Last week we tackled holiday gift ideas for the female traveler on your “nice” list — this week it’s the guys’ turn. Again, no disclaimers needed here, these gift selections are my own finds.

We boys — I mean men.. suave, sophisticated, worldly, manly men — travel light. We don’t need two bags of clothes and a third filled with shoes.   We can fit a week’s worth of clothes in to one carry-on bag and not think twice and (though admittedly I’m writing this blog while wearing my apron and baking bread) more often than not we pack less than our female counter parts.

The Spacepak Clothes Bag

To make our packing even more efficient I suggest the Spacepak Clothes bag. This bag allows you to compress your clothes and fit more in your carry-on; it even has one side for clean and one side for dirty laundry. The bag features instructions, in pictures, on how to maximize your space (not that we’d ever feel the need to heed instructions).  The Spacepak system not only lets you fit two weeks’ worth of clothing in your carry-on, it also helps you avoid checking a bag. If you really want to stick it to the man you can get the whole system — the F1 Spacepak set — that really maximizes your bag space.   The three-piece set includes the clothes bag, the shoe bag for gym shoes so you can work out, and the toiletry bag so you can look good when you go out.

Not convinced a bag alone can squeeze more into  your standard carry-on? Check out this demonstration:

I know as a man we say we can sleep anywhere, especially when presented with the opportunity to be chivalrous and pass up the obviously more comfortable space for a woman.  The folks at REI have now given us an excuse to sleep anywhere.  The Byer Easy Traveller Hammock weighs in at just 19 ounces — about the weight of four baseballs or half of a baseball bat. The sling is made of parachute nylon, so if the cloth can stop people from plummeting to the earth and ending up as a pancake you know it’s strong. But, let’s say your “friend” has decided she’d rather not sleep alone. No problem: the ENO Double Nest Hammock is the perfect fit, for two.  The double nest balls up to the size of a softball and can easily hold 400 pounds. 

I truly believe a hat is a great and practical accessory for a man (and I’m not talking that beat up baseball hat you’ve had since the 10^th grade).  A hat is one of the easiest and most acceptable ways we can still dress up like we wanted to as a kid (although I’m excluding the Storm Trooper Costume you wear at Comic-Con) and feel like our heroes.

The fedora is one of the most versatile hats you can own — and the most fun. A fedora can transform you into an Indiana Jones-style adventurer or a romantic like Bogart in Casablanca. It’s an easy way to have fun and dress up any outfit, besides you never know when you will be doing “Smooth Criminal” during karaoke.

Tilly’s LTM3 Airflo

If you’re looking for a more practical hat, the folks at Tilley have a hat for you.  I’ve had one for years, it’s an LTM3 Airflo and not only has a wide brim to keep the sun off your face and shoulders it floats too, so you can wear it on the water and not worry about losing your investment. I’ve worn it everywhere and it will be the hat I  take to Africa in March.

As men, we don’t like to admit when we’re uncomfortable, and nothing advertises a painful circulatory issue like breaking out the compression stockings for a long flight. Don’t sport the clinical look, turn to the folks at Feetness First. They have a whole like of TravelSox that come in designer styles (leave it to the Italians to do that), and the designs look like your average dress sock while providing a lot more support and comfort.

TuGo Coffee Holder

Occasionally something comes along and it’s just simply genius. I found it on the web and though I haven’t tried it out yet I’d love to hear about it if you have.  The ToGo travel mug carrier is a cup holder for your luggage.  You won’t feel like an idiot trying to carry your bags and a hot cup of coffee, and yes black manly coffee not some fru-fru latte. The mug holder spans the gap in between the rods on your rolling luggage. I think it’s brilliant and would love to give it a try.

So, if you are short on hints for gifts for your significant other I hope this helps. If you’ve come across any great travel-related gifts drop us a line. We’d love your input.