going to europe next january

[Nicstar]

Hey all, forgive me if this post gets a little long.... I don't expect answers to all my questions, I just want to use this place as an idea to sound off ideas and get other opinions- none of my friends around me travel much so I am glad I've found this site! ANd lately I can't sleep at night because all this stuff is going round and round my brain.

Background: Am off to Europe for 3, maybe 4 weeks late January 05. Have been to UK/Ireland and South East Asia and the Pacific in the past, but never Europe or UK in winter time! I have travelled a fair bit in my life, but still can tend to overpack, but have noticed I'm getting better and better at it each time! I've figured that part of the reason that makes me better at it is knowing who I'll be travelling with. Last time I had no idea so packed things for all sorts. This time I am meeting my friend in Europe and we know each other well enough to know exactly the types of things we'll be doing/seeing, thus knowing exactly what to and what not to pack.


I am in a dilemma phase at the moment though. I know its still 6 months away, but I need to budget, hence need to think of if i need to be buying things before I go.



I've got a backpack I've had for 9 years, and its done a few trips with me here and there. Together with its detachable daypack, I can fit just about everything I need in it. BUT the daypack is permanently detached. since the zipper broke, and I guess it can be repaired, and the front pocket on the daypack, its zipper is also broken. Repairing seems the cheaper option, however I have to wonder if it would thus maintain its quality and actually stay repaired- I've no desire to risk that halfway through a trip. As for the front pocket I never use it anyways when I am travelling, but being open its temptation for thieves to stick their hands in....and thats a safety issue then etc etc.

I was going to stick with my suitcase for the trip then, however the trip is actually getting extended from original plans. Originally I was going to visit a few friends in Scotland, Switzerland, and also spend 5 days driving in Ireland...hence it would have been suitable. However now it looks as if we're spending time in Paris, Amsterdam and possibly Berlin as well as that, and for those parts of the trip we'll be doing the bus/train thing which won't suit my suitcase. I guess, I reallllllllllly would love to buy a new backpack, but need convincing... I get attached to things, and feel guilty having two! Silly I know, but I couldn;t throw out the old one....

So...... I've seen everyone reccommend certain brands and types of backpacks, however I need something reccommended to me thats convenient to buy here in Australia. And names of shops I can go to buy them! I don't want to spend an awful lot of money as I only travel once every couple of years overseas, and then only 3-4 weeks at at time. So it won't see an awful lot of use. I know all about trying it on, trying weighted etc etc, and covering straps blah blah blah... I just need some ideas for Australian buyers!


Jackets/Coats- I ONLY WANT TO TAKE ONE! I've got a jacket here I wear in winter, but seriously, we hardly get the cold I'll get over in Europe in January so I have to buy something more appropriate- mine isn't even water proof! I have no problem buying a good jacket- I'll wear it to the footy come winter here! ;D Reccommendations please! I have seen everyone's advice and reccommended brands, but I'm hoping someone is from Australia and can reccommend me one I can buy here that will suit me in Europe! Obviously I want it for warmth and for weather, and with a hood.



yes yes, shoes. Now, am getting a new pair of trainers next month, good quality, good soles, comfortable etc etc, which I intend on being my main pair of shoes. Will this be enough for the European weather then though? I thought about getting a pair of the boot type things people wear, but the fact is, then I'll have to go out and get a whole new wardrobe, since most of my trousers would not match, and that matters, as you will see later on. Plus, I'd never wear them again. Here in winter, even when I am in Melbourne and Adelaide, when its icy, I get around in trainers for the most part, so I think its pointless getting a pair of shoes I don't even like, solely for 4 weeks wear.

Add to the issue of shoes... everyone keeps saying don't bother taking a dressier pair of shoes as you won't need them....welll... I can't see how I could get by without them. My friend and I WILL be going out at night an awful lot, and WILL be going to clubs and restaurants, and not to mention that for part of my trip I'll be staying with a very well to do family and have no desire rocking up there (or the posh hotel in Paris) in my trainers and smelly old jumper. So yes I will be taking a pair of black boots, with slight heels. (surprisingly, they travel well, they're not big boots, and are actually not as heavy as they might sound to be- I actually find them easier to pack than trainers) Am I still insane for doing so? Its the same with my clothes, I naturally dress quite nice, and I'll be fine with limiting what I take, and will have some cargo pants and a casual jumper for round about the place, but the fact is I'll be needing some of my other clothes for the other occasions. (I will see it all this holiday- hostels, B&Bs, cheap hotels, posh hotels and a well to-do family where they dress for dinner!)

