WHAT TO PACK FOR LONG TERM TRAVEL (carry-on only) | Regrets + Free Packing List
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video we show you what to pack for long-term travel and include a packing list for travel in 2024! There are lots of packing videos out there, so why should you watch this one? Well, we left for full-time travel in March 2021 with only carry-on bags, and we have learned so much about packing in our first year of full-time travel. We have jam packed this video with as many useful tips and words of wisdom to help you prepare for your trip, whether it be a two week city-hopping-holiday or a one-way-trip-with-no-end-date kind of adventure!
We broke this video into three sections to make it easy for you to watch/listen to the part(s) that are most relevant to you. Part 1 covers what we pack, part 2 talks about our biggest packing lessons learned, and part 3 is how we pack for long term travel!
In the video you will learn that as we begin our second year of full-time travel we have purchased bigger backpacks that are no longer carry-on size! We explain why we are making this change in the video and hope it helps you decide if carry-on or check-in luggage is the right decision for you.
If you are packing for a backpacking trip around South America, or leaving to start your journey as a digital nomad, we think you will find lots of good information here! For example, we have developed some strong feelings about merino wool since leaving to travel full-time and we hope our real-life experience helps you make better decisions about clothing than we did when we started 😉
FREE PACKING LIST: nicoleandmico.com/our-packing...
Our Amazon storefront for easy shopping: www.amazon.com/shop/nicoleand...
SafetyWing Travel Insurance: tinyurl.com/2p87ewbr
==PRODUCT LINKS==
Some links are affiliate links, if you choose to use them then thank you for supporting us!:
~PACKS~
Mico's main backpack: amzn.to/3IB5z0Y
Nicole's main backpack:amzn.to/3TmHy6N
Nicole's daypack: amzn.to/3IoDWsX
~CLOTHES~
Smartwool socks (marino wool): amzn.to/3vpSc2Z
Mico's ExOfficio underwear: amzn.to/47rT7NF
~OUTER WEAR~
Our sneakers (Adidas Ultraboost 20): amzn.to/48xouHc
Our sandals (Chaco's lowdown sandals): amzn.to/3qwVz2H
Mico's hiking boots: amzn.to/3quIp6m
Nicole's hiking boots: amzn.to/3TwvfDiwZBtZ
~HEALTH/HYGIENE/PERSONAL~
Matador soap bar case: amzn.to/3S9JheW
Toiletry kit: amzn.to/41T51z8
Makeup removed cloth:amzn.to/47lUP3a
Solid shampoo bar: amzn.to/3TwvfDi
Towel: amzn.to/3iv3OrF
Laundry Bucket: amzn.to/3JDneXt
Dry shampoo: amzn.to/3Ld7vOX
~ELECTRONICS~
Laptops: amzn.to/3IEUmg2
Camera: amzn.to/3TwvfDiRCMRD
Mico's earphones: amzn.to/3qSland
Nicole's earphones: amzn.to/3LeifwN
Travel adapter: amzn.to/3L63MTu
Nicole's e-reader: amzn.to/3INrzWV
Mini Tripod: amzn.to/3D974Ct
~COOKING/KITCHEN~
Collapsible bowl/cup: amzn.to/36oXuzt
Coffee filter: amzn.to/3TwvfDiA5976
Spork: amzn.to/3TwvfDiyogya
~ORGANIZATION~
Passport Wallet: amzn.to/427d4Iq
Compression packing cube: amzn.to/356xrN3
HeroClip Carabiner: amzn.to/3itXX5Z
~MISCELLANEOUS~
Mico's water bottle: amzn.to/3uuxAme
Matador packable tote bag: amzn.to/3spp1sS
Feel free to ask questions in the comments below! We have so many more bits of info to share that we couldn't fit into a 40 minute video, but we love chatting more in the comments section!
Thanks for watching our packing for travel video! | Filmed February, 2022
== Connect with us! ==
♥ Instagram: @nicoleandmico_
♥ Website: www.nicoleandmico.com
♥ Email: info@nicoleandmico.com
== Chapters ==
0:00 Why you should learn from us?
1:31 Starter packing tips
2:19 PART 1: Nicole's Clothes
6:29 PART 1: Mico's Clothes
8:40 PART 1: Outerwear
11:34 PATT 1: Health, Hygiene, Personal
16:39 PART 1: Electronics
20:07 PART 1: Kitchen
23:42 PART 1: Miscellaneous
27:47 PART 2: Packing Lessons
33:44 PART 3: How we Pack
38:24 Bloopers
#packing #longtermtravel #packingtips
======================
Hey there! We are Nicole and Mico, full-time travel vloggers searching for adventures all around the globe. In March 2021 we quit our jobs, sold our belongings, and hopped on our first ever one-way flight leaving our home country #Canada. We believe #travel builds understanding that reaches across culture, language, and boundaries, and we want to share our experiences as we create connections all over the world. If you like learning about unique places, new cultures and different foods, then come follow our adventure as we explore all our beautiful planet has to offer.
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Here's the full FREE packing list! nicoleandmico.com/our-packing-list/
I was not disappointed by everyone standing up for Merino. Absolute best material, works wet or dry, pulls moisture from you, and anti microbial. Nothing can beat Merino and I love to see the comment section agreeing. I came just to see what kind of response this video got lol
So DISAGREE about merino wool! I have been hunting and hiking in the Rockies for 20 years. An old Army Ranger turned me on to it and it is one of the best things I have done to improve living out of a backpack. Merino wool is the one thing I would never leave out. I use it as a base layer and it keeps my body temperature perfect. It helps so much with maintaining the moisture. First two years I didn't have and was miserable! It is not a material for everything. I have outer clothing for wear and tear as brush , rocks and trees shread most materials. Also, buy quality clothing! Most of my merino wool is 15-20 years old and still my favorite! I have tried some of the latest material combinations (great marketing not so much on functionality) and always go back to merino wool. Good video! Just starting my world traveling now.
Hey there! Many of the comments on this video say such great things about using merino as a base layer as you mentioned. We haven't given this a try yet but think it would probably work great! The issues we have with merino always seem to be in places where there is a lot of friction or rubbing, so a base layer would probably last longer than some of the other pieces we have had trouble with. It is great to hear you have had so much success with it!
Thanks for the info. They still look like an expensive option for many people. We think merino is nice but honestly there are great alternatives at a fraction of the cost.
Yes it all depends on priorities! Also we have tried alpaca wool recently and it has been much better than merino (so far).
@@nicoleandmico I've wondered how Alpaca wool compares to Merino. Good to know!!
Our new sweaters in our Peru vlog are 100% alpaca. So far we love them. Great for hiking, lounging and even travel days. We're curious to know how it will stand up to the test of time so we'll see!
Merino wool transfers moisture away from the body, keeps you warm and is antibacterial so you can wear it for longer without getting smelly. There is one downside: pricey, but worth it.
Definitely can be pricey but has lots of great technical quality. A little overhyped in our opinion!
Linen works well in hot climates. Linen and wool are actually very common in hot climates.
I stinking hate wool! I feel like my feet feel wet the whole time I’m wearing them
@@angelacrosby8105You probably do not have merino wool then. There is a difference. My father always had smelly feet ( worked hard in factory & came home to work hard on his little farm) until he adopted the merino wool socks I gifted him. He never complained about cold or sweaty smelly feet after
Merino 100% for me. Take it everywhere from base layers to thicker layers (260gm). Perfect thermal regulation wet or dry.
