Travel hacks and advice

[The AD]

yep. wool dries slower, doesnt wick as well and is more fragile than synthetics.

It may dry slower, but it doesn't lose its insulative properties when wet which is a huge difference from cotton or synthetics.

[anotherVTskibum]

yeah, the idea that wool saves space and time because you can wash it daily is weird to me. Synthetics are easier to wash and dry. Wool saves space and time because it doesn't stink and can be worn more days in a row before washing. At least that is how it works for me.

My take is that if you half-ass washing wool stuff, it's probably good to go (as in, rinsing might just be enough). If you half-ass washing synthetic stuff, it's still going to stink.

[riser4]

How is washing something every day easier than doing one load of laundry once?

[californiagrown]

How is washing something every day easier than doing one load of laundry once?

You dont need to wash wool nearly as often, is the point. I personally, will do a quick wash of wool underwear and socks in the shower (i literally just soap up with them on) every couple days so keep things sanitary, but dont need to wash shirts. Synthetic or cotton require a real wash after every use or they noticably stink (at least for me).

So, would you rather pack light and wash a single pair of underwear and socks in the sink every few days, or would you rather pack heavy and do a full load of laundry on your vacation? Personally, international travel usually involves me traveling on public tranport or walking with my luggage quite a bit so lightening my load (weight and size) makes life a lot easier... as does not needing to find and schedule time for a real washer/drier to fit a weeks worth of clothes for everyone in my party.

I mean, if you really cannot see the large benefit of being able to pack much lighter without giving up anything in return, im not sure what to tell you.

[zion zig zag]

I once had a hotel do a load of laundry for me in either Cambodia or Thailand (can't remember) and I'm pretty sure they washed in raw sewage and rinsed with swamp water. Stuff came back smelling way worse than it went in. My wife threw some of hers away and bought some new shirts to hold her over.

[jm2e]

Yea, when I think about travel hacks I’m really hoping for a protracted debate about wicking properties, instant coffee, and detergent.
Does anyone actually iron clothes anymore? Here’s my hack: fuck that!


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[The AD]

Right, you don't need to wash wool often, but in a pinch it's very easy to do (effectively) in a hotel room. Neither of those statements is true for synthetics.

[old goat]

IME synthetics dry much faster than wool and fleece stays warm when wet, although I wouldn't ordinarily wash anything that didn't touch my skin unless it got visibly dirty or smelly. And liberal applications of deodorant (to the pits, not the clothes) can cut down on washing considerably.
pRana stretch Zion are my go to travel (and everything else) pants. Shed dirt, somewhat water repellent, dry quickly, just enough stretch to be comfy, look ok in most restaurants etc. And the roll up cuffs are nice for riding a bike. The cargo pocket on one leg is inconspicuous enough not to be obnoxious.

[riser4]

Is there wool that feels and fits like cotton? I don't really like the feel of clothing on my skin. I can't really go around town like Randy. He was banging Ricky's wife for a while so he's not all bad. My wife thinks I'm on the spectrum. I prefer the heavier and stiffer Carhartt pocket T as my daily drivers. It will hang in such a way that it doesn't bother me. Can't stand anything tight and stretchy on my torso and arms. Obviously for skiing I bite the bullet, cotton kills.

[DoYou WannaDance]

Are you going to Kenya or somewhere else? We just flew miles last year to Portugal and then bought $100/seat RyanAir seats down to Morocco in March. We flew United from Aspen to Nairobi and back from Mozambique to Aspen in 2017 for 90,000 miles each, R/T. Mileage costs have surely increased, but it's not a bad way to go if you have time to plan. Otherwise, look for cheaper flights to Dubai, Doha or Istanbul as they are major hubs for Asia/Africa flights. Houston-Lagos is a big transit line for United and others, if you could get a cheap flight to IAH and then from Lagos to your destination, though Lagos airport can be a bit of a shitshow.

Lusaka. I think there are directs from Doha Quatar. Would like to keep a RT in the 7-800 range.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Is there wool that feels and fits like cotton? I don't really like the feel of clothing on my skin. I can't really go around town like Randy. He was banging Ricky's wife for a while so he's not all bad. My wife thinks I'm on the spectrum. I prefer the heavier and stiffer Carhartt pocket T as my daily drivers. It will hang in such a way that it doesn't bother me. Can't stand anything tight and stretchy on my torso and arms. Obviously for skiing I bite the bullet, cotton kills.

This was enjoyable and insightful to read.

[muted reborn]

Is there wool that feels and fits like cotton? I don't really like the feel of clothing on my skin. I can't really go around town like Randy. He was banging Ricky's wife for a while so he's not all bad. My wife thinks I'm on the spectrum. I prefer the heavier and stiffer Carhartt pocket T as my daily drivers. It will hang in such a way that it doesn't bother me. Can't stand anything tight and stretchy on my torso and arms. Obviously for skiing I bite the bullet, cotton kills.

ADHD, autism....you have food aversions too?

This was enjoyable and insightful to read.

I think he's a closet nudist.

[AK47bp]

ADHD, autism....you have food aversions too?



I think he's a closet nudist.

Probably needs the crust cut off his sandwiches

[jm2e]

Changing your wardrobe for traveling is like planning to be uncomfortable. Clothes are like comfort foods. Where whatever the fuck you want. It’s a flight, not spring camping on a glacier in the Sahara.


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[singlesline]

Alright, here's my travel hack from last month. I'm not a good plane sleeper but I started getting instagram ads for this "Sleeper Hold" setup that basically straps your head to the headrest. It also includes a built in eye mask and a small pillow, but I don't entirely understand the point of the pillow.

