As Benjamin Franklin said: if you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
Life is like chess. You make plans and you think ahead, trying to ensure that everything works out. But sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes you find yourself on the back foot, working reactively rather than proactively. But there are a few things you can do to make sure that whenever that happens, you’ve got a certain degree of preparation up your sleeve.
In chess, this means doing things like positioning your defensive pieces in strategic spots. In real life, this means a pack of emergency cigs in the medicine cabinet (nice one, Mum), a carefully positioned baseball bat by the front door (nice one, Dad) and a car boot full of useful bits – just in case you break down.
If you’ve never had to spend the night with the car seats as low as they’ll go, count your lucky stars, but if you have, you’ll recognise the importance of some of these essential travel items.
Rumpl Puffy Blanket
A blanket is always useful, but what about a ripstop, post-consumer recycled, DWR finished puffy blanket?
Carhartt x Skotti Grill
The Skotti Grill has one chief goal: to enable spontaneous grilling wherever you are. That includes the park, camping, hiking, breaking down – whatever. With a mini gas attachment, it can be set it up and ready in less than ten minutes, which beats the prolonged wait with wood and coal. Plus – this one’s Carhartt, so run up the Instagram pics. Don’t forget a plate set, too.
Rumpl Nanoloft Poncho
I know we just mentioned Rumpl, but how cosy would you be with both a puffy blanket and a Nanoloft poncho? Colourblocked like 80s ski jackets, the oversized poncho has a hood, a quilted lining, and packs into a tiny pocket.
Yeti Roadie 24
While Yeti measure the size of their Roadie 24 in beers – it holds 18 tinnies for anyone wondering – it’s just as useful for food. It’s so well insulated that it claims to keep ice frozen for up to two days, which means that if it’s filled with a few of these, thanks to its Permafrost™ Pressure Injected Polyurethane Foam Insulation, Neverfail™ Interlocking Hinges, and loads of other trademarked capacities, your stash of emergency whatevers will always be cold.
Time Concept Lantern
Haha. Look at its playful yet practical face. Some of the best travel items are useful and cute. Need to nip from the car to a piss spot in the dead of the night? Sorted. Need a companion to keep you sane? No problem. Wilson, I mean The Time Concept Lantern, isn’t just a giver of light – it might just be your new best friend.
