Clothing advantageous to travelers and where to find it
(Part two in a series)
Someone who travels a lot develops a preference for clothing that has certain properties. We asked you to tell us about the apparel you pack and where you bought it. We wanted to know brand names, so shoppers can inquire about them in the mall or look them up online. And we asked you to give us the name of the store or company from which you purchased each item, including, if possible, its contact information (location, phone number or website).
We printed the recommendations of several travelers in last month’s issue. Here are a few more. If you have selections to share, write to Clothing Advantageous to Travelers and Where to Find It, c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818, or e-mail editor@intltravelnews.com (include the address at which you receive ITN). Photographs are welcome; include captions.
Hooray for the wonderful clothing choices we as travelers have today compared with those in the 1950s and earlier. I can remember going with my folks, with my mother wearing woolen suits in places like India. Egads!
The first choice for my husband, Leroy, and myself are clothes by Tilley Endurables (800/363-8737), based in Ontario, Canada.
Originally, the company was known for its famous canvas HATS, which continue to be guaranteed for life, have a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50+, are insured against loss or grievous damage (two years) and come with an owner’s manual. What more could one ask from a mere hat?
(Once, we successfully used our Tilley hats to fend off a South African baboon at the Cape of Good Hope!)
Their clothing reflects the same integrity. Inside labels often have the 800 number plus cute sayings such as “Goes with anywhere” or, as a washing instruction, “Give ’em hell.” One line is called Different Drummer. You get the idea.
All Tilley clothing travels well and is quick drying, lightweight and impeccably sewn. Often, it offers a high level of protection from the sun. Most articles of clothing have hidden zippered pockets. There are various selections of clothing for city wear or adventure and the different seasons.
TROUSERS are available in zip-off convertible-to-shorts styles and many other styles too. We truly have given the clothing “hell” on many rough, third-world trips, and the items last and last. (Try across the Sahara!)
For dressier situations, I have a matching 3-piece, packable, washable outfit — a long SKIRT, a TOP and a hip-length, V-neck JACKET with ¾-length sleeves that can be buttoned (each item priced separately) — of rayon and Spandex. It has been perfect for London theater, a Channel Islands cruise and a wedding in California. Good looking and no muss nor fuss!
Tilley makes all of their clothing in Canada, and you can detect a European flair in some of the items. There is no extra shipping cost, as they ship from New York. I must add that Tilley also makes wonderful men’s and ladies’ UNDERWEAR and SOCKS.
Sun Precautions (800/882-7860), with their Solumbra SPF 100+ fabric, is also an excellent choice for travelers’ duds.
Solumbra clothing is doctor-recommended for high UPF, blocking 98% of the sun’s rays. It’s soft, comfortable and lightweight, has mesh ventilation for cooling and dries before you know it. They have more stylish SPORTSWEAR and fewer adventure travel items. Sun Precautions also makes sun-protective clothing for children.
We also recommend men’s and ladies’ ExOfficio (800/644-7303) UNDERWEAR, sold in the Magellan’s (800/962-4943) catalog and online. The ExOfficio website has the full line.
From time to time, we find travel clothing we like in TravelSmith’s (800/770-3387) catalog or Magellan’s, but I think generally they have more gear than clothing.
Last, but not least, we like REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.; 800/426-4840), which has a huge variety of seasonal clothing and equipment for various outdoor activities. At any given time, they may have hot-weather ExOfficio SHIRTS as well as skis and PARKAS. It’s always worth a look.
Safe travels in comfortable clothes!
Martha Lance, Fullerton, CA
I always take comfortable, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying clothing that is sun protective. That way, I can wash things in the sink, if necessary. I also like clothing that can be worn in more than one situation.
I also try to take a sun hat that’s water resistant. (Hats seem to stand out, but I recently had skin cancer removed from my face, so this is not optional.)
As a plus-sized, 69-year-old female, for evenings on cruise ships I wear Eileen Fisher (800/445-1603) washable, stretch crepe PANTS in black (No. EETK-P0375X), an Eileen Fisher stretch silk JERSEY in black, an Alex Evenings (also from Macy’s at 800/289-6229, www.macys.com) JACKET and SAS (877/782-7463) Free Time SHOES in black.
