No matter if you are headed out for a quick weekend of car camping or jetting across the globe to far-flung wild lands, this gear is the easiest, smartest stuff for travel that will keep you ready for any adventure that falls in your path.
1. Redington Path Outfit
This 4-piece outfit breaks down easy and small, making it ideal for travel, especially when you need to carry it in a pack or stuff it into luggage. The fast-action rod runs in size from 4-weight, for chasing native cutthroats in small streams, to 9-weight for chasing stripers in salt water. The reel is pre-loaded with Rio Mainstream WF line (or floating Saltwater line) and the package includes a padded carrying case. $190; redington.com
2. Osprey Ozone Convertible
Tipping the scales at just over 6 pounds, this bag quickly became our favorite travel luggage, thanks in big part to the best removable day pack in a two-in-one roller bag we have ever tested. Inside the main bag, the pockets and zippered pouches made it easy to organize for the road. $330; ospreypacks.com
3. Fishpond Westwater Dog Bed
Traveling with the dog does not have to be a mess. This inflatable pad is ideal for that pup who has been trained to hang out on a mat and it’s ideal for everything from rough camping to the back of the Subaru thanks to TPU-coated ballistic nylon on the bottom. Fleece makes for a cozy bed up top and also dries fast. $90; fishpondusa.com
4. Salewa Escape GTX
The sexy, Nubuk-leather Escape looks stylish enough for a romantic hike through Italy’s Cinqueterra, but this urban hiker is far more technical than meets the eye. The sole features Gore’s Surround technology, which basically provides waterproofing and breathability throughout the whole shoe—an open waffle pattern on the sole lets sweat escape but won’t soak your feet. That means your feet won’t sweat, or hopefully stink, but they will stay dry and comfy. $169; salewa.com
5. Montane Trailblazer Stretch
If you have to pack just one jacket for a trip, make it this one. It weighs a mere 12.7 ounces but it can withstand the nastiest of elements and excels in a wide range of athletic activities thanks to a hyper four-way stretch Aquapro fabric that won’t confine your stride and breathes even better the more you sweat, opening up the pores in the membrane as your body pumps out more heat. Add in a stowaway hood, and it’s good for everything from backpacking to quick turns around your hotel to waiting for a bus in the rain. $259; montane.co.uk
6. Dakine Crew Duffel 100L
Nothing makes traveling with tons of gear easier than a big, durable duffel. Dakine’s waterproof, 100-liter bag is all that, plus it includes storable shoulder straps that make it easier to haul. $110; dakine.com
7. LifeStraw Go
The LifeStraw, a water purification device that is in essence a straw you use without pumping, is an ideal simple solution for ultra-light camping and adventure on the go, but it may not always be the most practical thing to use when you are in the midst of travel. But the brand’s Go bottle solves that minor inconvenience by putting the technology of the LifeStraw, which strains out everything from giardia to cholera, inside a water bottle. Fill it anywhere, suck, and it’s clean. Best of all, you do some good when you buy the bottle—for every LifeStraw water filter sold, a child in Africa receives clean water for an entire school year. $35; buylifestraw.com
8. Bokos
No savvy traveler leaves home without a pair of sandals that make it easy to relax and air out your dogs. Comfy, strong and easy to wash off when they got nasty, Bokos answered that call. We slipped them in our carry on or backpack and our feet thanked us at the end of the day. And at $18 we didn’t cry if we lost them. $18; bokosusa.com