I was thinking of taking my black trousers for dress, with a nice top. And for everyday wear that also doubles as nice wear depending on how I wear it (and what shoes I wear with it ), a pair of jeans, a pair of track pants, and a pair of cargos. (Although, will cargos with thermals underneath be warm enough do you think?). Top half I think I will take just 2 short sleeve t-shirts, 3 long sleeves, (I wear short tees over long tees regulary as it is) 1 casual jumper, and one nice jumper for classy night wear thats not dressed up. Combined with a good coat, my thermal underwear, beanies, gloves, scarfs and my good warm socks, do you think I'll be warm enough? (As they are small I will take about 3 beanies, 3 pr of gloves, and two scarves to mix and match to make the limited wardrobe more appealing.)

Have I completely lost the plot do you think? Or am I on the right track? I just need to get the clothing issue sorted now, since its winter here at the moment, and I won't be able to buy what I want/need closer to the time of my trip. The backpack is something I want to start researching now, so I've got ideas come purchase time in about November.

Thanks! I've already read loads of great ideas on this board and am so glad I found it.

[Eagle]

I can't offer too many suggestions on the clothing, however a few comments on the Winter Coat. I would suggest buying a "medium weight" Goretex Jacket, and "layering" with other clothing items to provide the desired degee of warmth while in England. Here in Canada that's a popular technique for dressing in winter. You indicated that you want to wear it for the "footy" also, so you probably don't want a super thick Down Jacket or anything of that sort (I don't imagine you get the same degree of "cold" in Australia?). You could look at Far West (couldn't find their website?), Northface or one of the other outdoor suppliers. Here in Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-op has excellent quality products, but the International shipping charges are a bit high. If you want to have a look, go to www.mec.ca for full information.

With regard to the Backpack, you didn't specify which brand you're using but the fact that you've experienced multiple failures with zippers, etc. in the last nine years, would seem to indicate that the quality is less than it should be. In addition, your present Backpack (which was probably designed and made more than a decade ago) won't have the excellent design features and modern materials that are used in newer Backpacks. Although you only intend to travel with it a couple of times a year, you don't want any problems with this while you're part way through a trip! Check Kim's comments on this site for an interesting story on Backpack problems while travelling.

I would suggest checking with the manufacturer of your existing Pack to find out what the repair charges might be? The manufacturer would be the best one to comment on this, as they are the ones most familiar with that product. if the repairs aren't going to be economical, you might be better to buy a new Backpack, keeping in mind that many newer packs offer a "limited lifetime warranty" so you will be able to use this many years into the future. I would suspect that your future trips will be more "worry free" if you had a good quality, newer Backpack, but that's only my opinion. Who knows, they might offer you a discount on one of their newer products?

Since you're in Australia, you should be able to find MacPac products fairly easily -- check www.macpac.co.nz for full details. I believe they offer clothing also, but I'm not too familiar with their line. Their web site seemed extremely slow today, so I wasn't able to look around too much. Also check www.eaglecreek.com/store_locator.html as they have LOTS of dealers listed in various parts of Australia. Since you've already checked a lot of the other Posts on things to look for when selecting the right Backpack, I won't elaborate on that further.

Hope these comments will be of some help to you. Good luck with this.

[Nicstar]

ahhhhhhhhhh thankyou for the info and the sites.........will check them out later on!

[Susanne]

I just wanted to add something about your thoughts on jacket and shoes. Living in Europe myself, although in the northern part, I think you would get along well with say a Northface Jacket, or some other kind om goretex just like Eagle suggested. The UK in the winter time is windy, icy and wet, so something water- and windproof is of absolute need! The good thing about such a jacket is that it doesn't take up too much space, and you could just add sweaters underneath if you feel a bit cold. I've used my Northface jacket both in the icy winters in Sweden with temperatures up to below 20 degrees celcius, and in the summer as more of a raincoat, but also in Indonesia as more of a wind jacket. So I would say that you could use such a jacket all year round, even when you go back to Australia. Good buy, worth the price I would say!

As for shoes, I think a pair of trainers will do well, especially if there's a bit of a sole on them. I'm not sure what kind of trainers you're thinking about buying, but I would suggest something like Salomon or Garmont and look for the light hiking or trail shoes. I use such shoes in the winter, just adding an extra pair of socks if I get too cold. I found some internet links just so you can see what I mean, if it isn't what you had in mind...
www.salomonsports.com/au/home.asp

I don't think you need any heavier boot kind of shoe unless you're plannig on being out in the snow a lot, more like actually being out and walking in heavy snow if you know what I mean. For just city visits and such things, you'll do well with your trainers.

Have a nice trip!