The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

What to Pack for a Tropical Spring Break

By Beau Hayhoe Published April 21, 2021

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Think of the gear you used to pack for spring break. If ever you’ve done the traditional college road trip, there’s a good chance that those outfits you packed for your week at Panama City weren’t exactly the height of style (hey, someone had to say it). But that changes today.

Recommended Videos

There are a boatload of menswear essentials out now that can work for you when it comes to packing and planning a spring break outfit. Get the fit, the fabric and the color right, and half the battle is already won. Reach for brands that are sustainable and stylish, yet affordable, and you’re doing even better. Yessir, what to pack for spring break needn’t be such a chore. In fact, we built one outfit for your already (with a bonus pair of swim trunks, to boot).

Start gearing up for your trip now with our top picks for what to pack for spring break.

What to Pack for Spring Break 2019

Outerknown S.E.A. Tee Pocket

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lightweight, easygoing, classic and also sustainably made? All at once? That’s what the Outerknown S.E.A Tee brings to the table, making it the perfect T-shirt to pack for spring break and wear for a day at the beach or evening happy hour in equal measure.

J. Crew Lightweight Stretch Chino Dock Shorts

Image used with permission by copyright holder

From the bright, spring-friendly color to the light weight, these J. Crew shorts are destined to be a go-to workhorse all spring break. Yeah, that’s an essential you want in your bag as you pack for spring break.

MVMT Icon 50mm Polarized Wire Sunglasses

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Packing for spring break means that you leave the cheap grocery store sunglasses … well, back on the shelf at the grocery store. MVMT is offering up a unique option that’s affordably priced and visually interesting, the right way to complement more straightforward essentials like a crisp white tee and light blue shorts.

Mack Weldon Swim Trunk

Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are average swim trunks, and then there’s the function and form behind the Mack Weldon Swim Trunks, complete with an eye-catching print and quick-dry, four-way stretch fabric so you can keep your cool all day long, round after round.

Sperry Men’s Authentic Original Prep Boat Shoe

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Vibrant and fun without going too overboard (pun intended), these Sperry boat shoes are at their best when worn with slim shorts and accessorized with a cold beverage of your choice.

Heading out to a fancy dinner while on break? Make sure you’ve got footwear to flaunt with the best spring dress shoes of the year.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…

Fashion & Style

Nomos adds color to Metro line for Ace Jewelers’ 50th

Two new Nomos watches with striking dial colors

Ace x Nomos Glashuette

Dating back to the early ‘90s, German watch brand Nomos Glashutte has dominated the industry with stylish timepieces. It is now collaborating with Ace Jewelers to mark a special milestone in the boutique's journey—its 50th anniversary. The latest additions, the Metro Neomatik and Metro Neomatik 39, are based on the Metro line and are cleverly designed to breathe some life into the collection. Think of it as a splash of color that makes everything look more interesting.

To make the collection more lively, the brand opted for contemporary color shades—orange and yellow. Each model features a subdial above 6 o’clock that’s highlighted by a different shade, which complements the dial. While the orange version has a yellow subdial, the yellow variant comes with an orange sundial, two warm colors that blend perfectly. The Metro line consists of three watch models with white and blue dials—the new orange dials add a touch of spice to the collection.

Fashion & Style

Sergio Tacchini taps into its tennis roots for SS25

Channeling the tennis beginnings and the polo origin

Sergio Tacchini Tennis

Athletes who make a mark on their sport almost always go on to create something off the court as well. After they leave a lasting legacy within their respective athletic venture, they look to have the same effect on culture. The most popular example is Michael Jordan and his Air Jordan shoe line. While he is the greatest basketball player of all time (no disrespect to Kobe or LeBron), his shoes have changed the world in so many ways that it's hard to quantify. But before MJ, you had Sergio Tacchini. While he was a legendary tennis star, he made a lasting impact on culture when he launched his self-titled brand. It started on the court and was worn by dozens of tennis legends from the 1970s to the 1990s, but it was also adopted by the British subculture "The Casuals" and hip-hop artists like LL Cool J and Nas. Since then, it went through some hard times before being acquired in 2019 and relaunched. The Sergio Tacchini SS25 drop heads back to its tennis roots, reminding everyone where it came from.

Tennis and the polo

Fashion & Style

Zenith unveils chronomaster original triple calendar in rose gold and black

The art of contrast: Rose gold and black redefine zenith's calendar chronograph

Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar white abckground

Zenith introduced a new Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar chronograph model. It has an 18-carat rose gold case and a black dial. This addition comes after the steel model came out earlier in 2024. The new materials and color difference change the appearance of the design.

At 38mm the watch showcases a configuration from El Primero's past. Not many people realize the high-frequency chronograph movement from Zenith had a triple calendar, besides the moon phase. In 1970, the company made 25 prototypes using the A386 case design.