Travel

The 2024 Bucket Listed Gift Guide

Experienced world traveller and writer Robin Esrock helps you stuff your favourite adventurer’s stocking with epic gifts

Dec 05, 2024
2,386 words
10 minutes

By Robin Esrock

While I prefer the gift of experience, sometimes we stumble upon a product and think: “Where has this been all my life?” Each year, I poll friends and colleagues about meaningful items they’ve discovered that have made a real difference in their lives. Some years are lean, some years are bountiful, some products are investments, and others are inexpensive. This is how I discovered the benefits of easy-to-install bidets and compression socks, backpack chairs, packing cubes, and my favourite condiments. This year, I’ve curated (and tested) a mix of travel-related products, which I independently reviewed and personally recommend. I am delighted to share with you too.

About this review: Robin Esrock independently selected and reviewed all products featured in the Gift Guide. In some cases, products were provided for testing. Canadian Geographic does not receive any commission or payment for the links below nor warrant or endorse any of the mentioned companies or products.

Waterproof runners

A traveller’s Swiss Army shoe, waterproof runners are ideal for long walks, hotel gyms, urban treks and hiking trails. When my usual brand discontinued their line, I found a replacement that has me walking on clouds. Swiss-based On produces waterproof trail runners that weigh less than 325 grams. Incredibly light, these shoes are fully waterproof, withstanding rain and puddles and easy to slip on and off during flights. Plus, they are super grippy on trails or streets. I tested two models on a recent trip in southern Italy, hiking the Path of the Gods in the rain and a sharp ashen trail to the crater of Mount Vesuvius. The super foam, shock-absorbing sole and padded heel held up beautifully, and while the tread has worn down in the months since, it prevents annoying stones from getting stuck underfoot. On’s Cloud Surfer Trail Waterproof and Cloud Vista Trail Waterproof models are similar, although those with wider feet should definitely go with Cloud Surfer (available for men and women).

A neck pillow that actually works

I have deep envy for anyone flying economy and can fall asleep while seated upright. Bean-shaped-neck pillows haven’t evolved much, and I’m constantly in search of a better mousetrap. Forget overpriced neck-pinchers at the airport, and give the responsive memory foam of the Nest Travel Pillow a ride. This velour pillow has a softer foam that moulds to your neck and shoulders, with a non-slip backing to prevent your head from sliding and a Velcro fastener to keep the pillow firmly in place. It’s the best travel pillow I’ve tested, plus it easily folds up to just a quarter of its size and slots into a handy pouch, so it won’t dangle off your bag or take up half your carry-on. Tested on a couple of long-hauls, I fell asleep just long enough to dream I was flying in business class.

Belting it out

I never remove my belt at airport security. With its stretchy elastic and plastic buckle, my belt contains no metal parts, and is conveniently adjustable for all shorts or trousers. You might have seen Arcade Belts at outdoor stores, so how do they hold up in the field? I possess a waistline that fluctuates at a buffet table, so I appreciate being able to slide my belt without looking for a notch when none exists. On trails or rides, I like a solid clip instead of an annoying buckle that might come loose. A neutral colour works for shorts, jeans, ski pants or trousers, although Arcade belts are available in flashier designs. I also find it convenient to wash the belt along with pants or shorts if needed. A clip means no more guesswork on the notches and one less step in the charade we call airport security. After a year of heavy use, I bought myself another on a trip to Waterton National Park, and declared it the one belt to rule them all.

Protect your ears

I attended too many concerts when I was younger, shared too many rooms with too many snorers and endured too many growling engines on motorbike trips. Fortunately, ear plugs have evolved from inefficient Kool-Aid orange foam bits that get squished into your ears for three seconds (before popping out a second later). Can Geo’s Digital Editor Madigan Cotterill swears by her Loop Earplugs. I use the aptly named Earpeace, which has a silicone cone design to slot in, stay in and filter out 25dB to 30dB of unwanted sound. They offer variations for bikers, travellers, and concert goers, where high-fidelity hearing protection is a must. I went to a concert recently (90s rock act Soul Asylum if you must know), slotting in a pair of discreet earplugs, which allowed me to enjoy the music without a distorted Runaway Train numbing my ears for days. Wherever you use them, good earplugs are small things that can make a loud difference

The perfect mid layer

Much of the success of any hike, ride, paddle, climb, or outdoor sport is dependent on the gear you use. Layers are critical to control your body temperature, ensuring you don’t overheat or freeze. I’ve long struggled to find the perfect light but warm mid-layer, a durable shell that is thin enough to wear beneath a waterproof. Sweden’s tongue-twister Fjällräven is widely known for its high-quality outdoor gear, and their Expedition Pack Down finds the middle way. It’s extremely light, padded with a single layer of warm goose down, insulated on the shoulders for light rain, and packable into a small bag that easily fits in a daypack. It also feels soft to the touch, and the form-fitting design is flattering. Fjällräven makes an admirable effort to ethically source their feathers (an information card with the garment goes into impressive detail). Available for men and women in a variety of colours.

A treat for cold feet

My wife walks on icebergs and she has ice cubes for toes. Inspired by a nice touch I discovered on safari in Botswana, I bought her a soft fleece-covered hot water bottle for her birthday, which I slip under the covers before bedtime. Love is all about the little things. Another treat for frigid tootsies at home, on ski trips, at campgrounds or cabins are MEC’s Unisex Get Down or Hut Booties. Light, insulated, breathable with soft foot beds and ankle drawcords to trap in heat, the booties look a little ridiculous and feel absolutely wonderful, especially after a long day on the slopes or trails. Padded underfoot for grip on slippery surfaces like snow, ice or kitchen floors, the Get Down booties have duck down around the ankle and on top of the foot for extra warmth. Easy enough to pack for any trip, my wife now has sleeping bags for her feet. Available in multiple unisex colours.

