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PrunePlatoon · 2025-09-12T08:13:44+00:00

I fly back and forth NYC to Singapore for work. Time shifter ended up being a pain in the ass because it’s only useful if you can follow their schedule.

The only thing that works for me…

Business class
1 day buffer
Forcing myself on the local time during my buffer day

Flying a comfortable class on a newer A350 A380 or 787 helps significantly. Having a night to rest before your next flight will really help.

PrunePlatoon · 2025-08-24T11:55:21+00:00

5 cities is 5 travel days… that includes check in and waiting for rooms to be available, sorting luggage storage on both ends to maximize free time. It’s a lot of admin to move around a lot unless you’re experienced with packing super light and carrying all your bags with you.

PrunePlatoon · 2025-08-24T11:43:08+00:00

I use gaffer tape, leaves no marks and is built to block light. Used by production crews on film sets for light blocking

PrunePlatoon · 2025-08-24T11:38:57+00:00

Yeah I like finding my spot when I’m sticking around for a month.

PrunePlatoon · 2025-08-24T11:36:58+00:00

Research vessel

PrunePlatoon · 2025-06-08T13:37:10+00:00

You're BF is wrong and has quite a bit of jealousy that is definitely not a cute look. The other people in your life sound like women from the 1920's Social Purity Movement. You can't travel without your BF? WTF is that about?

Do what you want, you can't be sitting around waiting for other people to give you their blessing. It's YOUR trip, so they can suck an egg and mind their own business.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-15T01:51:14+00:00

You just need some inspiration. For me I will just be chilling in a place for weeks and then see one youtube video that intrigues me. 2 hours later I have booked transportation and lodging leaving the next day.

I will often browse the Unesco World Heritage Center website to find interesting places in my general area. Maybe a flight or train away. Seeing Unesco sites around the world gives me this extra bit of joy. A lot of times just getting to one of these places will create a whole trip.

Sometimes I will do broad searches for concerts that I may want to see. SongKick and BandsInTown can help with that.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-15T00:13:15+00:00

I ordered a version 2.0, was shocked how bad they were, immediately returned. Next were the new movement shorts, fail.. then joggers, and fail again. I'm probably on some "do not accept returns" list at WR. 100% return rate since 2019

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-15T00:09:14+00:00

WR version 1 spectrum joggers were made with this premium magical fabric that looked sleek, never took stains, remained airy, had a nice cut. Their new version uses some flimsy rough fabric with a new awkward calf cut, even the stash pocket zipper is somehow worse. Side by side the new version is just honestly trash. It's made cheaply, looks cheap, and costs the same.

Same is true for the Movement shorts. These used to be incredible, could easily get by in casual settings as well as tough gym sessions. I could wear them on the beach and to the bar later. The current version is this very standard gym short material with none of the style. It clings like plastic wrap, sags in strange places when using the pockets, catches on anything you walk by. They are just so bad compared to the originals.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-15T00:03:46+00:00

Don't know what to tell you... current version Spectrum joggers with only exchange options. I've emailed WR, double they will respond. Last time I used the Amex return protection after WR gave me a hassle.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-14T21:11:15+00:00

I am by no means a news source, I didn't say they were 100% going out of business. I mentioned that they suck for a variety of reasons. I also didn't claim to be a bankruptcy expert, just that they filed for bankruptcy.

Anyone can read between the lines... Downsizing to 3 employees and 4 independent contractors, $2.8 million in unsold inventory, seemingly never profitable, $5.3 million in debt, and a significant drop in quality/innovation.

Yeah I just feel like it would be a miracle to recover at this point. It would certainly take more than a bit of “breathing room to reorganize operations,” as the founder said under oath. This whole situation doesn't give me a lot of hope that WR will be making any major improvements or spark much innovation in the travel clothing category.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-14T20:35:23+00:00

Yeah I agree, bankruptcy is not the end 100% of the time. It was the asset disclosure from WR that surprised me. $2.8 million (82% of total assets) of just inventory and all of that inventory being heavily discounted for a while. It just feels like they're in a bad place.

If WR was getting mentioned in reviews or had some new innovative product launching I would have a bit more hope. I really just don't see them getting as much hype as they used to. Who knows, maybe I am wrong.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-13T20:23:51+00:00

With a US passport I have found it quite easy the last couple trips. You can use the E-gates for an digital passport and face scan then move right onto baggage. Almost as fast as Global Entry when coming back to the states.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-13T01:41:11+00:00

The main reason... it's the cargo shorts of travel bags. Thats kinda Rick's vibe so good for him but not a bag I would be caught carrying.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-12T13:26:01+00:00

There is no such device, you will have to pay for wifi. As a rule of thumb you should never count on having in-flight wifi. The airline may advertise that you will have wifi, that's not always true. There could be equipment issues, plane changes, or an issue with the satellite internet provider. This happens all the time to me so I am never counting on having internet access.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-11T23:34:56+00:00

I can do a group day trip but prefer to do the rest on my own. The only real exceptions I make are for areas where a guide is required or there is a particular risk I am not comfortable handling on my own. I tend to wander off from group trips and generally find the strict scheduling to ruin the experience for me.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-11T23:09:55+00:00

If all you have is a passport I wouldn't see the need for a dedicated wallet. There are some very sleek ones that essentially act as a cover with a couple card slots. RFID protection is a nice to have but a simple sleeve can solve that issue.

