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Carryon travel to Rome- One gal's packing list in the Spring

Carryon travel to Rome- One gal's packing list in the Spring

Old Apr 22nd, 2015, 10:52 AM
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Carryon travel to Rome- One gal's packing list in the Spring

We are a family of four who travelled to Rome for nine days/two of which were travel days. It was Springtime and the weather was around 15 C /65 F during the day. We each packed a carryon and flew two flights within Europe so I knew the luggage compartment space would be small and I didn't want to to be stressed trying to fit my bag. I opted against a roll on carryon for a soft sided shoulder bag for this reason. I was pleased with my packing- selected neutrals and basics and could fit it all in. Here are the contents of my bag:

3 pants: *1 jeans, 1 stretch jeans and *1 black stretch jeans
2 cardigans: 1 gray, *1 lacy blue
1 white blouse that was designed to be "skrinkled together" after washing
*1 light blue long sleeve wrap sweater
1 plain gray t
1 blue flowered t
1 white long sleeve t for layering or bedtime if I felt cold
1 white tank
1 pajamas top and bottom
1 bra
4 underwear
1 pair of shoes
toiletry kit

Here's what I wore on the plane:
Greenish colored stretch jeans
Blue 3/4 sleeve blouse
Black tank top
Black cardigan
Large scarf designed in warm spring colors that looked nice with everything
Rain jacket- a last minute purchase that I'm so happy I had with me.
New Balance shoes- not the prettiest but worked on that cobblestone for my flat feet

Suggestions for future packing:
I never wore the lacey cardigan and the black stretch jeans.
The regular jeans I wore two days and they were starting to look baggy. I recommend packing pants with a bit of stretch as they look and feel better.
I could have gotten by with wearing one pair of pants and packing two for that amount of time. I actually put the black ones in at the last moment because I had room but didn't wear them.
I wore the layering long sleeve top and was lucky to have that along for that rainy day as it was pretty drafty and cold in some of the churches and on the streets that day.
I maybe could have done without the light blue wrap sweater but it was a different look to the cardigans and tops.

We had a laundry machine in the apartment which we used twice when the laundry bag started looking full. Was very happy to have that available!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 02:10 PM
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Excellent! I love to read packing lists. Thanks for sharing yours!!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 06:52 PM
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Haha, I always thought you were a guy, not sure why.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 11:14 PM
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I'm glad it was of interest. One never knows...

Haha Debit! I never realized I gave off such a vibe. No, I'm a middle aged woman. Haha!
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Old Apr 24th, 2015, 05:14 AM
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Old Apr 24th, 2015, 08:02 AM
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Don't know why but I'm a fan of packing lists. They are as interesting to me as some trip reports are -lol!

Maybe I'll have to post my beach-y vacation list. I've been working on perfecting that "pack" for years!!
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Old Apr 24th, 2015, 12:39 PM
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Suze- are you an organizer? Maybe that's why packing lists are interesting to you. I wish I had a beach list to perfect. It's been a while since we've been on a beach holiday.
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Old Apr 24th, 2015, 01:52 PM
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Yup I am... well about some things ;-) I love to pack. I don't really plan itineraries or anything like that though.

Because of my current job, I can only get away for 2 weeks at a time, so going to the beach in Mexico or Hawaii is what I love to do (I'm in Seattle). I have an entirely separate wardrobe of what I fondly call "resort wear" (if you saw it you'd know why I used quotes -lol)!!
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Old Apr 25th, 2015, 06:59 AM
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Finecheapboxofwine:

We are total carry-on, packing-list fanatics, always looking for updates. Thanks for yours!

My new go-to pants for the plane are Kuhl's Durango (got them at REI). I loved them because they always stretched but did not "stretch-out" over two weeks.

I had them in gray; I was going to order them in black once I got home, simply because both black and khaki have always worked best as my neutrals. However, even people who love these said that the black attracted lint. The gray looked fine day in and day out. I did not even wash them once on a two-week trip, but I tried handwashing when I got home just to test. They did well--dried fast.

