18-day trip with Tri-Star

[tunesmith]

Hi, I'm going on my first-ever overseas trip with my girlfriend. We're both in our early 40's and have done shorter trips, but nothing like this. We're going to London, SW Ireland, Belgium, and Amsterdam. Temperature looks like high 40's to low 60's, fahrenheit. 18 days, early part of May.

I got a tri-star and love that the whole thing can fit inside of my old carry-on. It looks like it fits the carry-on measurements for Ryan Air just barely, and Aer Lingus no problem.

Basic idea is, fly to London, use the tubes while there, fly to SW Ireland, rent an automatic car and freak out, use it to drive to Dingle and Galway and turn it in. Train to Dublin for a day, fly to Belgium, train to Bruge for four days, train to Amsterdam for two days, fly home. So, mostly on foot. We're mostly staying in B&B's.

Hopefully y'all can let me know if I'm missing anything or have too much of anything. I've already packed once and it looks like I'm nowhere near close to overstuffing the tri-star. I have no idea how heavy it is, maybe someone can estimate from eyeballing the list. But I'm pretty sure it's comfortably under 22 pounds.

Worn:
Scott-E-Vest Revolution:
- 1st set of earbuds (wired into jacket)
- iPhone with Mophie
- whatever else is necessary to offload from Tri-Star.
Keen shoes/boots
- I'm not sure about comfort, I might get some gel soles or something.
One set of travel clothes
Belt or pouch for money/passport.

Pack:
Outer pockets:
- Book, boarding pass, non-essential travel docs
- Roll-up flexible plastic water bottle (having trouble trusting this, might leave it behind)

Outer third of the tri-star:
Small packing cube:
- Goretex sneakers
Medium packing cube (small + medium fill up 1/3 of the tri-star)
- Two pair black cotton gold-toe crew socks (I might leave these behind)
- Two pair cotton FOTL boxer briefs (I might leave these behind)
- Two pair REI coolmax multisport quarter socks (I think these dry faster than the cotton)
- Two pair REI coolmax multisport crew socks (I wanted both sizes)
- Three pair exofficio underwear (they apparently rinse/dry quickly)
- Probably the dry toiletry bag in this too:
Dry toiletry bag:
- extra pair of glasses
- toothbrush/holder
- ibuprofin, maybe multi-vitamins
- airborne dissolving tablets
- some bandaids
Super-absorbant thin towel, I think gf is carrying this though

Back-facing third of the tri-star:
Large "backpack" packing cube:
- Second pair of jeans (wearing first pair)
- One pair Nylon running/hiking pants that zip into shorts
- Two cotton long-sleeve shirts (I might reduce to one)
- Two short-sleeve polyester t-shirts, maybe three (probably wearing one)
- One long-sleeve polyester t-shirt, maybe two
- Maybe a fleece pullover but I hate the bulk
- One long-sleeve scott-e-vest dry-wick pullover (probably wearing this or the fleece)

Inner third of tri-star:
Wet toiletry bag (just a ziploc):
- toothpaste
- aquaphor
- small pack of handiwipes
- small pack of antibiotic ointment
- deodorant/anti-perspirant rock crystal (small)
- sunblock
Electronics bag:
- 2nd set of earbuds (the other one is wired into the jacket)
- mophie charging cord, extra iPhone/iPad charging cord
- iPad charging adapter, uk travel adapter, eu travel adapter
- iphone bumper
- Glif+
- small four-outlet travel power strip
- Joby gorillapod
- Apple Camera Connection adaptor (small - to put pics from phone on iPad)
- monster headphone splitter (small, so gf and I can watch a movie together)
- olliclip iphone camera lenses (small)
iPad neoprene sleeve:
- iPad with smart cover
- apple bluetooth keyboard
An Irish cap I like


So that's it... actually seems like a lot typed out. I'm considering dumping all the cotton, and maybe leaving behind the gorilla pod if it's too bulky. Probably not bringing the absolute shoulder-strap, and will stick with handles or backpack form.

Still have to figure out a wallet solution if I don't bring my normal one.

I'm also considering dumping the Keens and just wearing the goretex sneakers the whole time. We're not going crazy with the hiking.

Thanks for any advice

[Frank II]

Leave the cotton home. It will take forever to dry.

Weigh the bag once packed. Don't estimate. There are a few ways to do this if you don't have a luggage scale:

1) If you have a bathroom scale, put Tri-Star on your back and weigh yourself. Then take the Tri-Star off and weigh yourself again. The difference is the weight of the bag.
2) If you don't have a bathroom scale, take the bag down to the Post Office. They usually have scales for people to use. Another trick is to go to a UPS Store and say you're thinking of shipping the bag and would like to know what it would cost. Well, they have to weigh it to find out the cost. Eh voila, you have the weight.
3) If you're thinking of doing more traveling, spend the $15 or $20 to get a small digital travel scale.

