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Five Under-the-Radar Summer Travel Essentials - Gladfellow

Five Under-the-Radar Summer Travel Essentials

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Time to read 8 min

When it comes to summer travel essentials, what you ultimately decide to take with you can be vital to the success of your trip.


At Gladfellow, we believe the right summer travel essentials should feel considered, not convenient—and certainly not mass-produced. 


Most importantly, the EDC youcarry should be convenient to lug around and a true companion on your travels. While most lists provide endless ideas for stuffing your suitcase with more and more non-essentials, Gladfellow aims to claim just the right amount of space in your suitcase to not only make your travel easier, but ultimately more joyful.


That’s why we’ve curated five under-the-radar summer travel essentials you won’t find on the usual packing lists (or easily on Amazon). 


Each item brings form, function, and a quiet sense of refinement to wherever the season takes you.


Why you should trust us:

  • We test each product vigorously and stand by their quality.
  • We are consumers ourselves, having bought and used the very products we sell.
  • We have an established presence in the EDC community and are known for our taste, attention to detail, and care for our customers.

Want to know more? Visit Gladfellow.

Truly unique summer travel essentials you won’t find on Amazon.


Each item is compact, easy to carry, and thoughtfully luxurious.


Curated by Gladfellow for travelers who value form and function.


Best of Summer Travel Essentials #1 - A Luxury Card Wallet

A Compact Essential for Summer Travel

There are few summer travel essentials more quietly indispensable than a compact, beautifully crafted wallet. The kind that slips into your front pocket without a second thought—until someone asks where you found it.


Crafted from Rare Japanese Shell Cordovan

This particular piece is cut from stunning, whiskey-colored Japanese Shell Cordovan, one of the rarest and most sought-after leathers in the world. Cordovan isn’t just scarce—it’s a masterwork of tanning. The process can take up to six months to complete and requires a level of craftsmanship that few tanneries have mastered. The result is a leather that’s incredibly durable, richly textured, and known for its deep, mirror-like shine.


Details That Travel Well

Inside is a gold-colored Chèvre leather; a soft and supple, pebble-textured goatskin that adds just the right amount of colorful flair. Every detail has been considered: from the hand-burnished edges and gold polyester stitching, to the subtle Gladfellow logo stamped on the front.


Refined, Reliable, Ready to Go

Sleek, understated, and built to last a lifetime—this wallet is more than a finishing touch. It’s a center point for your summer travel essentials.

Best of Summer Travel Essentials #2: The Ultimate Bifold

A True Summer Travel Essential

Among summer travel essentials, few make as lasting an impression as a truly refined bifold. Sleek yet substantial, this Gladfellow-designed wallet is cut from jet-black American alligator skin—tanned in France by one of the world’s premier luxury tanneries. The result is a striking leather with a naturally high-gloss finish and a depth of tone that only the finest exotics can deliver.


Luxury Inside and Out

Inside, the wallet is lined with supple black Chèvre goatskin—a luxurious contrast that offers durability with a soft hand feel. Edges are precisely painted in matching black, and every detail is hand-stitched using Vinymo MBT, a high-performance Japanese polyester thread chosen for its strength and longevity.


Quiet Confidence, Built to Last

Subtle from the outside, deliberate on the inside: the bifold is finished with a gold foil Gladfellow stamp on the interior—a quiet reminder that true luxury never shouts. Built to age with grace and travel the world by your side, this is the wallet for those who know that elevated design is always essential.

Best of Summer Travel Essentials #3: A Secret Place to Stash Cash

Best of the Brass Summer Travel Essentials

When it comes to summer travel essentials, every inch of space matters—and so does security. The Wingback Key Cache is a sleek, solid metal capsule designed to discreetly carry emergency cash, a toothpick, or a rolled-up note. Lightweight yet rugged, it clips effortlessly onto your keychain, ensuring you’re always prepared without adding bulk.


Built for the Unexpected

Summer adventures don’t always go as planned—flights get delayed, wallets go missing, cabs don’t take cards. That’s where the Key Cache shines. It’s your minimalist backup plan: hermetically sealed, virtually indestructible, and always within reach. Whether you’re hiking through Tuscany or navigating Tokyo’s subways, this compact tool adds peace of mind to your summer travel essentials kit.


Compact Luxury, Zero Compromise

Unlike typical travel gear, the Wingback Key Cache doesn’t scream “utility”—it whispers style. Crafted from high-grade metals with a refined matte finish, it fits right in with the rest of your curated accessories. For those who value both function and form, this is the rare piece that checks both boxes and fits perfectly into your summer travel essentials.

