Summer Travel Essentials And Accessories

Summer travel season is here and hopefully, you’ve got a trip or two on the books. Whether you’re taking a week away to hit somewhere warm and tropical, seeking out nature, or hitting the road for some sightseeing, you’re going to need some essentials to get you through all types of situations. If you’ve seen Ashley’s Instagram you know that we both travel quite a bit, and we’ve found that outside of finding the right travel bag, these small, easily packable items can make all the difference in the world.

Plus, almost all of these items can be found on Amazon so it will make your pre-trip shopping as easy as a few clicks.

 

 

Pain Relievers

Whether you’re nursing a hangover from a few too many poolside cocktails or dealing with aches and pains from hikes or exercise, a few of these can change the game.

 

Band-Aids

If you’ve ever dealt with vacation blisters from a day of walking and sightseeing or accidents in nature you know how handy a pack of these band-aids in your dopp kit can be.

 

Dopp Kit

Speaking of dopp kits, having the right one is not only stylish but helps keep you organized and prepared for any type of trip.

Dopp Kit Picks:

Jack Spade

Jack Spade 2

Filson

Vetelli

Budget Friendly: Herschel

Sunscreen

We can’t stress enough the importance of sunscreen, whether you’re at the pool or beach or just out and about.  Don’t forget proper lip balm with sunscreen too!

Sunscreen/Lip Balm Picks:

Anthelios

Neutrogena

Jack Black

Burt’s Bees

Jack Black

 

Noise Cancelling Headphones

An absolute must when traveling on any kind of plane journey, these can turn a rough flight into a relaxing one.  We’ve tried a bunch and the ones listed below are our favorites.

Headphone Picks:

Bose

Sony

Budget-Friendly: Cowin

Earbud Option

 

Sandals/Flip Flops

Sure, we’ve talked about how a lot of guys wear them too often during summer, but if you’re going to be in/around a body of water they’re definitely a great thing to have.

Flip Flop Picks:

Hurley

Scott

Rainbow

 

Clorox Wipes

For a quick clean up on potentially dirty surfaces that can make you sick, nothing beats the convenience of these Clorox wipes.

 

Emergen-C

Airports and planes can be a virus and bacterial hot zone, so make sure you’re taking proper precautions by downing a few Emergen-Cs and keeping your immune system in check.

 

External Battery Pack

Keep your devices juiced up and ready to go with one of these handy battery packs.  Another item that you’ll be so glad you have when you need it.

Battery Pack Picks:

Power Bank

Belkin

Anker

 

Cable Organizer / Tech Dopp Kit

Keep your carry on or briefcase organized and stress-free with one of these easy-to-use cord organizers.

Organizer Picks:

Grid-It

BagSmart

This Is Ground

 

Lint Roller

A must-have for any dark clothing. We like this handy small version the best for traveling:

Travel Lint Roller

 

Portable Steamer 

Small and easy-to-use, a steamer is well worth the packing space. This is the only one we use and recommend:

Portable Steamer

 

Portable Speaker

A fun, easy way to add some atmosphere to any trip.  We’ve tested and used a bunch and these are our favorites.

Speaker Picks:

JBL

Anker

Ultimate Ears

How To Store Your Clothes

In addition to proper cleaning and washing, keeping your clothing in good shape and looking great has as much to do with how you store your garments it as it does with how you wear them.  Proper storage is also key to extending the life of your clothes, whether it be investment purchases like a leather jacket or a suit or something as simple as a t-shirt.

So, in this episode of 2 Minute Tuesday we’re answering a viewer question about how to properly store your clothing and all the tools you need to outfit your closet.

 

 

Use The Right Hangers

They help maintain clothes and keeps them organized.  We recommend jacket hanger for all types of jackets, from suits to bomber jackets.  The shape helps support the jacket’s shoulders and structure.

We recommend clip hangers for any and all pants and felt hangers for all types of shirts and sweatshirts.

Hanger Picks:

Jacket Hangers

Wood Hangers

Velvet Hangers

Clip Hangers 1

Clip Hangers 2

 

Hang Your Pants Vertically or Folded Once

Hanging your pants vertically with a clip hanger is the ideal way since it will help hang out wrinkles.  Simply attach the clip to the bottom hem of your pants and then hang.  But, folded over once on a proper hanger works if you’re limited on closet space.

