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Saturday
Jan152011

Solution: wear it

This Washington Post article will break no new ground for OBOW readers. The writer says she only travels carry-on, but…

MMMMM….R-R-RIGHTHonestly, though? Packing light is a giant pain. It requires tough decisions and a willingness to sacrifice both vanity and dignity (see black pants, above). Carrying on is not for the weak.

Which is why, when getting ready for a long-awaited trip to France several months ago, I found myself wavering. It was just a 10-day vacation, but try as I might, I couldn’t fit everything I needed into my regulation 20-inch roll-aboard. City clothes, country clothes, guidebooks, hiking shoes, laptop - none of these things was expendable. Yet I was committed to flying with the proverbial one personal item and one carry-on. What to do with all my extra baggage?

Reader, I wore it.

Now, she’s a member of the Scottevest cult. I’ll bet we could teach her a few other ways to cut the weight.

 

(Brad)

Reader Comments (11)

Oh lawks, she bought a SeV Windbreaker! Wonder if she's had to do sewing repairs yet from all the books she stuffed in it?
Cannot understand why she carried a corkscrew (with attached knife) through security.
She got nervous standing in line?
She wimped out on the return journey and checked her bag.

Yeah, we could teach her a lot. ;-)
January 15, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterPaula S
If whe keeps travelling like thiis she might learn a thing or two. SeV may be her first lesson as it was one of mine. Then, less books.

No doubt this story was sold to the paper by the column inch so I wouldn't put too much in the fluff factor of her narrative.
January 15, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMonte
Read a certain way - it was amusing. Hum? They don't have corkscrews in France so best to bring your own?

Others that are looking into their first trip with carry-on only may read article this and think this is the way to go. Hope they do their research. And have a good tailor / seamstress for the ScottEvest product they may buy!

As the rest of us try to remain humble. :)
January 15, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMaria
Oh Yikes. I think the TSA agent got it right: "You've got a lot of stuff."

I went to France for almost 3 weeks with just a soft sided carry on (Quickload travel pack). In the fall, witih bad weather. I had plenty of clothes, and the Europeans said I dressed "nice". I went to the Louvre, I went to church, and I went canoeing and hiking. I ended up at the Medeterranean, in HOT sunny weather. I had everything I needed.

I have a Scott-e-Vest, and it stays at home. It is a baggy frumpy coat that looks wrinkled and ugly. It immediately makes me look like an ugly american. It is NOT the solution. The author needs to learn that going carry on and packing light are NOT the same thing.

BTW, I did take my curling iron. Because it was Paris. :)
January 16, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterCindy H
It's all about attitude.

Look at what she writes:

"Honestly, though? Packing light is a giant pain. It requires tough decisions and a willingness to sacrifice both vanity and dignity (see black pants, above). Carrying on is not for the weak."

Her attitude is terrible. She has made packing light such a negative thing it's no wonder she has so many problems.

Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."

She thinks she can't. We know you can.
January 16, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterFrank II
Very true Frank (or should I call you 'Bag Whisperer'......I'm watching Dog Whisperer at the moment and picked up on the psyche similarity). :-)
I feel more dignified carrying one light bag, dignity flies out the door if I'm wrangling large, heavy suitcases.....not that I do that anymore!
And what is wrong with black pants I ask? Most of my pants are black and smart looking, even when casual.
January 16, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterPaula S
The ScottEvest is designed so you can hide a few key items (electronics/money) that theives might otherwise pilfer from more noticable exterior pockets. The stuffed vest+jacket was overkill and looked very uncomfortable. I got the same amusement that Maria got from reading the article- the author was obviously concerned with looking fashionable (eschewing black pants and bringing a hair straightener.) It seemed conterintuitive to arrive in France looking like Bibendum (Michelin Man) rather than Chanel particularly, if she planned to do a lot of shopping on her vacation. The author missed the point of traveling light completely or simply needs more practice.
January 16, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLaurie
Thanks Frank II, for pointing out that her attitude makes packing light sound terrible. She also make several statements as "facts" that were utterly false. I thnk that is what bugged me so much. She only focused on what she was losing, and not on what she was gaining.

Personally, the hardest thing about packing light is planning whcih clothes I'm going to bring (including shoes). Everything else, like my toilet kit and sundries, are pre-packed and ready to go. But figuring out which pants, which tops, which jewelry, etc. take me a while. The longer the trip, the worse it gets, as I'm trying to get more outfits out of the same pieces of clothing.
January 16, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterCindy H
Same here CIndy, it's the weather at my destination that makes my choices, if Spain....no brainer. If the UK / Northern Europe.....hmmmm, could be all four seasons in one day depending on when I'm going. :-(
I do have a few bits of clothing that I pack every time but I do like to vary other items so that I don't get bored with my monochrome colour scheme.
January 16, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterPaula S
Packing light for a 10 day trip: 6 books, a laptop, a corkscrew, immersion heater, iron, hiking shoes... etc...

What would packing heavy involve? A library and sitting chair?
January 17, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterHigh Roller
On the contrary, SCOTTEVEST garments have great quality and functionality. There is a two year warranty on all of our products which is a very liberal guarantee period. Many very influential travel bloggers use our gear and our gear only. Here are some other reviews of the pack windbreaker in particular: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxLnrH3VRzU&list=PLF9592429E5C63CFF&index=19&feature=plpp_video
December 19, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterSCOTTEVEST

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