I use Merino almost exclusively, with none of described problems, and I use it for far more difficult travel. It lasts forever, it keeps you dry and warm and STILL breaths, and it is by far the best product for the environment. I don't know what happened here, but it doesn't comport with my personal experience.
Sounds like you have been on lots of neat trips! We would love to hear about them, where have you been? Maybe we will add some new spots to our bucket list.
Hejhej, can you recommned a couple of brands?
@@leoniealastair9219 yes pleas
Smartwool and Ibex seems to be something many people are recommending 🤔
Smartwool and Ibex. We have smortwool socks and those are awesome!
I’m a merino wool fan. So warm and comfortable. Also silk long underwear and an alpaca mid-layer sweater. On our next trip I’m taking a few laundry detergent sheets - much lighter weight and less messy than a bag of powder.
I’ve never heard of laundry sheets. Could you share the brand name please ?
A (merino) Buff can be used as sleeping mask too. One item less to pack. As other commenters already wrote: Merino isn't meant to be washed often, and never with usual washing detergent. Most of the time hand warm water only is enough. Even in hot climates a merino base layer can be worn for days in a row without stinking. Just air out overnight.
Using a buff as an eye mask is a great idea! Mico often just ends up throwing his sweater over his face on busses and calls that an eye mask too 🙃
Love my merino buffs! Used all three of them on a trip to Iceland in April a few years ago. (neck, face, and cap for head under my heavier wool hat!)
They really are so versatile!
Just saying, Decathlon's Forclaz, in their own website, specify that you can normal wash their merino-blend shirts with completely regular detergents. So, I assume that the "no regular detergents" rule is specifically for either 100% merino, or for incredibly high % blends.
As far as I noticed, Decathlon's brands are about 65~80% merino, so that might why.
Interesting video. I don't travel constantly but we have narrowed down what we take so that we fit whatever we need into one suitcase (we rather not carry most of our stuff cause we old lol). This allows us to take whatever we want and only have to pay for and move around 1 bag...plus since it's a regular suitcase it has wheels so it's easier to move around vs our backpacks. All our essentials stay in our packs though. We don't carry nearly as much clothes anymore and generally hand wash everything and we have gone to synthetic for almost everything. It's just lighter and more importantly dries quickly.
I'm glad you covered that having a hook on your toiletry bag is a must! That sea to summit packable "sink" also looks awesome, I'm gonna have to go research that. Those compression cubes also look interesting since I use compression sacks currently.
I will say to be sure when traveling internationally what the laws are. Over the counter medication in your nation maybe illegal where you're traveling to so it's essential to double check not just your prescription meds. A good example is that Nyquil from the US is illegal in Japan and could potentially get you in hot water.
21:25 Another example for Japan is that carrying around a knife with a blade longer than 6cm is ILLEGAL and can land you in JAIL. It's best to simply leave your knives / multi tool at home when visiting Japan unless you have really researched the current laws. The only real exemption to the above for tourist is if you buy a knife in Japan, the shop will seal your knife in a package and you'll be ok....however that only is good so long as you NEVER break that seal.
Merino is a must if you travel light. For me a base layer for extreme cold is tech synthetic by Colombia which is very light weight. Socks for extreme cold weather are rated to TOG-3 as well as merino wool socks. I pack 3-sets and wear 1-set. With this I can travel infinite days. My cold- puffer- outerwear brand is MARMUT and wet weather is SEDON
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
I spent a month in Cambodia and Vietnam with heat over 35 degrees every day. Every day we spent almost 6 hours touring. I was the only person with 90% Merino wool TShirt, socks and shorts. I was the only one who didn’t show sweat or feel wet. I wore my same pair of socks for over a week, and they still didn’t smell but I decided to wash them anyway. I swear 100% by by Merino wool clothes.
Which brand? Thanks
I was using washable merino shirts but with my hard water and detergent they became brittle, developing holes and runs. I started handwashing with wool wash and a tiny bit of vinegar. Then always air dry. Also, I add lanolin to the water every couple of washes so they stay soft. I know, it sounds like a lot but its been worth it fir me since wool needs washing so much less frequently than other fabrics AND the expensive clothes last years longer!
I just started slomadding, so this was super useful. A couple of questions that you could address if you'd like in a follow-up video: 1) with soap bars, how do you juggle them in a hostel bathroom? I guess I'd like a little video segment on how you get from your bunk to the shower and back. 2) I carry a crossbody bag when I'm out, but I'm intrigued by slings and backpacks. How do you feel confidently theft-proof when your valuables are on your back?, 3) You mentioned not carrying your passport wallet when you're out and about. Where do you store it during the day? 4) I love all of the clothing options you have. When you get to where you're staying, how do you deal with accessing your clothes? Do you get individual items out of cubes and them put them back in the pack? Again, a little video about how you access stuff in your pack on the road would be helpful. Thanks!
Hi Jenny! Thanks for the thoughtful comment. We apologize for our delayed response, we have been hiking for the past 10 days without any signal but are back now! Your suggestions for future videos sounds great, we will tuck them in our back pockets for use at a later time 🙂 To answer some of your questions, we bring our whole hygiene kit into washrooms with us when we stay at hostels. The hook that our hygiene kits have are SO great for this! And we just bring our little soap bar cases into showers with us and usually there is a place to put them down while we take the soap out and use the soap in the shower. If the case gets wet it is no biggie at all, they dry up in no time!
Safety with backpacks is always tricky. We always have our big backpacks locked, but if we are going out for a day with our day bags, we do not lock them. This is one of the reasons we leave our most valuable things at out hotel/hostel and always lock our main backpack when we leave it at the hotel. It isn't a perfect solution, but carrying valuables around the world with you comes with some unavoidable risks! If we are out with our day bags and are feeling unsafe we will move our backpacks to our fronts so they are harder to slash or unzip.
And yes, when we get to where we are staying we just take the items out that we need each day, and put them back into the correct packing cube at the end of the day. We each have our own small way of organizing our dirty laundry within our packing cubes as well which we have each just come to create since we began traveling full-time.
Hopefully that answers your questions! Thanks again for watching our video and asking such awesome questions!
@@nicoleandmico Thanks for such a thoughtful and quick response!
Enjoy your slomadding!
Great summary, thanks for sharing!
Concerning luggage loss on check-in travels - I lost my checked in bag on literally hundreds of flights only one single time, and it arrived one day later brought by a taxi driver (hired by the airline) just at my door step. One of my neighbors and also one of my relatives had same experience, each time one suitcase got lost on the way and arrived one day later with the next flight and delivered by any courier to their place resp. hotel. I know a lot of travellers and also plenty of business travellers and I know only one single case where the checked in luggage was really lost somehow and didn't arrive at all. So I guess the risk of loosing a checked in piece at all is extremely low but it makes sense to carry at least everything you need for one day with you if you check in any piece of luggage.
That said, we travel mostly (even though not always) with check in luggage. The fees are usually included in the ticket rate, and the extra time for checking in something or waiting at the luggage belt for our luggage is always ridiculous compared to the whole travel time. Usually we travel with some reasonable time gap between flights or between flight and railway or so, means we do not loose any costly minutes of our life but it is just a question of where we pass the time, whether in front of the luggage belt or somewhere else waiting for our train or so. Yes one can easily travel minimalistic and with one piece of cabin baggage but I love to travel with my swiss army knife and some other stuff (mostly items I use for cooking and hiking) which is not allowed to bring into the cabin, and quite often I bring also some special food items with me (any things I love and I know in advance not to get them easily at my destination) so I check all that in and feel happy whiles enjoying the luxury of an extra piece of luggage.
