Stab Recommends: Road Trip Edition

The road trip. A time-honored American tradition, steeped in gas station coffee and dusted with the radioactive orange tinge of Doritos.

Execution is key when hitting the pavement, which one is more likely to do now than ever given the generally accepted risk associated with air travel. There are many variables that come with clocking kays, but with the modern garment industry churning out 150 billion pieces per annum (sheesh), personal comfort doesn’t have to be one of them.

Whether you’re sleeping in the parking lot to get a wave at first light or trying to maintain sanity on a jaunt across state lines, these picks are bound to make it all a little more bearable. 

Corkcicle Dragonfly Tumbler

A solid travel mug speaks for itself. This one from our friends at Corkcicle “keeps stuff cold for 9 hours or hot for 3.” Hard to beat that value prop, the gradient is just the parmesan on the noodles.

Pendleton Eco Wise Wool Fringe Throw

Pendleton is king of the flannel game and has been since 1863—enough time for your great-grandfather to be laying logs in their Oregon garms. The same wool that makes their shirts classics makes for some great blankets. Perfect for warming up a shivering partner or hosting impromptu beach picnics, these are always a plus to have in the trunk. 

Patagonia Macro Puff Quilt

If wool isn’t your thing, there are a smattering of synthetic options on the market. Patagonia’s queen-sized Macro Puff Quilt is incredibly warm, light, and compact, making it a road trip dream.

Roark Textured Beanie

Cover your un-showered mop and keep those ears warm with this textured beanie from our friends at Roark. Great for early morning dawn patrols in the colder months or hiding a bald-spot anytime at all. 

Saturdays NYC Leather Slides

If you’re in the car for more than 2.5 hours and are wearing shoes for any non-functional reason, you’re blowing it. Between the robust sock market and the lack of demand for bipedal protection while driving, there really is no reason to stuff your little piggies into anything other than these Saturdays NYC Leather Slides. Slip ’em on for late-night food runs or to fill up the tank. 

Pilgrim Team Hoodie

The hoodie is the unofficial uniform of the road trip. Soft and comfortable is what were looking for here, and if you’ve ever perused the vintage sweatshirt market, you’ll see that Champion dominates with broken-down pieces featuring heavy patina. This Pilgrim Champion hoodie will only get better as it takes you on the hard-beaten path. 

Yeti Roadie Cooler

Getting caught in a constant cycle of rest stops is a surefire way to set back your arrival time. Loading a solid cooler at the start makes those long stretches all the more bearable, and for our male readers with solid aim, provides ample bathroom break avoiding receptacles.

A Bevy Of Podcasts

Stab CUSP/Unplugged Podcast– Shameless plug alert. Our Mike Ciaramella’s podcast with CT coach Space Gailbraith dives deep into questions of performance and perceptions of surfing as a whole. Listen to Mikey pick topics apart with astute nonchalance here.  

Wind of Change– Patrick Radden Keif’s journey into the truth behind the CIA’s alleged writing of the Scorpions’ iconic ballad that swept Europe at the end of the Cold War.

Broken Record– Zen master. Rick Rubin’s dreamy baritone takes you on a long and winding road into the mind of some of music’s most iconic figures. 

Old Pal 14g Ready To Roll Pack

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, Old Pal’s preroll pack is the pinnacle of joint rolling convenience. Make those rest stops more enjoyable and the ride all the more comfortable with their half-ounce pre-roll pack, which should get you through at least a few days on the road.

Patagonia Provisions Salmon Jerky

A solid way to get your cals up while on the road. As always with Patagonia, sustainably sourced, thoughtfully executed. If you haven’t checked out their film Artifishal, click in here to see the current risks posed to the global wild salmon population.