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Post by welle on Sept 1, 2017 4:02:06 GMT 2
Wondering what your favorite must-haves for traveling and hacks for camping are? I recently spent 10 days camping in the South of Spain. During the day I had to look like I was staying in a hotel... not easy when you're camping in the scorching sun in the dust and have to hike up hills in the middle of the day. Here are some things I found out: -the $7 investment into a UV protected sun umbrella that folds up to maybe the size of two cigarette boxes paid off hugely. Works way better than a hat unless it's too windy -'dude shower wipes' can make that shower last another day... They don't have a scent and are just the right size. They also come individually wrapped. www.dudeproducts.com/collections/dude-shower-to keep wrinkles down and dust out of your clothes roll them up tightly and fit them 2-3 at a time into zip-lok bags. It also makes stuff easier to find in a duffle bag without creating an unmanageable pile of clothes. Socks one bag, underwear another etc. Curious to hear about your favorites and tricks! |
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Post by sophie on Sept 1, 2017 5:56:34 GMT 2
Dental floss can be used for so many things. I have wrapped parcels, held parts of my gear together, used as emergency shoe laces as well as floss teeth!
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 1, 2017 10:08:00 GMT 2
I agree on the vacuum pack bags for clothing.
with fluid restrictions on plane travel, I tend to have an oil-based moisturiser that can be used for face and body. I also like to use these bars of soap that work as a shampoo as well (I usually cut them in two or four and take only one bit depending on the length of the trip). for the occasional long camping stay, baby powder is cheaper and works the same as dry shampoo.
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Post by OnlyMark on Sept 1, 2017 11:20:05 GMT 2
If you steal the small cosmetic/shampoo/soap/toothpaste things from a posh hotel, they are handy when trying to cut down space and weight. You can often also get those very small sewing kits.
When you finish a toilet roll, pack more into the cardboard middle to carry. It saves it going all over the place in your bag.
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Post by shrjeff on Sept 1, 2017 12:42:41 GMT 2
who travels?
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 1, 2017 12:50:55 GMT 2
you and the Mrs, jeffy. you back on home time now or still jetlagged?
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Post by shrjeff on Sept 1, 2017 14:38:02 GMT 2
werry,werry jet lagged... been back 3 days and another week to get over it - 1 hour per day and 10 hours difference between california and israel...
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Post by Voy on Sept 1, 2017 15:23:41 GMT 2
no matter where I go the Leatherman tool goes. My full sized one lives in the glove box in the truck, but I have a mini one in my handbag too!
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 1, 2017 16:40:26 GMT 2
I used to always travel with my swiss army knife. so very practical! unfortunately, although I have inadvertently left it in my handluggage before (this century), I think it's better if I leave it home when travelling with hand luggage only.
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Post by shrjeff on Sept 1, 2017 18:23:24 GMT 2
we pack my swiss army knife (wenger, of course!) with the cosmetics which are checked... but then, indeed, there is the ambivalence about taking it out and forgetting to return it before the next flight...
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Post by kuskiwi on Sept 1, 2017 22:27:07 GMT 2
Unfortunately my favourite item doesn't translate to camping - unless in a very civilised place - however I very rarely go anywhere without my small electric immersion water heating coil (switches to 240 and 120v). Most of the places I've been in the last few years don't have facilities in room to make a cup of tea and as I'm a creature of habit and love a cuppa on wakening and before bed take this and an old coffee mug (which gets left behind usually) and enough tea bags to go the distance.
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Post by slowcoach on Sept 2, 2017 0:47:23 GMT 2
Unfortunately my favourite item doesn't translate to camping - unless in a very civilised place - however I very rarely go anywhere without my small electric immersion water heating coil (switches to 240 and 120v). Most of the places I've been in the last few years don't have facilities in room to make a cup of tea and as I'm a creature of habit and love a cuppa on wakening and before bed take this and an old coffee mug (which gets left behind usually) and enough tea bags to go the distance.
