There are few activities more peaceful than floating down a quiet stretch of river or around a calm bay. You don鈥檛 need much gear for those sun-soaked days, but what you do pack along matters. The following items will keep you cool and comfortable as you take in the views from the water鈥攖op it off with a bottle of water and maybe a snack, and you鈥檙e ready for any adventure.

Clear Blue Hawaii Molokini

On my first trip in a transparent kayak, I had very little gear鈥攋ust me, the kayak and my bathing suit. That was it. And that was fine. This clear kayak is next-level sightseeing and I had no desire to leave the boat.

Made by Clear Blue Hawaii, the Molokini is a two-person kayak that not only lets you in on the spectacular views below, it鈥檚 a thing of beauty itself. Completely transparent, made of strong polycarbonate with a lightweight anodized aluminum frame, it weighs 40 pounds.聽

Comfortable for two, with a low deck and adjustable seats, it鈥檚 easy to maneuver alone, and perfect for flatwater rides. A wide hull keeps you steady and adds to the awesome underwater visibility. Available through Hammacher Schlemmer, the boats should ship this July.聽

$1,900,

Outlier New Way Shorts

Outlier鈥檚 New Way Shorts are really the only pair of shorts you need. They look like they鈥檙e ready for a night on the town, but they鈥檙e also quick-drying, durable, and comfortable.聽

The nylon shorts come with deep mesh pockets for drainage and a drawstring waist for security, making them well suited for swimming. Made for performance, but built to look good, you’ll be just as comfortable in the New Way out on water as you鈥檒l be later at the cafe.

$120,

Smartwool Micro 150 Pattern Tee

Smartwool鈥檚 ultra-light merino T-shirt is a great weight for summer paddling. Light and breezy, it’s comfortable in a broad range of temperatures. With narrow pinstripes, it looks sharp on land and when you’re on the water.

Starting at $75,

Columbia Powerdrain Water Shoe

With its boat-friendly, non-marking rubber outsole, the Powerdrain gives you great traction when you鈥檙e walking on the rocky shore. Plus, it boasts a surprising amount of cushion for such a light shoe, making it a good option for short forays on land. The shoe has drainage ports in the front and back, so it dries quickly when you鈥檙e back in the boat.

$90,

Native Kodiak Sunglasses

Like everything in my boat, Native鈥檚 Kodiak glasses are extremely lightweight and ideal for the water. Interchangeable, high-quality lenses give a sharp view with remarkable contrast. The venting above helps minimize condensation and fog. And the frame, shown here in crystal, is also very comfortable. Built-in, cushioned nose grips hold the shades in place when you鈥檙e paddling.

Starting at $129,

Lifeproof聽fr膿 Phone Case

For those of you who never leave the phone at home, there鈥檚 the fr膿 case. The Lifeproof fr膿聽for an iPhone is thin and lightweight, letting you use all the phone鈥檚 features while protecting it from water, dirt, and impacts. 聽聽

$80,

Otterbox Pursuit 40

While I tend to travel as light as possible, sometimes I like to have a little more security for phone, keys, and spare change. The waterproof Otterbox Pursuit 40, tough and incredibly secure, is big enough to hold all your water-phobic items and compact enough not to be a burden. Two handy carabiner loops make it easy to secure.

$35,

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There鈥檚 no doubt merino excels in cold weather base layers. But did you know it works pretty darn well in the heat, too? 聽聽

I love merino wool for its comfort, softness, weight-to-insulation ratio, breathability, and odor-repellency. A lightweight merino T-shirt is a seriously versatile piece of clothing. And all the extraordinary attributes that make wool great in the cold also apply in the heat.

Whether I鈥檓 hiking, biking, or out for a run, merino keeps me cool in a broad range of temperatures. If you鈥檙e on the go, I recommend bringing at least one merino T-shirt along. And there are plenty of great high-quality options on the market.

Here鈥檚 our rundown of five top-notch shirts鈥攁ll of which are made from 100 percent merino wool.

Ibex OD Heather T ($88)

100 percent Zque-certified New Zealand merino

18.5 micron/150gm

Known for its excellent base and midlayers, Ibex, headquartered in Vermont, uses a lot of 100 percent merino in its line. Take the . The shirt is overdyed in rich, heathery tones, making it both good-looking and high performance. Available in a crew or V-neck for men and a scoop neck for women, this shirt is made right here in the U.S. 聽

Icebreaker Tech T Lite ($70)

100 percent New Zealand merino

Ultralight 150gm 聽聽

This 20-year-old New Zealand company was the first outfitter to launch a . And it has sourced the merino directly from growers since 1997. (Icebreaker is聽so connected to its sheep, you can actually trace your garment to its woolly origins with a 鈥渂aacode.鈥�) Choose from a large selection of 100 percent merino T-shirt styles for both men and women.

Minus33 Algonquin Men鈥檚 Lightweight Crew ($55)

100 percent Australian merino

17.5 micron/170gm

Based in New Hampshire and owned by L.W. Packard, Minus33 boasts a wool-making lineage that goes back to 1916. In fact, the company still uses the old Packard mill for its offices and warehouse. The company鈥檚 compared with other merino products out there.

Smartwool NTS Micro 150 Pattern Tee ($75)

100 percent Zque-certified New Zealand merino

17.5 micron/150gm聽

The Steamboat Springs, Colorado, company Smartwool has dominated the market for merino socks since 1994鈥攕omething that鈥檚 kept it highly visible in most stores nationwide (as well as in my own sock drawer). The is a lot less clunky than its name might suggest. Ultrasoft and deceptively durable, this is a sharp-looking shirt.

Outlier Ultrafine Merino T-Shirt ($98)

100 percent New Zealand merino

17.5 micron/200gm

Brooklyn-based Outlier, founded in 2008, is a relative newcomer to the scene. Inspired by bike commuting and an urban-outdoors aesthetic, the company makes high-performance clothing with a sleek, clean design. The , in cool, muted colors, has a slightly heavier weight than some of the other products on this list. Outlier makes all its apparel in the U.S.

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For those who appreciate a marriage of function and form, look no further than . 聽

The company builds stylishly sturdy bikes that are custom made to your own specs and design. They also come with top-notch components. From a forged frame of high-tensile American steel to state-of-the-art parts like Sturmey-Archer hubs, Brooks saddles and grips, a Gimondi crankset, and Soma Lauterwasser handlebars, the ride is as efficient as the look is classic.

I want the , which is tricked out with extra touches like front and rear racks over Woody鈥檚 handmade walnut fenders. While it already has Tektro brakes and Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires, I鈥檇 still probably customize here and there. As a working commuter, I might add a third gear, a seat bag, maybe some roll-up panniers. Pick my favorite color, then accessorize a bit.

And that鈥檚 the point. At Heritage Bicycles, you build the bike with the company to make the machine your own. And they’re as beautiful to behold as they are practical to live with鈥攆orm, function, and sweet rideability. What more can you ask for?

While the company is proud to be producing the first completely Chicago-made bikes since Schwinn moved away in the 1970s, Heritage serves up more than great rigs.聽

Coffee and riding are a natural match, and Heritage Bicycles carries Portland鈥檚 Stumptown coffee鈥攁long with tasty treats from some of Chicago鈥檚 best kitchens鈥攊n its hybrid bike-coffee shop. So get a cup of joe and have a mechanic build the road bike of your dreams. 聽 聽

Not in Chicago? No worries, Heritage ships. You can create your bike online or order by phone. You鈥檒l just miss out on the awesome coffee.聽

From $799,

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