Summer is one of the most anticipated seasons of the year, and one of the busiest for travel. It comes as no surprise the Traveler out of office calendar has been full, with editors setting off on vacations near and far. Along the way, we’ve picked up some stellar travel gear—including a few quality summer staples to help beat the sometimes unbearable heat. Below, our editors share the tried-and-true products they’ve used the most this season, from comfortable sandals and essential skincare to lightweight linens and holy grail hair products. Some items are best suited to warm-weather vacations, while others will find a home in your suitcase year-round; all, though, come highly recommended by our team.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Comfortable walking shoes, a reliable backpack, and long-lasting sunscreen
What I look for in great summer gear is anything that can keep up with all the things worth saying yes to, and—in and around New York City—there’s a lot. ‘Tis the season for staying up and staying out, taking that weekend day trip upstate and heading down to the beach. In addition to having a pair of always-essential walking shoes (I’m partial to Sambas), I’ve been really enjoying my Crocs two-strap slides. It’s a revisit to a childhood classic that is still as good as ever—the sandal feels sturdy yet flexible, the straps don’t chafe, and it’s just plain fun to customize them with charms.
A bag I’ve been loving is Tumi’s Ramsay backpack from its Voyageur series. It’s lightweight and spacious enough to accommodate my work essentials and anything else I might pick up while exploring the city. The Moleskine sketchbook has a permanent space in my bag, I appreciate the break it gives me from screen time, and its lightweight carry and durability make it easy to tote around everywhere. When it comes to self-care, I can’t rep Korean skincare enough, especially sunscreen. I’ve always dealt with the common woes of wearing it—vainly searching for a formula that isn’t greasy, heavy, or eye-burning—but this balm stick from Kahi is the answer to all those problems and then some. Sun protection has never felt more convenient, comfortable, and long-lasting. What really sold me was how well it holds up to wearing wide-lens sunglasses, which can amplify the eye-irritating effects of some sunscreens. —Kat Chen, editorial assistant, destinations
Travel-friendly coolers, linen pants, and breathable exercise dresses
This summer I’m all about being as comfortable as possible. Cheap flip-flops and flat sandals just aren’t cutting it for me anymore. I’ve been wearing these comfy slides from Rothy’s non-stop—to work, to the boardwalk, to dinner, you name it. They have a thick sole and offer pretty decent support for a sandal, so I can walk in them everywhere without worrying about blisters. I’ve been wearing them with my go-to pair of loose-fitting linen pants a ton. These pants are a life saver on hot days when I need something breathable, but want a little bit of sun protection. Speaking of summer clothing staples, I’ve been living in my Halara Softlyzero Easy Peezy exercise dress. The $40 dress is so flattering and its built-in bike shorts are detached from the sports bra in the back, meaning I don’t have to take the whole dress off to go to the bathroom. And I must give an honorable mention to my ultra-soft Hydro Flask cooler that has earned me countless compliments at the pool this summer. It fits plenty of snacks and drinks for the whole day and really does the job at keeping them cool—even in 90+ degree weather. —Meaghan Kenny, commerce editor
Portable fans, comfy sandals, and running gear
Summer in New York has been brutal this year, which means I’ve been pulling out a handheld fan frequently while commuting to work or spending any sort of time outside, like at a recent birthday on the Baylander. On the shoe front, I love a hiking sandal for summertime—the Merrell x Sweaty Betty style has been my most-worn of late, both around the city and on trips to Chicago and Panama. Lastly, I’m training for the NYC Marathon this fall, so I’ve been trying out all sorts of running gear to keep me hydrated and cool: Nathan’s race vest, lots of Liquid IV, and the Lululemon Wunder Train bike shorts are some of my go-tos. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor
Kindles, roll-on sunscreen, and crossbody bags