Best of Summer Travel Essentials #4: A Small, But Mighty Light

Summer Travel Essentials Perfect for the Minimalist

When you’re packing light, every item needs to earn its place—and the Dawson Divot Slimmer does just that. Milled from solid titanium with a rugged, tumbled finish, it’s slim, featherweight, and built to disappear into your pocket or bag until the moment it’s needed. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend city break or weeks abroad, this is one of those rare summer travel essentials that doesn’t just come along for the ride—it upgrades it.


Purposeful Simplicity & Added Safety

At just the right size and weight, it’s satisfying to hold and easy to forget—until you need it. This is form meeting function in its most distilled form: no excess, no branding, no noise. It’s designed for people who move fast, pack smart, and appreciate design that gets out of the way. Furthermore, you never know when a bright light can bring you that added safety you might need in an unexpected place.


Always Ready, Never in the Way

From beach town strolls to airport lounges, the Divot Slimmer fits the lifestyle of those who carry less but expect more. It’s the kind of object you don’t notice until you need it—and then wonder how you ever traveled without it.

Best of Summer Travel Essentials #5: Drinks on the Go

Redefining the Travel Flask

When you’re traveling light, only the perfect summer travel essentials make the cut—and this is one of them. The Wingback Flask is a modern reimagining of a classic, precision-machined from aerospace-grade stainless steel with clean lines and a satisfying heft. It’s as much a pleasure to hold as it is to use. Whether you’re packing for a long weekend or a months-long journey, this is one of those summer travel essentials that feels like a small luxury—because it is.


Engineered for the Road

Compact enough to slip into a jacket or dopp kit, yet bold enough to spark conversation, the Wingback Flask is made for motion. Its unique wide-mouth design makes filling and pouring easy, while the screw-top cap is designed never to loosen in transit. It’s dependable, discreet, and designed to last a lifetime—not just a season.


Form, Function, and a Dash of Rebellion

From evening hikes to rooftop sunsets, a personal flask turns a moment into a ritual. But not all flasks are created equal. This one is milled, not molded. Balanced, not bulky. If your summer travel essentials reflect your taste, then the Wingback Flask belongs with you—wherever this summer leads.

Best of Summer Travel Essentials Honorable Mention: Spin While You Fly

A Pocket-Sized Escape from the Screen

There are moments during travel when time stretches—waiting for a train, lounging on a balcony, winding down after dinner. The Fiddle Foundry Hammered Copper Spinning Top is made for those moments. A tactile object that invites play, focus, and quiet satisfaction, it’s the analog antidote to screen fatigue. As far as summer travel essentials go, this one is pure, purposeful delight.


Built to Spin. Made to Last.

Hand-hammered and weighted just right, this solid copper top isn’t a gimmick—it’s a precision-made tool for pause. Toss it in your bag or pocket, and it’s always ready to occupy your hands, spark a conversation, or simply slow things down. Over time, it will develop a rich patina that tells its own story of where you’ve been.


Small, Simple, Remarkably Effective

In a world of constant connection, the simplest objects can feel the most refreshing. This spinning top is summer travel essentials-sized joy—zero batteries, zero instructions, 100% human. Whether you’re poolside, planeside, or perched in a mountaintop cabin, this is one summer essential that keeps you grounded.

Conclusion

A Final Word on Summer Travel Essentials

The right gear doesn’t just serve a function—it elevates the experience. At Gladfellow, we believe summer travel essentials should be beautiful, purposeful, and built to last. 


Whether it’s a compact wallet that disappears into your pocket, a precision-crafted flask that turns a moment into a ritual, or a tactile tool that replaces screen time with something more human—every piece is designed to move with you, effortlessly


This isn’t about packing more. It’s about carrying better. And that’s what true summer travel essentials are all about.

People swimming off the coast of Italy

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes something a true “summer travel essential”?

Summer travel essentials are items that add function without bulk, elegance without fuss. It’s the kind of items you reach for every trip—lightweight, purposeful, and built to handle the unexpected with style. At Gladfellow, we focus on pieces that elevate the journey, not just fill the suitcase.

How should I choose which essentials to bring?

Prioritize versatility, durability, and craftsmanship. Look for items that serve more than one purpose, pack easily, and won’t wear out after a single season. A well-made wallet, a compact flask, or a discreet backup like the Key Cache can all carry you farther with less. That's the key to finding the ultimate summer travel essentials. 

Why invest in elevated summer travel essentials?

Summer travel is about freedom—and the right summer travel essentials support that without compromise. Elevated pieces aren’t just practical; they make the journey feel intentional. When you choose objects that reflect your taste and values, even the smallest moments on the road feel considered.

Who We Are

An image of the GF Gladfellow logo

About Gladfellow

Known for their carefully curated goods of expert craftspeople from around the world, Gladfellow has been the home for sophisticated, boutique luxury accessories since its inception in 2023.