Pamper tired feet

This one came from my friend Colin who swears it’s the one product that improved his life this year. Oofos are not sandals or slip-ons, they are recovery shoes. Essentially, it uses propriety foam technology and sole design to absorb the maximum impact from every step, cradling your arches while allowing your toes to run free. For sore or aching feet, the result feels like a soothing massage and a soft mattress for your heels. This can have magical results for runners or hikers, folks with muscle or joint injuries, or anyone who spends too much time on their feet. Oofos claim their patented technology and foot design enhances mobility, absorbs 37 per cent more impact than athletic shoe EVA foams, and reduces load rates up to 88 per cent. I don’t know what that means exactly, so I tested a pair of their popular OOaah Sport Flex Sandal and OOcoozie Sport Mule slip-ons. Colin is bang on: the snug fit, rocker-arch and absorbing foam feels wonderful, particularly after a long day of hiking. Like compression socks – a must for long-haul flights – the science just works. Available in multiple styles for Men and Women.

Baggage to be proud of

I covet luggage that is light enough to carry yet sturdy enough to fall out of a plane and survive. I don’t want to worry if it’s too heavy for airline scales or too big for ever-shrinking overhead bins on planes. Enter Samsonite’s Proxis Collection, with a lightweight outer shell that somehow survived a plummet from space intact. The Spinner Carry-on weighs just 4.6lbs, the lightest case the Samsonite has ever produced. Granted you’ll pay a premium for luggage of this quality, but it pays off in the field. We checked in the large 6.4lbs case for a trip to Brazil, and it was a pleasure to transport, slick on the wheels while packing in more presents with less weight. The expandable carry-on looks small but somehow fits my usual short trip gear better than my larger carry-on. It has dual divider panels, a mesh organization pocket, and retractable side and top handles for convenience. There’s also a USB port and battery pocket, although I’ve yet to see a need to use it. If you travel extensively, an investment in out-of-this-world, high-quality luggage goes a long way.

Safe drinking water anywhere

Here’s a revolutionary bottle that allows you to scoop up any available freshwater source – a creek, a swamp, a lake or a river – and filter it to drink water that is 99.9 per cent free of all parasites, bacteria, microplastics, dirt or sand. The Lifestraw Go Series is invaluable if you’re travelling in the backcountry or visiting a destination with dubious tap water. The one-litre, double-walled, insulated stainless steel bottle is equivalent to 8000 single-use plastic water bottles. A patented two-stage filtration system not only takes care of the nasties, but it also reduces chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, and bad odours. The Swiss-based Lifestraw – a Climate Neutral Certified B Corp from product to packaging – initially developed a filtering straw that was distributed by the Red Cross after earthquakes in Haiti and Ecuador, and floods in Thailand and Pakistan. Now available in a range of bottle sizes, it continues to be a game-changing technology in crisis-hit areas when access to clean drinking water is scarce. Backcountry adventurers and travellers to exotic lands reap the rewards too.

The sweat pant jeans

It was peak pandemic, mid-2020, and I remember thinking: someone is going to invent denims that feel like sweatpants but look like jeans, and they’re going to make a fortune. That someone is Japanese casual-wear retailer UNIQLO, and the product is called EZY Extra Stretch Jeans. Available in a half-dozen colours and marketed as unisex, the stealthy jeans have an elastic waist, drawstring, and soft, sweatpants-like fabric. This gives travellers plenty of flexibility: great for planes, stylish enough for going out, and casual for all-day wear without appearing frumpy. I once travelled for 12 months straight with a single pair of denims, packed at the last minute against the advice of articles insisting I only wear quick-dry, zip-off cargo pants (ugh!). No single garment on the road got as much use as my impractical jeans. I now own three pairs of EZY jeans and wear them everywhere. At least something good came out of the pandemic.

A tightly fitted sheet

By my estimate, I’ve stayed in over 3000 thousand hotels. Sometimes hotel beds are great, sometimes they’re not, but I’ve always enjoyed the feel of tightly fitting sheets (and let’s give a Nobel Prize to whoever pioneered the white hotel linen trend). Thread counts count, of course, but at home, my sheets bunched up all the time, never keeping that crisp hotel feel. Welcome to BedBand, a simple contraption that attaches to sheet corners, cinching the edges to maintain a snug fit, no matter how much you toss and turn (or how enthusiastically your kids use your bed as a trampoline). It’s a small, simple contraption to make every night at home feel like a great hotel sleep. BedBands come in various sizes, and I find the XL is perfect for king or queen sheets.

A daypack for micro-trips

I have a checklist of what makes a perfect micro-trip/day pack. The bag needs multiple interior and exterior compartments for clothes, electronics, laundry, runners, chargers, documents and toiletries. It must be waterproof so nothing gets soaked in a downpour. It needs comfortable straps to carry on my shoulders and multiple handles to carry by hand. It needs a strap belt to slot above a roller carry-on when needed. Tuck-away hip straps for outdoor adventures, a pouch for my 15-inch laptop, a stretch water bottle pocket, quality zippers that won’t break, and a lifetime repair warranty if they do. It would be great if the bag was made of recycled materials, and – I know this is a big ask- could the zippers open like a suitcase to easily and quickly access anything I need? No more rummaging inside by hand, looking for that one little thing. Well, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35l Travel Pack nails it all. Designed for three to five-day getaways, the Allpa is a flexible bag/carry-on designed for four to six outfit changes, weighing just over two pounds, and available in a range of natural low-key or snazzy urban colours. There’s a pouch for everything, eliminating the need for packing cubes (which are recommended for bigger cases). For longer trips, the Allpa is also available as a larger 42-litre bag. Well played Cotopaxi, well played.

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