Jeans are heavy. You could save some weight by substituting pants made of a blend like material.

The rock crystal and the handiwipes (packaged) do not have to go into the 3-1-1 bag.

Whatever shoes you take, make sure they are comfortable and well worn in.

[Lani]

I'm with Frank on this one; leave the cotton behind. You don't need your boxer briefs if you're already taking Ex Officio underwear.

Why in the world are you taking six pairs of socks? Take fewer socks but make sure they dry. If you "think" they might dry faster, TRY IT OUT before you leave. Bring one into the shower with you next time. Suds it up, wring it dry, hang it in your bathroom and see how long it takes. You can always double-up and wear two pairs of thin socks if you need more cushioning/warmth etc. And if the socks don't dry well on their own, wring it well in a bathtowel before you hang them up to dry.

People who love to wear jeans swear by them, and I know it's real important for you to take a pair with you. That's OK. but if you can manage to travel in your jeans, don't bother packing a second pair. Two pairs of jeans is unnecessary and a sign you need to lighten your load. Swap one pair of jeans for say a pair of light Dockers or something. That way if you wind up going out for a nicer dinner out, you won't feel all raggedy, either. Wear the jeans on your flights, pack your lighter pair in your bag.

I'm counting upwards of EIGHT shirts/tops. Is that right? That's way too many. If it winds up being cold where you go, buy yourself a fleece item at your destination. In the meantime, you can always layer a lot to keep warm. Not counting the clothes you're going to wear in transit, you really don't need more than two extras of anything... and you're doubling up on a lot of stuff. You don't need two short-sleeve shirts AND two long-sleeve shirts, for example. Take one short, one long. Adjust based on weather by adding layers. Swap out the long-sleeve cotton shirt for an Ex Officio-type travel shirt that you can wear by itself or over your T-shirts.

One pair jeans (what you wear)
One pair Dockers or other travel-friendly khakis
One pair convertible pants
One long-sleeve travel shirt (worn in transit)
One long-sleeve poly shirt (worn in transit under travel shirt)
Two short-sleeve poly shirts, packed
One ScotteVest pullover (OR FLEECE BUT NOT BOTH) (worn in transit)

I think that just pared your clothes down by about half.

- small four-outlet travel power strip

Do you really need to travel with this if you're trying to go really light? There are iOS device-compatible chargers with multiple USB ports on them. I use one that has four, and it's the size of a slim deck of cards.

Weigh the bag once packed. Don't estimate. There are a few ways to do this if you don't have a luggage scale:

We wound up taking our completely packed carry-ons to the post office and using their scale because we didn't have a digital scale and we wanted to be as accurate as possible, down to the ounce.

[jannilee]

What they said! Buy an ipad international adaptor set. It has all the adaptor plugs you will ever need. Everything else i have can plug into that. Why would you take an extra ipad charging cord? I follow the rule of 3 and never take more than 3 of anything. Ex officio anything are amazing and dry super fast I am on a trip to Spain and seriously regret having broughtveven one pair of jeans. They take too long to dry. Take moleskin instead of bandaids. You can buy bandaids but it is VERY HARD to find moleskin in Europe. Also take a microfibre washcloth if you use one. Seldom provided in europe. If you are staying in hotels not hostels you wont need the towel.

[jannilee]

What they said! Buy an ipad international adaptor set. It has all the adaptor plugs you will ever need. Everything else i have can plug into that. Why would you take an extra ipad charging cord? I follow the rule of 3 and never take more than 3 of anything. Ex officio anything are amazing and dry super fast I am on a trip to Spain and seriously regret having broughtveven one pair of jeans. They take too long to dry. Take moleskin instead of bandaids. You can buy bandaids but it is VERY HARD to find moleskin in Europe. Also take a microfibre washcloth if you use one. Seldom provided in europe. If you are staying in hotels not hostels you wont need the towel.

[Lani]

I follow the rule of 3 and never take more than 3 of anything.

Oh, that's a good rule!

Let's see... three hair brushes, three toothbrushes.... NOT. Hehehe.

[TavaPeak]

I'm not a super-light packer. But I notice you're going to Raindon, Rainerland, Raingium, and Rainerdam. So I vote yes for a carefully-chosen second pair of shoes (in case first ones get drenched). And for same reason, I wouldn't hesitate to pack a few extra shirts beyond the "threes" in case they don't dry well in humid climates? (Or buy a souvenir tshirt to wear if desperate. ) But maybe May is not so rainy. I just remember how chilled I was in London in August when it rained.