About merino wool, yes there are pieces which are sold to us but not really useful for travels since they are simply not sturdy enough, especially when you carry often a rucksack or tend to move during hikes through bushes or so. Merino is great but one should not forget that merino pieces are luxury items and you get any standard items like socks, T-Shirts or sweaters made from cotton or whatever artificial fibres really everywhere on that planet. Why spending so much money for a single merino T-Shirt (except since you love luxury) when you can get for the same price 5 T-Shirts in Europe and in India, Thailand or Vietnam you get for that money maybe even 30-40 T-Shirts ... That said, of course I would never travel without my original pashmina shawl ... not merino but even much better fabric and one of my personal luxury items 🤣
Love the points you make! We have been traveling with our check-in bags for a little over a month now and have to agree that so far they are the way to go for us as well. We particularly like the ability to bring small knives for cooking and a small pair of scissors around with us. Sometimes it would be nice to hop off a flight and head straight out of the airport to catch a cab or bus, but so far the check-in-life is working well for us too!!
@@nicoleandmico yes cooking is one of the keywords ... eating your self prepared food saves you from upset stomac and what not else, and such things can become very common in certain countries if you eat only restaurant food. It saves sometimes money and simply adds some extra joy to the travel if you cook yourself. I love to try new dishes and tastes but I also love to have at least once in a while the food I like most and this is usually what I cook myself ;-)
I still remember the first rucksack travel with my wife, three months Nepal and India. Totally three pieces of luggage - one rucksack (check in), two haversacks, that's all we had with us. We both got totally sick from the food in Northern India. Finally we bought a kerosene stove and some pots etc. and started to cook ourselves in the hotel. I guess that saved our lives ... 😁
@@bangalorebobbel What awesome memories you must have of that trip (minus the food poisoning). Those backpacker memories are one of a kind!
@@nicoleandmico
absolutely! This trip was in 1983 and we travelled a lot since those good old days (and had done also before that trip some shorter travels together) but we can still remember so many details of this first longer trip as a couple.
And who knows, maybe I would have never got the idea to cook on travels if that would not have become a necessity in those days 😁
Thing is, cooking on travels changes a lot. You have to carry or procure cooking utensils and food items, find shops and interact on local markets, know the rates, convince any local grandma to tell you her secret recipes and so on, all things you would miss if you have your food always in any restaurant or get you some Snickers.
And on longer travels it is maybe even no problem to have one of your all time favourite meals even in a country where nobody else but you seems to know it ... you surely had already one or more of these moments when you lay on one of the most beautiful beaches of that planet, listen to the waves and the birds and cannot think about anything else but that xyz dish you miss so heavily since 3 months ... 🤣
Thanks for the links! I started carrying a laundry bar and will be purchasing the bag, bucket and clothes line! Safe travels and thanks for the awesome information!
Hey, thanks! We're so glad you found it helpful!!
I know you have hiking boots, but the alternative is trail runner shoes, which are essentially running shoes with big treads. Most are purposefully not waterproof, but instead designed to easily shed water & by extension, very breathable. If you talk with regular hikers, half wear trail runners from spring to fall. Plus trail runners can be easily packed in carry-on luggage, just like regular sneakers.
Hey there! Trail runners are a great idea. We gave lots of thought to trail runners instead of hiking boots/sneakers when we first left to travel a year ago and it was difficult to choose between the two! We opted for hiking boots mainly because Mico really needs the ankle support (he very commonly sprains his ankles unfortunately) and we tend to use the boots for a few months and then ship them home. We picked them up again when we went home for Christmas 2021 in anticipation of doing some hiking in South America, but will ship them back to Canada again most likely in June once we are done with our big hikes. It works for us, but we might be a little too attached to our hiking boots! Trail runners are a great suggestion for most travelers who need a combo shoe and are low on space! Perhaps one day they will be right for us as well
They're also soooo much lighter 🤦♀️
I still have to use a boot for the ankle support too! I have an old injury that weakens my ankle too much without it. Oh well, less shoes for me 🤷♀️.
Thanks for sharing all your gear in detail. Super helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Nicole and Mico - loved this video thanks for the tips! I am planning a 12 month trip for next year, and have a question about contact lenses. Do you carry the lenses you need for the entire trip with you from the start? Or have you found it fairly easy to get contacts while you travel? Thanks!
I work as an outdoor educator and wear merino everyday. I had issues with merino too. But I started washing it with merino wool wash by nikwax and I have hardly any issues since. It helps with keeping the wool flexible as regular detergent strips the lanolin and that makes the wool brittle. There might be other brands of wool wash that work too. Also wool with a blend seems to last longer too.
Thank you so much for sharing the brand of washing powder you use for merino! We are eager to get our hands on some merino-specific detergent after seeing quite a few comments mentioning how helpful people have found it!
@@nicoleandmico it is actually liquid so it is harder to travel with but it still helps to use it when you can. Also avoid washing merino with Velcro, buckles, zippers...put things in a mesh bag if u have to wash them with wool.
The mesh bag sounds like a good idea. Thanks for all the tips. We'll have to get our hands on this stuff!
I was gonna say, I have to wash my wool with a special wool wash to keep it good. But a lot of times when I travel I don't want to bring that and I do laundry at a laundromat or a hotel, so I don't have control over the soap they use.
Eucalan! Made in Canada, best ever. For travel, better to wash merino wool with shampoo. It is designed for hair. Wool is hair. When you get home, use the Eucalan. Eucalan is sold on Amazon too for us US based folks. Never wring wet Wool! It will develop holes. Always squash out the water, or wrap in a couple of towels. Merino wool is not expensive when you factor in how long it lasts. As far as pilling, any hair f8ber will pill when friction is applied. Who cares? Scrape off the pills. Repair as soon as you see a tear. Alpaca is fine too, so is any wool. If it makes you itch, wear silk base layer, then wool, then tech cloth.
Very informative video - definitely going to buy that sink! And I want to weigh in on the merino clothing. I agree with “all merino everything isn’t the way to go” but I‘m a huge fan of merino baselayers. The further away the fabric is from your skin the less you need pure wool in my opinion. My favourite combination is two thin layers of pure merino (eg. longsleeve + t-shirt) and the Patagonia puff on top. Keeps me very warm without being too bulky and I don’t feel like I‘m melting. I also wear most of my merino t-shirts as part of my regular wardrobe and my baselayers as lounge wear at home. I love icebreaker (yay for end-of-season sales) and had most things for 3-5 years, so far everything holds up great :)
Hey there! Thanks for sharing your insight and experiences. It is great to hear merino has been a success for you in most ways. It definitely has some great uses 😊 Also glad to hear the sink will be helpful to you in the future - we love ours SO much! It's definitely an underrated travel item in our opinion :)
I’m going to travel for 1 month all around Peru & was stressing so0o much if I had to spend so0o much more for merino wool set & so0o glad you shared your experiences! Your POV gives me a relief that merino wool isn’t a NEED & I can survive without it. Thank you for this informative video & showing the breakdowns of the material.
A month in Peru will be amazing! We are glad to hear you found the video helpful. If you are doing any hiking in Peru our suggestion would be to only invest in Merino hiking socks. The lifetime warranty on Icebreaker socks has made that investment worth it for us 😊
Great video
Icebreaker has Coolwool which is merino mixed with Tencell, and I’ve found it very comfortable and durable.
