Thanks for all the suggestions. Just found a North Face Agave full zip jacket at Dick’s. It seems perfect for layering and was on clearance. The exact jacket was also on sale at REI. But it was ten bucks cheaper at Dick’s! Yeah!
Glad I started this thread. I am totally rethinking what I will be bringing.
I didn’t pack any shorts or capris and if I had, I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to wear them.
My pants included jeans and khakis, and I did (twice out of 10 days) wear thicker tights under those (Ketchikan, it rained all day, and it felt chillier) and Juneau (helicopter to the top of a glacier for a hike). For “dressy nights”, I wore black trousers and a nice sweater. I found overall the ship was much more laid back attire wise.
A couple of sweatpants for just tooling around on the ship.
Layering on top for me included turtlenecks with tshirts on top.
Shoes included sneakers and “winter” boots (So Cal winter…these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01KP67JPC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496097979&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=totes+boots+for+women&dpPl=1&dpID=412ZUgVCdQL&ref=plSrch)
A cozy oversized sweater for the ship, cardigan style for easy on/off, and a hoodie. Ear covering (a must for me! These: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N8X5YAH/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1496098149&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ear+muffs+fleece&dpPl=1&dpID=51ATrxSpuqL&ref=plSrch) a big fluffy warm scarf, beanie type woolen hat and fleece gloves.
I did bring a bathing suit (our ship had a retractable roof over the pool & a wonderful spa, for sauna, steam bath and jacuzzi!).
More socks than days away in case they got wet (they did) and didn’t dry out (they didn’t)!
My long enough to cover my tush winter coat (this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HHOXRZC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496098496&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=winter+coats+for+women&dpPl=1&dpID=415UvMz6rIL&ref=plSrch)
I loved my Alaska cruise and would do it again in a heartbeat!
Good idea to throw in a knit hat (winter hat). I had to buy one once in Portland, Maine at the end of March. You may need it when you’re out on the deck watching glaciers or whales!
I’m in Northern Michigan and play golf. 2 weeks ago I needed my hat and gloves.
Someone told me years ago. A good baseball mom doesn’t put away her long underwear until June. :))
A knit hat takes hardly any space and can be handy. A hat with a brim can be good if it’s sunny. I just used the hoods on my jacket and hoodie. If you aren’t trying to impress anyone, you don’t really need a new outfit for every day. Most trips we go on, I wear one pair of slacks and pack one or two, period, rotating them as aporopriate. The more you pack, the heavier your luggage gets. Dark slacks (like dark grey) hides small spills and goes with nearly everything. Scarves and vests can change up your outfit and don’t take up that much space. One caution about black is that it tends to show lint much more than dark grey.
I don’t think you need long underwear for Alaska but if you get cole easily leggings would suffice. I didn’t bring jeans…I don’t wear jeans all that much and for me they are far to heavy for 70 degree weather and far too uncomfortable in wet weather. I brought a 2 pairs of hiking pants, 1 pair of shorts and t-shirts plus one long sleeve cotton tee and the already said fleece and rain jacket. I did not bring boots…again, too heavy, too wintry but did bring a pair of lightweight hikers for hiking. I worse mostly sleeveless dresses in the dining room, but brought a pashmina…which I didn’t need. My head sweats even in freezing weather, but if your head gets easily cold a lightweight hat (fleece is lightweight and easy to pack) would be good for the mountains or glaciers.
This is the kind of pant I brought from a fabric perspective - all the outdoor stores have similar materials in different styles
The legs on the pair I brought were narrower. Alaska in the summer and early fall is very much like the UP or northern Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota…cool nights, nice days but not too crazy hot. Check the weather a week out and pack accordingly. I brought thin hiking socks. I never would have needed “wool” or any kind of winter-like attire except for the fleece gloves - glad to have those.
I have two pairs of hiking pants…where the legs actually can zip off. Mine are REI. Wonder if they still make those?
I apologize. Don’t know what I was thinking. I wouldn’t bring long underwear or a down jacket. A hat and light gloves, sure. They don’t take up any room.
When I went in June I brought a fleece, wore layers, had gloves and a hat but that is only needed for the most part on the deck when you are out in Glacier Bay. I wore jeans on the plane and out and about as it was raining a good part of the days in Juneau, Ketchikan, had black pants for dinner, maybe another pair of more casual ones for the daytime. I had one jersey type dress, nothing fancy that I wore the one night that was supposed to be dressy.
Long pants are needed in the dining rooms.
I have a teeny tiny down jacket that fold up into its pocket. It takes up almost NO space, and it can be worn unzipped if it’s just chilly…or zipped if it’s cold. Mine is a Columbia, I think…but everyone makes them!
When did you go momofthreeboys? Would love to be able to wear sleeveless dresss at dinner. I would, of course, bring some coverup.
I love the packable down jackets that compress to practically nothing and find them great for layering. My only issue is that my Costco one sheds feathers periodically, which shows up when I wear it over black tops.
BTW, what makes pants hiking pants?
I like the idea of a down jacket that folds into a compact pouch. That is what my rain parka is. It is a Columbia.
Patagonia nano puff, rei has them on sale right now.
I have a north face Thermoball jacket. It’s not down but synthetic insulation. It’s very warm. I wear it a lot, it’s very light also.
Hiking pants are light and dry fast. Lots of pockets usually
This is what. Got today. Great for layering I think.
https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/120890/the-north-face-agave-full-zip-jacket-womens
I got a $40 Costco down jacket and $20 Sam’s club down vest. Both fold down very compactly and weigh very little when wearing or toting in a bag or backpack. They are also washable.
To me hiking pants are distinguished by the fabric and tailoring. They are designed for comfort while moving. They come in lighter and heavier fabrics. Mine is very light nylon. I have sent some in heavier codura nylon (similar to backpack material).
Outdoor outfitters like LLBean, REÍ, Patagonia, North Face all have different models and a variety to choose among. Sometimes you can get good prices at end of season or prior year models.
Wool is another material that works well to keep folks warm even when they’re wet and is quite warm for its weight. I have a wool tank top that is handy as a base layer or alone if it gets warm. I also have a silky tank top that is also good as a base layer. Icebreakers has nice woolen garments.
So adding a pair or two of Smartwool socks might gear good idea?
Are these true to size thumper1?