For quick drying socks, I recommend getting a few pairs of Zella (it is a Nordstrom brand; you can find them at the Rack cheaper). I highly recommend trying different styles with your hiking shoes while actually hiking. There is nothing worse than discovering that your hiking shoes are killing your feet when you are at the point of no return.
Collage…I really think I’m going to be jammed for space and I do think underwear can take up much more space(10 pair) than pantyliners. I’m actually going to try this with some pantyliners at home and see if it grosses me out too much, and is doable. Maybe my panties are just alot larger than yours…LOL! The only thing that I see not liking is that they are just uncomfortable having them on walking all day.
I also read that Compeed blister packs are great! You can get them through Amazon.
Panty liners are a great idea but don’t know if it would help on just a 10 day trip. Maybe. And I haven’t tried 19 inch case yet. Might be a good idea when you want every inch. Try 30 days and I’m with you. But try it out and report back! I’ve always found that microfiber (mine are cheap from Sam’s) underwear just dries very fast, comfortable.and doesn’t take a lot of room. For 10 days I’d take 3 pair probably. Never needed the “super duper” travel stuff for me but H definitely needs travel underwear to save space.
Rick Steves advocates quick dry clothes (fabrics) that you wear into the shower (yep, just wash em while you’re wearing them and skip the sink mess–soap you and your clothes at the same time), rinse, take them off to dry and put them on again in the morning. Or roll it in a towel and just put it back on damp (you’ll be cooler for not long enough!). This works–I tried it out–fun and most European BR’s have NO space anyway. Much easier to do a shower clean. I cleaned all the clothes for my family in a flash while showering. Perhaps TMI, but so easy you needed to know. You have to have an open mind (and the right fabrics) to do it. I have a plastic hanger with a swivel hook that makes it very easy to hang items from just about anywhere.
All of this depends on your travels of course! When I have my car–I just keep adding stuff because I can. Lots different than air travel overseas with restrictions.
A 3 day weekend at home can look like a 10 day excursion overseas. But once you get to the 10 day packing list nothing expands. You’re good for a long time.
I have lots of pants, skirts and shirts made by REI, royal Robbins & tNF that dry quickly. Besides drying quickly, they are not as absorbent as natural fibers and are less likely to get stained.
As someone who may end up on her hands and knees digging out a volunteer oak tree on the way out the door to a meeting, this is an important feature!
I do like natural fibers, just not so much for traveling.
Traveling now for 3.5 weeks first the NYC then Italy.
Seriously too cold in NYC and that ruined the ground zero tour. Finally left early and purchased leggings and that saved the rest of the day. My 2 pair of long pants are super thin and while some thin knee socks work for a chill they did not cut it in NYC last week.
I have one roller carry on, not full, and one shoulder bag that my pacsafe goes in.
I have one Ecco Maryjane walking shoe, fipflops for hotel, and a teva type sandle, and super light dressier shoe.
I missed my dear foam travel slippers so picked some up.
My experiment with Eagle Creek compression bags failed. My H is loving his. My clothes are so thin that I have nothing to compress. I brought my thin down coat that went under a thin raincoat for NYC and has been used constantly as a pillow on planes and trains. I Finally my backpacking pillow home and this has worked great doing double duty.
I continue to rummage as there is not much but black in my gear. I do not mind washing a few items daily.
I have one pair of the ex official underpants with the lace. They are fine but not much better than my REI wicking ones. Stand by wicking socks for H
I have my baby bliss hairdryer and straightener here. Taking the meds out of their original bottles ( except for the one pain med we take for ER) was genius and love the little jars at Storables for meds, lotions, shampoo and all.
I stand by spinners but! H’s has 8 wheels and mine 4 and my is more tippy on cobblestones. So I get a new one soon.
I will be looking for some shirts that are not black, smaller compression bags, and even a little smaller suitcase as I want to even be lighter. Case is 6.3 lbs and I left home at 23 lbs. not including shoulder bag/purse.
I will end by saying that I am not a stylish traveler. I am basic but still do my hair and make up. And smile frequently.
I am amazed at how nicely so many travelers dress and how uncomfortable their shoes look. Also, how warm their clothes are–I am often hot. I will wear a sleeveless top with a black tee with a wicking shirt with a wicking zip up and a light windbreaker and take off layer by layer yet all so thin it fits in a pocket of my bag.
I have loved reading all of your responses.
Like Hanna said --order a size up from Uniqlo. Sized for Japanese market. Super comfortable! I got them based on her recommendation. Went for shirt with slight sleeve (versus sleeveless/tank) since the reviews said those could move around on you and expose things you don’t want exposed…
Okay! NO more shoes allowed in the suitcase! You are NOT allowed to bring a suitcase full of shoes! This is TRAVELING LIGHT!!!