Thanks for the input! It's great to hear you have found a durable option from Icebreaker
My daughter is studying nursing and was advised by her chiropractor to buy Adidas Ultraboost shoes as they're the most comfortable and supportive for people on their feet for long hours. Enjoyed your video. Tyvm.
Oh wow that is very neat! We absolutely LOVE our ultraboosts and can't believe how well they've held up in this first year of wearing them. We hope they are a good fit for your daughter too!
Thanks guys! I'm in the process of assembling all my gear due full time travel. Great tips!
Amazing! We hope your trip is everything you want it to be and more 😁
@@nicoleandmico I hope so too 😅
Great review, always interesting to see what people pack for long term travelling !
Thanks so much! We are glad you found the vide interesting 😀
Check in and carry on : for me it was wanting to carry tools - a multitool where the nail file, screw drive and scissors are not permitted. On internal flights some with a 5kg limit being able to split the electronics (and batteries) to carry on and have the clothes (jacket) in cargo helped. I did purchase a tracker. Upon boarding the plane it stopped working and at my last designation before returning home it finally started to work again. Don't know the problem or what triggered the working after a month walking around many cities across India.
I wore long sleeve T shirts. Although in a hot climate I wanted to avoid sun burn and it is not always possible to walk around in the shade. I wore what might termed smart causal. More than acceptable in an office or customer facing work but comfortable that you can spend all day walking in them. My button down shirts were also plain white - the most I had in laundry was three of the four I carried. My daily carry back pack is a convertible - an office business suitable brief case. For urban exploring I did not need hiking trekking gear. Comfortable shoes and clothes that I could wear anywhere.
The need to carry on a multi-tool is always so tricky! We also really like to fly with a multi-tool when not doing carry-on. I (Mico) once forgot I had a multi-tool in my carry-on bag on a flight and somehow it made it through security in Sydney, Australia, but my connecting flight in Vancouver, Canada noticed it and took it away. Such a shame! A tracker is a great idea to have a bit of piece of mind with luggage (when its working of course). Thanks for sharing your experiences and watching our video!
If you fly with discount carriers that actually check your carry-on weight, they there may be an advantage to check-in. Based on a recent experience, I think it is good to be prepared and flexible to do a combination, depending on the nature of your trip.
This was helpful. I live on the road full time and when I’m not trucking I’m traveling on vacation 4 or 5 times a year. Love my farpoint 40 for work and travel.
Awesome! We have heard so many great things about the farpoint 40, it sounds like an awesome bag. Osprey sure knows how to make a stellar bag
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences/perspectives/recommendations!
I havent done any international travel yet... but am I huge fan of continental travel a week at a time and I always do it out of a backpack. Y'all gave me some good ideas on how I can modify my pack list and save some room/weight as well as deal with hostel shortcomings!
Awesome, we are so glad to have been able to give you some good ideas for your trips! Thanks for taking the time to watch our video 😀
For cold months cami, long sleeve crewneck, and capri all merino (and wool socks) are my defense against cold. For warm and hot months I love rayon everything, easy wash and dry.
It sounds like you have found some merino wool products that work well for you - that is awesome! We have had some great suggestions here and hopefully will find some better merino products than we have had in the past
Thanks for all the useful information. Curious if you have any thoughts on silk as a base layer. I use it in addition to merino wool and found it is great for warmth and wicking. I agree with your assessment of the ex officio underwear (durable, easy to wash & quick drying), although eventually the elastic broke down, long before the material wore out.
Hey there! We haven't had a chance to try silk as a base layer but other people have commented that it is an excellent material as you mentioned, so we may just have to try it!
It's interesting you mention the elastic on your ex-officio underwear breaks down before the material does - I (Mico) have noticed that is happening to one of my pairs recently. Hopefully the others hold together better!
Great video guys! We're definitely team Carry-On all the way! Even with just bus travel we find it makes travelling easier if we're not hauling a whole lot of weight around on our backs everywhere we go. Interesting point about the durability factor of merino. We splashed out and bought our first pair of merino socks a few months ago and we've been wondering how durable they will be. Fingers crossed they last a bit longer!
Hey guys! It is awesome you have been able to keep up with carry-on bags even with TH-cam gear! We just found we had too much stuff, but maybe we will manage to bring less stuff as we continue our travels. We have found merino socks to be awesome! We each have a few different types, including hiking and regular-day socks and they have held up really well so far. We have both Smart Wool and Icebreaker and the great thing is both brands have a lifetime warranty, so even if the socks start falling apart we can replace them for free! Socks are definitely one area where we find merino shines.
@@nicoleandmico yeah the youtube gear does take up a fair bit of space! Thanksfully there's a lot of equipment out there that's pretty compact. We heard that there were socks out there that came with lifetime warranty - that is so awesome! We didn't get our act together enough to find those brands when we were in the US and we move around too quickly to get stuff mailed to us, but it's something we'd definitely like to invest in more once we get the opportunity.
Yes, thank goodness for compact gear! Hopefully you can get your hands on some lifetime warranty socks one day 😊
@@nicoleandmico Neither of those brands offer a lifetime warranty. Darn Tough does, however. Smart wool is nice, but they don't last even a quarter of how long DT socks last.
Merino is the superior travel clothing. Polyester will get you by in a pinch, but it's not good for travel - smelly and you have to wash it a lot more frequently than merino.
Been using merino for 20 years of travel...merino socks and underwear the best, never smells and dries quick..long sleeve merino tip on the plane for the long flights...essential...quick dry travel towel... .handy as added warmth on the plane..carry on everywhere...eagle creek...travel light....
We do both love our merino wool socks! We just came back from a 10 day hiking trek in Patagonia and the merino wool hiking socks were fantastic for the adventure!
Thank you for this beautiful explainer/tutorial!
Great Video! Thank you for sharing the advice on carry-on versus checked baggage. I'm about to start a 1 1/2 year trip starting in SE Asia, then Central and South America, then onto Europe. Did you weigh your carry-on while traveling or was that not an issue? What size bags did you use when using carry-on? I'll be subscribing to your TH-cam post! Happy Travels!
What an exciting trip Craig! We often did weigh our bags while doing carry on for the past year which can be tricky. Usually airlines max the weight for carry on at 10kgs, so what we did was carry some of our heaviest items in our day bags because these were considered our personal items and were never weighed. We don't bring a luggage scale with us so we just have to to our best to get the weight right and hope for the best at check in! Once we had been through a few flights we had a good idea of what needed to go where in order to meet the 10kg requirement (you get so familiar with your belongings when everything you own fits into a small bag). And we each had the 38L Kathmandu Litehaul for carry on. The bags themselves organize a little strangely, with really just two pockets, but we both came to love them. The only issue was support - the bag really doesnt have good structural support which is one of the reasons we moved to the Osprey Farpoint Trek (mens) and Osprey Fairview Trek 50 (womens), but of course, these are not carry-on. Hopefully that helps, but feel free to ask any other questions that come up and you plan for you trip! We are so excited for you!!
Thanks for the info!! I am getting ready for a Mediterranean cruise and i am getting anxious with all the packing.