This outfit was acceptable for formal evenings on Cunard Line, Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises ships. The pants and shoes can also be used for casual wear.
Eileen Fisher packs well, and any wrinkles fall out when the item is hung on a hanger. In a pinch, I could use the pants for exercise attire (as those in the ad that caught my attention).
For an evening bag, I use a black brocade eyeglasses case.
I was in Spain for the month of May 2013, and the only SHOES I took were the ones mentioned above and a pair of SAS Tour Active Comfort Leather in black. The latter were very comfortable, and in black they don’t scream ‘Tennis shoes!’
I wanted to be a little better dressed, and with those shoes and black jeans I blended in and did not stand out as a tourist. The top I often wore was a Magellan’s Women’s Trans Continental Dri-Release SHIRT in blue. It was dressier than the usual UV-protective shirts that scream out ‘Tourist’ in the cities. It has hidden pockets, and the Dri-Release works.
The other TOP I often wore was a Lands’ End (800/963-4816) short-sleeved mesh polo.
For UV protection while in Costa Rica years ago, I successfully used an L.L.Bean (800/441-5713) man’s SHIRT. Every part of me that wasn’t covered got burned. Their current style is a UV-protective Tropicwear long-sleeved shirt. My clothes that were made of cotton were always wet.
My husband sprayed the LL.Bean shirt with bug spray and used it in the oxbows of the Amazon in Peru.
I always take one of those vests with pockets and never use it. The pockets seem to be either too small or in the wrong places. Instead, I use an L.L.Bean PURSE, one which is not in their current catalog. It’s water resistant and has a place for a water bottle as well as a long strap that helps it fit over many layers. In Spain, I kept it under my arm and under a coat or sweater.
Another old trick is using colorful scarves for variety. They also keep my top clean when I eat, since I’m kind of messy.
I always use an old Magellan’s JACKET similar to their current cathedral jacket. Mine has zippered interior pockets for safety. It keeps me dry and warm, if I layer.
I’m still looking for the perfect hat.
J.H., Burbank, CA
First, let me say that I travel with carry-on luggage only. This necessitates my packing light; my bag usually weighs under 20 pounds. Here is the clothing I pack:
Terramar Body Sensors® BRIEFS and T-SHIRTS, always in black. I order mine from Campmor (888/226-7667). The moisture-wicking material dries overnight in all but the most humid conditions. (After washing them, wringing out the garments in a towel is essential.) Ladies’ styles are also available.
Terramar Body Sensors® LONG UNDERWEAR (top and bottom), also from Campmor. Same material and drying time as the underwear. I always carry these, no matter what my destination. (After once getting caught in an unexpected cold snap in Takayama, Japan, I said I would never again be unprepared for cold weather.) If I don’t need to wear them as a base layer, I sleep in them; some hotel rooms are really cold, even in the tropics.
L.L.Bean Men’s Tropicwear SHIRT (No. TA192202 in the online catalog). Always long-sleeved, for protection from the sun and insects; you can roll up the sleeves, if necessary. Moisture-wicking material, and it dries overnight. Deep, cargo-style breast pockets. Eyeglass loop. Mesh ventilation panel. Ladies’ shirts are also available.
I wanted to expand my SHIRT wardrobe, so I bought a couple of RailRiders (800/437-3794) Men’s Adventure Tops (No. AVG in the catalog). They are moisture wicking and dry overnight. Long sleeves. Mesh ventilation. No collar. On a trip to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos recently, they performed admirably. Ladies’ shirts also available.
L.L.Bean Men’s Tropicwear® PANTS (No. TA234433). Same material as the shirts (also available in women’s models). Lots of pockets — deep regular and cargo, zippered rear pockets and a special zippered side pocket just inside the regular side pocket on the right side.
Typically, I don’t have to wash either shirts or pants during a trip, unless I do something stupid like spill pineapple juice on my pants. In that case, I wear the shirt or pants into the shower and wash them on me.
