Real Life Buyers Guide: Summer Edition

Simple things I have used this summer at home and abroad.

It’s the last week of August, arguably the most summer-y moment of the summertime. Though some would argue that it’s all bittersweet because summer is over. Though, wait a minute, before we start thinking about Shetlands and waxed jackets, let’s reflect on the things that served us well in the heat of the summer.

As of late, I’ve been thinking back on my travel and beach days this summer, and I’m proud to report that I’m coming into September well above 500. Somehow, I’ve had some great wins this summer, and I think before we all collectively move on, it would be good to highlight a few key items that contributed in a big way.

I. Packing Light for Summer Travel

As an ongoing theme, I have continued to obsess over packing light. Somehow, though, I continue to do the opposite, despite putting considerable thought into what I bring. Finally, at the end of summer, I have started to hit my stride and executed several perfectly provisioned. These are some key takeaways and specific things that have helped me go light.

• The everything shirt. It’s summer, so my cotton Madras shirts have been coming along on every adventure. A cotton button-down is excellent because it can work with a bathing suit or a sports coat. It can be worn several times without looking terrible and it’s breathable/comfortable. These OMTC shirts have been in my bag for Iceland, New York, Scotland, and Hawaii.

• Wash & Fold. I pack a small container of Dr Bronner's liquid soap and a camping clothesline so you can wash some clothes in a hotel room. This works much better than you might think — you just need to make sure you have enough time in that location for the clothes to dry.

• Shoes are always the killer for space. I have a very strong two pair program of canvas sneakers (like the classic Vans or the Sperry CVOs) and the August Special Augie Type P Suede Loafers. These two combinations cover nearly every possible scenario and both are comfortable for walking.

Gear and Essentials:

• Finisterre Atlas Swim Shorts — These have been working hard for me in the Scottish seas, the hot springs of Iceland and the hometown beaches of Southern California.

• Ultralite Sacks — This is my new favorite bag for a dopp kit, a charger/wires bag and any other small items. They are super light as you might imagine, are tough and good to use. I’m all in on these things — buy yourself two or three in various sizes.

• Nitecore NB Air ultralight battery — If I needed an emergency charge for a device, it was typically just for my phone to get me by for when I’m out in the city during the day. So, instead of bringing a big, heavy charger, I have been using this super-light 5000mAh charger with one of these short USB-C cables. These have enough charge in them to get you through and aren’t even noticeable to carry around.

• Stax Interlocking Containers — I used these to carry soap, hair cream or whatever else I want to shrink down from a larger original packaging. They don’t spill and are easy to carry in my dopp kit.

• Patagonia Black Hole Tote and Black Hole 55L — These two bags get a lot done for me. The 55L is technically too big to be sized as a carry-on, but I’ve had it on nine planes with no problem. When you have a less rigid back than a standard suitcase it makes boarding order less important and generally less stressful. I put my computer, book, headphones, and my water bottle in the tote for use at my seat. Everything can also fit into the main 55L bag, which always seems to have extra space available.

• Norda Runners — I mentioned these in a 12 Things post earlier in the month, but these shoes are comfortable and highly versatile. I’m a huge Norda convert.

II. Keep it Cold

Oyster Cooler

This is the performance cooler we didn’t know we needed in our lives. The Oyster Cooler is sleek, easy to carry, and works better than any cooler you have ever owned. To me, this is an incredible product that fits many of my use cases. Great for roadtrips and fits easily behind the seat in my station wagon. They are lightweight and easy to carry with the strap, good for the beach or the park. They are also helpful for a weekend trip to a farmer’s market to keep everything fresh so you don’t need to rush home.

The new Cryo Blocks are also kind of an insane development. You can use them to keep contents below freezing for a few hours—which is good news for ice cream people. I like these coolers for the beach or for road trips. Oyster calls it a “performance cooler,” which is both kind of hilarious and also true. The key design feature of these coolers is that they are vacuum-walled, similar to a thermos, which is why they work as well as they do. The genius lies in the engineering and the manufacturing process that enabled the creation of a vacuum-walled cooler. Another great feature is the Oyster cooler’s attractive design. These things are something of a Rimowa cooler—and that’s pretty freaking great.