SO if anyone has the perfect shoe–please tell me. I’ve been less than “fashion forward” in way too many countries. What I really need–(Any good company listening?) is an athletic shoe that looks good with a dress. I’ve personally given up and gone for comfort (and zero fashion). I spend dollars to visit and darn if I’m going to sacrifice comfort But wishing the twain will meet.
Anybody know one?
Wow, 13 pairs of shoes for a 10-day trip – i don’t even own 13 pairs of shoes!
ETA: I would, however, bring 10 pairs of undies for a 10-day trip, full stop, non-negotiable. (Only three bras, however, with no concerns about re-wearing, but that’s the subject of a different thread).
Oregon–how large is your carry-on? So black is not “all that?” Keep us updated!
Even my husband has a problem with shoes (for himself) on trips. We do a lot of different things, including athletic things, that need different shoes. He might be taking hiking shoes, running shoes and cycling shoes, besides sandals and everyday shoes. I have 13 pairs of running shoes on my shelf, so only taking 2 pairs on a trip takes discipline!
Even with a 21" carryon, I always manage to pack 4-5 pairs of shoes, not all of them bulky, of course. I just make sure they are lightweight. Socks and undies in ziplocks make great shoe stuffers. I can splurge on shoe space because my clothes are super packable, I guess, and because I usually don’t bring makeup or jewelry.
Collage1, we are taking 13 day trip in September that sounds a lot like yours. I am reading to learn to go light so please report back when you return as to what worked. I am dedicated to light, but DH travels with so much that it always looks like he is going for 6 months away from civilization. Shoes are his biggest problem, but he seriously takes everything he could possibly want with him. We went to HI for a month, I used 1 24 in bag and underseat carryon. He used 26 in bag, 22 in roll aboard and the under seat. I could have seriously gone down in size if I eliminated what I did not end up using. For shoes I am down to walking shoes to wear on plane, dress flats and shower shoes. Don’t think I can go lower.
@BunsenBurner makes a good point. Depending who you are, you may be packing more in some areas, less in others.
Makeup - for me, practically nil.
Shoes - what are your needs? I will never have occasion to need high heels, but I WILL need shoes to exercise.
Athletic wear - do you exercise regularly or not? Will matter if you have to pack clothing for that.
Hair products - long hair, short hair, curling irons, flat irons, sprays, etc. - or do you have wash and wear hair?
Jewelry - do you accessorize a lot? Me, wear my watch, wear a simple necklace, pack a spare pair of earrings.
Medicines - some bring Advil, some have need for 1/2 a medicine cabinet.
Wash and wear hair, curling iron at most but only for special occasions!
These are great with dresses or slacks all day.
Shoes I live in now for travel are Easy Spirit but I haven’t seen those! I’ll check them out.
“Wash and wear hair” is a dream for me. Mine is very thick and wavy (not in a good way, but in a sticks out in multiple directions way). My hair needs to be bone dry to behave so I take my Babyliss dryer Hotel dryers take forever. I have found that I can get away with no straightener if I pull my hair back in a ponytail for awhile after I dry it. Bangs are straightened with a keratin treatment at my stylists. Short hair is a disaster on me as it sticks out even more.
I need to check out this Babyliss hair dryer - must be small??? My girls may want to take a hair dryer on our trip abroad this summer but none of us want to take up the space - and they will want a diffuser…(I say just deal with the hair that you have as it is!!! - we all have curly/wavy/THICK hair as well - but mine is quite short)
I need to check out this hair dryer, too. Mine almost started catching on fire yesterday (never happened to me before, Revlon highly rated by Good Housekeeping…but I’ve had it for awhile).
I’ve been wanting to find a travel dryer for italy, but many people on Trip Advisor say check out the hotel’s first and if it doesn’t work, then just go buy one there that can be used without an adapter. They say that many U.S. hairdryers, can only be used on low (even with the adaptor) and even sometimes short out. Since I’m so low on luggage space, I’m thinking of trying that. Our first stop in Venice, and one of the posters that lives in Venice has told me where the closest place to buy hairdryers is near our hotel (love TA). I really don’t want to go shopping for that stuff on vacation, but I’ll be walking around anyway, so no big deal.
I limit the number of shoes I take to two pairs. Always take well broken in shoes. I take a change or two not for fashion but in case one pair wears out or starts to cause chafing or blisters. Comfort is the only consideration.
Ok, maybe I’m dumb here - what happens if you just wash your hair, comb it out and let it air dry that’s so awful? How is it all that different if you blow it dry? I have shoulder length, fairly straight hair. I could spend 30 minutes blow-drying it but it doesn’t look appreciately different so that would be a waste of 30 minutes for me! I would use a curling iron to turn the ends under, but really only for a special event. I very rarely use a blow-dryer - only sometimes in the winter when it’s super-cold and I don’t want a wet head, and even then only enough to take the major wetness out. I don’t think blow-drying is really good for hair, personally. But maybe I’m just fortunate due to the type of hair I have? Is this about a certain texture of hair?