Packing can be definitely be a big undertaking so we totally understand the anxiety it can bring along 😖! The good news is that we all get better with time as we understand what we need when we travel. A Mediterranean cruise sounds amazing! 😊 Don't forget the sunscreen! ☀️😎
I have had good luck with many merino wool pieces of clothing, particularly the thicker items. The ultra thin shirts wear too fast for me. Unfortunately, I cannot wear synthetic fabric tops without itching like crazy. I have switched many of my tips to bamboo based or silk.
A while ago we tried out a merino wool and bamboo mix and that seemed to hold up better than 100% merino. A big lesson for us has been that merino is definitely best when combined with another fiber. Silk sounds amazing as well! Another viewer mentioned some of the incredible properties of silk in clothing and we are eager to try some out for ourselves!
My husband has exclusively been wearing the same 5 pairs of Exofficio briefs for 5-7 years... I actually have a few 7 year old pairs as well that still look new and are worn regularly, which is pretty incredible.
Wow that is amazing!! Now THAT sounds like a worthwhile investment 😀
@@nicoleandmico they are! My husband and I have gotten about 10 years out of our ExFiccio underwear and we wear it in our daily lives, not just travel.
Completely agree. Exofficios are awesome. After many years, the weak points are the elastic bands while the rest still looks great.
Planning on doing so international traveling next year, this was really helpful!
O that's awesome! Where are you planning to head to? We love to hear people making travel plans 😊 regardless we're glad you found the video useful!
I love how detailed this is. So informative! Thank you!
So glad you found it helpful!
You two are amzing!!!! I am so impressed and learned piles! Thank you!!
Awe thanks for your kind words! We're glad you found some things useful 😊 happy travels!
Y’all r amazing!!! That is incredible!! I would struggle so much with only taking that along but I am getting better
Hey there! Thank you so much for the compliment! We also find it tricky to not add to our luggage and have a few additional little luxuries, but the challenge of working on our minimalism has also been really fun! We have definitely learned that there is no generic "right" way to travel and pack though; whatever works for you to have an awesome trip and feel good while doing it is the right way to do it!
Hi Nicole and Mico! Thank you so much for the tips. I am taking notes so I won't make a mistake of over packing on my next trip. Happy travels!
Thanks Satsuki! Packing is always so personal so make sure you make it fun and find a method that works for you regardless of what we or anyone else online says. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip 😊
It sounds as if you two have a fascinating and wonderful life - love your energy! Travel well and thank you for your tips!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed!
This is such a great video, totally the most clear and comprehensive one I’ve seen! Thanks a lot , you’ve got a new subscriber :)
Thank you so much for the compliment and for subscribing Brittany! We are so glad to hear you found the video helpful. Happy packing!!
Totally agree. You have a new subscriber from Montréal 👍
Hello and thank you fellow Canadian! We are so glad to have you along and to hear you found the video helpful as well ☺️
Nice video, thanks for all the info. Wishing you happy and healthy adventures!
Thank you so much! We are so glad you found it helpful
I have been using a scarf for years for all those things while traveling. It is such a versatile piece of clothing. Definitely a must-pack item.
100% agree! Love the scarf 🥰
Merino in the winter (it warms AND cools) stuff like Under armor cooling sports gear for summer. Pack stuff that you can live without if lost in a check in. I do 3, a 21 Liter GR1 on the back. a 20l (ish) duffel, and stuff that doesn't matter if lost in a Pelican air. Those travel bags yall are carrying around are ridiculously big. If my pelican gets lost I still have enough for about a week and two 20l bags are super easy to maneuver around. Ultimately you can go for weeks with 3 t shirts, 3 undies, 3 socks and a versatile DWR coat. I also travel with as much water proof gear as possible (especially shoes, but then you also need a light weight pack of Vans or something so that your feet can breathe). Very few toiletries, I shave my head and travel with a stick of deodarant, a tooth brush and some tooth paste, maybe a razor. Always have a tube of triple antibiotic ointment on you, some kind of water bottle, some jerky, ibuprofen and some packs of crystal light. Now try traveling light when you both A) Have to fly on the small commuter jets that allow barely more than a laptop AND B) Wear a full suit and tie 5 days a week and C) Have a bad back...... (been my life since 98). On the rare occassion's I do car travel, i use a giant rolling duffel and I can dress like a fashion model from Mens every day/night (those trips are rare).
Sounds like its time to shave our heads 😅
I had been considering to get 1 of those passport wallets, having previously always kept documents+ID+cards separate when I travel, but recently lost my phone wallet which has my cards, ID, travel card etc [SO BLESSED that it was returned to me complete, down to the $10 note I keep for just in case] but all I could think after that was thank GOD it didn't happen overseas - that would've been a disaster.
Also saw a veteran traveler recently recommending keeping 3x forms of ID+credit/debit cards in 3 different stashes so if you lose or have stolen 1 set you have backups. Totally on board with that now!
(Also, technically, a steri-pen isn't a water filter. It kills a fair amount of bacteria but there are better options out there. I recommend ppl do a lot of research to find the best option for them)
Yes we always try to keep backups in other places than the passport wallet just in case 😉 and it also helps traveling as a couple as we know each of us has some of each other's important docs/copies/cards handy as well.
Yes the steripen is a purifier and has worked excellent for us when doing multi day hikes in the mountains. What's your preferred water filtration option? Maybe we can try that too 😊
@@nicoleandmico I like the katadyn befree but I really think it depends on what kind of traveling you're doing eg. what part of the world you're going, how long you'll be traveling, whether you're camping, roadtripping, backpacking etc.
Eg. if I was ONLY backpacking around Europe I'd probably just take the steripen too
We have seen some back country campers using the Katadyn Befree back home in Canada and love how compact it can be! It looks like a great option for a proper water filter
About Merino wool. It is a natural fiber not a brand. Smartwool, Icebreaker and such are brands making Merino wool products. Brand quality varies a lot. I totally agree that stuff is expensive, but it is important to understand what are you using it for. I wouldn't use expensive Merino wool garments for the general travel as cheaper alternative are available and synthetics are often more durable. But when I do mountain hiking, winter camping, ski trips in bellow freezing temperatures, Smartwool and Icebreaker layers I have(no affiliation whatsoever) protected me from possible frostbite and kept me warm and safe. As base and middle layers it works better than anything I tried. And in respect to durability I have socks, tops and bottoms I've used for years and still looks fine and works. Different toys for different games.
We completely agree that merino isn't for all forms of travel! In general we believe there are cheaper alternatives available that can get people by. We discuss this more during the video but really merino depends on your use case. We live by the mountains in Canada so we've definitely seen its value there but agreed it shouldn't be used as an everyday product for travel (at least certain types of clothes). Thanks for watching 😊 what's your preferred brand for merino wool?
@@nicoleandmico Smartwool and Icebreaker
Us too but I think nowadays we're leaning towards smartwool because their blends seem to last longer. Thanks!
Thanks for the great video- you had some good ideas. Have you considered LIfestraw for water purification while traveling? They have a number of products which filter water. I use the Lifestraw personal and find it small enough to put in or clip to my day pack.
We have heard of the lifestraw but don't know too much about it. They seem to be getting more popular though 0 we recently saw someone with a lifestraw water bottle on our hike in Patagonia. It looked pretty awesome!
thanks for this video. we're going on a cruise this summer so I'm prepping to onebag it. your video is extremely helpful, thanks again.
As for socks, if you don't already know about Darn Tough, may I suggest to check them out. They'll replace your socks for free if it's worn out, no questions.
