7 essential Christmas gifts on my life (and golf) survival guide

If you’d like to know how much crap you own — if you’d like to stare straight into the blinding chasm of your own materialism — I have the perfect solution.

Move across the country.

I’ll admit that I felt pretty good about the state of my belongings when I decided to relocate to Park City, Utah. I’d lived in New York City for nearly five years, and the spatial realities of that lifestyle had kept my closet small and my cupboards bare.

I rarely acquired new clothing. I frequently emptied drawers and donated unused items. The only worldly possessions I acquired in bulk outside of underwear and socks were old copies of the New Yorker. I was living lean, baby.

But then the day arrived when I realized I would have to fit the lion’s share of my earthly belongings into half of the trunk of a 2011 Toyota Highlander … and my life changed.

I consolidated my belongings. Then I consolidated again. Then a third time. And a fourth. Finally, at the fifth paring down, I arrived at an appropriate amount. It was unsettling to see how many previously necessary things were left behind (when faced with a chunky soup, I still linger fondly upon the memory of my immersion blender), but it was oddly thrilling to see the things that had made it in.

These things, the list of items that could roughly fit in a carry-on? These were my ride-or-dies, the belongings that had survived The Great Lessening. Items I could confidently say would travel with me in the instance of a Zombie Apocalypse.

They were great either because they did something essential that could not be replicated, or because they did so many things that I could not justify leaving them behind. These items, at the intersection of versatility and essence, are listed below.

1. Normatec Boots

I wrote about Normatec’s leg compression boots for the first time last year and was surprised to learn how many golf fans had never heard of the product. These space-age, LeBron-approved recovery products are my go-tos for after a long day on the course or a long workout at the gym. The pants are essentially big balloons, trained to inflate and deflate in specific patterns to promote blood flow and speed up recovery. The secret sauce is something called dynamic compression technology, which encourages circulation, flushes metabolic waste and mimics a natural muscle “pump.”

I’m recommending this product first because it was the product I most agonized over including in the packing process. At the time, it felt like a lot to surrender trunk space in the name of recovery. But since arriving out west, any initial headache has proven well worth it. The pants are a weekly inclusion in my routine, and though we’re well into the offseason now, they’re also a terrific way to stay fresh between rounds on 36-hole day or multiple-round weekends.

2. Rhone Commuter Pro Pants

If you’ve seen my face in a GOLF.com video in the last two years, you’ve probably seen a Rhone Commuter polo in action. And, if you’ve seen me in person, you’ve probably seen me rocking these Commuter Pro pants.

Most of Rhone’s athleisure gear lives at my preferred intersection of high-quality, understated and not cookie-cutter, but these pants are top of the heap. They’re heavy enough to wear out in the cold, flexible enough to wear in the heat, tasteful enough to wear out to a nice meal and athletic enough to wear out to the course. If you need an all-around pant, a king of versatility, look no further.

RHONE Commuter Pro Trouser

Crafted from an evolution of our best-selling fabric with a structured yet flexible feel, this trouser features an adjustable button waistband and permanent pressed pleats for a sharp, refined look.

3. Stio Hometown Down Jacket

A decade ago, I made the worst great decision of my life and elected to move to Syracuse for four winters to attend school. For the uninitiated, Syracuse is one of the snow capitals of the world. The winters run from October through May and are a mix of interminably cold and perpetually gray.

I got into the golf industry in large part because I had freezer burn from my time in Cuse, and even as my career brought me to greener (and warmer) pastures, I found that I hadn’t quite kicked the chill of my younger years. I dreaded the winter months with a passion, and I hated dressing to play golf in the cold so much that I hardly played once the temperatures dipped below 50.

Earlier this year, with winter arriving, I was gifted the jacket that changed my worldview: The Stio Hometown Down Jacket. Stio says the Hometown Down is a “midweight jacket,” but I can attest that I’ve already successfully worn it in temperatures well below freezing. It doesn’t take much time to realize why it’s such a popular buy among those in cold-weather communities: It’s thick but not oversized and nimble enough to wear for a variety of activities. If you’re going to a sporting event in the cold or merely have plans of sticking out winter on the golf course until the snow arrives, I can say confidently that Stio is the best bang for your buck.

Stio Hometown Down Jacket

The Stio Hometown Jacket is a midweight option with heavyweight versatility. Filled with responsibly sourced down and recycled fabrics, it’s a winner across the board.

4. Momentous supplements

I’ll be honest: I’m not really a supplement guy. It took many years before I brought myself to the altar of protein powder, and many more to reach my recent flirtation with creatine.

Part of the reason for my tepidness was that I resented feeling like a gym bro. My brother (who is studying to become a doctor) often reminds me that eating widely in moderation is good enough for the vast majority of people. Adding powders and chunky water bottles seemed like a great way to lose what little dignity I still clung to at little ostensible gain.

But then I found Momentous. Their branding is subtle (sensing a theme here?), their recipes are minimalist, and their standards are top-of-the-line. I still don’t carry around the chunky water bottle or the string tank top, but their products keep me feeling strong and energized without feeling gross about it.

Momentous Plant Protein Powder

Momentous 100% Plant Protein is built for high performers who demand the best from their nutrition. With 20g of clean, plant-based protein per serving, using pea + rice proteins sourced exclusively from the U.S. & Canada, it provides a complete amino acid profile to fuel recovery and optimize performance.

5. Arc’Teryx Proton Jacket

A funny thing happens as you get deeper into the golf world: You learn that some of the best golf clothing brands aren’t necessarily marketing to golf. Like Arc’Teryx, whose hiking and outdoor gear is some of the best all-weather golf gear on the market.

Now, I’m not sure I’d recommend intentionally walking into a driving rainstorm in the Proton hoody, nor am I sure that it’d be suitable as a one-layer solution for a 35-degree day — but if either thing happened while you were wearing it, I’d feel pretty good about you surviving in one piece. That’s the essence of the Proton jacket: Its value comes from its ability to work in every potential Scottish weather pattern … meaning some space saved in your carry-on (or trunk) in the packing process.

Arc’Teryx Proton Jacket

Made for climbers – including on the golf course – the Proton Hoody is the go-to breathable insulation layer for high-output missions. 80gsm Coreloft™ Compact insulation works with the air-permeable face fabric and liner to regulate temperature and vapour build-up. The Fortius Air 20 nylon shell is light and durable, articulated patterning removes restriction.

6. Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker

I change portable speakers less frequently than the United States changes Presidents, so when it finally came time to purchase a new one over the summer, I took the task seriously.

I wound up with the Bose SoundLink Flex (which is on sale for around $100 for the holidays) and goodness, I’m glad I did. The thing is basically indestructible (waterproof, dustproof), its battery lasts for 12 hours at a time, and the sound quality is good enough to fill a foursome on opposite sides of the fairway in the summer (thought you might not want to play at that volume).

Bose SoundLink Portable Speaker

Meet the updated SoundLink Flex Speaker. Surprisingly big, bold sound in a super-packable size — perfect for sharing tunes and good times anywhere on the planet. It’s built durable, too, so you can go where the beat takes you.

7. Blue Tees portable speaker

I don’t own this speaker, nor did I pack it with me on my journey, but it deserves inclusion on this list for a simple reason: I witnessed a friend’s willingness to drive three hours through rural Michigan to pick up this speaker from the course where he’d accidentally left it. If that’s not a ringing endorsement of a product, I don’t know what is.