Ok, I know that the Kindle is in no way a new concept, but it’s taken me years to hop on this train, mostly because I stubbornly insisted that nothing beats the feeling of a real book. But my apartment shelves are overflowing, and I can’t take another pile of books in my carry-on luggage, so for the sake of space I’ve been using the Kindle Scribe, and it’s a revelation—so light, so easy to use, and I can even take travel notes as I go. Another new idea (for me) is roll-on sunscreen (particularly the Supergoop Glow Stick and Caudlie Vinosun), which I find much easier to reapply throughout the day than traditional sunscreens, and better for getting into tricky spots like around the ears. And for keeping everything together, I’m still a huge fan of crossbody bags—however, I’ve (almost) moved on from my trusty Uniqlo, and upgraded to a leather version from Free People, which has a fun, western vibe that makes it ideal for summer music festivals. —Abigail Malbon, global audience development manager
TSA-approved grooming and skincare, plus headphones for the plane
An Air France agent at JFK recently gave me a hard time for having a carry-on heavier than 12 kilograms (about 25 pounds). Much of it was my grooming and skincare essentials, so now I do this thing where I keep travel-sized nicer-than-usual products that I use specifically for trips and only trips—as a little treat for using a ludicrously not-capacious bag. Some examples: a hair styling cream that fits in my pocket; a super summery body mist (I keep a bottle of the same scent as an Eau de Toilette on my desk at the office for when I want to pretend I’m instead at the Splendido in Portofino); and various items from French pharmacies (like the Caudalie Vinosun sunscreen, which makes me feel like a chic teenager in Biarritz, but the stuff’s much cheaper in Paris, so you may as well buy a ticket there, right?). Also, I now use wired headphones—plus an adapter jack for plane rides—when I travel (I lost my AirPods somewhere, maybe in an Uber). I guess that’s something new I’ve learned about myself this summer: I must be threatened into change. —Matt Ortile, associate editor
Bold slip-on sneakers, versatile belt bags, and lightweight foundation
This summer, I’ve had guests visiting left and right, so I’ve been all over Manhattan and Brooklyn acting as a tour guide. Exploring inherently means a lot of walking, I’ve opted for the comfortable, yet stylish Milan sneaker from Kizik. I love the colors, the cushioned insole, and the fact that I can slide the on with ease—thanks to Kizik’s hands-free design. The blue hues from the shoe have been pairing well with my Lux and Nyx Origami belt bag that I’ve been wearing almost every weekend. The bag is compact and has so many pockets for my keys, wallet, lip oil, and portable charger. It has an elevated look to it with the line work and pleats, so I’ve been pairing it with my Halara exercise dress and leaning into the off-duty tennis look. While my days have been spent strolling around the city, my nights have been filled with Broadway shows, bars and restaurants, and baseball games. With the summer heat, most days have been makeup-free, but when I do want to put on a little something, my go-to has been the Ami Cole stick foundation. It has buildable coverage and a creamy consistency that makes it easy to glide on and buff out with a brush. Plus, it really does look like skin. —Paris Wilson, commerce writer
Surf gear, skincare staples, and slides
Maybe it’s because I’m a Cancer, but I come alive in summer—I have barely stopped moving. The good news is that I’ve found a few things that can keep up. For a couple of weeks bopping around Europe in June, my Ganni bike shorts, Sabah El Paso slides, and a linen dress from Free People’s vacation edit were perfect for hot days with lots of walking (or pool days with none at all). Now that I’m home in New York City, I’ve been surfing in the Rockaways most weekends, and loving my Seea bodysuit-style wetsuit. It’s perfect for protecting against chafing on a waxed-up board, but is thin enough for hot summer temps and warm water. If I’m sticking around after surfing for a full beach day, my Vanessa Mooney bikini is the go-to—all its cuts are comfy and flattering, but the high-waisted are my favorite (in good news for readers and bad news for me, the suit I bought full price a couple of months ago is already on sale). A few other recurring cast members this summer are hair and skin products that I use to counteract all that time in the sun: Ceremonia and Olaplex deep conditioners, Kinfield and Beach Bum sunscreen, Mario Badescu coconut oil, and an army of Grown Alchemist serums and face oils. —Megan Spurrell, associate articles director
