Clothing

[me]

Tony,

can you box up some of your cooler weather clothes and have a trusted person mail them to you in Europe? you could then mail some warm weather clothes home, while on the trip.

surface mail, like, on a boat, is sometimes cheaper for large packages.

- d

[Eagle]

Tony, first of all, regarding your clothing questions. I haven't travelled in the winter so far, so can't really advise on what types of clothing you will require for walking as opposed to taking public transit. However, two principles that I often use in selecting clothing are:

-- layer for warmth rather than taking a lot of heavy items
-- pack the same for a three week trip as a three month trip (do laundry when required).

I use a lot of "travel friendly" Tilley clothing, so am not too concerned about wrinkles, including "travel" underwear (but I'm NOT going to divulge which style)!

Most travellers don't like to pack Blue Jeans as they tend to be a bit "awkward" to travel with and slow to dry (unless you have access to laundry facilities and a Dryer). However, these will probably provide some warmth when the weather gets a bit colder.

Next, your question regarding Knives. What exactly are we talking about -- something like a Swiss Army Knife or a large Hunting-style Knife??? Are you carrying this on your person as a defensive weapon, or is it in your Pack for use in preparing meals? I can't provide specific details on the Laws, as these will vary in each country. Also, you might find that the Laws in some European countries are MORE strict than in the U.S.

It's great that you're asking these questions now, and trying to find out what the laws are in the areas you'll be travelling. I'm sure the 60-year old California resident that was arrested in Victoria earlier this week wishes he had checked into the laws of a different country before he travelled. When he crossed the Border (via the Port Angeles Ferry), he was found to be in possession of three handguns and a number of rifles. NOT a good thing to have when coming to Canada!!! He was charged with possession of unregistered weapons and possession of restricted weapons, and taken into custody. His weapons were confiscated, and he could face jail time. He may have just overlooked this or he may have thought he had the "right" to carry these here as well??? Whatever the reasons, it's a lesson he will remember for a long time!

Overall, your packing list looks fairly "light" so I'm sure it will be easy to travel with.

Happy travels!!!

[rchua]

i agree with eagle about not bringing blue jeans. i would try to bring clothes that are lightweight and that can be easily compressed and packed. i went during may and it was hot in italy (i'm from florida). if you bring just about four to five shirts that would be enough. you can do laundry every week or so. and laundry isn't to expensive over there.
stabone is also right about buying some clothes over there if you want. on my trip i only brought about 2-3 shirts and ended up buying a few while in europe. their clothes aren't too expensive. you can easily purchase them at flea markets or department stores. just make sure to wash them.

[me]

stabone76 said:

David, i was wondering something like this sort of too. Is it expensive to mail things back and forth? Do you (or anyone else) now for sure or have an idea. I read somewhere that it would be best NOT to bring warm clothes because you can buy them cheaply at markets when you need them. Anyone have thoughts?

i shipped a suit/dress shoes home from Germany 10, or so, years ago. some friends were married in a town near the Bodensee, so i flew over for the wedding and did the backpacking thing after the wedding.

[Eagle]

stabone76, I think I'll maintain some discretion with regards to my travel undewear. It's a detail that's probably best not shared on a travel site (and probably it's more information than most people want to know anyway).

With regard to the Knife, you didn't specify what type of Knife you were taking? For example, a large hunting knife carried externally on a belt or whatever might be construed as an "offensive weapon" by some law enforcement authorities? On the other hand, a Swiss Army Knife in your pocket might not be viewed the same. In either case, both must be packed in your checked luggage.

Yes, I had forgotten the photo gear you'd be packing along. Refresh my memory on specifically what you will be taking? I'm going to be dealing with the same problem on my next trip, so will be interested to see your approach to packing a DSLR and accessories. I bought a wide angle last week and will be buying a 70-300 zoom before the end of this month, so that should be enough for now.

Cheers!!!

[mango]

A pocketknife with a small blade should not be a problem so long as you can demonstrate why you needed to be carrying it.
However if you are flying during your trip it will probably men you have to check your luggage in. Also be aware that there are different laws in the different countries in the EU - for example you are allowed to carry a folding knife with a maximum blade length of 3 inches in the UK, but then you also need to think about where you're taking it - you would have no justifiable reason to take it into nightclub for example. There is a bit of an epidemic of knife crime going on in some parts of western europe at the moment so my advice is to keep it in your bag and not carry it on your person, and if it's of high sentimental value to you don't bring it becuse you might be unlucky and have it confiscated.

[Eagle]

Tony, The Leatherman should be OK, but make sure it's in your checked Luggage! However, as Mango suggested it's probably not a good idea to carry this around (especially in nightclubs) as the local authorities might feel this was intended for "offensive" purposes. Also, the laws will likely be a bit different in each jurisdiction you're travelling in, so it's going to be difficult to know what the rules are in each place.