If it is the sort that the bottom of the coil is hooked out so that it can hold an egg until it is boiled, then it is a life saver.
I say that in its darkest way, a time long ago when such frippery was serious shite.
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Post by shrjeff on Sept 2, 2017 5:52:15 GMT 2
mrs.s. wants her cuppa every morning too... so we have a small travelling kettle in 120/240... at least one can fill it with stuff in the suitcase...
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Post by kuskiwi on Sept 2, 2017 7:14:11 GMT 2
[/p] If it is the sort that the bottom of the coil is hooked out so that it can hold an egg until it is boiled, then it is a life saver.
Unfortunately after 30 odd years of service the old one 'blew a fuse'. Unfortunately the guarantee had run out so the new one is slightly different. Just tried sitting an egg on it. It is now all your fault Slow that I've just had to wash egg from the kitchen floor.
Mrs S shows impeccable taste.
There have also been places where I've been that knowing the water is actually boiled, rather than just hoping it is, has been a blessing, and while I hate packet soup at home, it also has been a comforting meal in weird and wonderful places.
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Post by rikita on Sept 2, 2017 9:55:14 GMT 2
just bought some of the typical hiking things, like a microfleece towel, one of these liner sleeping bags (hüttenschlafsack in german) and a merino wool shirt, and wonder why i haven't gotten those before ...
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 2, 2017 10:02:40 GMT 2
yes, the towel is really useful. dries up in no time and doesn't take much space.
access to hot water for infusion is really necessary to me. thankfully, I've been travelling mostly in the UK the last few years, and there is always a kettle in the room.
I asked about hot water facilities at a recent event I attended (a wedding that took place at an outdoor event place, and was reassured to learn that there was a tea tent open 24/7 on site. I got there and they had the best selection available that I know of, pukka teas!
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Post by Netsuke on Sept 2, 2017 13:43:12 GMT 2
I use Eagle Creek packing cubes, they're fantastic - one for undies, one for bras, one for tops and one for bottoms. Two small ones, a green and a black - one for medicine, the other for battery chargers, batteries, travelling alarm clock, electricity adaptors. I always know where everything is. Clothing is rolled not folded.
Another similar pouch thing for maps, pens and brochures.
Folding brolly with UV protection.
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Post by slowcoach on Sept 2, 2017 15:35:11 GMT 2
If it is the sort that the bottom of the coil is hooked out so that it can hold an egg until it is boiled, then it is a life saver.
Unfortunately after 30 odd years of service the old one 'blew a fuse'. Unfortunately the guarantee had run out so the new one is slightly different. Just tried sitting an egg on it. It is now all your fault Slow that I've just had to wash egg from the kitchen floor.
Mrs S shows impeccable taste.
There have also been places where I've been that knowing the water is actually boiled, rather than just hoping it is, has been a blessing, and while I hate packet soup at home, it also has been a comforting meal in weird and wonderful places.
Bad Slow is sorry about the floor. 
Bad Slow thinks about it and decides that it was 45 years ago anyway I guess they don't make them like they used too.
I blame the hens.
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Post by ninchursanga on Sept 19, 2017 21:00:16 GMT 2
For camping or travelling in remote areas my First Need Water Filter is an all-time favourite. I've had mine for 20 years now and love it. The old cartridges were even better, because they fit on SIGG bottles and I could pump right into the bottle. The new ones only fit on these American style plastic wide mouth bottles. A bit of a minus now, cause I have to pump into the plastic bottle and then fill my SIGG bottle. In general though, I still love this water purification system. A Buff cowl is also always travelling with me and a simple, black Merino shirt. The shirt is good for hiking but also looks ok when I have to travel or am in town. Recently I've found the Macabi skirt which looks very promising and hopefully I can soon find a place in Europe that will sell it. |
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Post by lumi on Sept 20, 2017 6:21:01 GMT 2
All this talk about kettles caught my attention as I recently read an article that claimed it is rather common for people to wash their underwear in hotel by boiling it in kettles. And there is a certain bacteria in underwear that isn't killed by the boiling process making it very unhygienic for those using the kettle to make a cup of tea!