I do agree about replacing 1 pair of jeans with something else. Jeans are heavy, and they aren't washable on the go. If they get wet, you'll be miserable. I like Lani's idea about the long sleeve shirt layered over a poly shirt for the plane.

[tunesmith]

Thanks for all the comments! Yeah, I think I'm definitely going to replace one or both pair of jeans. I was hoping I'd be done with pre-trip shopping but it sounds like it is for the best.

As for the travel adapter strategy, we might be charging three things (two iPhones and an iPad) at the same time, which is why it seemed to make more sense to plug a multi-port power strip into one adapter, rather than buying multiple adapters. The smaller adapter with multiple usb ports sounds good though... I see one by Lenmark that might work well, wonder if I have time to receive it before I leave...

By the way, the ScottEVest is a Q-Zip, not a micro fleece, so I might still bring the fleece and bring the SeV in place of another long sleeve polyester or something.

[jannilee]

Hmmm. Yes, rain! I have a lightweight waterproof breathable jacket that i take everywhere (almost- and no, i dont take three of those either). My friend and i have 2 ipads and 2 cameras and i think we could get away with 1 charger if we were efficient about it. Wool is ideal for layering ( that's the knitter speaking). I took 1 wool sweater to iceland last june and a lighter one to spain this time and have been comfy the whole time.

Actually, i think of it as the rule of 3 but it really is - 3 tops-3 bottoms 3 undies and no more than 1 of everything else. My friend would say that does not include maps whoch i lose by the dozens!

[backpack]

I'm not a super-light packer. But I notice you're going to Raindon, Rainerland, Raingium, and Rainerdam. So I vote yes for a carefully-chosen second pair of shoes (in case first ones get drenched). And for same reason, I wouldn't hesitate to pack a few extra shirts beyond the "threes" in case they don't dry well in humid climates? (Or buy a souvenir tshirt to wear if desperate. ) But maybe May is not so rainy. I just remember how chilled I was in London in August when it rained.

I do agree about replacing 1 pair of jeans with something else. Jeans are heavy, and they aren't washable on the go. If they get wet, you'll be miserable. I like Lani's idea about the long sleeve shirt layered over a poly shirt for the plane.

How do you think the countryside of those places are able to produce enough cheese diversity that you could eat a different cheese everyday and have plenty of variety left over in dec 31? Cheese make with rich milk = grazer milk producers need rich grass = rich grass is made with lots of rain. Lol!

In northern Europe, some years, it could be cold and rainy in any season. Better to check weather sites everyday from now on.

It should be noted that sometimes, Europe gets extremely hot summers, most of the countries which line the north Atlantic sea have no air conditioning, polyester anything is going to make anybody miserable in those conditions.

The good news is, both men and women can buy an extra layers with not much problem. Check the department store websites of the visited big cities.

A black or brown laced up street shoe like the Bidwell Lace from Keen KEEN Footwear - Mobile

Or a slip on street shoe should get you anywhere very nicely. Forget the gel soles, they could be taken from you at security.

With the iPad no need for maps and guide books.

If you have a world famous brand name pair of jeans you consider getting rid of, wear them during the trip and sell them in Europe. They pay good money for genuine well worn Levi's, over there.

Department stores or shopping districts, pastry shops, restaurants and cafes are there just for the times it starts pouring.
A great beverage accompanied by a quick snack is going to be quickly burned out by the walking required to get to the places to visit. In very old buildings that are not public, there will be stairs instead of elevators.

Taking the train and city public transport is another way to burn calories.

Reserve your big city museums tickets online to avoid lines.

[notmensa]

@Lani - wow! That packing list just got some serious 'tough love'!

(And from experience I can say it's *totally* worth it to stroll straight past baggage claim and out of the airport...)

[backpack]

@Lani - wow! That packing list just got some serious 'tough love'!

(And from experience I can say it's *totally* worth it to stroll straight past baggage claim and out of the airport...)

I second that!!

[Katy]

Wow! What a packing list!

I hope you have a great trip! Remember to take lots of pictures .

[Lani]

@Lani - wow! That packing list just got some serious 'tough love'!

Hahaha -- is that your way of telling me I was being bossy?!?!?

I will leave you all with two images, then!

[tontobird]

I recently traveled with my husband for 2 weeks plus to Italy and Germany, similar temps.

Your water bottle, are you referring to a Platypus? I brought one and had no trouble with it.