The Road Tripping Essentials of 2016

Published May 5, 2016 12:00AM

Yeti Tundra 75 Cooler

Lots of very cold beer, securely stowed—that’s why we like the Tundra 75. Essentially a portable fridge for your car (it’s 18 inches tall and 33 inches wide), this super-tough cooler holds 50 cans. And with nearly three inches of pressure-injected insulation in the walls and lid, it kept a bag of ice frozen for five days.

Thule Force L Cargo Box

When it comes to rooftop storage, the holy grail is lots of room in a low-profile design. Thule pulls it off with the 16-cubic-foot Force L, which is just 16.5 inches tall at its peak but swallows three snowboards. At only 39 pounds, it’s easy to install, but the impact-resistant shell and sturdy joints are built to last.

Rumpl Down Puffy Blanket

This is our new always-have-it-in-the-trunk insulator. It’s perfect for warming up after a dawn-patrol surf session or keeping cozy by the campfire. Constructed with 20-denier ripstop nylon and 600-fill down, it repels water and odor but is machine washable when it’s time for a deep clean.

Bowers and Wilkins T7 Portable Speaker

The honeycomb-like structure in this hi-fi Bluetooth speaker absorbs vibration and delivers vastly superior audio clarity over your blaring smartphone. Packing a punch for its size, the two-pound box had the best bass of any portable system we tested, and the battery is good for 18 hours of jamming on a single charge.

Goal Zero Yeti 150 Solar Generator

When you’re setting up base camp for more than a couple of days, you need a power source other than your car. The 12- pound, toaster-size Yeti 150 offers USB, 12-volt, and AC ports. Wall-charge it before your trip, and connect Goal Zero’s Nomad 20 solar panel ($200) to keep it humming for days on end.

RinseKit Portable Shower

This two-gallon hose in a box builds water pressure while filling from a garden spigot and maintains it for up to a month without the need for batteries or pumping. It’s great for rinsing off the dog after a muddy forest run. Dying for a warm shower? An adapter ($10) lets you fill it with hot water from a bathroom faucet.