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Packing Trip Report -- England and Ireland

I've been home for a week now after a 31-day trip to London, South of England and Ireland. I'm posting just the packing report now. The rest of my trip report will follow in a week or so as a separate topic. Suffice it to say for now that this was one of the best trips I've taken.

Packing was challenging for this trip, my first trip in years to a “cold and rainy” climate. After several test packs and creative packing I finally fit everything within United’s carry-on specs (22x14x9). Outbound my RS Rolling Carry-On fit United’s size requirements and weighed 21lbs. Homebound I expanded and checked it.
Question: why do other passengers’ carry-ons look so much larger than mine? Optical illusion or they are truly bigger?

As I sat in the hotel room stitching the seam on my RuMe tote, I realized I’d be lucky if it made the trip home (it did). Luckily I bought two totes when RuMe was closing. I crammed a lot into it. The tote barely fit underneath the seat and weighed 13lbs, less after removing my purse after boarding. I never thought I’d use the packable, fillable neck pillow I bought several years ago and was ready to donate it. However, my raincoat wrapped in a pashmina fit perfect.

I changed from my usual travel black/gray/red travel wardrobe to blue/pink. Clothes took no more room than usual until I added the rain coat, two sweaters and a jacket, plus a pair of water proof shoes. Sadly, I wore it all and didn’t regret anything I packed, just the weight.
Temperatures ranged from England heat wave with humidity, to Dover and south coast fog and rain, back to England heat wave, to 9 straight days of Irish rain.

I hand washed either daily or every two days depending on tour schedule. All shirts were nylon or polyester for quick dry. That’s relative to the weather: warm days dry overnight, cold days dry in two days. Here’s what I packed and comments:

3 pair leggings, all blue or navy, planned on 1½ days to dry
5 long sleeve shirts, the reversal one I posted about gave me an additional shirt
1 short sleeve tunic
5 sets undies and socks. 2 pair compression socks are a must so my feet and lower legs don’t look like sausages.
1 set PJs
1 blue pashmina
1 pair FitFlop sandals, reserved for travel, on warm days, my feet love them.

My previous packing lists included a cashmere sweater and jacket or an additional sweater. I usually pack a packable lightweight hooded rain poncho bought in Sorrento, but it would not have worked in the wind.
Here’s where the bulk and weight piled on:
1 gray yak cardigan for warmth but it pilled when I wore a backpack. I either need a smooth back backpack or leave the sweater home. I choose the former for next trip.
1 pink with blue flecks synthetic pullover sweater, warm and got lots of compliments
1 hoodie jacket, fit good under the rain coat but not windproof/rain resistant on its own.
1 blue Eddie Bauer hooded thigh length rain coat, worked great but weighed 1½ lbs and didn’t pack small.
1 pair Ryka walking shoes, not new, wore out towards the end of the trip and thrown out
1 pair Keene waterproof shoes, happy to wear those in Southern England and Ireland; if I travel somewhere warm these stay home

I also packed 35-day supply of drugs and enough lotions, potions, eye drops, etc for the 31-day trip. I won’t change any of these for future trips. The only things I bought at pharmacies were bandages for my sensitive toes and antibiotic cream for the leg travel rash I get every year. I ran low on both.

Packing assessment: it all worked although heavier than I like. I think traveling in summer or to warmer countries is a better choice for me for future trips.

Posted by
1412 posts

GREAT, loved the idea of blue and pink instead of black! 10 years ago I saw a woman getting off my flight whip out of a tiny bag her knee length puffer coat, and I've never worn a sweater on a trip since then. What a relief to carry something lighter! I too have the Eddie Bauer thigh length rain coat, which I've taken with me shopping for a longer puffer coat to wear under it. Yes, it's bulky but warm! Glad your trip worked out so well.

Posted by
5935 posts

I thought this was you, formerly horsewoofie, as I remember you were saying that you were changing your travel colors.

1 blue Eddie Bauer hooded thigh length rain coat, worked great but weighed 1½ lbs and didn’t pack small

My 2 raincoats have caused a similar dilemna. One is warmer, but weighs more and takes up more space. The other is a shell, weighing less and taking up less space. If I bring the heavier one, it has to serve as both raincoat and jacket - I can't/don't bring both. If I bring the lighter weight shell, then I can bring a warm layer, if needed.

Otherwise, as you say, the weight adds up.

I agree: I'd just rather travel to warmer places or in warmer seasons!!

Posted by
3333 posts

CWsocial, Yep it’s me. Changed my name because I felt sad being reminded that I’m horseless.

Neither my rain coat or poncho add warmth so need something underneath for warmth.

Posted by
3333 posts

EDIT TO ORIGINAL POST Some things I forgot to add to what I packed and packing problems:
I took solid shampoo that I bought last year at Profumo di Orta in Orta San Giulio Italy. It worked great and saved room in the 311 bag. Not the same success with their hair conditioner so bought a 100ml bottle in London.

I had a problem with laundry soap used by Trinity College Summer accommodations. What ever they use to wash sheets made me itch like crazy. So I slept in leggings and a long sleeve shirt and covered the pillow with another shirt. (My pjs are a short sleeve sleep shirt and shorts). Not a great solution but at least I could sleep. Never had this problem before and I’m not prone to skin reactions. I’m thinking a silk pillow case would be a good thing to pack, hot pink so it doesn’t get left behind.