Travel + Leisure Asia - 09.2019

THE CARRY ON

The intrepid couple behind Travel Channel’s Caribbean Pirate

Tr e a s u r e—he’s the grandson of famed conservationist

Jacques and she’s a journalist—highlight their favorite gear

for action-packed trips. BY SIOBHAN REID

1. PHOTO EQUIPMENT CASE
   Philippe Cousteau: “My Sony camera
   and underwater photography gear are
   precious to me. So whenever I go on a
   dive trip, I pack everything in my
   watertight 1535 Air Carry-On Case by
   Pelican (pelican.com; US$230). Their
   products are bomb-proof.”


2. HIKING SNEAKERS
   Ashlan Cousteau: “North Face Ultra
   Fastpack III sneakers (thenorth face.
   com; from US$150) are lightweight,
   breathable, and good-looking enough
   to be worn at the airport. And thanks to
   their sturdy Gore-Tex uppers, they can
   also endure long hiking trips through
   the jungle.”


3. WATER PURIFIER
   AC: “Grayl purifiers (grayl.com; from
   US$60) were created by a group of
   globetrotters who didn’t want to stock
   up on plastic water bottles everywhere
   they went. The purifiers work like a
   French press, forcing water through a
   carbon filter and ridding it of 99
   percent of viruses and bacteria.
   They’re great for camping trips and in
   destinations—the airport included—
   where the drinking water doesn’t quite
   taste right.”


4. VEST
   AC: “I discovered Dubarry, an Irish
   equestrian brand, while traveling in

Dublin. Their clothing is rugged but

also chic. I’m a big fan of their waxed-

cotton Oranmore vest (dubarry.us;

US$199).”

5. STURDY-CHIC LUGGAGE
   AC: “Not a lot of people know this, but
   I’m told Louis Vuitton was the first
   travel-expedition brand. Their leather
   goods had compartments for whiskey
   beakers and champagne flutes and
   basically functioned as traveling bars.
   Sadly, I don’t own one of those, but my
   vintage weekender (therealreal.com;
   US$895), which I bought from the
   luxury consignment company the
   RealReal eight years ago, evokes the
   romance of that bygone era. It lived a
   life before me, and I hope to give it to
   my daughter when she’s older.”


6. GINGER CANDY
   AC: “Nothing calms an upset stomach
   like Gin-Gins ginger chews
   (gingerpeople.com; US$8). I’ll bring
   them with me if I know I’ll be on a rocky
   boat or in an airplane.”


7. TRUFFLE SALT
   PC: “Napoleon supposedly said that an
   army marches on its stomach, and I’d
   argue that expeditions do, too. From the
   jungles of Sumatra to the Arctic Circle,
   I have found that a little culinary treat
   like truffle salt (thrivemarket.com;
   US$16) can make all the difference.”

Philippe and Ashlan

Cousteau

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FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL; COURTESY OF PELICAN PRODUCTS, INC.; COURTESY OF THE NORTH FACE; COURTESY OF GRAYL;COURTESY OF DUBARRY OF IRELAND; COURTESY OF LOUIS VUITTON; COURTESY OF GIN-GINS; COURTESY OF THRIVE MAKET

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TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM / SEPTEMBER 2019 33