Posts Tagged packing light
Teva Ion-Mask Mush Frio Packable, Lightweight Travel Shoes
The first time I saw a pair of Teva Mush Frio Canvas lace shoes, it was at a company booth at a trade show. They caught my eye because the shoes were hovering in the air, each one held up by a single helium balloon. That’s how light they are. Each one is just 3.4 ounces, so the pair is less than a pound. I’ve been checking out its predecessor, the Ion Mask version, which is slightly heavier but comes with waterproofing.
Oviously packing a pair of these shoes is not going to ding your weight limit, plus they smash up flat so you can easily fit them in a bag that seems like it can’t hold another pair of shoes. As for comfort, they feel like a pair of slippers, even the first time you put them on. But something this thin doesn’t come with any real arch support. So I wouldn’t use them for walking around in all day on city sidewalks, but for kicking around at the end of the day (especially after skiing or hiking) they’re terrific.
The “Mush Frio” part of the name is meant to imply you can wear these shoes when it’s not flip-flop weather. When you have to put away the flip-flops and put on real shoes, you don’t give up any comfort. They’re light enough and breathable enough to wear all year though—part of the upper is canvas, but the whole tongue part is stretchy padded mesh and there are two eyelets on the side. Plus you get an anti-bacterial treatment on the insole and shoe lining, so they shouldn’t get stinky when the weather gets warm.
The insole is nice and squishy and after a while will conform to your feet. They really fit like a glove though, so go one size up from your usual if you don’t have narrow feet. Otherwise there’s not much margin for error.
This slightly advanced Ion-Mask version has waterproofing, which they probably added to the original version after realizing that marketing this as a winter item while letting it soak up melted snow was probably a bit incongruous.
I’m not sure these will last you five years, but they’re about as light as you can get for something so comfortable and the price is right. This pair lists for $65 at Teva.com, or shop around at Zappos or Amazon.
You can lop off at least $10 and get a lot more color choices by removing the “Ion-Mask” part of this—the waterproofing. You can get the even lighter Teva Mush Frio direct from Teva for $50, or shop around by following these direct links to Zappos or Altrec. The version (pictured to the right) comes in six colors, so check Amazon, where some color/size combinations are currently going for under $35.
See more Teva Footwear reviews on Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on May 16th, 2012
GSI Halulite Microdualist Camping Kit
Just how compact can you make a full cooking and dining kit for a camping couple? And how practical will it be under real-world conditions outdoors?
I’d put my money on GSI Outdoors for knowing the answers to those questions better than anyone. They’ve got a whole range of nifty camping kits that are a thing of wonder when it comes to both design and practicality. This Halulite Microdualist kit I’ve been checking out takes “packing light” to a whole new level. 
You see, that whole big kit at the top packs down into one small container with a protective cover, like in the photo to the right. The whole thing is under six inches high. It’s impressively designed, with everything in its place yet so simple my daughter packed it all back up without any help. The protective cover doubles as a wash basin. The next layer is the cooking pot, with a handle that folds onto the top after the other things go inside.
Those other things are like a collection of items a magician pulled out of a top hat: two bowls, two mugs with lids, two retractable sporks, and a pot lid that doubles as a colander for draining off water from pasta or other items. The pot is made from lightweight non-stick aluminum. The Infinity plastic is stain resistant, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe.
After my real-world tests in the great outdoors, I’d give everything an A except maybe the washbin idea. It’ll work in a pinch, but it’s not much bigger than the pot, so kind of tricky to use for that item. And you might want to carry plates along if you’re going to eat more than what you just cooked in the one pot. But hey, this is meant to be for minimalists.
This whole kits weighs just a shade over one pound: probably less than the pair of shoes you’re wearing right now. So carrying this Microdualist kit along is not going to require much sacrificing in terms of weight or bulk.
Even if you’re not the backcountry primitive camping type, this kit is worth buying for the ease of use and the cool factor. Car camping? Heck, you can do “scooter camping” with this kit.
The GSI Halulite Microdualist kit sells for around $55. Follow these links to buy it at Backcountry or REI.