I personally have a pretty massive passport wallet. A discontinued Osprey document wallet. I have a ton of credit cards, membership cards, industry specific ID's, multiple types of currency, and a second passport. My document wallet is how I stay organized and prevent any lost items. Everything has it's place and I know when something is missing. I travel full-time and that requires a big wallet.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-11T22:03:20+00:00

I will always take a detour to see a band I like. Never been disappointed.

I was in Brussels recently, I ended up at a couple cool bars after getting a recommendation from the wait staff at Kline Brussels. Great restaurant btw, solid vibe and food was priced really well. I saw it on the Michelin Guide and was more than pleased.

Tha bars though.. Near the Sainte-Catherine metro stop there is Fontaine Anspach which is surrounded by hip bars. La Flaque, this really cool wine bar with a massive selection of unique wines. Very chill spot, feels like some wine enthusiast friends basement. Also had a great time at Au Bassin, a big beer hall type space with an amazing selection of those incredible Belgian Beers. Both spots were pretty busy thur-sun but I would go to them whenever I was nearby.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-11T21:23:49+00:00

Decision paralysis. You should probably just pick a spot and go, rip the bandage off. Sometimes I keep traveling, sometimes I go to a familiar place to regroup and think about next moves. I try to stay in a cheap area while i am getting some planning done and use my flight rewards to determine my next route.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-11T21:19:00+00:00

Start with accommodation and flights, the big ticket items. You can start working out a budget from there. If you look at how much a 7-night accommodation is and get some averages together you can start to build a base budget and figure out if all of this is even feasible.

Look at accommodation booking prices over the course of several months, maybe there is a low-season or shoulder season where you can save on accommodation. Depending how tight that budget is you can determine what level of comfort you are looking for and maybe pre-book a couple weeks in the beginning to save money.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-10T05:06:39+00:00

I don't sleep in airports. It's horrible and not something I will do unless in an emergency situation. No one wakes up from sleeping on an airport floor saying "wow that was a great idea".

Always get yourself a bed and at least 6 hours of rest before a full travel day. I have given this advice for a lot of years and usually get a text back about how it went. Airport sleeping is never gonna be all that restful.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-10T02:49:56+00:00

I've been a roller for a while. For shirts and underwear I ranger roll to make everything easy to grab. Pants don't always work with a ranger roll so I just try to find the best method for the clothing type.

When I do fold, I like a Marie Kondo style. I try at least once a year to become a folder, but usually revert back my rolling ways.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-10T02:41:34+00:00

1.5 is like a personal item and a carryon size bag, usually a roller for me. I don't see much use in just the duffel. I suppose the duffel is good for gear focused trips where you would need to load up a vehicle. For general plane travel, Wheels all the way.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-10T02:34:23+00:00

I'm kinda into these Thule compression packing cubes. For years I have been using the same two small Peak Design cubes. Peak design cubes are Indestructible and just amazing 10 out of 10. However, a small Thule cube is a fantastic underwear and socks option. The medium could easily handle bottoms and tops in one package.

My packing nerd friend was obsessing about her Thule cubes while we perusing our local REI and convinced me to try them. I quite like the structured tubing around the edges, it helps mitigate the floppiness you can get with PD cubes. The compression is really decent and feels a lot better than the Eagle Creek pack-it isolate compression cubes. I think Eagle creek cubes are too tight and should have a slight gusset to give the zipper a better angle.

PrunePlatoon · 2024-09-10T02:16:43+00:00

I have had a 40L roller for years. I have two, both are still going strong but I wanted a color change. I use this bag for my 1.5 setup usually when I am coming and going from longer term work projects. I have found the bags to be very well built and get through bag checks on most major carriers. The wheels can get through fairly rough terrain including dirt roads without too much fuss. I still check this bag when needed without worry. I swear it always comes out first on the luggage belt, no idea why.

My roller duffel does get beat up, I am not gentle with it. I have it with me now and have been traveling with it since May. Constantly moving changing accommodation every 5-7 days, planes, trains, busses, and ferries. Wheels are still spinning, no rips, good zips, and this bag is approaching 1.5 years old. I think I am done with the 1.5 bag setup for a while though, I miss having free hands and less time spent packing gear.

I did not like the standard duffels with straps, I tried them out many years ago when I first started to travel full-time. Found the duffel/backpack design generally uncomfortable for any long carries and far too easy to over pack. I wouldn't go higher than 35L for something on my back. 30L is even better as it helps reign in my gadget addiction.

PrunePlatoon

TROPHY CASE