Travel this summer, amid COVID-19, will likely be much closer to home. So, if you have a dad who lives for lake days, some adventurous gear for weekends spent on (and near) the water may be just what he wants to reel in this Father’s Day.
Ahead, cool gear that will make those days spent at the lake or reservoir even more special this year.
Paddleboard
If you’ve got lots of lake days ahead, stop renting paddleboards by the hour at the lakehouse and gift dad a board to call his own. This Cruiser SUP Xplorer Woody Paddle Board ($995) is not just a handsome board. Made with a tough polycarbonate shell, it’s durable and is great for yoga, fishing and paddling. Plus a rail protection keeps the paddle from scratching or dinging it.
Adirondack Chair
Summer is synonymous with a quality Adirondack chair. The Keep It Simple Mountain Adirondack Chair ($249) from Life Is Good gets bonus points for its hip design that looks like it was inspired by our beloved National Parks. Not only is it a looker, though. The easy-to-assemble chair is oversized and comfy, the perfect perch for watching the sunset dip below the lake’s horizon. Just add a six-pack of his favorite IPA.
Waterproof Shoes
Water socks aren’t substantial enough for hiking. And hiking boots traditionally don’t fare well when they get submerged in water. Enter Merrell’s Men’s Choprock ($120), a well-engineered solution that’s built for land and water. A drain in the shoe releases water, making the shoe ideal for summer fun, whether it’s docking a boat or hiking to a waterfall and needing or cliff jumping into a watering hole.
Seascooter
The Yamaha Explorer Seascooter ($266) on Amazon is a wild card idea for fun dads who have a garage full of lake gear already. It can chug along at speeds up to 2.5 miles per hour and has built-in camera integration so you can take underwater footage. While you can use it at the lake, it’s even better in the ocean because it’s designed for salt water.
Kayak
The Pelican Mustang 100X kayak from Dick’s Sporting Goods ($349.99) is an easy-to-paddle watercraft that’s perfect for recreational kayaking trips and fishing excursions. It comes with fishing rod holders, plenty of storage, and has a removable storage container. Lightweight and durable, the sit-in kayak is under 40 pounds, making it easy to carry in and out of the water.
Quick Dry Towel
The best lake days involve multiple dips in the water, which brings us to this: It’s time to retire some of those older towels that stay damp all day. Invest in a quick-dry towel. The REI Co-op multi towel (splurge on the XXL size, $37.95) comes is made with a waffle texture that allows it to absorb up to eight times its weight in water and wrings out almost completely dry. It’s light and compact, so takes up little room in the bag, and has a quick-attach loop so dad can hang dry it.