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 20, 2017 12:53:12 GMT 2
people do all kinds of wrong things in kettles. when i was at uni, my colleagues would chuckle that I always got the best service because I checked the kettle (and the bedding) immediately upon entering the room and would request a change if it wasn't to my standard.
A common one is people using it to boil milk. this makes it vile.
Why would they stuff their underwear in the kettle? why can't they boil the water and pour it over their underwear?
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Post by Voy on Sept 20, 2017 15:09:27 GMT 2
back to the non-kettle things -- I have one of those pouches you wear around your neck, for passport and money -- which has always struck me as silly because you can see the string... so , ladies, I'm sure you have already figured this out, but I hang it from my bra, and tuck the actual pouch inside my waist band.
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 20, 2017 16:01:11 GMT 2
Voy, I use a Jack Wolfskin pouch that goes around my waist. You can put the pouch to the front or the back, depending on your shape and it is extendable. doesn't work with really low slung jeans and high waist tops, but I don't think many of us potters wear those. And the pouch goes in the wash. it is cotton, I think. I do sweat with it, in hot countries, ut found it better than other solutions.
My dad used to have a belt with a zip inside. I think you'd only fit folded notes in it, though.
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Post by sophie on Sept 20, 2017 16:46:32 GMT 2
I have a light cotton camisole which has an inside pocket (next to the skin) where I keep bills and credit card.
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Post by Baz Faz on Sept 20, 2017 19:30:22 GMT 2
I have a belt that has a zip on the inside. I unzip it, fold banknotes, stuff them the length of the belt and zip it safely closed. Nobody, looking at the belt, would think it was anything except an ordinary belt.
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Post by kuskiwi on Sept 20, 2017 20:26:08 GMT 2
The other handy little item is really a ladies only one - and works better for the well endowed. It's a bra stash. Small silk or satin pocket with a plastic dome that can be tucked inside a bra. Years ago I made a cotton one but it had a button and a strap on it. The new one tends to just 'sit". Holds an emergency credit card, medium denomination note depending on where I am and the address of the hotel.
Anyone putting fingers in that spot to get at the stash will not only get fingers smacked.... but face as well.
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Post by welle on Sept 23, 2017 20:28:55 GMT 2
I agree on the vacuum pack bags for clothing. with fluid restrictions on plane travel, I tend to have an oil-based moisturiser that can be used for face and body. I also like to use these bars of soap that work as a shampoo as well (I usually cut them in two or four and take only one bit depending on the length of the trip). for the occasional long camping stay, baby powder is cheaper and works the same as dry shampoo. Annie, do you have a particular brand of that shampoo soap you like? |
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Post by welle on Sept 23, 2017 20:42:54 GMT 2
Great tips, I'm learning so much here!
A big yes on wool layers for camping from T-shirt to long sleeved shirt (I use Patagonia which I bought on sale on amazon). They hardly smell even after a long day of hiking.
Piggy-backing on the Hüttenschlafsack mentioned by Riki above. Wondering what the potters recommend for protecting a down sleeping bag from moisture. Is there a waterproof outer liner or some similar thing that you like? I've camped in rainy conditions a lot lately and luckily the tents held. I would love to have that extra layer of protection though as down does not stay warm when it's wet.
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 23, 2017 21:53:05 GMT 2
Welle, from my limited camping experience, you risk more from the damp from the ground than from the dome of the tent, provided you don't touch the dome of the tent whilst it is wet. Therefore, I always make sure to have extra layers between the ground and me. It is also better for your kidneys, as you no doubt know. re shampoo soap, I tend to get it from a friend of mine who has a small business - actually two friends have that kind of article: - this one is vegan and I know she ships abroad: Greenwyse- this one uses milk from her goats, and also she's super ethical, let me know if you have trouble ordering from her - i can speak to her: Baaathtime |
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Post by welle on Sept 24, 2017 4:32:49 GMT 2
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