See reviews of more camping items at Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on May 3rd, 2012
Patagonia Silkweight Wicking T-shirt
There are plenty of hi-tech t-shirts fighting for your travel budget, but this Patagonia Merino Silkweight one stands out on several counts.
When I first starting backpacking around the world, anyone with any manners wore cotton t-shirts. That’s because the efficiency minded Germans who seemed most likely to be sporting the new “wicking t-shirts” could be smelled coming from halfway down the beach. Yes, it’s wonderful to have something on that dries quickly and that makes a lot of sense when packing, but straight synthetic fibers without any treatment tend to get rid of moisture…but hold onto everything else.
Thankfully, we’ve come a long way. You can now stuff your backpack with lightweight, fast-drying t-shirts that you can wear for days without stinking up the hostel. You can take workout wear for your business trip without sacraficing much extra space. You can be ready for an all-day bike ride and know your sink-washed shirt will be dry by morning.
This Patagonia one, which is a blend of 65% merino wool and 35% polyester, lists for a wince-inducing $60, but it doesn’t look, feel, or pack like your usual cut-rate alternative. It does feel silky-smooth against the skin, but the merino wool gives it some softness you don’t normally get in straight synthetics—yet it’s thinner and stretchier than a straight merino wool one typically is. It feels more durable too. Both the shoulder seams and side seams are not only flat, but they’re offset so they don’t get in the way of your pack straps or your arms.
When it comes to packing, you’d be hard-pressed to find any t-shirt anywhere that takes up less space in your bag than this 4.2-ounce one (119 grams). No matter what you do to it though to make it fit, it pops out with no wrinkles.
This Merino 1 wicking t-shirt is meant to fit tight and show off your pecs, so go a size up if you don’t favor the superhero look. I usually wear a medium, but went for a large on this. It still looks flattering, but isn’t so clingy.
I wore this for three days without washing it, in moderate travel conditions, and it stayed reasonably odor-free. When I sink-washed it after that, it dried in two hours in shade with a steady breeze. In the sun it would probably take an hour or less.
Like everything Patagonia makes, this t-shirt comes with an “ironclad guarantee,” so if it fails on any count beyond normal wear and tear, they’ll replace it. There’s also a lot of eco-cred in this product, from chlorine-free wool treatment to bluesign approval on the materials sourcing.
The Merino Silkweight t-shirt comes in 5 muted colors and 6 sizes. Check current prices at Rock Creek or at Zappos, where they also have the women’s version.
Don’t miss a review! Get the RSS feed or follow Practical Travel Gear on Facebook.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on April 25th, 2012
Helium II Packable Jacket From Outdoor Research
Taking the concept of a packable, water-resistant, breathable jacket one step further, this super-light Helium II one from Outdoor Research packs a punch in a pouch.
Sure, when I’m out on the town in my home city or driving somewhere with loads of room in the car, I love to wear the best-looking jacket in my closet. Bring on the leather, the wool, or the thick layers. When I’m traveling with a carry-on suitcase or backpack though, the requirements quickly change. Then I want something that does the job required while taking up as little space as possible.
Back in 2010 our former reviewer Kara sang the praises of the original Helium jacket from Outdoor Research and before that I gave the thumbs up to their Fanatic jacket. It took me through a tour in the Galapagos in fine form and is still looking good three years later.
With all of these, the concept is simple but effective: make a jacket that keeps away the elements when you need that, but packs away into a a little pouch (its own pocket) when the sun comes out again. Great performance, with very little burden.
The Helium II is an improved version of the original. Here’s the official word: “6% lighter and 10% more breathable than its predecessor. An ultra-compressible piece you’ll never leave behind, it offers 30% more waterproof protection than the original.” If I remember right the original version was also touted to be around 6 ounces, but I guess when you get down that low, it doesn’t take much to get “6% lighter.” Not like you could tell the difference anyway: a mild gust will blow this thing off your lap.