Have an amazing trip this summer! We are so glad you found this video helpful as you prepare. We will absolutely check out Darn Tough for socks, we are always eager to find new companies that believe in their products enough to give you a lifetime replacement!
I pretty much only use darn tough midweight hiker boot socks and I've never even worn a hole in one yet to test their warranty. they're really durable and slightly cushioned under foot and up the shin for extra comfort in hiking boots.
I stopped using smartwool years ago when I discovered darn tough. I traveled 3 weeks in China and one week in Mongolia with just two pairs of darn tough hikers
I just finished this video. Thanks for all the info. Loved the ending. You guys are an adorable couple. Safe travels!
Thanks so much! Safe travels to you as well 🤗
Great video. While I see your point on the wear and tear of merino wool, it's just something I will not compromise with. For the time it works, it is perfect! Happy trails!
Totally understandable. For some people it really is the best technical fiber out there. It's great to hear it works well for you 😊
I loved everything about this video, thanks for sharing your packing tips! Thought of recommending the Bento Bag from Nomad Lane for your future travels. I have been using it for some time now and it is definitely the best!
Thanks for letting us know you enjoyed the video and for giving us a bag suggestion! We are big time bag lovers so we'll definitely check it out 😁
Thanks for this as I was going to move more towards merino wool but for now I will just keep to socks. Interesting that you found merino wool wore when there was use and friction but yet the socks did well which are likely the spot with the greatest wear. I could not travel with just carry on luggage. Not because I take so much but I don't want my second bag under my feet the whole flight. Especially as my second bag carries my camera and binoculars. So I check my luggage, even if it is a carry on hard shell, and take a very small backpack, smaller than most purses, on the flight to hold my equipment. Then I put my bag in the upper bins giving me a better flight and avoiding accidentally kicking my valuable equipment. Of course this means ignoring the constant requests for every flight to put small bags under the seats. This would not be an issue except I've seen passengers with hard shells asking flight attendants about moving smaller bags so they can fit theirs in the upper bin. I've been asked twice to put my bag under the seat but I've said "no" both times. I've paid extra to ship my luggage. I've taken the advice of the airline and have not checked my electronics and valuables. I've taken their advice and have lighter luggage in the upper bins. If someday I'm ever forced to put my small bag under my feet then I'll bring my other hard shell carry on and just drop my backpack in that thus taking up three times as much space. Airlines can get around this by saying "Every passenger has the right to put one piece of luggage in the overhead bins." No more asking passengers who travel light to have an uncomfortable flight so that passengers who travel with everything in carry-on bags can have a comfortable flight.
I couldn't be without my merino wool base layers in colder weather. They keep me warm, but not too hot and sweaty and don't make me itch (other wools do if they come into contact with my skin). I've had them for a few years now and wear them every day for months at a time. I haven't had a problem with holes yet. I am careful with how I wash and dry them and always use a wool detergent. I'd rather wash everything in wool detergent, than wash wool in regular detergent.
We're glad you had a good experience! Our merino socks has been holding really well but the underwear and sweaters are just terrible. Do you have any merino outerwear like jackets or sweaters?
Love you guys! Seems like such a supportive relationship
Awe thanks so much! ☺️
Nicely done! Great tips! Couldn’t travel without- sea to summit laundry line and my humangear trio eating utensils
The laundry line is excellent! We could not agree more 👍🙌
Curious how you are able to get the osprey 55 as a carry on. The dimensions far exceed typical airlines. I’m interested in that pack so just wanted to know how you do it. Thank you.
Great video! 2 quick question... what do you guys use for security of your backpacks so no risk of airport handlers getting into your packs or stowing away drugs without you knowing? Also how do you ensuring no damage to your packs when they are going through airport conveyor belts so the straps don't get ripped, stuck etc? 38:28
Hey there we use small locks from Masterlock. We like the style that uses a 3 number combination and not a key so there's nothing to lose. Also we use the rain cover that came with our backpacks to cover our bags so nothing get's caught. It's worked out really well for us so far!
@nicoleandmico Thanks. I had seen the backpack duffle bags and wire locks so makes it a deterrent as heard a lot of bad stories with backpacks over suitcases. Appreciate the tips 😁. Happy travels
I recently just got done with long term travel and are planning on doing it again soon. One question for Nicole, I took the Ethique bar that you use for your shampoo and I also used the soap packaging. Did your's ever dry out once you were done using it? Mine was in a constant state of being wet the entire trip. I eventually just started buying smaller shampoos.
Hi Staci! It is so awesome to hear that you are going to be able to head out to travel long term again right away. Regarding the soap/shampoo storage, do you mean that you also use the Matador soap pouch that we show in the packing video or do you use the soap pouch that Ethique sells? I use the Matador soap pouches for my hard shampoo and conditioner bars and find they dry out really well most places we have traveled, the exception has been really humid places. So far on our travels my conditioner bars haven't dried out 100% in Sri Lanka, Mexico, and the coast of Ecuador. My shampoo bars have been better than the conditioner bars for some reason and tend to dry out properly between uses. If the bar is getting small when I've been in humid climates I find it breaks much easier because it doesn't dry completely, but I mostly just try to smoosh it back together to get as much use as possible 😂
Were your merino wool blends or 100% wool? I've been disappointed in my 100% merino wool shirts and base layers, but I've found my wool/synthetic blends to be very durable. I make a point of not buying 100% merino wool unless it's something like a beanie or buff.
That is a great idea! We have also noticed that the higher wool content items wear away much faster than the blends. My (Nicole) sweater is 84% wool, 9% nylon, and 7% elastane, but is still not holding up well in the hands/wrists. We have definitely noticed less durability with 100% merino wool though so if we do ever buy more merino products in the future it will definitely be a blend. Good to hear you have had the same experience.
Hi! Did you bring the Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket to Nepal with you? I am planning a three-month trip to Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, and I was wondering if this jacket endured your trip and was warm enough. Also, did you have any issues bringing a 50 L bag as a carry on? Thank you so much!
We brought it but unfortunately it was not enough. We ended up buying cheap jackets to layer on top which did the trick. If you are planning on doing some extensive hiking, we highly recommend picking up some good gear in advanced. Also that sounds like an awesome trip. Bhutan and Tibet would be amazing! And when we traveled with carry-ons we used our 38L Kathmandu Litehaul backpacks. We later upgraded to the 50L ones Osprey backpacks which are just for check in now but they hold pretty much the same stuff we originally packed.
Aww you two,😊 just awesome you guys. I loved the bloopers at the end, lol, how adorable 😄
This was a great video and very informative.
I'm new to your channel and I am looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Thank you for sharing and for all the hard work and time you put into your videos. They are awesome.
KEEP ADVENTURING
GOD BLESS Y'ALL
🤗HUGS🤗
Thank you so much for the compliment! It is great to hear you found the video helpful and fun to watch! We are excited to have you join our journey! We've got lots of fun videos lined up to share with you 😁
@Nicole and Mico that's awesome I'm excited to watch. Please be careful in your adventures.
Thank you so much!
I like Merion for a base layer with and over shirt or light sweater. Merino is sheep wool and has a thermal range of 10-15 degrees F. Where synthetics fibers are temperature specific. For a lightweight sweater I like alpaca. For a drink on the go on a bus, biking, hiking, anywhere I go I carry my two cup stainless steel thermos with a screw on cup, with tea, coffee or broth cubes. In the past I carried an umbrella with a collapsible handle that fits in the corner of my shoulder bag in lieu of a rain jacket. I'm planning on putting it back on my check list.
