BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi all!

I'm just about to graduate and have planed a trip to Australia (1 month from Melbourne up to Gold Coast) and Bali, Thailand, Beijing (second month). From the stuff that I've researched I see that it's better to go lighter. I'm using this post as a starting point.

I would be leaving in January and coming back to Toronto mid March from Beijing. I know it's summer in Australia in January so from the above post I'd stress the shorts and tee's a little bit more. However, I've heard Beijing is fairly cool around March so I'm aware I still need a sweater or some type of jacket?

I was looking at ExOfficioas a source for buying some major garments cause they seem to offer travller clothes (i.e. light weight, resistant to bugs, wrinkles, odor, bacteria etc). Has anyone had experince with them or similar products? I'm usually not fond of wearing all these synthetic materials but they seem to offer very compelling alternatives to cotton both in features and weight. Is it a big marketing scam or do these things really work? Likewise are they actually wearable if you're used to cotton?

Thanks again for all the help!

May I suggest Target and other stores brands of wicking exercise clothing? Yes they are wearable, but they smell ripe quicker than cotton or wool. Also, beware of static shocks taking them off. A wool sweater times 10!

Exofficio is extremely nice, probably the plushest sweaters on planet earth. They know it and charge appropriately. For the money, the Champion "C9" brand at target is hard to beat. They are ten bucks +/- a shirt.

As far as socks go, see if you can find plain merino wool, I prefer to layer two than wear hiking socks. Costco and others offer them at great prices. I haven't worn through them yet, and can't tell the difference between them and Smartwool. Both are a lot warmer than cotton.

As far as the rest of the stuff goes, I don't have many tips.

Well maybe one other being the cheapskate I am... Sierra Trading Post(.com) offers exofficio stuff at reduced prices. Also check: http://www.rei.com/outlet/

An extremely detailed, woman-specific packing list can be found here: http://blogs.bootsnall.com/gigirtw/?p=9

I found it to be a great reference.

EMS also has good wicking clothes!

I brought some cheap clothes that I could toss out...you may want to do that as well (esp if you know you are going to be in cold climates for the beginning and not the end)...the clothes I bought while traveling I still have and they have lovely memories (though they are quite worn from so many handwashings!).

I think in general specialist travel clothing is grossly over priced. I dont like the artificial wiking type garments - its seriously warm in Australia that time of year - cotton or silk will do you much better. Bring thermal underwear and thin merino wool or similar jumper for China to layer - it will be cold there I think You can always buy gear as you need it too - I always buy hats gloves as I need them.

Take the minimum, and buy while your out there. Seriously here in Bangkok you can get anything copied (to a very high quality), FAR cheaper than in Canada.

I wish id bought less before I came, since prices are very high in the UK