My latest "outer" is a Columbia princess-style black rain jacket with secret hood in the collar. It actually can look sort of dressy, and I can layer my princess-style fleece jacket under it and wear with either my Durangos or dress black pants.
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Old Apr 25th, 2015, 08:37 AM
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AlessandraZoe,

I'll be in the States this summer and first stop- REI to get the kids outfitted for camp. I'll look for those pants then. It's usually sale time around June and I have a dividend to use up anyway. It's really difficult to find cute and practical outdoor/travel wear where I live. (Sweden).

Thanks!
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Old Apr 25th, 2015, 08:55 AM
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Good plan, fineboxofwine. It's so hard to believe that Sweden, the home of what my kids term as my personal "Mothership," IKEA, doesn't have a lot of practical travel wear. Must be hard if you are active.

REI was out when I went to buy pairs in every size I can be within a year but I'm hoping they'll get more stuff in.

I think the Kühl brand is international, even though their home base is in Utah, US. Their website is http://www.kuhl.com/ and their very interesting company history is http://www.kuhl.com/content/about/

They make other pants/shorts in this Kinetec fabric. I liked the Durango cut because the waist was elastic without looking as though it was elastic--and it also had a drawstring inside to adapt the waist sizing further.

And no, other posters, I do not work for Kühl
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Old Apr 25th, 2015, 09:22 AM
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My DH own some Kühl pants from REI. Nice looking and good quality.
There are plenty of brands here- Helly Hansen for example have cute outdoor things that I can try here.
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Old Apr 25th, 2015, 02:28 PM
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I can go really basic if it is just my husband and myself. I don't care if he sees me in the same thing all the time. I hate if I pack something and don't wear it. I have been buying quick dry shirts. I don't care about the pants as long as I have clean undies, socks and shirt. I have some not tight yoga pants taking and always must have jeans.

Did you use the dryer on your washing machine combo? I ruined clothes on one and have been afraid of it since.


Must go check out REI now.
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Old Apr 25th, 2015, 02:38 PM
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flpab--Good question! Yes, I have put my Kühl Durangos through the washing/drying combo. They came out really well. I only handwashed them as a trial to see how they'd do in my hotel sink, so that comment may have been confusing.

I'm like you, too, as far as going basic. I'll re-wear anything throughout the trip. I know my husband does, and I for sure never notice as long as he smells clean.

I always carry one nice (but washable!) black pants of varying weights, depending on the predicted temperatures, on our trips for dressing up. A couple of washable tops, a necklace, and a couple of scarves become an entire week's washable wardrobe, that's for sure.
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Old Apr 27th, 2015, 10:22 AM
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Besides REI, the athletic lines are good for women's travel clothes in lightweight pack-friendly fabrics (like from Athleta, Lululemon, Lucy, etc.).
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Old Jun 30th, 2015, 05:08 PM
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I too love packing lists, and yes, I am a big organizer. We are doing 4 wks in France this September; am checking my 21" Lucas, using my rolling backpack as my carryon, and keeping a soft tote under my seat (good to rest my feet and it's almost weightless. Have a bungee to affix the backpack onto the suitcase for train stations, metros. I can fit lots into the 21" and the new Sketcher Go-Walks are so light, am bringing 5 pairs of shoes. (Yes, I must!)
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Old Jul 1st, 2015, 07:55 PM
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Five pairs?! That's against the limit!
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Old Jan 26th, 2016, 01:46 PM
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Why I look at these posts: found Kuhl Durangos, just the kind of pant I always look for. I tried them on at REI and I think they will work well as decent looking but comfortable for a long flight. Got the carbon color. Thanks!
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Old Jan 28th, 2016, 03:31 PM
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Emmajm--
I laughed so hard when I saw your post. It's almost a year since I posted and I now wear NOTHING but the Kuhl Durangos in carbon. In my closet now are four pairs in TWO different sizes, the larger of which I put long underwear under.

Forget about the travel needs: these take care of my daily needs. I have to walk a dog in all types of weather, and I need "go to" clothing to withstand the elements. These slacks have replaced all jeans in my wardrobe. They release heat easily, but they are more windproof than jeans. They dry in seconds. Once I layer with long underwear, I'm toasty in winter.

Yes, my dress slacks are always black for 3/4s of the year, so as long as my tops look well with black and gray, I'm ready to roll--and to pack.

By the way, I did try ordering the green and or khaki and those colors ran smaller. Go figure.

So happy you enjoyed them!

AZ
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Old Feb 7th, 2016, 06:18 AM
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One bra?
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