Travel Products - Best Travel Outfit

Hello -

I will be travelling to Europe for the first time in a few weeks. I have watched Rick Steves and he tends to wear very similar clothes and it looks very comfortable. I wanted to get your point of view on what exact brands and products all of you wear, from the underpants to the shoes. Which are best for travelling?

I will be buying a few outfits that will hopefully last me the two and a half weeks. I will be in both Northern and Southern Europe.

Thank you,

CEMoore :)

I really like my exOfficio drylite shirts and underwear. I can sink wash a shirt, roll it up in a towel to remove excess water and then hang up overnight. The next morning, it's dry and unwrinkled.

I never leave home without my Merrells... they are comfortable and water resistant, perfect for walking city streets. They also have some pretty good looking design.

A few years ago I bought all that fancy travel gear stuff. I learned it wasn't really all that great, expecially for the price.

My biggest learning was to avoid the "quick drying" stuff. It's almost always synthetic and after a few hours the stuff really stinks. Nothing like being that smelly traveler. :(

So I'd try and make sure you get natural fabrics. Cotton, wool (smartwool socks are great!). The natural stuff is usually a bit heavier.

For me, I love the Wrangler cargo pants. They sell them all over, and they're a steal for $17 at Walmart.

I also use the tartan Hanes boxers. Small (for boxers), light, quick drying.

Hope to hear other's tips

Rick Steves looks like he wears everyday comfortable khakis, sport shirts and leather shoes, not anything specially made for travel.

Ice Breaker merino wool lightweight Ts. Slightly heavier long sleeve crew or V-neck. Many colors, many styles. Yes, I know it's summer, but you'll use these in Europe.

The only reason to get "functional" clothing is if you are trying to pack super light or at least save a good amount of weight. You can do that by a) packing less and b) packing stuff that is versatile and c) packing things that are actually lightweight and d) hand wash items while on the road.

So whether you need that stuff or whether you at least would stand to profit from it, really depends on the kind of traveling you will be doing.

I always like to have at least a sports coat packed unless I am going hiking (which I rarely do). A simple black V-neck sweater will be a good layering item. You can wear it solo, with t-shirt, polo shirt, real shirt or just sling it around your shoulders.

Jeans weigh a lot and don't dry fast. But you can wear them for many occasions (choose very dark ones) and for a long time between washes. That offsets the above downsides.

I like polos more than t's because they can go wherever a t-shirt can go but not vice-versa.

Keep in mind that if you look like an explorer on a trekking trip you will stand out like a sore thumb in any European city and only perpetuate the image of the badly dressed American (everyone has given up hope on the Germans already so I can say that ;) ).

Till

[QUOTE=tfar;18494923]

Keep in mind that if you look like an explorer on a trekking trip you will stand out like a sore thumb in any European city and only perpetuate the image of the badly dressed American (everyone has given up hope on the Germans already so I can say that ;) ).

Amen.

BTW, explorer.

The new look (since last year) for men in casual dressing is called the "urban explorer" or "urban adventurer". This usually consists of a pair of jeans or slim cut plain front chinos paired with a polo or long-sleeve shirt with a breast pocket (sometimes jeans shirt or military style). Combined with a pair of either more rugged shoes (boots) or mocs (drivers). Outer layer is a parka with many pockets (highly practical for travel). As practical accessories there has to be a scarf to complete the look and shelter the explorer against desert winds in NYC or Paris. There is also often a bigger than necessary satchel (no messenger but rather a weekender). This again is highly practical for the traveler. By no means must you forget to round out the look with a pair of aviators or foldable Persol sunglasses. Plus perhaps a braided leather bracelet. :D

Basically, the city dwellers try to look like globetrotting war reporters which means you will fit right in. ;) Note that there is a difference between the urban explorer and the trekking hiker with cargo pants and thousand pocket vest.

Till

For travel I like many of the hiking clothing. For the most part they are light, easy to clean, and durable. In the last few years many are offering fashions that are more resort oriented but there are many choices. While I have others my two favorite travel shirt brands are Exofficio and Mountain Hardware. Exofficio also makes great pair of underwear. As far as pants goes Tilley pants are the best. They look nice, easy to clean, dry quickly, wrinkle resistant, and durable. There is also a secret pocket that makes reduce the chance of theft or accidental loss.

While I consider my dress mainstream conservative what the Europeans think of my dress is of no concern to me.

Shak

1. travel smith or equivalent blue silk blazer with 6 zipper pockets.
2. dockers wool/plastic pants, with the zipper pockets below the standard pockets.
4. trenchcoat with liner(in winter).
5. widest brim fedora(3+") i can find.
6. around the neck/under the arm pocket carriers.
pack
3. 3 pairs lightweight shoes in dark color that will dry overnight.

although many "do not care what eurpoeans care" they don't, and they match that lack of care with abusive service. as an extreme, you show in your favorite tennies and ratty jeans at the door of the Ritz in Paris, you will be stopped by the doorman(i was).

Keen shoes with addon inserts. Keeping your feet healthy is most important.

For travel I like many of the hiking clothing. For the most part they are light, easy to clean, and durable. In the last few years many are offering fashions that are more resort oriented but there are many choices. While I have others my two favorite travel shirt brands are Exofficio and Mountain Hardware. Exofficio also makes great pair of underwear. As far as pants goes Tilley pants are the best. They look nice, easy to clean, dry quickly, wrinkle resistant, and durable. There is also a secret pocket that makes reduce the chance of theft or accidental loss.

While I consider my dress mainstream conservative what the Europeans think of my dress is of no concern to me.

Shak

I'm looking at getting some travel pants, and some of those I'm considering are the Tilley pants and the Exofficio Nio Amphi. Have you looked at the Exofficio ones? and what makes the Tilley pants worth double the other pants? It's actually pretty hard to find reviews of the Tilley pants on the net. How long does it take for them to dry?

I may be a bit stereotyping here but...... whenever I wear a suit or least look somewhat dressy I get bothered less by the GAs and even get better treatments from TSA people.

For example, same carry on (somewhat beyond standard carry on size) same airline and same class tickets. When I look somewhat business like, GA have never asked me to gate check my bag even when bin were supposed to be full. Yet, on many occasions when I am wearing shorts and t-shirts I get hassles on my bag size.

Same with TSAs. I get much less hassle when I wear a suit or a dressier jacket.

I think these guys figure you are a frequent traveler and leave you alone.....

My wife and I have met Rick Steeves in Varenna, IT, and he is exactly as appears on television. Tall, friendly, a wealth of knowledge, confident, interested in people, easy going, and easy to speak with.

I agree with the cargo pants comment. Far too many pockets for practical use, and the person wearing stands out as a tourist, most likely from North America. I would suggest when travelling one dress comfortably and casually to a point. The " expedition look " has it's place in other parts of the world, but not in Rome, or Berlin, tropical kit pith helmets included.

There are many restaurants and a few venues here that require a jacket, and possibly even a tie, which is easy to pack. One may never use the tie, but a jacket certainly makes sense when it cools off or rains, which it does in the Summer months.

A jacket or suit does seem to work magic in the airports and with the airlines, especially in Business class, or if hopeful for an upgrade. Again, sans pith helmet.

Don't forget your murse!

While it may seem like I'm joking, I found it quite useful when travelling and you don't stick out (as much) by using a backpack or other similar tourist garb.

I like Exofficio underwear because it washes easily and dries quickly without a musty smell.

I tend to wear what I would back home because that is the most comfortable. Plus I would feel terrible if I were wearing something touristy in Paris.