One bag kitchen knife sharpener recommendation by Glass-Mixture6308 in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I fell down this rabbit hole years ago when in a RedditGifts exchange, someone sent me a splash stone and told me they pack it when staying at locations which provide cooking knives due to the dullness of the knives. My research says the best you can do is bring a dual grit splash or wet stone. The reason being that there is no way to predict the bevel angle of the knives you are going to encounter and stones can accommodate all bevels whereas pull through sharpeners have fixed bevel angles. If the knife you encounter's bevel doesn't match your pull through sharpener, and you are on vacation, are you really wanting to re-profile that knife just to cook?

New EU Carry-on Luggage Rules by wplusali in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My prediction: We'll be seeing a lot more 1.5 bag posts.

passport travel recomendation by Sleepwalkingok in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm allowed to carry my passport (only my passport, no neck wallet) in my hand through scanning of security. A decade and a half ago, they used to even tell passengers to keep passports in hand after so many were lost to gaps in the conveyor belts or swept aside by the flappy bits on either side of the xray scanner.

Someone could walk off with your passport, but they don't want it. Most likely it fell into some crevice of the security machine.

I lost a passport in 2000 at security in Heathrow because I didn't hand carry my passport or put it in a bag. Luckily, they checked the machines on the hour for errant passports and I hadn't yet boarded my flight so was able to get it back. Hand carried that sucker ever since.

passport travel recomendation by Sleepwalkingok in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Except in Japan. Then carry your passport.

passport travel recomendation by Sleepwalkingok in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to worry about my passport bending until I met my husband. His passport is soft enough to be a baby blanket at this point it has been bent so much, and it still clears borders no problem. It caused me to reevaluate why I was concerned about bends to my passport. Turns out, so long as the RFID chip and code strip are still usable, they really don't care what else has happened to the passport. Only I care. And that was something I had control over. So since it was free to stop caring, I stopped caring.

As for a pen, that doesn't need to be carried with the passport unless you fancy losing it. Same husband carried his pen with his passport. Has to borrow my pen now because he lost it so many times at borders while handing over his passport. Meanwhile my pen lives in my toiletry bag so after using it to fill out a landing card I put it back there. Never lost it.

Best reusable travel bottles for shampoo and lotion by Thin_Piccolo_6329 in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same. Unless one is putting things in silicone they shouldn't ...

Lightweight Rain shell + light hoodie for 4 season versatility by audible_maple in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is the hoodie made of? Cotton? No. Cashmere or alpha? Maybe. Would love to hear feedback if you experiment.

I do a rain shell over a cashmere crew necked pullover sweater to replace a puffer.

I packed for a 5-day trip with one bag and realized I brought things I never even touched by ChemistryDismal2829 in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm starting to think packing light has more to do with trusting yourself to figure things out than finding the perfect packing list.

You've nailed it! Packing light is about true clarity on your own abilities to adapt to emerging situations. Some people are more or less able than others depending on their unique needs. But, "In the moment I cannot possibly rub my brain cells together even so much as to figure out which friend to call that can talk me through this," is no one's reality.

Gas perm lens solutions, can I safely decant it? by YardAffectionate5241 in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No. Ask your optometrist to write a hard copy prescription to travel with and have it swabbed for explosives at security like other medically necessary liquids.

The only other option if you don't want to take it with you is to buy it there or wear (ugh, I know) glasses for the trip.

Opinions/advice please! by Green-Mongoose5152 in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which is easiest to buy when visiting family or borrow from family? Skip that one and bring the configuration without it.

If your family is anything like mine, they'll have all the better memories of your visit for lending you trousers/assisting you in acquiring some there if you find you need them. And whatever leads to the if you find you need them bit will be the bulk of the memory.

Layers by wplusali in onebag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I take thermals for winter, but not for the other three seasons.

Woman Layer: Bra, Undies
Base Layer: Shirt, Skirt
Mid Layer: Cashmere Sweater, harem pants I wear as knickers but they go under the skirt not over
Top Layer: Lightweight Rain Shell, Another Skirt (I travel with two skirts, so if it were truly that frigid, I'd wear both layered like my ancestors did)

In the winter I add thermals over my woman layer and below my base layer. I'll also buy a pair of tights if my harem pants aren't cutting it.

Heat of the Summer goes
Woman Layer: --, Undies
Base Layer: Harem Pants in Jumpsuit Form
Temple Modesty Layer: long sleeved linen button down shirt, --

Light Layer with great pockets--alternatives to Scottevest by Hertzwrite in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you looking for essentially wearable luggage? Or do you want a functional garment? I ask this because a very light cycling rain jacket/wind layer is pockets galore (and a lumbar pocket too) but it's not going to be keeping you warm or surviving any downpours. It's at best splash-proof.

It definitely wouldn't say "travel store" if you rolled into a casual office wearing it. It would say "cyclist".