Great tips! We actually just purchased a cheap umbrella and we're curious if it will be suitable enough to replace our heavy rain coats. I have my doubts but we're happy to experiment.
I agree with you about Merino....it has its place, but for me it's not quite warm enough either. I find myself adding additional layers of fleece and all sorts.....
Regardless of money, I definitely agree with you on the mix and match approach to fibres...👍
All the best....
Thank you for the video 😄
Have fun on your next leg of adventure, kudos to both if you 👍
By the way, hope you can lock the place where you put your blue file as you said it carries important docs and only saw one zipper? 😊
Hey Gail, thanks for your kind comment and good catch with the blue folder! You are right, there is only one zipper where the folder is and it does not lock. We have been putting our most important/sensitive documents in a page protector that goes inside our backpack to make sure that info never gets stolen. Our blue folders have been a bit of a storage area for documents that we have to print when we change countries (PCR test results, health declarations, vaccine verifications, etc.) and even though they don't have a ton of sensitive info on them, we still typically lock them in our backpacks if we are leaving our bags in our hotel for the day or if we are getting on a bus for many hours, etc. It is too bad that front pocket doesn't lock, it certainly would be more convenient!
@@nicoleandmico 👍 definitely
Incredibly great and informative video, which I'm sure I'll watch several times.Thank you!
Glad to be of help! 😊
Thank you for that insightful review regarding Merino Wool and when and when not to use them :)
Thanks so much for watching!
@@nicoleandmico Thanks also for the packing your backpack! I like seeing how people pack their travel backpacks and what they take. I always end up taking too much and am trying to pack minimally, but intelligently so that I am prepared for what the weather will throw at me. :)
Yes it can be so hard to balance minimal travel but also prepared for any adventure. In the end we always make do with what we have and anything extra we can purchase, borrow or rent while on the road. We find that if we stay in one country for a long time then our clothing doesn't change. It's when we started moving quickly that we kept finding what we have inadequate clothing and needed replacement. When we went from the Himalayas to the tropics is a good example, fhe clothing needed for each place was so different 😆
I love merino wool, linen, cotton, and silk to take with me traveling. Helps me not smell so bad in between showers. :)
Definitely! We have got some great suggestions on here about what brands and fabric blends hold up well compared to the experiences we have had with many of the merino wool products we have tried. It would be awesome to find a durable product with merino in it because the anti-bacterial, anti-smell, and quick drying features are amazing!
Curious if you’ve tried trail runners for hiking shoes instead of boots? Unless you’re going the heavy snow trail runners work better than boots for a lot of people and can double as city/running shoes.
Hey Andre, thanks for the suggestion! We gave a lot of thought to trail running shoes instead of hikers and sneakers. We decided on the latter for two main reasons: 1) Mico really needs ankle support when hiking as he has a long history of spraining his ankles, and 2) we tend to keep the hikers for a couple of months at most, do a bunch of hiking, and then ship them home when we don't expect to need them for 6+ months again. Of course this is very specific to our circumstances and think that a trail runner could be the perfect in between shoe for many travelers. We see lots of folks with them on our travels, so it is a great suggestion!
This was so helpful thank you
You are so welcome!! Happy travels!
Love those transitions! Cute!
I had never watched any of your videos and I just found this one...I'm hooked with your spark and good vibes! Definitely a new subscriber 😀
Awesome! Thank you! We're so glad to have you 😊
Awesome, keep up the good work i overpack when I go to Hawaii and the Bahamas. Do you have any videos Tht u recommend for me to watch. i, we'll be also going on Alaskan cruise.and maybe a disney cruise to their castaway Island
Thank you
as a knitter i make my own merino wool socks, gloves and sweaters-and there are definitely different weights and values of merino wool. Also should know that merino should not be washed with most detergents or soaps bc of pH differences that strip the natural lanolin from the fiber-they cause it to break down more quickly Should only use something like woolite or soak (brand name) or special care fiber soap with no additives or bleaches in it. Even baby shampoo if that's all you have. Makes a big difference! enjoyed this video-first of yours i've seen and will check out others.
Knitting your own sounds amazing! What a fantastic skill. Great tip about the washing products, that definitely could be part of our problem. We do hand wash all of our items though which hopefully helps with some of the longevity
Really important point. Wool must be washed with a dedicated wool wash. It doesn’t cope with normal washing detergent
You can just use shampoo.
Good to know! Thanks for the tip!!
I've been known to use regular shampoo to wash my knits in a pinch, but Soak/Eucalan/other wool washes are nicer to use.
I really like some of the things you mentioned that I haven’t heard of before your video. Do you have the list with where to acquire them? Thanks 😊
I've found that if you treat your merino wool correctly (washing, etc) it lasts a long time. I've never had the thumb hole in my long sleeve t-shirt break down and the boxers Ive been using for years are merino with zero issues. Your and my results have been radically different but 'd say in my opinion anyway I totally disagree on merino wool.
It is great to hear the merino products work well for you! What washing powder do you use for your merino? We have always hand washed our merino products and hung them to dry, but from other comments on here we have learned to give special detergent a try and hope that helps with the durability issues we have been having. We would love to know what washing powder has worked for you!
@@nicoleandmico merino wool is magical stuff ... wash it in nikwax base wash or similar...
Maybe even try it in one of those conservative countries you mentioned mentioned...
We have had a few people mention Nikwax, we will definitely look into it
@@nicoleandmico Hi there, one is definitely NikWax but the one I like (other than its cost) is from Granger. They make a specific formulation for Merino wool as well they have formulations for other technical fabrics. The other thing that's really important for up keep is not using any deodorant that has aluminum in it (which is most) because it's awful for the fibres. You need to go with mineral crystal type deodorants. It takes some serious adjustment at first but once the bodies used to it all works as desired. There's probably other solutions to this as well. I think some have mentioned this but blends can also be away to get a harder wearing merino. Something with 20% or less of something other than wool is the sweet spot in my opinion anyway. You're already bit using machines to clean your items which is a pain in the butt but important to keep stuff in its best shape. I have however washed merino in a machine on delicate with merino specific detergent and placed in a mesh delicates bag and depending on the brand it hasn't destroyed it especially with a blend. I do always air dry though and unless there's a really good reason I'd always say have wash for safety. It's annoying something like clothing requires special handling but once you get into the habit it's not too bad - ok it's actually still annoying but to keep it all in the best shape I do it anyway. Cheers, Christopher. :)
Thank you for this amazing video❤️❤️can you please suggest a brand great for thermals and which helps you survive the european winters.
Thank you! Gosh there are so many to choose from. I (Mico) usually have thermals from underarmour and Nicole just picked hers up from a store in Chile just before we reached Patagonia, so we can't remember the store name. I'm sorry if this didn't help much! I would stick to well known hiking or skiing/snowboarding brands if you can. We find they tend to focus more on quality and durability than other sellers in different spaces.
I recently found out that I'm completely clueless about when and IF airport weights your carry on. I've been on multiple short plane rides throughout Europe but it's never been my concern since I flew with checked laugagge and my mom took care of everything.
I plan on using budget airlines even for a long haul trips and got no idea whether I need to worry about the weights.
