Moving right along…I loved ‘Around the World’ parties in college – each station has some sort of libation from another country. It all went off the rails in about 20 minutes…but it was still fun.
Got a guy who loves to travel? Or is he on the road a bunch for work? Here are some great gift ideas that will make his journies more enjoyable…or upgrade what he’s already schleping around.
Get some:
From top left:
1. Holderness & Bourne Dopp Kit: It’s always nice to get a new dopp kit…they can get pretty dirty pretty fast. I have this one and use it often. Don’t forget the monogram!
2. Ricoh GR IV Camera: Sure – shooting pictures on your iPhone works. But a GREAT point and shoot camera makes it fun. Get into it.
3. Clayton and Crume Sunglasses Case: I’ve broken more than one pair of glasses, and wish I had a sturdy case for protection when I’m on the road. This is a GREAT idea.
4. Clayton and Crume Brass Luggage Tag: Tell ’em where you’re from…
5. A GREAT Fiction Book: Podcasts are good. Business books make sense. But a great fiction book is fun. I read this one, and it’s as crazy as The Martian. Recommend.
6. Anker Power Bank: Don’t be stuck to a wall outlet…bring your power with you.
7. Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones: A great way to zone out. These not only play music, but also work on Zoom calls.
8. Oak Street Bootmakers Lug Bit Loafers: GREAT travel shoes. Comfortable enough for walking all day, and easy on-and-off for airport security.
9. MIIR 20oz Water Bottle: These have become my go-to: the shape is perfect, as they fit in ANY bag, as well as a cupholder in the car. I have three.
10. Kingfisher Leatherworks Physicians Weekender Leather Duffle: Gotta have a GOOD leather duffle bag. It’s a flex on golf trips, overnighters, and on the plane. Beat it up on the road, and condition it once or twice a year.
11. Rimowa Classic Cabin Carry On: The best in the business…what all carry-on luggage aspires to be. Get it insured.
12. Away Trunk: A hack if you travel with kids. A GREAT size for all the lighter-weight stuff you travel with (toys, jackets, etc.)…be sure to keep it under ~50 pounds.
What did I miss?
Great list, with one glaring omission. For any travel you need a good travel (GMT) watch. Flex with the GMT Master 2 or get one of the TImex GMTs with a flyer movement if you want to save some money. .
Love the idea of the large trunk for the kiddos. We should have done this for Ireland this past summer, but my wife would kill me if I bought another piece of luggage.
That said, I have both a Rimowa and a leather duffle on my wish list.
GLARING OMISSION OMGEEE
Don’t skimp on a good soft-sided personal/ carry-on bag. If you’re over the age of 28, a North Face backpack or cheap company-branded roller just won’t do. Away makes a great one, as does Filson, and even LL Bean; I’m sure you can search RCS site for others.
A gift a guy can give to himself, especially if he travels frequently for work- a good travel credit card. Lounge access these days is a must, even if they can be over-crowded (don’t be that guy sitting on the floor at the gate on your laptop while you wait for Group 6 to board to LGA). Hotel rewards are not what they used to be, but airline miles can really add up for fun personal trips. Do research and stick with that card for the long haul.
Invest in a good travel blazer. Lightweight, soft/natural shoulders, still 100% or mostly natural fiber, some good interior pockets. Sid Mashburn’s “Ghost” is great, Peter Millar “Excursionist” is good, and I’m sure you can search for others. Throwing on a simple blazer over a polo or button-down not only puts you in a different class of traveler, it’s convenient to hold all your stuff (wallet, passport, charger, etc.)
Love the idea of a travel blazer. I always dress business casual no matter what I’m flying for because I can’t stand the people that dress like they’re going to bed on a plane and don’t take pride in their appearance. You can still be comfortable and look nice. Also, any particular travel cards you recommend?
I’m a 1099 sales rep who flies frequently, so I use a CitiBank American Airlines card for business purposes. Small annual fee and gets me lounge access and a quarterly Uber credit (which I use). Almost 95% of my airline travel is via American, and l fly enough per year that I can rack up enough miles to fly my family of four somewhere for free every year. For general travel use, and if you don’t want to be beholden to a certain airline or hotel brand, AmEx Gold and Platinum are good, but fees are high ($600/year for Platinum). Chase Sapphire is also good., I hear. My personal card is just a simple no annual fee cash back card from my bank. I’m not the guy who puts everything on a credit card, so I don’t spend enough to qualify for many of the perks on a “better” card.
Orvis used to make the absolute best travel blazer: bulletproof and cut in an Ivy Style with natural shoulders, patch pockets, and 3-roll-2 buttons. This was as recently as 2018. No longer. Too formal for the new Orvis. I will keep mine until it falls apart.
Very sad to hear Orvis is pivoting away from clothing. Big fire sale online and in their stores.