With regard to the Blue Jeans, many people don't like them for travelling as they tend to be hot (not a good thing when the weather is warm) and they are more trouble to keep clean (auto washer and dryer are usually needed, as they don't dry too quickly just by hanging up). However, I can see where these might be more convenient for you, and you're used to them so there's a certain "comfort factor".

Now, on to the Camera equipment. Three batteries for the D70 is a good idea if you're going to be away from power for awhile. Most DSLR's get quite a few shots off one Battery, so this should be adequate. I'll also be taking three Batteries for my Rebel XT. Don't forget extra batteries for your Sony P&S.

The questions regarding which Lenses to take, are more difficult to answer. I can see the problem as you pretty well need most of them so there are no "gaps" in the optical range you have available. Which Lenses you take will be mostly determined by what type of photography you want to do, and if you plan on low light uses, the 24 mm/f2 prime is probably a good idea.

I'd also want the flexibility and range of the 70-300 and in fact that's the next Lens I'll be buying (before the end of this month!). I suppose whether you take it or not will depend on how big, heavy and difficult to pack it is?

I've chosen a slightly different mix of Lenses. I use the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM for wide angle / landscape shots, the EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM for my "general purpose / walkabout" Lens and will most likely be buying the EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM within the next week or so to provide a Lens with some "range". I briefly considered the 100-400L but it's a bit of a "monster" and I don't really want to pack something that big around Europe. It's also not very "discreet" and the white colouring of the "L" Lenses is a magnet for thieves!!! Unfortunately, none of these Lens are exceptionally "fast" but I'm not sure how much low light work I'll be doing? The 17-85 & 70-300 both have IS, so that will provide some help in that regard (reportedly the IS allows 3 stops beyond a non-IS Lens). I will also have a larger Flash available (not just the small one attached to the Camera), so unless flash is prohibited in a specific location, that will help.

I'm still not sure about the 70-300 DO as it has received some very "mixed" reviews on Fred Miranda and dpreview. There is apparently a flaring problem that can occur in some conditions, but the main complaint seems to be the high price. It's about twice as expensive as the other 70-300 in Canon's line, but unfortunately that particular model has just been "recalled" due to a technical problem. The re-worked version is supposed to be available at the end of June, but that doesn't do me any good as I NEED to have a Lens with that range by the end of this month for an important event.

Besides, I wasn't totally sold on the cheaper 70-300 anyway, as it has two minor deficiencies that I didn't like - it uses the cheaper micro motor USM for focusing, which is not as fast / good as the ring type USM that is installed in the better Lenses (as the old saying goes "you get what you pay for"). Secondly the focusing on the cheaper zoom causes the front of the Lens to rotate, which makes it somewhat awkward to use with circular polarizers. On the other hand, the 70-300 DO uses the better ring type USM and the the front DOESN'T rotate, making this a more attractive choice. I had a look at the DO model at a local shop last week, and the build quality is outstanding!!! It's built "like a tank" and it's also a beautiful size for a travel Lens in terms of both size / weight as well as being "stealthy". After reading an interview with Canon engineers explaining how the DO Lenses are built, I can really understand why this model is so expensive.

Anyway getting back to your dilemma, my preference would have been to use the 70-300 as there might be times when you need the extra 100mm of range over the 70-200 VR. However, it's a bit of a "tradeoff" as the VR would provide better capability in lower light situations. I really don't know what to suggest, except that since you'll be travelling for a while you might want to pack along the 70-300 if it wouldn't be too much trouble. After all, the Lens you have with you is always more valuable than the one sitting at home!!!

As you're going to be camping part of the time, I assume you'll be getting Insurance on your photo gear. If you're going out at night (using your Sony P&S), you'll have to find someplace to secure your D70 & Lenses.

Good luck with your decision and happy travels!!!

[jayseeca]

Just to let you know, my mom recently went to Italy, where the lugguage she CHECKED IN, was held, and the nail file was confiscated.

Also, I was thinking I was going to bring a bathing suit with me on the trip, but noticed no one else seems to be packing one. I guess they're just a waste of space?

[LHR02]

The list changes often....for the latest on TSA permitted/prohibited items check here:

www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1012.xml

Other countries have their own rules, but generally speaking, if it is not allowed by this list, won't be there either. But they may have even additional items prohibited there.

[Jules80]

bathing suits don't take up much space and it depends wehre you're goign. we went to nice for 3 days so we brought our bathing suits and spent 2 days on the beach. however if you're staying in hostels and not going anywhere near the ocean it may not be necessary.

Jules

[WillTravel]

You can always wear a bathing suit when you run out of clean underwear . Seriously, I agree that it's nice to have in many circumstances.

[crystal]

Just to let you know that at the minute in the Uk there is a bit of a media frenzy regarding knives. There have been some high profile stories in the news especially regarding teenagers getting stabbed. As far as the laws are conserned that has probably been covered in the earlier posts but just be aware that the police and customs are probably gonna be a bit stricter with people carrying knives at the minute.