Fox River (800/247-1815) X-STATIC® Xpanse crew SOCKS (No. 4202). One source for these is Amazing Socks (888/472-5678). They’re synthetic, cushiony, very light, moisture wicking and quick drying.
There’s one product to add. To wash out items in the evening, I use Charlie’s Soap (800/854-3541) Laundry Powder. As a powder, it’s lighter than a liquid. A little goes a long way, and it gives your clothes a nice, clean smell.
Jim Bradshaw, Aiken, SC
I recommend with great confidence clothing from RailRiders, headquartered in Belmont, Massachusetts.
They offer options for all kinds of weather, and all of their clothing can be quickly washed and dried. Indeed, I find myself wearing much of their warm-weather clothing during the summer here at home. I’ve also worn it in Uganda, Mali, Syria and India.
Hands down, my favorite SHIRT for hot weather is the Eco-Mesh Shirt. For something a little more dressy, you might like the New Explorer Shirt or the Versatac Light Shirt. For a little more warmth or for jogging, the long-sleeved Hydro-Zip-T is a lightweight option.
My Eco-Mesh PANTS are great — very light, with plenty of pockets.
Underpants may not be dinner conversation, but they are critical to the traveler. I have found Magellan’s UNDERWEAR to be the most serviceable.
There are many brands of socks. I favor those that are easily dried after washing, often quarter-height.
For SHOES, I have worn ECCO (877/240-2365) Track II Lows for many years and would also take Mephisto (615/771-5900) men’s Match Walking Shoes, one pair only.
I pack a Marmot (888/357-3262) PreCip® RAIN JACKET. They make a longer version, too. And I find myself wearing a corduroy sports JACKET because it’s warm without being hot, has plenty of pockets and can double as quasi-formal wear.
My last travel clothing suggestion is to embrace the idea of a “smart outfit.” Always carry one. The way you travel will help you define what is “smart.”
Brooks Goddard
Needham, MA
Comfortable SHOES are a must for a happy traveler. I have foot problems and have searched diligently to find shoes that allow me to walk a lot and be comfortable while doing it. By far, the best I have found is the Helle Comfort brand.
They have a deep heel well to protect the wearer from heel pain, and they also provide good arch support. They adjust to fit properly with straps with VELCRO® fasteners.
They come in different styles and colors. They do run a little small, so I get them one size larger than what I normally wear.
They can be found on the Internet by Googling “Helle shoes.” I found my last pair at Zappos.com and paid $169 plus tax. Shipping was free.
Patsy Bush-Kruse
Rancho Mirage, CA
What do we prefer to wear when traveling? Easily, it’s your basic Crocs or any knockoffs of them, which can be found almost anywhere SHOES are sold.
They double as slippers in the bathroom or at the swimming pool yet are sturdy enough when you bump a chair leg. They allow your feet to swell naturally at high altitudes. They’re easy to get on and off at the airport, and, when packing, they’re super-light and compressible.
Rod Smith, Oskaloosa, KS
My husband, Jerry, and I travel extensively, for weeks or months at a time, and often need to pack and unpack a number of times during a trip. We prefer to pack a few items that we can wash at night and wear the next morning.
In winter 2012 we traveled in Central America for four months. The only pair of long PANTS we packed for Jerry was a pair of Bluff Works. They were incredible. He wore them in hot, humid weather, often for four or five days at a time. They were NEVER WRINKLED, not out of the suitcase, not after a long day’s wear nor after being washed in the hotel sink.
Best of all, they performed like travel pants yet looked like casual/dress pants — ready for anything.
The pants ($88, sold on the Web only) include a front, internal zippered pocket for security, one large enough to hold a passport. I think they are the perfect pants to go from a hike to a museum to a nice dinner in style.
Nili Olay, New York, NY
After a near-pickpocket experience in Rome, I’ve been wearing PANTS manufactured by Clothing Arts (646/422-9222) when traveling in areas frequented by pocket thieves. In particular, Clothing Arts sells “pickpocket-proof” long and short pants. The long pants come in casual and business flavors as well as convertible versions. The long and short casual pants include a “fine” waist adjustment.
The fabric is tough but also washes and dries well.
