Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The 1-bag traveler in winter

Departing from, or arriving to, a colder destination typically involves packing heavier items. Wear the heaviest boots and coats and bulky caps on board the flight, then remove them and store them in the nooks and crannies in the overhead storage. 

Additionally, there is winter wear which can be packed almost as easily as lighter summer wear.  I almost always pack my onion skin North Face jacket.  It’s super thin, packs down to almost nothing. Toss it in your amazingly tiny Sea to Summit Ultrasil packable day pack (I love mine  - packs down to nothing when you’re not using it but expands to a decent size and super comfy and strong pack for day hikes)  and you’re ready for outdoor temperatures down to the low 40s or so.  My jacket came in a hideous orange.  This North Face jacket appears to be out of production at this time, but something like this Montane featherlight, or this EMS jacket, would likely serve the same purpose.


While an onion skin windbreaker is sufficient preparation for the cooler wind gusts, preparing for really cold outdoor activity requires a bit more hard-core winter gear.  A good waterproof shell like the EMS Helix (packs pretty light can also wear this on the flight) and an incredibly packable down jacket or “sweater” will be sufficient preparation for all but the most extreme outdoor cold activity.


What's your favorite easy-to-pack winter and technical gear?  
Share your tips here, and read more of mine in

"A Guy's Guide to 1-Bag Packing: Minimalist Travel Secrets That Save You Time and Money" at Amazon!





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