Any new colors for Western Flyer?

[Sarha]

Does anyone know if Tom Bihn is planning on making the WF in any new colors?
I'd really like to order one, but I'm hoping for Navy, or something other than black or steel.

[SusanM]

We are going to Costa Rica soon, and I have been eagerly checking the availability of Western Flyer colors, hoping to get one in navy in time for this trip. However, after my trial packing with my Tri-Star, getting a Western Flyer in a hurry is not such a big deal anymore. After I stuffed everything I thought I needed into my Tri-Star, it was almost round. I still want a navy Western Flyer, but I need to re-read some of those packing lists many of you have provided here.

Susan

[Lani]

Hi Susan -- I went to Costa Rica with my husband a few years ago, and we had a fantastic time! And actually, a co-worker of mine is taking her family vacation in Costa Rica this week. It's such a wonderful place.

When you go, make sure to try a few things:

- Gallo ("ga-yoh") pinto: This is considered a staple for the typical Costa Rican breakfast, and it's rice with black beans. The rice looks tinted because I believe they use the water from boiling the beans. They typically serve gallo pinto for breakfast. What you want is a typical breakfast, which consists of gallo pinto, fried plaintains, and eggs. No meat. Let me tell you, this is yummy, and loads you with lots of nutrition and energy for your day!

- Pejibaye ("peh-jee-bye-eh"): Is a palm fruit about the size of a small computer mouse. The Costa Ricans stew these for several hours, and they make delicious afternoon snacks. It's a fruit, so it's also nutritious and healthy. But think of it like eating roasted sweet potatoes. If you have a tour guide, ask them where to buy some. Otherwise, if you go to a fruit stand, you can find them sitting in a big bucket or vat. We're so used to prepackaged pretty foods that you would probably not bother trying it otherwise, but the stuff tastes delicious and I really miss it.

OK as for packing...

You should be perfectly fine with the Tri-Star if you already have it. I do have to agree that the WF is a better fit for smaller women, but the TS is definitely manageable. Get yourself the Absolute strap, or have the backpack straps available.

It's a little tough to know how you'll need to pare down your packing list without actually seeing what you've got, but I'll toss out a few tips and see if any of them might help:

SHOES

This is the single biggest space hog in baggage. Pare down the number of shoes you take to the bare minimum. Typically, I take one spare pair, as well as a pair of super thin flip flops. That means my shoes have to be pretty versatile. So for example, maybe you live someplace cold, and you usually wear boots. Instead of wearing your boots on the plane, consider wearing your sneakers/walking shoes/hiking shoes on the plane and leave your boots at home.

If you do choose to take a second pair of shoes, consider something like a nice pair of Keens. Some of their leather models are nice enough for you to wear out to dinner and a stroll around town. And these will also not take up as much room as your sneakers.

BOOKS

Are you taking travel books? Consider tearing out just the chapters for the region you plan to visit. If you already have hotel reservations, for example, you can leave the entire accommodation chapters behind. As you get done with these chapters, you can either toss them, or mail them home before you fly back.

INSECT REPELLANT

You need to make sure to have bug repellant for Costa Rica, but you can buy stickers and wristbands so you don't have to carry bottles of bug spray with you. Plus, you can buy the stuff when you get there.

ELECTRONICS

Are you planning on taking a fancy camera with you? These days, point-and-shoots are so good (we took a Panasonic Lumix; it took awesome pictures and took almost no room in our bag) that we could just keep all the photo equipment at home.

Do you plan on taking a laptop? You might consider a netbook if you want to do a lot of writing and journal-keeping; otherwise, you can actually do just fine with an iPad or even an iPod Touch these days. Those have the added advantage of being able to download books and whatnot, so you have even less to carry.

CLOTHES

Layer, layer, layer. Your inner layer should be very thin and easy to wash by hand. Avoid standard T-shirts and get ones that are designed for athletics; they are very thin, but you can actually pretty much get them dry just by wringing them in a towel. And I wouldn't worry too much about taking rain gear and such. Just take a baseball cap or visor with you, and enjoy the rain on your body!

You'll love it there!

[SusanM]

Hi Lani,

Thanks so much for all the Costa Rica facts and suggestions. I copied the names of the 2 foods you described and I won’t come back without having tried them both.

