Shake it off
Tesalate towel in the Alchemist pattern.
Spending $79 for a beach towel seems absurd – until you try one from Tesalate. Soft, compact and fast-drying yet still super-absorbent – they are perfectly designed for travel. But the best feature is the sand-repellent microfibre fabric; when you shake the towel out, the grains actually fall off. The beautiful designs are simply icing on the cake; $79, ca.tesalate.com.
Walking on sunshine
If you’re more about hiking pitons than sunning on the beach, you’ll need to pack more supportive footwear than just flip-flops. The Merrell MQM Flex hiking shoe will keep your feet cool but still provide the grip you need to conquer a piton. Available in multiple colours – but the “fruit punch” version is by far the most fun for a tropical escape; $150, merrell.com.
Merrell MQM Flex hiking shoe in fruit punch.
In your eyes
As you slather on sunscreen, don’t forget to protect your eyes as well. Shades from Serengeti reduce the effects of UV rays while also helping you see better in bright sun: Polarization reduces glare, Spectral Control filters enhance colours and photochromic lenses adjust to the amount of light (a great bonus if you have extra-sensitive eyes and wear sunglasses even on overcast days). Anteo sunglasses, $300 at optical stores across the country.
Anteo sunglasses from Serengeti.