Posts Tagged travel clothing
Aventura 2-in-1 Dress and Dharma Tank
It’s official: I have a new favorite dress. Actually, I have two: the Aventura 2-in-1 organic cotton dress converts to a skirt and back again in the blink of an eye. I love cotton dresses for travel because your entire outfit takes up half the space of a pant-shirt ensemble, and doesn’t wrinkle to boot. This dress, however, does one better: it can be worn as a dress or a skirt, potentially saving double the outfit space. Made of incredibly soft organic cotton, its rich color (Aventura calls this one ‘dragonfly’ but I reviewed ‘tabasco’) is simple yet striking, and matches many simple tops (and most Aventura swim suits).
So how exactly does this convertible dress convert? It’s easy enough that even a fashion-challenged girl like myself could figure it out. The dress can be worn as a halter top dress (halter strings tie at the neck) or as a strapless dress (with the halter strings tucked in). If you’re wanting a skirt, simply fold over the pleated waist (which is the chest-portion of the dress), tie the halter strings in a bow at one side, and wah-la! You have yourself a casual, swishy skirt.
I took the convertible 2-in-1 dress with me on a recent cruise, where I wore it as a halter dress over my swimsuit, and as a skirt to dinner. In either style, the dress is super comfortable, though I’ve developed preference for the skirt style. The waist is soft and stretchy (which anyone who’s been on a cruise knows is a plus) and it’s easy to slip it on over a swim suit.
I’ve paired the 2-in-1 more than once with Aventura’s Dharma Tank, which is also made of organic material (super soft bamboo), and is fitted while remaining slightly stretchy.The top is sleeveless, has an elegant surplice neckline, and a pretty back graphic, all of which adds a little flair to the ensemble.
The dress style is classy enough to wear away from the beach or pool as well, and could even pull an evening shift for a casual dinner. The skirt is an ideal travel day piece, and could also be worn around town or during any sort of touring. When worn as a dress, the hem falls to just above the knee (though I’m short, so apply that information accordingly) and when worn as a skirt, it falls to mid-calf/below knee. It’s machine washable, and features a classic cut (not too fitted, but certainly not boxy).
The 2-in-1 is also available in dragonfly (shown), tabasco (a rich coral), black, or white, and will set you back $67 at the Aventura website…a very good value for what you’re getting. The Dharma top is also available at the Aventura site, lists for $49, and comes in four colors, including a white which looks great with everything.
These don’t seem to be showing up yet outside of Aventura’s own site, but check Sierra Trading Post later as they usually have at least five pages of Aventura clothing deals.
Posted by Amy in General Gear on May 22nd, 2012
Two Polo Shirts Worth Packing for Your Travels
A polo shirt is a versatile piece of clothing to be packing when you travel. It’s nicer than a t-shirt, hits the “collared shirts only” requirement, can be used for a game of golf or tennis, yet doesn’t take up much extra room in your bag. Most polo shirts are made to be wrinkle-resistant as well, so they’ll look better coming straight out of your bag than a dress shirt.
I’ve been testing two that take it a step further though for travelers, building in odor protection, temperature control, sun blocking, and moisture wicking. They’re the kind of super-polos you won’t find on the clearance rack at Marshall’s.
Woolrich MNS Territory Polo
The Woolrich MNS Territory Polo has been in my wardrobe for a couple months now, on several trips, and has performed well. It’s made of a merino wool blend (half synthetic) that is odor resistant, wicking, and wrinkle-free. It dries quickly after a sink washing on the road. The Agion Active treatment adds another layer of stink-proofing and it worked surprisingly well: I wore it three days between washings in Bulgaria, one of those a day of heavy hiking in the mountains.
There’s a hidden zipper security pocket on the side, giving you another pickpocket-proof place to store some cash. It’s cut well to fit on the shoulders in a flattering way and keep seams out of the way of your pack or shoulder bag.
On the downside, I did notice a slight itchiness each time when I first put it on, something that happens with a lot of merino wool products that aren’t priced like luxury goods. After I had it on a while, I didn’t notice. It also suffers from the other merino problem of the fibers bunching up all around, so it doesn’t look as smooth anymore as when it was new. Not a biggie for me, but it could be for some people. (This is probably partly because I ignored the instructions that said to hand-wash it. Nothing I own is getting that kind of pampering when I’m home and it’s not practical for people who will use hotel/guesthouse laundry services.)
Overall though, this is a good quick-drying workhorse piece of clothing to pack for a vacation or extended jaunt. It comes in four colors, fits to size, and lists for $69. Check your local store that stocks Woolrich products or get it at Amazon. Or you can order direct. A message popped up my laptop saying they would ship direct to Bulgaria when I did a search from there to grab the link, so you can probably get it where you are…
Mountain Khakis M’s Approach Shirt
When I got the info about this M’s Approach polo shirt from Mountain Khakis that incorporated recycled coffee grounds, I was more than a little skeptical. It sounded like a silly gimmick, Bluesign certified or not.
This is a shirt I would have picked up off the rack at a store though, it looks so good, so I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. I took it with me on the same three-week trip to Europe as the one above and have been thrilled with it.
As with the Woolrich one, after trying it out at home for a wash cycle first, I wore it on the road for three days without washing, one of them doing some hiking. Since I was with other people in a van, I wouldn’t do this if it was getting at all smelly. No worries though: it did a great job holding out until I could wash it. When I did, it dried by the next morning, despite being half cotton.
It has a YKK zipper instead of buttons, which I like, a breast pocket, and is cut to look good without being too clingy. I’m not as skinny as the guy pictured here, but it fits true to size with room to move. It comes in three colors and lists for $69.
Like other Mountain Khakis products, it’s well-made and comfortable, so this one has fast become one of my favorite shirts for warm weather. Get it from Mountain Khakis via Amazon or check prices at Altrec.com.
Posted by Tim L. in Business Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on May 10th, 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.
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Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on April 25th, 2012
Magellan’s Stretch Travel Jeans
Dressing up for travel can be a pain. While we certainly do not condone the flip flop-wearing and Slurpee-gulping style of many Americans flying these days, there is a happy medium between dressing appropriately while still being comfortable. These denim slacks from Magellan’s are classy enough to pass for casual pants while comfortable enough to feel like a pair of jeans.
An invisible stretch waistband is hidden behind the belt loop providing a comfortable look without looking like a senior traveler on his first foray into the unknown world (although if you are one of those travelers who wears their ID around their neck and a fanny pack, there really is no helping your situation). The hidden security pocket with a zipper for identification, credit cards, or money does come close though.
In the back, there is another pocket with a zipper perfect for protecting one’s wallet, and the button foldover top keeps it inconspicuous.
An extra benefit for travelers is that these pants are made of wrinkle-resistant cotton with Lycra for a stretchy texture that is also machine washable. The flat-front design keeps them stylish too.
On closer inspection, they certainly do not look like jeans which may be a downside for those who want to pass them off as a hip pair of pants when heading out to the bar, but their comfort far surpasses that concern for most.
Frequent travelers with limited carry-on space will appreciate the fact that these pants are difficult to wrinkle making them perfect for long trips. Plus, their dark color is convenient for those worried about stains especially if this is the only pair you are traveling with (that is often my personal dilemma, at least).
They can shrink after their first wash so be careful to not buy a pair that is too tight. They are available for an affordable price of $70 at Magellan’s travel mecca website.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on April 9th, 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