My Tri-Star has backpack straps, and I have an Absolute strap which fits comfortably in the backpack strap section. I can’t even feel the metal parts (of the Absolute strap) against my back. Also, it might be my imagination, but my Tri-Star seemed to be more uniform when I unzipped the divided section which separated my bagged shoes from a couple of packing cubes. Speaking of shoes, I liked the Keens shoes you suggested, but I already bought a pair of beach walking shoes which add a lot to my “round” Tri-Star. I’m wearing my only other shoes (hiking) on the plane. However, I did pare down a little bit by exchanging bulky fleece long underwear bottoms for silk, leaving behind a toiletries organizer bag, since I can empty out my clear quarter packing cube (full of snacks and small electronics) and use it for toiletries at the hotel, and taking out 1 tee, and 1 pair underwear/socks. That leaves 3 tees in the bag.

My goal to fit everything in a Western Flyer was probably not practical since we’re traveling in the middle of winter (we live in Colo.) and there are many cold weather items in the bag, but I’m wearing my thin overcoat on the plane and dressing in layers as you suggested. Also, we don’t usually have a beach in our destination (bathing suit, cover-up, beach shoes). In my one bag quest, I’m putting my packing cube shoulder bag, which is my purse (Lani’s idea, too), inside my Tri-Star. Maybe next time I can succeed with only a Western Flyer. Who knows, though? I could possibly show up those folks who travel for months with only a Synapse, by bringing only my clear quarter packing cube.

By the way, rather than follow Lani’s idea of “enjoy the rain on your body,” I decided to put my raincoat in my husband’s monster wheeled suitcase. But only because I can.

Thanks again, Lani. You’re always a great help.

Susan

[Lani]

My goal to fit everything in a Western Flyer was probably not practical since we’re traveling in the middle of winter (we live in Colo.) and there are many cold weather items in the bag, but I’m wearing my thin overcoat on the plane and dressing in layers as you suggested.

Keeping in mind that I am a total cold-weather wuss -- I am known to wear upwards of five layers of clothing on top to stay warm! A thin T-shirt or thin Merino wool T-shirt as my inner layer, a regular T-shirt over it, a thin Merino wool cardigan, a scrunchable fleece shirt, and then a jacket on top.

If you really miss the warmth and softness of a fleece top, you might want to look at L.L.Bean's packable version (Ascent Polartec Packaway Fleece Jacket: Fleece Jackets | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean). It *does* say it "compresses to the size of a water bottle, taking up less space in your pack" but be warned it's a big bottle! That said, for fleece, it's extremely soft and DOES scrunch down much smaller than your normal fleece.

Have a great trip! I'm jealous!

[Darcy]

Navy/Solar is up for pre-order in the Western Flyer with Backpack straps.

[Sarha]

Navy/Solar is up for pre-order in the Western Flyer with Backpack straps.

OHHH, I'm so excited about the Navy/Solar WF. I just preordered it, can't wait!
Thanks, Darcy ;-)

[Sarha]

I'm so excited about the Navy/Solar WF Darcy, I just preordered one!
Can't wait!

[Lani]

Navy/Solar is up for pre-order in the Western Flyer with Backpack straps.

[Keanu Reeves voice]

WHOA!

[/Keanu Reeves voice/]

[Maria]

Oh now I'm anxious! Wonder what other colours may be available sooner than expected....

Thank you Darcy!

[ultramaroo]

i loved the indigo

I loved the indigo color and hope they bring it back for either the western flyer or the tristar (or both). I haven't checked down at the showroom recently; sometimes they have leftover colors and stuff from before. (I remember seeing the old western flyer with the old pockets down there after the new ones came out.) Anyone been down to the store recently?

[Darcy]

There's a Black/Indigo/Steel Super Ego in the store, but no Indigo Western Flyers.

[toyryla]

I finally found the perfect bag for me only quite recently, and that perfect one is Western Flyer!

Currently available colours (especially for the model with a slot for rolling luggage) are quite conservative. Therefore I'm anxiously looking forward to new colours for WF. I propably won't take bright yellow or orange bag, altough it'd look awesome, but rather something like navy blue, forest green - or maybe khaki.

The previous indigo blue with solar inside was also very nice, too bad it's not available any more. One such was for sale on ebay last week, but the seller was not shipping outside U.S.

[Darcy]

The Western Flyer, Backpack Straps, in colors Navy/Solar and Black/Steel are now in-stock! And we do have one or two Steel/Solar left...

[JLE]

The Western Flyer, Backpack Straps, in colors Navy/Solar and Black/Steel are now in-stock! And we do have one or two Steel/Solar left...

Thanks Darcy! Any updated colours in train for the WF with luggage handle sleeve? I just received a black/indigo WF for my husband today and am already contemplating the next purchase!