‘Tis the season, Red Clay Soldiers. The gift guides are about to start flowing like cheap beer in a fraternity house basement. So much so that the themes this year are Fraternity and Sorority Parties. This will be a fun way to organize the guides, and hopefully bring back a little nostalgia as compared to the millions of gift guide emails and texts you are undoubtedly getting…
So let’s get it kicked off with a Luau (it’s 44 degrees outside as I type this…). Usually a Springtime party, these day-drinking parties celebrate being around the water, which is exactly what we are going for here. Gifts for the beach/lake/pool lovers:
From top left:
1. Goodr Mach 3 Polarized Sunglasses: Great styles for an extremely reasonable price. As a dad, I love these because of the imminent dangers of beach games with my boys…
2. Custom Styrofoam Cups: There are millions of options on Etsy. These are great to have handy in your beach bag for mixed drinks, wine, etc. Get creative…
3. Turtlebox Ranger: The best personal speaker out there. While this gets a lot of play on the golf course, add a carabiner and clip it underneath your umbrella for that stereo sound.
4. Yeti 26 oz Rambler Bottle: Hack for wine lovers: put this in the freezer the night before. Pour in a bottle of white/rose/etc. that you like cold. It’ll be perfect all day…
5. Elite High Crown Visor: Sun protection is key. Do it in style.
6. Classic Lawn Chair from Lawn Chair USA: I have gone almost exclusively to these lawn chairs, and will never go back to those folding/rocking things. They are comfortable and super easy to carry.
7. Frisbee: Is there anything better than tossing the bee at the beach? The best one-handed sport out there.
8. Faherty White Linen Shirt: I like having a white linen shirt on hand…if I need to see people in or around the water (lunch, dinner, running to the store), I’d rather put this on than a sun shirt. Cool. And tough.
9. Onia Charles 5″ Swim Trunks: I have a couple pairs of Onias and love the way they fit. The 5″ inseam is just right, and the styles aren’t too loud. Of course, there is the Patagonia Baggies option (where a TON of them are on sale right now…)
10. Rugged Road 65 Cooler: The big guy, but it weighs less than a 12-pack of beer. I have one of these, and it is a staple when we go to the beach. Maybe not ON the beach (back at the house as our porch drink storage), but definitely AT the beach.
11. JustinCASE Backpack Cooler: This is our tote cooler – and it has tons of great features that make it more than a cooler (storage, etc.). We’re JustinCASE fans.
12: Rainbow Single Layer Sandals: The best. Get a new pair every two years and you’re cooking with gas.
EXTRA CREDIT: the Duck Camp Mesh Gear Tote. I have a couple of these, and can confirm that they are the best beach/pool/lake bag on the planet. They carry a ton, they have strategically placed pockets, a structured base so it doesn’t tip, and super easy to clean:
What did I miss?
