Buy Lightweight Travel Gear–or Pay Up
July 30th, 2008 Posted in General, Long-term travel, Travel gear
For a few years I’ve been running travel gear reviews over at my gear blog and I was stressing the need to pack light long before USAir started the second bag fee, before American and a few others showed even more contempt for its customers by charging for anything you check. (What’s really funny though, Canadian Air waves the extra fees if you’re carrying HOCKEY GEAR!)
Now the game has gotten serious and you really have to consider the cost of gear verses the cost of carrying it. Will that purchase help you save money—or will it cost you more money?
When you backpack around the world, you are thinking about this all the time of course, since you have to carry the load on your back. It doesn’t take long to start cursing those blue jeans and the pair of shoes you really could have done without. Even a hardback book starts seeming like an extravagance.
On a short trip though, it is far easier to overpack. You have a wheelie suitcase maybe, lots of helping hands, luggage carts, and taxis. And before, you could just check your bag if it got too heavy or too big.
But times have changed. I recently realized that the inside of my pack is starting to look like a Magellan’s catalog. I’ve got the quick-dry underwear from Ex Officio, the quick-dry Air Strip Lite shirt, the zip-off convertible pants, the lightweight multi-purpose shoes. Throw in double-duty gadgets like the Chargepod and it starts looking like I can’t bear to pack anything that’s not pulling its weight.
But you know what? I can pack for a two-week trip in a carry-on if I need to, which is now the only way to pack if you have to hit the ground running. It now pays to pay more for the right travel clothing and gear. It weighs less, it washes easily, it dries fast, and it will usually last longer.
The best gear does more than one thing while taking up less space. In the long run, when you weigh the hassle factor and extra airline fees, it’s worth the extra money.
Of course I’m always doing my best to avoid paying full price. Always shop around at the travel gear sites listed here. I’ve had especially good luck with Sierra Trading Post and REI Outlet. Remember that timing matters. Watch for sales, especially at the end of a season, and remember that just because Patagonia or North Face released a whole new line of jackets and pants, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the old versions that are now half price. Travel isn’t about fashion; it’s about being comfortable and carrying a light load, and maybe being wrinkle-free when you go for a splurge now and then…
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One Response to “Buy Lightweight Travel Gear–or Pay Up”
By Suz on Aug 11, 2008
Amen about the light travel gear becomming a necessity these days. I tried to help my uncle travel with some golf clubs and he eventually decided it was cheaper to buy a new set at his destination.