3 Ways to Simplify Your Essentials This Spring

When temperatures start creeping up and everyone sheds their coats like emerging butterflies, the energy is palpable. Spring brings with it an infectious energy to get out and go do. (And sneeze. So much sneezing.)

This time of year, it's delightfully clear just how spoiled we are in Charleston, SC. With quick access to outdoor activities and various bodies of water, there's a seemingly endless list of ways to have fun in the sun – swimming, surfing, sailing, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, even paramotoring. Plus, there’s always a fun outdoor musical event going on, and a long list of breweries and restaurants with ample outdoor seating. To make sure we’re ready to answer when adventure beckons, we've simplified our out-the-door essentials.

1. Modular Keys

Traveling light is a way of life here at Distil – and getting down to the bare necessities is key in these warmer months. Did someone say key? Heck yes we did, because with Ferris you can slim down your chunky keychain to the minimum: car key + house key.

The KeyMod Mini Bundle gets it done for the minimalists, while the KeyLoop Kit is perfect for those who carry more and want to organize the key chaos with magnetic modularity. Both options come with a FobRing for your larger car key and/or sentimental boondoggles (no judgement), and you can opt to add a MultiTool with bottle opener—because nothing beats fast access to a cold drink on a hot day. 

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Here's where Ferris' magnets come in handy: When you head out the door, select only your essentials, leaving the rest of your keys at home on your fridge or ModStation. When you arrive, lock up then hide your single key under the wheel well and out of sight. 

2. Polarized Sunglasses

While the springtime sun has you reaching for sunscreen, your eyes require the same sun-sensitive care. Ideally you're protecting your eyes against UV light year round, but with so much more time spent outdoors in the spring and summertime months, sunglasses are essential. 

The lightweight lenses we use for our MagLock Sunglasses provide 100% UVA and UVB protection (of course, that's a given). But we go the extra mile with polarized lenses which block the harsh glare that's bouncing upwards – protecting your eyes and easing eye strain. The added protection comes in handy whether you're fishing on the open seas, binging a beach-read, or even road-tripping across the country – all of which introduce an added dimension of glare as the sun's rays reflect off of surfaces, like water and asphalt.  

With our trademarked magnets hidden in the arms of MagLock Sunglasses, you can instantly clip or mount them to anything magnetic – skip the Croakies and instead clip your sunnies securely to your shirt. Or use the magnet trick to guard against scratches by clipping them to the inside of your tote (instead of swimming around in the sand at the bottom of your beach bag).

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we've sourced a remarkable shape-memory material made from sustainable castor plants: Gnarlon™ is a high-performance elastomer with a matte soft-touch finish — a comfy alternative to typical plastic frames that hurt your head, sit wonky on your face, slide off your nose, and end up in a landfill.

And instead of the typical paper or plastic boxes, all of our sunnies come packaged in a reusable hard-body carrying case that conveniently folds flat. Plus, the soft-sleeve they're wrapped in doubles as a lens-cleaning cloth, because we know it's tempting to use the corner of your shirt – but that is a one-way ticket to Scratch City for your lenses.

3. Must-Have Cards

And last but not least, we've simplified our wallets down to 4 cards (or fewer), and carry them in a Wally Junior that's MagSafe compatible. If your iPhone is always in your pocket, using Wally means you can leave your wallet at home. It's one less thing to keep track of when packing an impromptu cooler and heading out for some spontaneous rays. This spring and summer, don't forget to simplify! And sunscreen, don't forget sunscreen. 

Speaking of heading outdoors...

As we celebrate spring flowers and adventures in Mother Nature, we’d be remiss if we skipped over the conversation of how your purchases impact the planet. We are proud of the products we design, but that doesn’t mean we think you should hammer on that “Complete Purchase” button just for kicks.

We love a thoughtful, well-researched approach to shopping and encourage you to give a fair assessment to the items you already own before buying something new. Could it be mended, or is it worn out? Does it slow you down in your day or ignite frustration often? There are many justifiable reasons to shop, and taking the time to think twice about what you’re adding to your cart can curb impulse spending — and that’s better for your wallet as well as the environment.

In a crowded online space full of greenwashing and alluring marketing claims, it can be tough to navigate what truly deserves your attention and dollars. We love the concept of “de-influencing yourself,” and think a 30-day wait period is a savvy tip that can keep you from racking up products you don’t need and bills you don’t want. 

“Slower shopping” can also decrease the amount of items you have to return. Although free returns for online purchases can be a tempting reason to give something a try before you know if it’s a good match for you, it does increase that item’s carbon footprint. Not everything is going to be a perfect fit every time, but a little extra research on the front end might save you from seeing the delivery truck in your driveway every day. Plus, it makes those purchases you do make even more meaningful and exciting.

The environmental impact of our shipping and returns is something that’s on our minds (and our Goals Board) here at the Distil headquarters, and we’ll keep you posted as we make improvements—like our new mailers printed with algae ink that's actually net negative (I know, right?!). Learning and evolving is a necessary part of life, and we’re happy to report that we update our approaches and policies as we learn about better, more eco-conscious solutions.

From eco-certified tanneries to plastic-free packaging, we make every decision carefully so as to be good stewards of our planet. As members of 1% for the Planet, we donate annually to non-profits who are making a difference in countless ways. Learn more about our efforts here, and find out what you can do to raise your own eco-consciousness here.