Hey Ola! In our experience you will have to be mindful of weight when flying with low cost carriers like RyanAir and EasyJet. Even with long haul flights we have been checked a few times, but less often than the shorter flights. Our advice would be to carefully look at the weight policy for your ticket and then on flight days put all your heaviest things in your personal item. As an example, we put our laptops in our small daybags which are our 'personal item' on the flight). We have never had our personal items weighed, so we just load these small bags up as much as we can to try to reduce the weight in the carry-on bag which they are likely to weigh. Hopefully that helps you a bit!
@@nicoleandmico thanks! I'll try to stuff my personal item to the max 😄
Good luck!!
this was so informative, thank you
We are so glad you found it useful. Happy travels!
Curious about the choice of Kobo, rather than a Kindle. I do like the look of that Kobo with the handle and magnetic folding cover.
We honestly can't remember why we went for a Kobo and not a Kindle! We are guessing it came down to price, but neither of us can remember the specifics. Sorry we can't be more help! The case is amazing though. It has help up perfectly and is an awesome stand
Thanks for the great video! What method/company you guys use to ship things back to canada? I imagine it’s expensive but I would love to have that option.
Hey there! We have used various companies around the world, it really just depends what's available in a country. If we can find a company we are familiar with then we usually go for that, but it really depends on the pricing. We don't mind taking the slowest options (usually 2-3 months) because we aren't home to use anything anyways!
How do you get on with the 7kg carry on limit on certain airlines (international)?
Hey there, we had our bags weighed quite often for carry-on but typically the limit was 10kgs each. To make this work we carried some of our heaviest items in our day bags because these were considered our personal items and were never weighed. We don't bring a luggage scale with us so we just have to to our best to get the weight right and hope for the best at check in! Once we had been through a few flights we had a good idea of what needed to go where in order to meet the 10kg requirement (you get so familiar with your belongings when everything you own fits into a small bag). When we were really in a pinch for weight or space we would take out our matador 18L reusable bag and put some items in this as well. No one ever blinked an eye at it despite it being sort of like a second personal bag!
My experience, traveling before COVID, maximum weight allowed for carry-on in Australia, and out of Australia is 7 kilos. At times, I have had my personal bag included in that weight.
So informative.. i love it. Learned a lot
Thanks for letting us know. We're going to do a follow up on more travel-related topics. If you got any ideas then please let us know 😊
Hi there, great video! Thanks!
How heavy were your bags at the end?
Hey there! Our new check-in bags are about 30lbs (14kgs) each with our hiking boots in them, and our previous carry-on bags were typically 10-12kgs each. If we were on a flight that weighed our carry-on bags we typically had to change the weight around and carry heavier items in our personal items to make sure we met the weight restrictions for carry-on bags. It can be tricky but we managed!
@@nicoleandmico great and helpful go know . Thank you!
No problem!
I am an international cargo pilot and am always gone half the month anywhere in the world going across the equator changing from summer to winter and all types economies. I pack the same in almost all the things you choose, including layers; except I have 4 pairs of shoes. I have uniform dress chucka boots, running shoes, hiking boots and close toe sandles. One of my pair of boots is always packed in my bag. I live in my hiking boots, even in shorts when not in my uniform. I have a small dry bag for laundry that also doubles for washing laundry in a sink or bathtub when no laundry service is available or timely.
All my socks are wool, not necessarily marino wool, including low ankle sport socks, varying from hiking to sport summer weight thickness. All my other clothes are all some type of quick dry cotton poly blend. My standard 22 inch rollaboard is the size of a large backpack and then my flight bag would be the size of a bag that can go under the seat of a plane.
I’m late to the party, but wanted to say this video is so helpful! I like travel light, so I’m all about the carry-ons. Would love to see a video on what you keep in your day bags.
Thank you! A video about what's in our day bag is a great idea. We will definitely keep that idea in the running!
I've had the same issues with Merino, I still love it but it is disappointing when it gets holes. I bought a lot of shirts at Costco and I just assumed they were poor quality and that's why they ripped. My REI glove liners have a hole in the right index finger which works out great for using my phone :)
It is so refreshing to hear you put a positive spin on the hole in your REI glove liner 😂 The hole in my (Nicole) merino sweater is getting much bigger recently so I will do my best to find a good use for the extra hole 😂
This is so positive and fun. I enjoy watching you two together! Hope you'll both have fun and safety!
Thank you 😊
Agreed with you guys about merino wool. Been traveling for over three decades, for pleasure and for international businesses. In practicality, I wash every two or three days in small loads, either at the hotel laundromat, hotel laundry service, or by hands. Cotten feels great against the skin, lasts disproportionately longer, and the difference in temperature regulation between the two materials isn’t significant for such a significant difference in prices.
nice video :) for my last year long trip 10 years ago I used a Osprey Sojourn 60 convertible which wasn't ideal, wheels add weight and in many places with poor road conditions it was a pain to drag but that pack wasn't comfortable to carry either!!
These days I use a Osprey Porter 46 carry on only which I love but I haven't been doing any travel longer than 2-3 weeks.
I plan to retire and do nomadic travel starting 2024 and something like the Farpoint 55 seems appealing!! I don't think a 46L is going to cut it for long term 🤔
Ah yes, the convertible bags always sounded appealing to us but whenever we chat with people about them they say they found the bag didn't end up meeting the mark as a suitcase or backpack. 60L sounds really nice though! We have really fallen in love with the farpoint and fairview backpacks. We are really impressed by their durability. We have used them nonstop for the past 8 months and both of ours look brand new, so they seem to be a great choice!
For our first year of travel we used 38L carry-on sized bags and although we loved the minimalism and not having to check them in for flights, they didn't have enough support to be comfortable to carry more than short distances once they were weighed down. It is nice to have a bit more room when your whole life has to fit into your bag! We are excited for you to be heading into nomadic travel n 2024. What an adventure!
Amazing video! Thank you!
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!
Merino wool items that have been awesome for me,...taiga tank top, had for four years,...still great. Darn tough socks,....awesome,....Patagonia bra,.. for very light support great,... had 4 years,...still use these items, not worn out
It's so great to hear so many products have worked well for you! That's awesome
I love Merino BUT;
- You have to hand wash or use a laundry machine, you can't give it to a laundry service, they'd ruin it, especially if they tumble dry.
- After washing its super crinkly and you always need to iron it.
- It wears out and gets holes super-quickly. Especially I see holes in T-shirts exactly where the belt buckle/Button rubs against it when tucked in.
I'm looking for other fabrics that are more durable and wash-friendly but still have multiple wears in them.
Does that 55 liter backpack really fit in the overhead carry on bin
We used the Kathmandu Litehaul 38L as carryons but it had the same stuff!
Can you give the name of the laundry bucket? The link is no longer active. Thanks
Sure it's the sea to summit kitchen sink 20L
Merino Wool takes a few days to get used to it not feeling as soft. But it’s 100% natural. When people want to wear polyester against their skin I want to ask them if they understand they’re literally wearing oil underwear and clothing. Makes no sense to me.
Yes it definitely can take a few days to get used to it. Is Merino your usual go to fiber? Please let us know if there are others we should be checking out. Someone suggested silk? Maybe that would be an interesting alternative 🤔
Yup. Polyester is plastic that will never decompose. It also smells bad.
Great video but quick question! What do you sleep in considering you only bring few pieces of sleepwear?
Hey they we just use what you saw in the video! I (Mico) am usually good in a shirt and shorts (sometimes I use the tank top if we're in warmer climates) but Nicole sometimes would add some base layers if she wants to be warmer. We do laundry about once a week to keep things fresh 😊 I hope that answers your question!