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Necessities
By Bob Howells
A few personal favorites round out a practical traveler’s wardrobe. The Tilley Endurables T3 hat ($45) is a subtle classic, and offers unparalleled comfort: Made of vented, water-repellent cotton duck, the T3 comes in a jillion sizes. Oh, and it harbors a pocket, suitable for stashing cash, inside the crown. Zota Gear belts ($25) from Rooster Sports are made of nylon webbing
rather than leather, which can stain trousers when wet, yet they feature conventional buckles–and an array of patterns–to preserve a streetworthy look. Of course, all the synthetics ever whipped up won’t “do” much with cotton underneath. Hence Duofold CoolMax Briefs (for men and women, $13), antidote to soggy-shorts syndrome: They simply won’t absorb moisture. Ditto for
Moonstone Mountaineering’s Women’s Support Top ($35), made with a stretchy CoolMax-Lycra blend where it needs to be opaque; the rest is a comfy polyester mesh. As for footwear, my latest casual travel favorite is Rockport’s HydroSport XCS water shoe ($100). The airy upper is constructed of quick-drying nylon mesh and synthetic leather, the Vibram sole keeps you surefooted on wet
surfaces, and given the colorful package, your travel partner will never lose you in a crowd.
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