I don’t know major championship pressure. I don’t know PGA Tour pressure. Hell, I don’t even know competitive golf pressure.
But I know a pressure unlike anything faced on the back nine at Augusta National or on the final green of the U.S. Open — a pressure powerful enough to strike fear in the heart of even the most seasoned pro golfer. I know packing pressure, and that, dear reader, is why I’m writing you today.
Recently, I packed for five weeks in Europe in a carry-on bag, an exercise in extreme space management I would now compare unfavorably to a frontal lobotomy.
Inevitably, I know what some of you are now thinking: he must not have prepared properly. Wrong. I spent weeks carefully mapping out outfits that matched in multiple ways across my wardrobe, minimizing my total articles of clothing. I carefully curated purchases around clothing made from light and packable fabrics. I made not one but two packing lists. I ditched sweatshirts and bulky clothes in favor of packing cubes and something called the “roll-up method.” And yet I still spent most of the day before the trip shivering over my roller bag in a state of benzodiazepine-resistant terror. Fortunately, I didn’t bother with the medication, as it turned out I needed all the fortitude I could summon to close the zipper.
Now if I can be so bold as to predict your thoughts a second time: Gee, five weeks in Europe and he’s complaining? He must be insufferable. If you’re part of this group, then we can agree on the following truths: 1) You’ve never packed for a trip like this in your life, and 2) I am insufferable.
But why am I regaling you (and not, perhaps, a licensed clinician) on this experience? Well, because the items that made it into my bag for my Euro summer have passed a special kind of editor testing — a rigorous, real-life tussle-with-the-elements that couldn’t possibly be replicated in any “product review lab” or “editor testing guidelines.” These items, reader, are James Colgan’s Certified, One-Of-A-Kind, Probably Bulletproof Purchases For Life (TM). It need not be stated that I recommend them all with my deepest sincerity.
Life Gear
1. Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Carry-On
This carry-on might be literally indestructible. I have taken it across the planet over the last five years of near-constant travel, including the four-country, eight-city gauntlet of the summer of 2024. It is scruffled and dented and, yes, I have broken a zipper or two, but I won’t leave home without it. It is big enough to carry my size 13 shoes, heavy-duty enough that I giggle at the thought of baggage handlers trying to break it, and its wheels are strong enough to withstand at least 20 miles of cobblestone city walking this summer. Best of all, if it breaks, there’s a lifetime warranty. I’m not being paid to say this, but I wish I was, because I look down upon anyone who travels with a different bag.
Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Carry-On
Spectra 3.0 Global Carry-On.
2. Lululemon men’s underwear and Darn Tough socks
The single most important item in anyone’s luggage is underwear. The second most important is socks. I have made my selections and, if I have any say in the matter, I’ll be wearing these on my journey up to the Pearly Gates.
Lululemon Men’s Underwear
Lululemon Men’s Underwear five-pack.
3. Patagonia backpack
Five years ago, as a doe-eyed boy fresh out of college, I received a black Patagonia backpack as a gift. Someone told me I’d never buy another backpack for the rest of my life.
Turns out, they might have been right. I can’t vouch for the exact model listed below, because Patagonia has taken mine out of commission, but safe to say it’ll be the best backpack you’ve ever owned. I’ve received no shortage of golf-related backpacks over the last several years of my life, and I’ve never thought about deviating from ole reliable, even though a recent toiletry spill does have her smelling a touch like Head and Shoulders.
Patagonia Refugio Daypack 30L
Patagonia Refugio Daypack 30L
4. Rhone Snap-on Sweater
Heavy enough to wear when it’s cold, light enough to wear when it’s breezy, small enough to fit in my luggage and stylish enough to wear to a reasonably nice restaurant in France without too many leering eyes. Overall, I’d say that’s pretty good.
Rhone Clubhouse Crewneck
Rhone Clubhouse Crewneck
5. Sony WH1000 headphones
Let me be the latest person to tell you these headphones will change the trajectory of your hearing life. As one Twitter commenter put it succinctly: “Before the latest version of these headphones came out, I considered buying myself a dozen pairs so I could be sure I’d never use another pair of headphones for the rest of my life.” They’re that good.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Golf Gear
Here I should admit an unfortunate truth: I did not pack exclusively a carry-on.
For the first two weeks of my grand Euro trip (in Scotland), I traveled along with my golf clubs to test my mettle on a handful of the best Linksland courses. This offered all manner of bag-expanding options for those first two weeks, including (but not limited to) stuffing an unfortunate number of jackets and pants in my golf bag before it was to be shipped back across the pond.
Below, in short order, are some of the best items that were in that bag.
Six months ago, I landed in Australia for the golf trip of a lifetime. I made it 50 yards out of the rental car when I realized a devastating problem: the golf courses, like everything else, were measured in meters. I spent the rest of the trip doing a self-administered math formula to guess the yardages, but found my game decidedly out of whack.
Fortunately, on the penultimate round of the trip, I realized the problem: I’d been counting wrong.
After that nightmare ended, I decided to get myself the most idiot-proof rangefinder I could find, which turned out to be the Bushnell V6 Shift. It’s just awesome. Stupidly easy to operate. Incredibly accurate. And, notably for me, it measures distances in yards (though you can change it to meters, if you feel so inclined).
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Bushnell Tour V6 Shift Laser Rangefinder
Utilizing new and improved electronics, along with our patented, Tour-trusted Slope technology, Tour V6 Shift is the most accurate, consistent and longest ranging Tour series laser Bushnell Golf has ever released.
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Another bag I’ve beat up considerably without breaking. This version comes with a neat, hard-plastic top, which seems pretty great if you’re in the business of not letting an airline snap your irons and woods (as you should be).
Bag Boy T-10 Travel Cover
KEY FEATURES
Crush-resistant ABS top for maximum club protection
Larger, premium in-line skate wheels
All-weather 600D polyester fabric body stores inside hard top for compact storage
Main handle integrated into bag top
StandGuard™ A uniquely designed internal high density foam padding to protect the stand bag mechanism while traveling
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Lockable, full wrap-around zipper simplifies access and packing
Heavy duty anti-burst strap
Two external oversized pockets
Two internal organization mesh pockets
Durable, skid-resistant ABS base
Internal compression strap stabilizes bag during travel
Oversized shoe/garment pocket
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3. A driver wrench
I once made it several holes into a bucket-list round with a player whose driver was making an ungodly clicking noise. I took my driver wrench from my bag and gave it to him. Three twists later, his clicking driver sounded smooth as silk. He shrugged and, to my horror, offered the following sentence.
“Must’ve been a problem for the last six months, at least.”
Don’t do this. Own a wrench for yourself. You’ll be happier this way.
Driver Wrench
A driver wrench.