Several of the pants pockets either have hidden zippered sections and/or are secured by multiple buttons. This additional security makes your pocket contents difficult for thieves to reach but also makes retrieval of the same contents a challenge for the wearer. However, using these pants negates the need for wearing a money belt or internal hidden wallet.
Clothing Arts also manufactures SHIRTS with similar secured pockets. I haven’t tried the shirts, since I generally don’t keep anything of great value in my shirt pockets.
Robert Ono, Davis, CA
When my wife and I cruise or travel to third-world countries, we take as many “one-way clothes” as we can. One-way clothes are our own clothes that we’re thinking of giving to Goodwill, so, on trips to undeveloped countries, they don’t return home.
This lessens the weight of luggage on our return.
I sometimes use CARGO PANTS to make use of the extra pockets during travel. These can be bought at most department stores, including Walmart, but only at certain times of the year.
I’ve started using a travel VEST that has several pockets. I bought mine at Academy Sports + Outdoors (888/922-2336), but travel vests can also be acquired from Amazon.
For clothes to use on vacation, I buy shirts and pants that are 100% polyester. These can be easily washed in the sink and hung in the shower area; the next day, they’re ready to wear and look great.
Maurice Doolittle
Shreveport, LA
My husband and I won’t leave home for a trip without our SCOTTEVESTS (866/909-8378). His has an interior pocket large enough to hold his iPad, and mine holds my 7-inch tablet. We each keep our passport in one secure, easily accessible pocket and our cell phone in another.
There is a pocket specifically designed for a water bottle and another with a stretch key chain. The back has a large pocket perfect for storing a hat or rain poncho. Mine has 17 pockets, although there is now one with 22. I don’t carry a purse; I just wear my SCOTTEVEST.
The pockets are interior, and the vest zips closed. The vests are expensive ($125), but if you sign up for their specials, they have frequent sales.
The company also makes JACKETS with zip-off sleeves.
Marcia Brandes, Atlanta, GA
After many trips, lots of trial and error and now mindful of airline luggage restrictions, I am finally getting down to a few versatile reliables.
I do like pockets. Lots of them. I also want to attach just about everything to me so I never leave anything behind and also never have to carry a purse. There are some clothing items that let me do this and not look like a pack animal. All of the items can be found online, and I find eBay.com to be an additional good resource, once you know your size in each brand.
Royal Robbins (800/587-9044) has a nice, knee-length Discovery travel SKIRT, with discrete cargo pockets and a zippered security pocket.
SCOTTEVEST has a terrific VEST that looks trim from the outside but has an amazing array of hidden pockets on the inside plus a built-in bungee cord in one pocket to attach to either a camera or wallet.
For day wear, Eileen Fisher has many loose-knit linen TOPS and PANTS that are easy to wash and dry. This brand is cut beautifully for the more mature body type.
For evenings on cruises, Alex Evenings has the best interchangeable sparkling TOPS, PANTS and SKIRTS, all of which pack beautifully and never wrinkle.
Bernie Mev (201/871-0005) has the most comfortable, attractive and durable travel SHOES, which are also extremely lightweight, helping to shave pounds off those critical baggage-weight limits.
None of these are inexpensive brands, but, together, a few well-chosen essentials, interchangeable by color, make an excellent basic travel wardrobe that can be easily accessorized, depending on where your travel takes you.
A real splurge to tie it all together is one terrific Hermès (800/441-4488 [option 1]) SCARF. With care, eBay can make this an almost reasonable travel wardrobe addition.
If you ever get to New Zealand, look at their “possumsilk” SWEATERS, which deliver excellent warmth while being very light in weight. In addition, a cashmere twin set goes a long way as a lightweight, durable and highly versatile travel favorite.
Joan Livingston
Santa Barbara, CA
For those who sew or know someone who can sew for them, I recommend SAF-T-POCKETS Patterns (503/761-6460). There are patterns for a variety of skirts, pants, jackets, shirts and vests with multiple hidden pockets.
Garments can be made in various types of fabrics and colors to mix and match with other clothes. The company also has patterns for pockets that can be added to many existing garments.
The patterns are available through the website, and some can be downloaded and printed at home.
Lynn Boreson, Madison, WI