This is no wimpy windbreaker though. To give it a real test I took it to San Francisco, where the weather is as unpredictable as Mitt Romney’s convictions and you can often see fog, sun, wind, rain, and calm on the same day. I got everything but the fog, so I was able to see how this Helium II jacket held up in varied conditions.
It kept the rain off, it didn’t hold everything in when I sweated my way up a hill, and I didn’t feel the wind coming through it either. In short, a good all-around jacket for above-freezing conditions. When it was time to go home, it packed into its own pocket and took up so little room that I thought I’d lost it when I got back and started unpacking.
There are some minor downsides to it, like the swishy-swishy nylon sound it makes, but some of the gripes that came up about the earlier version have been addressed. There’s a second pocket now inside (good for anything expensive, or a passport) and the zippers seem to be a little more robust. There are some nice touches to separate this quality jacket from the cheapos, like a good cinch strap system at the bottom, wrist elastic, and a stretchy hanging hook.
Get more info on the Helium II jacket at the OR site, but I can tell you in comes in four sizes, multiple colors, has Pertex Shield waterproofing, and the adjustable hood is big enough to go over a helmet when spring skiing. The list price is $150, but you’ll find it for less on the real or virtual racks.
Unlike some other things we’ve reviewed here, this is not a difficult item to find. You should be able to buy it at your local outdoor gear store, or you can check prices online at Backcountry, Altrec, or Summit Hut.
Get the women’s version at Summit Hut or Altrec.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on April 19th, 2012
Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser Shell
I’ve field tested a good number of jackets and shells this winter, so when the Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser arrived on the scene (just in time for spring), I have to admit to being a bit blasé. After all, once you’ve seen one waterproof shell, you’ve seen them all, right?
Wrong. (But you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?) So what sets the Cloud Chaser apart? Three things: feel, portability, and price.
Feel:
Unlike some waterproof shells that can be stiff and unyielding, the Cloud Chaser feels almost supple, and you certainly have full movability. The Dri-Tec material is soft and breathable while still being completely seam-sealed. In fact, at first glance, I doubted the Cloud Chaser could be truly waterproof, because it’s not slick like a rain jacket or ‘rubbery’ like the ski shells I’m used to, and it’s extremely lightweight. I put it to the ultimate test: two hours on the sidelines of a kids’ soccer match in the driving Oregon rain…in March. No water got through this shell. Again, I’ll admit it: I was surprised, and impressed.
The outer shell is polyester ripstop and the lining is nylon, but because of the ventilation zips, you don’t sweat in it like you would in a traditional rain jacket. You’ll want layers under the Chaser in extreme temperatures, but on mild spring days with light drizzle, you could wear it over a single layer and be comfortable.
Portability:
The feature of the Chaser getting the most attention is the fact that it ‘packs into its own pocket’. At first, I wondered what exactly this meant: did the Cloud Chaser come with a drawstring pouch of some sort? Did the hood convert to a pocket? Turns out, it’s nothing that complicated. They mean exactly what they say: you can roll up the shell and stuff it right into one of its own front pockets. I tried it, and it does indeed work (shrinking to just a little bigger than the size of a softball.) I left the Chaser stuffed overnight, just to see how it would pack for a trip, and while it was marginally wrinkled when I took it out the next day, the wrinkles shook out within the first twenty minutes or so of wear. The hood is oversized (so it will fit over a helmet or thick beanie), and rolls up to be packed away at the back of the collar when you don’t need it. There’s a nice drawcord cinch at the bottom, and you can adjust the fit at the wrists, too. All the pockets and ventilation slits have waterproofed zippers/closures.
Price:
The fact that the Cloud Chaser is only $99 restores my faith that a quality waterproof shell doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The price makes it possible to add this shell as a travel piece you’ll use again and again, and reach for at home for walks, light hikes, and, if you’re me, endless soccer matches. The women’s Cloud Chaser comes in four colors (two of which are two-toned): Sprout/November, Haze/November, Dover, and Black. Pick one up at Amazon or the Hi-Tec online store. Discount online sites like ShoeBuy have a nice selection of colors and sizes as well.
See more Hi-tec product reviews
Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on March 27th, 2012
