Road-trip travel essentials

It’s summer time, and that means getaways with friends and family! Although travel may look a little different in light of COVID-19, we’re committed to making the most of summer while staying safe and healthy.

Since air travel is restricted in many parts of the world, the best option for travel this summer is road-tripping! We love singing along to music, rolling down the windows, and munching on snacks while hitting the open road.

Preparing for a road-trip, however, is no meaningless task. It takes thoughtful preparation and organization. To make your road trip experience the most comfortable and enjoyable it can be, make sure you have these three essential items: snacks, comfort items, and a plan. That might sound simple, but here’s a breakdown of the best items to bring, and why they’re so important!

SNACKS

Now, you might think that when it comes to snacks it doesn’t matter what you grab, but in our opinion, not all snacks are made equal. When choosing what snacks to bring on your road-trip, make sure they check these three boxes: clean, shareable and satiating.

 1) Clean – Who doesn’t remember reaching their hand into a big bag of Cheetos, only to look around a few moments later to find orange streaks all over your clothes and couch (not to mention the unflattering Cheetos lipstick blurring the lines of your mouth)? When taking a road-trip, try to choose snacks that won’t stain your car seats (or your face). We love options like roasted cashews, bananas and oatmeal cookies – easy to eat and stain-free!

2) Shareable - Opt for snacks that come in small pieces or are pre-cut and bite-sized that are easy to share like grapes or crackers. Don’t try eating something like a birthday cake with a fork while driving along a windy road… just trust us on this one.

 3) Satiating - While cookies and chips are delicious, we highly recommend making sure you also have snacks that are high in protein to keep you full for longer periods of time. Who knows, you may not come across a grocery store or restaurant for hours, so it’s best to be prepared with snacks to keep you full! Try snacks like fruit and nut bars, edamame beans, granola or veggies and hummus.

COMFORT ITEMS

Avoiding tight jeans when taking a road-trip is a no-brainer, but when it comes to staying comfortable and healthy on a long drive, there are a few essential items you should always bring:

1) Dr. Segal’s Energy Socks – We love road trips, but what we don’t love is sitting for long hours and feeling our legs and feet get achy and swollen. Studies show that blood flow in your lower legs can decrease up to 50% after just one hour of immobility, and any travel lasting four or more hours increases your chance of developing a deadly blood clot (DVT).

By wearing Dr. Segal’s Energy Socks on road-trips, you can effectively reduce the risk of developing deadly blood clots. They’ll also increase comfort by reducing swelling and leg pain. Not to mention you’ll be traveling in style with all the fun colours and patterns offered!

2) Pillows – You should always bring a pillow when going on a road-trip – not just for snoozing as a passenger, but more importantly, for supporting your lower back! Using a pillow behind your lower back can help ease back pain and offer lumbar support by allowing the spine to remain in a neutral position, making those long drives a lot more comfortable.

3) Blankets – Even in the summer a blanket is a road-trip essential. While it might be warm during the day, if you have to stop to rest or can’t find a place to stay the night, having a blanket will keep you warm and comfortable while sleeping in your car. No one wants to be stuck using a sweater as a blanket.

4) Face Masks - While traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that you bring a face mask with you. In certain spaces it is highly recommended to wear a face mask, such as on BC Ferries, where you are asked to wear a face mask when walking on the decks. In other spaces it may not be mandatory to wear a mask, but in accordance with Health Canada’s recommendations, you should always wear a face mask when it is not possible to physically distance from others. This includes particularly crowded settings such as stores, shopping areas, and public transportation.

HAVE A PLAN

Going somewhere without a plan can be exhilarating and spontaneous, but if you’re anything like us and you want to have at least a few things planned out. Here are a few tips:

1) Consider how far your destination is – A seven-hour drive might not seem too bad on paper, but once you’ve been driving down a straight highway for four hours, you’ll probably start to feel achy and lethargic. Make plans to switch up drivers and passengers every few hours, and be realistic about how far you can drive in one day. Never drive when you’re tired and book lodging ahead of time if you plan to stop for the night.

2) Make frequent stops – Plan out where you want to stop on your road trip. Maybe it’s to see the view, or maybe it’s just a bathroom break, but taking breaks is a great way to keep yourself feeling fresh and comfortable. If you can, try to stop every one to two hours to walk around and stretch your legs. As mentioned before, blood flow in your legs can decrease by half after just an hour of sitting, so stand up and get that blood pumping!

3) Throw away your plan! – While having a plan is great, sometimes going with the flow and living in the moment can be the best part of any trip. Don’t worry if your 10-hour drive might take a little longer. Stop at that little diner on the side of the road and grab a milkshake. Hop out of the car to take photos of funny signs. Visit the viewpoint that’s a short walk off the road. You never know what exciting things can happen when you throw away the plan!

Now that you’re equipped with the must-haves for road-tripping, be safe, have fun, and hit the road! 

Click here to learn more about the benefits of traveling with Compression Socks, and see below to shop our travel collection.