The Surf Holiday Packing Guide

So after countless surf trips and endless hours on flights, here it is: this is the stuff I never leave behind when I travel. I have it all laid out like I’m in the TSA line for you guys. (Can I keep my shoes on?)

1. Starting with the most basic, we have the passport. This is key obviously; you can’t get very far without one and I figure someday it will help some foreign local police force somewhere identify my remains.

2. As far as my gear goes, I try to keep it light. What I don’t put in my board bag, goes in here. This is my Creatures of Leisure Accessory Bag. This is my idea of packing – stuff it all in and go – same principle as the board bag, and having “Creatures of Leisure” written on it keeps curious people from asking me what I do.

3. Depending on weather, I grab a good wetty or two. Right now I’m freezing in California, so I’m using a custom Volcom wetsuit, or I use a Volcom rash guard. Of course booties, sunscreen and all the normal gear, including this wax Dion gave me. Not really sure what it is.

4. My Atlas wallet is ideal for traveling – it’s thin, like my cash reserves, so it never gets in the way. I’m not sure having the imprint of my credit card embossed on the outside from sitting on it is the best security feature, but that’s my fault I guess.

5. I have to include these Epokhe sunglasses, of course. This is how I maintain my famous steely coolness, no matter how bloodshot my eyes are. They also let me pretend I’m listening to flight safety announcements and boring conversations while nodding off.

6. My Goodworth lighter and cover never fail me when I need to ignite a pile of wet driftwood and miscellaneous beach trash into a proper bonfire.

7. My knife I take with me mostly because it looks cool and because I feel like Steve Irwin would have one. Yes, I try to remember to stick it in my board bag when I get to the airport.

8. My Apple laptop I take for one reason only: to watch Netties (Netflix).

9. My Yashika t4 film camera is purely to pick up chicks – for real photos I use my phone.

10. Having my great-sounding Bose Bluetooth speaker means that I can transform a cramped bathtub and a lukewarm Bintang into a pool party. It’s actually great; you can sync with your phone and always have the music you like, so I can annoy the room next door no matter where I staying.

11. My Richer Poorer x Byrd Carry On has just enough room for all my product essentials – head to toe, including some cool RP socks – and also the shape makes people think I’m Illuminati.

12. Finally, The Power of Now book I take with me to help maximise my immediate sense of cosmic-surf-journey fulfillment … also to pick up chicks.

13. Everything else is pretty much optional. Sure, I take boardies and some shirts, but I don’t think you want to go through my wardrobe. This is all great stuff, not too much to carry, and so far has kept me happy on the road.

Images by Travis Kuhlman

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