Always Fold Your Sweaters

You never want to hang your sweaters as it can damage the delicate material.  Fold them and store them in a drawer or in the closet and don’t forget cedar blocks for keeping moths away.

Cedar Blocks For Preventing Moths

The 5 Best Closet Organization Essentials

Organization and storage are two things that a lot of guys often overlook when it comes to thinking about their wardrobe. Let’s face it, your clothes spend most of their life in your closet and in drawers rather than on your body so it makes sense to give their storage some thought.

Plus, how you store them is going to have a huge effect on their life as well. We’re not suggesting a Patrick Bateman OCD level of color coordinating but, in terms of getting dressed, having a well-organized closet is only going to help you make better, quicker decisions when you’re getting ready.  We’ve got all our favorite picks below, make sure to check them out.

Good Hangers

They help maintain clothes and keeps them organized.  We recommend felt hangers for shirts and pants and suit/jacket hangers for, well, suits and jackets.  The extra width and structure help keep the shoulders of your jackets in good shape.

Suit Hangers

Wood Hangers

Velvet Hangers

 

Shoe Trees

A critical yet very inexpensive item that helps shoes keep their shape and prevents creasing and wear.

Cedar Shoe Trees

Plastic Shoe Trees

Shoehorn

One of these makes getting shoes on a breeze and prevents smashing of the back of shoes which can add extra wear and tear.  We recommend the longer ones because they’re so much easier to use.

Plastic Shoe Horn (from the video)

Wood Shoe Horn

  

Lint Roller

A must-have if you wear any dark clothing at all.

Large Lint Roller

Travel Lint Roller

Garment Bags

Super important for long-term storage, these will protect suits and sweaters from dust, moths, and moisture.

Garment Bags

Best Travel Accessories

Obviously, we all know traveling can be super hectic; between the crazy lines, delayed flights, and packed planes, there’s a reason there’s a bar right by almost every gate.  Outside of finding the right travel bag, being prepared with the right accessories can make your trip smooth and easy.  Both Dorian and I travel a lot for work so we’ve learned a thing or two about what to bring on trips, and we decided to put together a foolproof list that’s suitable for nearly any journey.  Plus, almost all of these items can be found on Amazon so it will make your pre-trip shopping as easy as a few clicks.

 

Here’s our go-to list of travel accessories:

Portable steamer

You never know what the iron situation will be where you’re going and a portable steamer is small, light, easy to pack, and super effective.

Small lint roller

A must-have for keeping dark clothing and suits/blazers looking their best, we love this version because it has an easy-to-use covered design.

Jack Spade dopp kit

In addition to having the right bag, a proper dopp kit is going to keep all your toiletries organized and in good order.  We also like this budget-friendly version from Herschel.

Wireless Bose or Sony Bluetooth headphones

Wireless headphones with noise canceling are ideal for plane trips and will keep your tunes or podcasts sounding crisp and clear.  They also keep you feeling much more refreshed and alert by drowning out the excessive plane noise. We also like this budget-friendly version from Cowin.

Eye mask for sleeping

A necessity if you plan on surviving that redeye, they block out all the light so you can get deeper, more restful sleep. We find that the versions that don’t sit right on your eyes (like the ones linked above) are much, much more comfortable and effective.

Cabeau memory foam neck pillow

Speaking of surviving a red eye, a good neck pillow is a must. Memory foam is the best because it packs up super small and is very comfortable. Plus, this one from Cabeau is Tim Ferris approved!

Portable battery from Belkin or Anker

Never miss another ‘Gram opportunity because of a dead phone again. These small, portable batteries will keep you charged up and ready to go.

The Bagel power strip

If you travel internationally you know the hassles of different wall plug adapters. The Bagel is very small and works worldwide to keeps all your devices charged up.

ExOfficio boxer briefs

These outstanding briefs are super durable and quick-drying so you’ll be cool and comfortable all trip. We’re big fans of ExOfficio and have featured them before.

Tech Dopp Kit from This Is Ground

Just like you keep your toiletries organized, having a handy case will keep your cords, chargers, and devices squared away and easy-to-find. We also love the Bandito from This is Ground and the Grid-it from Cocoon.

The Cord Taco from This is Ground

If you’re traveling light, sometimes a small cord organizer is all you need.

So now that you’re properly prepared for a smooth trip all that’s left is to grab some snacks and a drink at the bar, have a safe flight!