I’m just back from 20 days in France. I was on the RS Eastern France tour plus 2 extra nights before and 3 afterwords. It was a super trip.
First off, I’ve been working on streamlining what I carry and pairing down the weight. I especially wanted a smaller, lighter travel purse. I went with a Side Effect by Tom Bihn. It’s 9”x5” and weighs 6 ounces on my scale. Very comfortable to carry and it stays on without me noticing wearing it all day. If you want to carry a water bottle and umbrella it’s not for you. But it is good for small anker charger, fold up shopping bag, tissues, gum/mints, credit cards, ID, and a pen and travel journal just fits too. I don’t travel in the summer so I don’t tote a water bottle and never take an umbrella - hood on my raincoat instead.
I love the little O rings inside the purse and I hooked my very small flat wallet that held 2 credit cards and the business card of whatever hotel I was in at the moment. It was hooked with an 16” lightweight keystrap so I could pull it out still attached easily, use my card, reinsert it with no chance of getting distracted and putting it somewhere it shouldn’t go. I wasn’t sure I’d like having it tethered but I really did. I also had my DL attached to a shorter strap that stayed in my purse the whole trip. My phone is always on a lanyard and goes into a side pocket in my coat or pants.
My other new item is again by Tom Bihn. It’s their Daylight Briefcase. It’s 14.5” across and 10.5” high, 4-5” deep. Just big enough for zip bags of chargers and plugs, zip bag of 4 prescription bottles, lotion, toothpaste and brush, emergency stash of cookies and water bottle. And I can put my purse inside as well if needed. Outside zip pocket on the back holds travel journal and mini iPad. There’s 2 zip pockets on the front I used for some minimal paperwork and some masks. It weighs 14 ounces. It also had room for a lightweight merino crew neck that I ended up wearing on the plane.
I’ve tried many things over the years as my personal item, some were too big and I’d end up sticking extra stuff into them, I used tote bags recently and they were much lighter but I found them to be too unstructured. This seems to be the sweet spot, small enough to stay streamlined but still has the structure so things have their own place. It isn’t big enough for packing an extra set of clothes however if you’re one of those folks. I always do carryon so I don’t feel the need.
I also got one of Tom Bihn travel trays for corralling the miscellaneous items on your bedside table in your hotel room. Really, really liked that to keep stuff together and then it collapses to stick anywhere you want in the suitcase. Very cool idea.
I never had heard of the company until reading about it on this forum. But I like that it’s USA made. I had to get over sticker shock to buy these things because I’m basically cheap, but I appreciate how well everything is made and designed. Not flashy at all, very utilitarian but with a little bit of design detail I like.
Those were the new items for me this trip, everything else were my basic duds. I have a 19.5” suitcase that makes for an easy carryon. I have a mid thigh raincoat with a hood that I love, it has a removable liner that was used until the end of the tour when we got to Provence and the sun came out. I used everything but the earmuffs I took in a fit of cold paranoia. Did wear the thermal bottoms I packed the last minute, however!
I wear the same Ariat boots I’ve been traveling with for 11 years and 1 pair of Saucony sneaks. My feet were happy the full trip. FYI: My fellow tour mates wore a big assortment of Hokas, Brooks, New Balance, and some lightweight low hiking shoes. 2 other women, including our wonderful guide, also wore leather boots frequently.
Continued…