BootsnAll Travel Community

Just out of curiosity...

Is there anything in your pack that you really can't justify taking up the space in your pack - but that you will bring because it makes you feel a bit more yourself, a bit more pampered, a bit more in familiar surroundings?

I will be living out of a 32 L pack for a year while traveling throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. This is quite the departure from my corporate 9-5 suits and pumps lifestyle of the past decade. I'm struggling with my petty interest to bring my MAC viva glam lipstick compact, an eyeliner, my Lululemon Boogie pants, and my favorite brand of fem products (that is rather bulky).

Anyone else been there before? What did you/did you not bring?

My splurge: One pair of World's Softest Socks ...

100% Silk sheet and a pair of silk PJ's.....

I say you can't go wrong with lululemon I pretty much kept a pretty strict pack (went to SE Asia, OZ) and was so sad that I didn't bring a least one pair of jeans. If its always gonna be hot, don't bring em, otherwise, they are a must!!! I live in them. And, I don't see anything wrong with bringing your favorite lipgloss/chapstick. We all like to be a little girly sometimes

I'm planning on bringing a "look like a girl" pack with me. I'm going to get a wristlet so that I can have a purse when I go out. When its not in use I'm going to keep eyeliner, lip gloss and one or two eye shadow.

I also have to bring my blow dryer.

I was actually considering bringing along my fully bellydance costume on my New Zealand trip, in case I had the serendipitous chance to perform with whichever studios I'd be taking drop-in classes at! *laughs* After realizing that the costume represents about a sixth of the total weight I want to pack, I quickly nixed the idea.

But I *am* bringing a long black circular skirt. Thank god for compression straps!

Lauren


How can two geeks handle their first long-term trip? Find out at:
Geeks Abroad

quote:

I also have to bring my blow dryer.

Are you sure about that? A hair dryer is the #1 thing I always regret bringing with me when I travel... of course, I need to use a diffuser attachment. Maybe a small travel one wouldn't be sooooo bad....

I really can't understand the desire to bring a blow dryer...

...but then, I rarely wash my hair more than once a week so maybe I'm the weird one


My luxury tends to be my ugg boots (yeah yeah, there's a little bit of bogan in us all) if using my big suitcase, or granny style slippers (fold flat and take up little space) if using a smaller bag.

Mascara! Don't leave home without it. I also don't travel without my hair product - I have curly/frizzy hair, and I need my curl creme and hair gel, otherwise I get hair like a crazy bag lady. I also stock up on my favorite feminine hygiene products, because you never know what you will or won't find on the road.

Noella, I had to google Lululemon Boogie pants - they look super comfy and not at all unjustifiable!

humm.
good question.
i guess my heavy shit i always regret would be books. i have left a trail of books scattered all over this planet of ours, mostly novels (which i dont read at home so why would i read them on a trip?). also, i usually bring too many guidebooks.

as for girly stuff...i bring a big ole silk scarf but thats really useful and versitle. i also bring my own pads cuz at around age 15 i saw the local variety of pads my mom brought home from coratia and i was like, shit that helps me see where they invented the term "ridin the cotton pony" and i dont ever want to be stuck using some weird freakish pad during a time of the month that is already kinda uncomfortable when you are travelin.

zopa

Now that I'm back I can say I only used makeup once or twice in the 2+ months I was traveling. I bought my own 'time of the month' stuff, but saw that was pretty much available on the road everywhere I went.

I loved my "worlds softest socks" but did chuck them out after East Africa because I knew it would be too hot to use them in North Africa and they took up an awful lot of space.

I had my hair chemically straighted before I left (aka "Japanese Straightening") which was expensive but WORTH EVERY FREAKING PENNY. All I EVER used on my hair was a thin, cheap, black comb. No matter how long I went without washing, no matter if I was provided a blow dryer, no matter if I went to bed with wet hair, all I needed was a comb. No hair dryer, no straightener, no hair products! the amount of money, time, and anxiety I saved was so worth it!

quote:

I also have to bring my blow dryer.



Are you sure about that? A hair dryer is the #1 thing I always regret bringing with me when I travel... of course, I need to use a diffuser attachment. Maybe a small travel one wouldn't be sooooo bad....

Maybe you'll be okay with a small travel hair dryer - but I know for a fact that most converters will blow out when you use a regular one. It's not fun to have to replace your converter for that. Make sure you look at the wattage the converter can handle before adding the extra weight.

Extra things I am bringing, not at all practical:
a silk 1/2 slip
a silk sleepsack
a lavender sachet
a slim book of poetry,probably Yeats or Shelley
a small statue of the Virgin Mary
That's it.

Gotta have some lavender oil. Man that stuff can kill odors and put you to sleep all at once!

In my opinion, a sleep sack is an essential, not a luxury, but to each his(her) own

I always bring makeup because I go out almost every night while traveling. I find that the duty-free shops on the way out of the country are a GREAT source for travel makeup. Perhaps a bit more expensive than a Burt's Bees chapstick and Maybelline Mascara, but also smaller and packed for travel. For example, 95% of the time Clinique has a compact in the duty-free shop that contains a full/medium coverage pressed powder, a lipstick, a mascara, and eye/cheek color. Everything you need in one little case!

My other luxury item? Definitely books and a pair of jeans.

I usually travel with my own personal travel deity. That might be unjustifiable. But it's small, and lightweight, so I don't mind the extra space that would otherwise be taken up by...socks.

Also, I tend to pack extra and unsensible shoes. Because a good pair of sneaks/boots/sandals msy see you through without blisters, but strappy stilettos just make your pedicure look better!