A Smart Guide to Packing for a Boat Vacation
Smooth Sailing Starts with Smart Packing
Have a boating vacation coming up soon? It’s time to think smart about what and how you pack.
There’s a particular kind of ease that washes over you the moment your shoes hit the deck of a boat. It’s a lightness that’s found, whether you’re hopping between islands on a jet ski or settling into the gentle sway of a catamaran. Warm wind, vibrant teal water, the feeling that time itself might stretch a little. Cocktail in hand and inescapable Zac Brown Band yacht-rock to set the tone, we picture boating trips as an exercise of effortless leisure. But these trips can also come with their own set of challenges, and your packing skills can make or break the fantasy.
Trust me. I’ve completed many-a catamaran trips, and I’m gearing up for another this coming Christmas. While these boating trips are my favorite way to travel, I’ve learned a universal truth: the easiest way to ruin a very glamorous vacation is improper and inefficient packing.
Travel can be unpredictable, but it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. A few carefully chosen travel essentials can make every moment smoother, from sunrise coffees on deck to sunset cocktails at anchor. With the right gear, you’ll stay protected, comfortable, and effortlessly stylish, letting you focus on what really matters: enjoying every second of your boating adventure.
The Champion Carry-On
I rave about my Away suitcase to anyone who will listen. Now, I have my eye on the Featherlight Weekender, a 44L bag that has the capacity of a carry-on suitcase, yet feels impossibly lightweight and effortless to travel with. If you’re staying on a boat, a duffle bag is far more accommodating to awkward spaces. The bag’s padded interior sleeve protects a 16-inch laptop while a cleverly zipped-off bottom compartment separates shoes or toiletries from the rest of your wardrobe. It even has a pocket solely for your passport. The weekender is crafted from the brand’s water-repellent, washable Featherlight fabric and built to withstand real travel wear. After your travels, the bag and its removable crossbody strap are machine washable.
The Revolutionary Neck Pillow
Unless you have the luxury of a lie-flat first class seat, sleeping on a long flight is a pain in the… well, neck. No matter how far you’re flying, if you’re someone who likes to snooze on the plane, the right neck support is vital. There is nothing glamorous (or fun) about arriving in paradise only to spend the first three days haunted by a crick. If the foam u-shaped pillows from the airport bookstore don’t cut it for you (they certainly do not for me!), then the Trtl Travel Pillow might be your new favorite travel companion. The crowd favorite pillow revolutionizes the in-flight sleep experience, maximizing comfort and ensuring head and neck alignment. The best part is that, when not in use, the pillow compresses to the size of a book and altogether, is lighter than an iPhone.
The Spill-Proof Toiletry Bag
Another major unwanted source of vacation chaos? Your toiletry bag. It’s a painstakingly common experience: opening your luggage after a long day of travel, only to discover your entire wardrobe bathed in an expensive bottle of foundation. Not only do Roller Rabbit’s toiletry bags come in the most fun prints, but their water-resistant properties from a protective poly coating both on the outside and inside make them easy to wipe clean in the event of spills while keeping your belongings dry on the water.
The TSA-Friendly Liquids Containers
Cadence’s Capsule System is the ultimate hack for traveling with liquids. For those of you that have tried clear travel-size bottles, the system seems foolproof until your Sharpie labeling wears off and you’ve accidentally washed your hair with moisturizer and slathered conditioner on as sunscreen. Cadence’s Capsules offer a brilliant solution with leak-proof, magnetic hexagonal containers that hold your skincare, haircare, vitamins, and other essentials in perfectly portioned amounts. Their high-strength magnets let them click together in satisfying configurations that stay secure through even the roughest turbulence. Customize each one with interchangeable labels so you’ll never mix up your products again. Beyond bringing only what you need, saving precious luggage space, and guaranteeing a leak-free experience, these might just be the most beautiful travel accessories I’ve ever found. They come in colors that actually look good on your bathroom counter or tucked in your carry-on, proving that practical doesn’t have to mean ugly or bland.
The Travel Toothpaste Alternative
Matador makes the best waterproof travel equipment, especially when it comes to toiletries. A stand out of theirs is the refillable toothpaste tubes. Rather than constantly buying mini travel size toothpastes every time you’re away, the Matador Refillable Toothpaste Tubes allow you to bring your favorite toothpaste in a travel size tube that can be reused and refilled endlessly. And while you’re checking out your new forever-toothpaste tubes, make sure to look at the handy Travel Earplugs Kit, resolving the issue of separating your ear plugs or finding them dirty in the bottom of your bag. Across all their products, Matador sells fantastic travel essentials, from adapters to backpacks.
The Luggage-Tracking Essential
For years, I held off on joining the AirTag bandwagon, sensing I didn’t need another Apple device in my life. However, since gifting them to my family (and myself!) for Christmas last year, the amount of time I spend looking for my wallet has been cut in half. Pro tip: buy a second one to put in checked luggage. Then, if any airline ever misplaces your suitcase, you will know exactly where it is.
The Instant Cool-Down Device
Neck fans are all the rage today, especially for vacationers headed to hot, humid climates. However, Torras’ neck cooler stands out among the competition as the lightest and world’s first bladeless neck air conditioner. The product is also whisper quiet and promising to cool users down by up to 10 degrees in an instant.
The Portable Library
Amazon’s classic e-reader deserves a spot in everyone’s carry-on. Weighing less than a single paperback book, you can binge read novel after novel without lugging around a full library that takes up half your bag and weighs twice as much. Some travelers resist buying a Kindle, feeling that ebooks don’t quite match the pleasure of owning a physical book you can display at home. However, with a free membership to your local library, one can borrow thousands of titles at no cost.
The Tangle-Free Jewelry Solution
If you’re anything like me, your world lights up when you see anything monogrammed. Mark & Graham champions the personalized gift world. Their compact Travel Jewelry Case is a particular success. Available in more than two-dozen colors and prints, with even more options for personalization, the case will keep your favorite necklaces, rings, and bracelets from conspiring into one impossible knot mid-flight. And because they’ve considered everything, the dual-compartment design also includes a built-in mirror—meaning one less thing to toss in your carry-on.
The Water-Ready Accessory
Once landed, head out on the water without fear of damaging your phone or water with Booe’s truly waterproof, submersible, air tight, and floating belt bag. The sleek multipurpose design is perfect whether you are headed on a morning walk or hitting the bay for a day of jetskiing.