Seemed like a great idea to me as my biggest problem is usually supporting my head and avoiding those moments where you jerk forward and wake up. I've experimented with neck pillows but it never works and I hate having anything extra behind my neck (maybe because I am tall?). On many long flights I have attempted to jury rig something stupid where I tie my head to the headrest using a fleece or spare blanket.

Unfortunately they were still in kickstarter pre-order mode as of a month ago...so I bought a dollar store head band and grabbed some long velcro straps:

I was going to do something more complicated with an adjustable webbing strap (brought webbing and a needle+thread on the plane so I could make sure it fit), but this setup worked fine--just one strap around each side of the headrest and the headband through both.

Was glorious. I positioned it over my forehead so it held everything in place and then wore my eye mask below it and noise cancelling headphones over it. Easy to slip out of it if you need to. I wasn't worried about any sort of safety issues--being on my forehead, it would only slip UP if something happened. The instagram one goes lower since it covers your eyes, but includes breakaway buckles.

Seriously, it worked great except for my SwissAir flight being the HOTTEST plane I have been on in ages. Was down to a t shirt and thin tech pants and was still sweating while trying to sleep.

edit: still don't understand why the instagram one includes a pillow--I tried putting a plane pillow behind my neck with this setup and it was terrible...the headrest is plenty on its own for me.

[singlesline]

Oh yeah, and based on some Reddit post, I also experimented with a cervical neck brace as an alternative to a neck pillow: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072QBB3YD...roduct_details

I'd give it a 7/10. Better than any neck pillow I've ever tried: no bulk behind you, supports your head from rolling around, packs up fairly small, and gives you more freedom of movement than the strap. But it does feel kind of weird/constraining (I got over it, but my wife tried it for like 30 seconds before rejecting it) and your neck gets relatively warm.

[Peruvian]

I went to Paris for over a week in the Autumn with a carry on and personal item without having to do any laundry and didn’t rely on fancy fabrics or special clothes. How much space do your socks and undies really take up? It’s the pants and sweaters that take up space. Roll em up tight and try not to shart yourself and you’re good to go.

[phatty]

I went to Paris for over a week in the Autumn with a carry on and personal item without having to do any laundry and didn’t rely on fancy fabrics or special clothes. How much space do your socks and undies really take up? It’s the pants and sweaters that take up space. Roll em up tight and try not to shart yourself and you’re good to go.

Haha. I've been thinking the same thing in this thread. Some of you guys pour sweat and do dastardly things when you fart. I've done 2 weeks out of a carry on with the only laundry done a rinsing out my exercise clothes and drying in the shower. Socks and undies can go 2 days if needed. But I'm not a heavy sweater unless pushing myself.

[zion zig zag]

I went to Paris for over a week in the Autumn with a carry on and personal item without having to do any laundry and didn’t rely on fancy fabrics or special clothes. How much space do your socks and undies really take up? It’s the pants and sweaters that take up space. Roll em up tight and try not to shart yourself and you’re good to go.

Paris? Pfft. With the climate, and typical activity level of that type trip, one bag, no laundry is easy. I'm talking SE Asia or travel where you are backpacking/have other gear.

[boltonoutlaw]

Here to say that the heated toilet seats in Japan are a great way to dry socks overnight.

Things that stay in my carryon full time: eye mask, ear plugs, noise cancelling earphones, a pen, breath mints, sleeping pills, good instant coffee, and hot sauce.

I had a doctor long ago who would prescribe Halcion and I would sleep gate-to-gate but my recent doctors have been too cautious. What is your go-to pastille?

For me, its not quality of coffee in other countries, it’s the American quantity that I’ve gotten used to. I feel like I’ve been judged in other countries for asking for a third cup.

Of all the konbinis in Japan only Lawson sells the Mega. Large at 7-11, Family Mart, or Seico are a joke.

Coffee in your bags may set off the tsa agents...

In my case not yet, and I return from Panama every year with 10 pounds.


Lastly, I never in my life saw individual drip-on coffee sachets until I went to Japan and now I take them everywhere.

[chaka]

I had a doctor long ago who would prescribe Halcion and I would sleep gate-to-gate but my recent doctors have been too cautious. What is your go-to pastille?

That stuff is incredible. Also long ago, a doctor on a group climbing trip to Bolivia slipped me one before the flight. I typically sleep horribly (if at all) on flights. I was sleeping like a drunk baby 5 minutes in, gracefully woke up when jolted during touchdown. Zero grogginess or other side effects.

[riser4]

Paris? Pfft. With the climate, and typical activity level of that type trip, one bag, no laundry is easy. I'm talking SE Asia or travel where you are backpacking/have other gear.

Apples to oranges. The type of travel activity was not specified, so we have all assumed it was whatever we wanted it to be. I'm with Grant. Except I spill food all over myself, so I chose to do the laundry. He and I probably brought the same amount of stuff. I kept the sharting to a minimum.

[skaredshtles]

I went to Paris for over a week in the Autumn with a carry on and personal item without having to do any laundry and didn’t rely on fancy fabrics or special clothes. How much space do your socks and undies really take up? It’s the pants and sweaters that take up space. Roll em up tight and try not to shart yourself and you’re good to go.

And don't forget that Europe is actually reasonably civilized and you can actually get almost any type of clothing over there if necessary...

[skaredshtles]

<snip>
I had a doctor long ago who would prescribe Halcion and I would sleep gate-to-gate but my recent doctors have been too cautious. What is your go-to pastille?

Indica edible.

[Peruvian]

Paris? Pfft. With the climate, and typical activity level of that type trip, one bag, no laundry is easy. I'm talking SE Asia or travel where you are backpacking/have other gear.

In Paris there is some semblance of fashion that needs to be adhered to. On a backpacking trip you wear the same clothes in the woods for 2 weeks. Finish up with a night in a hotel and do laundry in the tub before flying home.