from the office to happy hour in style.
Toss on a printed short sleeve button down for a laidback look. Roll these pants up at the ankle and pair them with suede Oxfords or boat shoes to polish off the entire outfit.
5. Lululemon ABC Pant Classic 34” Warpstreme
If you’re looking for a pair of dress pants that are comfortable and move with you, then the Lululemon ABC Pants Classic 34” Warpstreme is a wonderful option. Some of the highlights of these dress pants include four-way stretch and shape retention, and you won’t ever have to worry about creasing if you’re sitting in an office chair all day since they’re wrinkle-resistant.
These pants are also breathable and quick-drying, making them perfect for warmer temperatures. The best part? They come in a whopping 14 colors and are available in sizes 26-44, so you’re guaranteed to find your perfect pair of pants.
6. Polo Ralph Lauren Slim-Fit Stretch Cotton Trousers
There’s nothing more classic than a pair of khaki trousers, and the Polo Ralph Lauren Slim-Fit Stretch Cotton Trousers are an essential pair of dress pants that should already be hanging in your closet, so if you don’t have a pair, now’s the time to grab one!
Made from a mid-cotton blend with a hint of stretch to hold the shape and to optimize all-day comfort, these neutral trousers are a building block for any smart casual wardrobe. Dress them up with a classic, crisp white button down, a navy blazer or sport coat, and leather brogues, or wear ‘em with a plain white t-shirt and some loafers for a more casual vibe.
See more about - The 10 Best Smart Casual Dress Shoes For Men In 2021
7. A.P.C. Massimo Cotton Twill Chino Trousers
If you’re on the hunt for a pair of dress pants that will make you stand out from the crowd in a subtle, cool way, then the A.P.C. Massimo Cotton Twill Chino Trousers, which come in a slate grey color, should be right up your alley.
Featuring a straight leg for a more relaxed fit, these trousers are perfect for those days when you want to be stylish and look put together, but also want to be as comfortable as you possibly can be. Wear them with a black button down shirt and black sneakers for a mysterious, edgy, and casual look.
8. Stone Island Logo-Patch Cotton Blend Cargo Trousers
When you think of cargo pants or shorts, the first thing that comes to mind is probably 20-something-year-old frat boys chugging beer bongs on Spring Break. However, if styled correctly, you can totally get away with wearing cargo pants in casual or smart casual settings.
The Stone Island Logo-Patch Cotton Blend Cargo Trousers are cargo pants that don’t necessarily scream “check out my extra pockets” thanks to the monotone dark grey color. Made from a stretch cotton blend, these trousers are perfect for all-day wear and look best when paired with similar dark grey colors for a totally minimalist and streamlined look.
9. Orlebar Brown Brewer Drawstring-Waist Cotton Trousers
If you’re on the hunt for a pair of dress pants that are perfect for a day on the boat or at brunch, then you’re gonna flip when you see the Orlebar Brown Brewer Drawstring-Waist Cotton Trousers, which come in a crisp white and give off maximum sun and summertime vibes.
These resort-style cotton trousers feature a drawstring waist for maximum comfort and have a straight-leg relaxed fit, and will look amazing with a funky printed Hawaiian shirt, boat shoes, and a Mai Tai.
10. Rag & Bone Flynt Nylon-Blend Trousers
While some dress pants may have a reputation for being stuffy and uncomfortable, you don’t have to worry about that with the Rag & Bone Flynt Nylon-Based Trousers, thanks to their cotton and nylon blend, which makes them ultra-breathable, as well as water-resistant.
These trousers are also some of the most comfortable around, as they boast an elasticized waistband for maximum comfort, along with relaxed legs that taper toward adjustable cuffs – perfect for warmer temperatures and smart casual, outdoor settings. Throw on a plain tee and some leather or suede desert boots for a cool and casual vibe, and top with a bomber jacket if the temperatures dip.
11. Acne Studios Cropped Wool-Blend Trousers
If you’re in the market for a pair of trousers that are more on the dressy side, the Acne Studio Cropped Wool-Blend Trousers should be in your online shopping cart, like, now. Featuring a high waist and cropped leg that hits above the ankle, these trousers are the perfect way to give your formalwear a bit of an edge.
Wear with leather boots and a cashmere sweater with a button down underneath for a fashionable twist on formalwear, and make sure you don’t throw these pants in the wash – get them dry cleaned (you’ll thank us later).
12. Sunspel Neut Tapered-Leg Trousers
You can never have too many pairs of khaki dress pants to choose from in your closet, and the Sunspel Neut Tapered-Leg Trousers are the perfect staple to add to your wardrobe. Made from lightweight, comfortable stretch cotton, these dress pants have dart detailing at the waist, two side pockets and back welt pockets, and are tapered at the leg for a fitted, yet comfortable and relaxed feel. Wear a printed button down in a fun pattern to liven up the khaki color, or stay neutral and go with a crisp white button down.
See more about - Smart Casual Dress Code For Men – The Ultimate Guide
Dress Pants FAQs
Dress pants come in a wide variety of styles, but essentially, dress pants are pants that can be worn in semi-formal, smart casual, business casual, or formal occasions, depending on the cut, fabric, and style of the pants.
Dress pants can be made from a plethora of materials, including cotton, wool, linen, twill, and more. Typically, dress pants that are considered on the formal side are made from wool or a wool blend, while more casual dress pants, like chinos, are typically made from cotton, linen, or a cotton blend.
What you should look for in dress pants depends on the style you’re going for, the occasion you’re dressing for, and more. If you’re looking for a pair of dress pants that you can wear to casual events or occasions, then stick to light, breathable materials with a little bit of stretch. You can also play around with color and fit in more casual settings, so you have a bit more freedom when it comes to choosing the right pair of dress pants for a casual occasion.
If you’re on the hunt for a pair of dress pants that are suited for more formal occasions, you want to make sure they’re fitted properly (i.e. not too tight) and are made from wool, linen, or some type of wool blend.
While dress pants can be worn for a variety of smart casual, semi-formal, and formal occasions, there’s really no need to wear dress pants to places like the gym, around the house, running errands, etc. – save your casual wear, like jeans, joggers, athletic shorts, and cotton shorts for those tasks.