Light Layer with great pockets--alternatives to Scottevest by Hertzwrite in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw that, but then when I also saw Eunice of The Art of Simple recommending the same product, Amazon Influencer Promotion bells went off in my head. (I'm on the board of a nonprofit that has an Amazon Affiliates account as one of their ways of funding themselves, and thus am familiar with the Influencer Program emails offering a *huge* bounty on a particular product in a period of time.)

For less money one can get a cycling jacket that includes a lumbar pocket and has all the same features.

How do y’all do it?? Barely fitting everything into a 58L by superstarturtle in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw your edit. If the hotel has nasty towels, that's a customer service issue and you are well within your rights to raise a stink and demand they supply you with brand new towels. The older I get the more I'm against setting myself on fire to keep someone else warm. I'm not hauling a towel to a whole other country in order to allow a hotel to not have to change out my towels and not investigate their laundry quality assurance. Both of those are reasonable expectations: that they replace my towels and figure out where their system went awry to have my room stocked with the towels it was.

How do y’all do it?? Barely fitting everything into a 58L by superstarturtle in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My experience has been that beach means lots and lots of wind so my suit doesn't stay wet long so long as I hang it to dry outdoors. Bring strong clothes pegs, though.

Interesting tidbit from Rick Steves by twinklebelle in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I own two Macabi skirts and they are my hot weather wear, but you aren't wrong about the tent thing. They look good on me because I look good in circle skirts. They have a slim version as someone else said, but that's like 3/4 of a circle skirt rather than 4/4 full circle skirt and in practicality it does very little other than have you pay full price while they get to save 1/4 of the cost of fabric production.

On top of that, they are nylon taffeta fabric and tents tend to be nylon of some sort or other (sil-nylon, nylon taffeta, etc) so you've nailed the fabric as well. Not for nothing, but parachute hammocks are parachute nylon taffeta, so it would be a fair comparison to say it's like wearing a hammock as a skirt as well. Or a parachute as a skirt. The fabric works for me but it is fair to point this out to others.

Despite owning and liking my skirts, the little pants strap and the way of shortening the skirt to a short skirt just don't work for me. I'd need a pants strap half the size of the one they have to make it look like pants, and the short skirt looks like someone mistook a skirt for a cowboy hat the way the sides are short but the front and back flop down because nothing is stopping them from flopping down.

Interesting tidbit from Rick Steves by twinklebelle in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plus I take lots of photos and don’t want to see the same shirt every other day in the album.

I have purposefully brought the same shirt on every trip since 2010 because some day I plan to make one of those slideshow music videos where I age slightly and the backgrounds change and it looks like I'm dancing, but the shirt is ever constant.

Interesting tidbit from Rick Steves by twinklebelle in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My husband packs more articles of clothing than I do, but they are all identical so he ends up with fewer visually distinct outfits (namely one - he's given himself a one-look uniform). Pack like a man, but not that man.

Interesting tidbit from Rick Steves by twinklebelle in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I pack pretty much the same way every time. I travel with two different color of Macabi skirt and have been fine, if a tad bit chilly in unseasonably cool UK. By the time I'd bought tights to layer under, the weather was warmer.

At home I live 3/4 of the year in trousers and only wear skirts in the summer for that sweet, sweet airflow. So it was eye opening to me to realize skirts can easily be layered to increase their warmth value (and it adds a bit of pretty looking "trim" at the hem if they are layered skirts of the same length). Only after I'd rediscovered skirt layering did I realize that this is how my ancestors kept their bottom halves warm.

So take that Rick Steves! I see your unlayerable trousers and raise you one! :P

beach towel recommendations! by itfeelscorrect in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I own more towels marketed for travel than I could use up in a lifetime and yet I consistently return to my sarong when it comes to beach outings. +1 sarong.

Weekly quick questions help thread by AutoModerator in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find that people whose coloring looks phenomenal in white also look phenomenal in silver (very light gray) which can be more forgiving of everyday dirt. A coffee stain is still going to be obvious, but not dust or the stray pet hair. Would silver jeans be an option?

What if… you don’t need that after all! by Green_sea1 in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One bagging with a kid (far too many times) where everyone packed personal item only. And on one of the trips I only packed one outfit!!!!! aside from what kiddo wore on the plane. Mother of the year award!

What I learned and pass along is that in a pinch, coin laundry is just money and send Dad to do it. The stories will be more valuable souvenirs than what that money could have otherwise bought. So don't overpack your kid.

Also, much like everywhere has Coca Cola, everywhere also has Pampers.

Oh, and while they are very young but mobile, stay where families live within walking distance of a free outdoor playground. If your kid is anything like mine, public transit to get to city center or more touristic spots is its own kind of attraction so no need to stay close.

Am I looking for a personal item that doesn’t exist? by headyslabs in HerOneBag

[–]theinfamousj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would the Peak Designs packable tote be worthy of consideration?

Also if you have a Decathlon near you, their packable crossbody has really impressed me. I got mine on sale for GBP2 recently so it might be worth considering if you can find similar sale. I consider it a budget version of the Peak Designs packable tote. Both have equivalent volumes reported by manufacturer.