Socks > Light Travel - Carry-On Only

Light Travel - Carry-On Only

by: Steve Gillman

Light travel? The last time my wife and I went to Ecuador, I had 10 pounds of luggage, all in one carry-on bag. Ana had just 8 pounds in her carry-on bag. We spent six weeks in Ecuador, at times on glacier-covered mountains, and at other times lounging on Pacific coast beaches.

Why travel lightweight? Simplicity. With only carry-on luggage, we were in a restaurant in Quito, while others still waited for their checked luggage. On busses our luggage was safely with us, not in the hold below being cut open, like one time when I was in Mexico. Others struggled down the street with three heavy bags, while we had our hands free and were walking comfortably with our daypacks. We had less to lose, less to be stolen, less to wait for, less to pack and unpack in hotels, and less to worry about.

Light Travel Issues

Expect an extra question or two from the customs officials at the airport (Six weeks with only this?). Also, a small bag may not work if you plan to bring back many souvenirs. In this case, you could plan to buy a second bag at some point, to carry your acquisitions. As for not having enough clothes and other things, it isn't as big a problem as you may think.

My silk shirts weigh three ounces, and travel well if rolled up. Nylon dress socks weigh less than an ounce, and are cool and comfortable. Poly-cotton blend t-shirts weigh 5 ounces. Supplex or other lightweight travel slacks weigh 9 ounces, and are sufficient for a fine restaurant or a walk in the woods. Half of what typical travel clothes weigh, these take less space, and function the same. There's no sacrifice involved here.

You don't even have to buy new clothes, if you don't want to. You don't have to buy a scale and count ounces. Just choose lighter alternatives whenever you can. Set aside your lightest jacket, socks and pants for your next trip. Simplicity, not complicated planning, is the goal.

More Light Travel Secrets

Money can replace weight. Why carry two pounds of shampoo when you can buy small bottles as you travel? It won't cost much more to buy things as you go. Also, you really don't know what you'll need, particularly on an overseas trip. Buy things as you need them, and you won't have a pile of useless things in your luggage. Don't we all regularly unpack things at home that we never once used during a trip?

Gifts and souvenirs? If you buy bulky gifts for family or friends, why carry them around for weeks? Put them in the mail.

What I Took For Six weeks in Ecuador:

8 pairs of thin nylon socks (less than an ounce per pair)
2 silk shirts for restaurants and discos (3 ounces each)
4 poly/cotton blend t-shirts (5-6 ounces each)
5 pair of light underwear (2-3 ounces each)
1 extra pair of lightweight slacks (9 ounces)
Single layer nylon shorts for hiking or swimming (2 ounces)
Thin gloves (1 ounce)
Thin hat (1 ounce - honestly)
Thin wool sweater (11 ounces)
Waterproof/breathable rainsuit (14 ounces for the set)
Light plastic camera (3 ounces)
Sunglasses (1 ounce)
Small chess set (3 ounces)
Bathroom kit (5 ounces)
Maps, notebook and various small things (3 or 4 pounds)

My pack weighed ten pounds. My wife's weighed 8 pounds. We never felt deprived. I'm not suggesting you start counting ounces (that comes from my backpacking days), or that you buy all new lightweight things. Just start setting aside your lightest shirts, socks, etc., and you can enjoy the benefits of light travel.

About The Author

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For more on light travel, plus travel stories, tips and information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

Finally, A Breath Mint That Does What It's Supposed To

by: Dr. Harold Katz

One weekend you get together with friends for dinner at a delectable restaurant that serves cheese fondue, and you have a martini to cap it off. You want to make sure you have fresh breath, so after dinner you pop in an Altoids or other similar breath mint. Although you may now have a cinnamon-like taste in your mouth, what you've really done is made your bad breath problem much worse. Let me explain...

All the "breath mint candies" that you're used to seeing in the stores (Altoids, Tic-Tacs, Certs, Ice Breakers, etc...) all commit some kind of fatal mistake in the documented science of creating fresh breath. You see, by now the academic halitosis community knows the causes of bad breath...and we also know the exact conditions that create an oral environment in your mouth that is more likely to produce bad breath.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SITUATIONAL BAD BREATH AND WHAT...

Finally, A Breath Mint That Does What It's Supposed To

Socks > Finally, A Breath Mint That Does What It's Supposed To

Making Your Baby?s Clothes Last!

by: Kirsten Hawkins

As any mother with a young child will tell you, babies grow very quickly. So for new mothers, making the most out of baby clothes is of the utmost importance. So what do you do when those onesies just don't quite snap anymore? How do you get an extra month out of those jeans that are a little too short for the winter months?

The great thing about onesies, is that they're a very workable cotton fabric, and there really isn't any hemming necessary to turn a couple of onesies that fit at five months into a couple of shirts that fit at eight months. Simply cut them off right at the leg holes, and gently pull the material around the edges so that it rolls a tiny bit. This way there are no exposed threads for baby to pull at or chew on. The same can apply to footsie pajamas. By simply snipping off the feet, you can easily get another month's wear out of the sleepwear.

Adding extra buttons to...

Making Your Baby?s Clothes Last!

Socks > Making Your Baby?s Clothes Last!

Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

by: Lucy Huffenstuff

Great gift ideas for Dad on Father's Day.

Personalized crockery - plate, mug or bowl.
This is perfect when the children are young
Why not get the kids to put together a time capsule, with some photos of them with their dad, some other personal items and bury it in the garden
There are gift experience companies, why not treat dad to drive a sports car or perhaps sky diving?
Why not get some printable iron on transfers which you can print using your computer and home printer.
How about baking a cake or some of his favorite biscuits?
What about a photo album of a frame of photos of dad and the kids
Name a star after the father - there are a number of online websites who offer this service
Casting kits are great fun, get the kids to mould their feet or hands and paint them afterwards.

Although there...

Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

Socks > Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

The History of Knitting

The History of Knitting

by: Howard I Schwartz

Hand knitting has been practiced for thousands of years. Where and how this art was invented is still a mystery. Some people believe that knitting began when primitive man made webs out of roots. Others think that Arabian nomads carried the craft into Europe. Still others think that this art originated in Persia. Regardless of where the craft began knitting is the textile infant.

From the beginning the art of knitting was an occupation for women. The oldest remnants of seemingly knitted pieces are those worn as socks. It seems that socks and stockings were knitted because they had to be shaped to the foot or leg. Records seem to indicate that sweaters were first knit in the 17th century. At this time the purl stitch does not seem to have existed. The first time the purl stitch is mentioneddates from the mid 16th century.

The earliest example of true knitting is a pair of knitting socks found...

The History of Knitting

Socks > The History of Knitting

Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

by: Lucy Huffenstuff

Great gift ideas for Dad on Father's Day.

Personalized crockery - plate, mug or bowl.
This is perfect when the children are young
Why not get the kids to put together a time capsule, with some photos of them with their dad, some other personal items and bury it in the garden
There are gift experience companies, why not treat dad to drive a sports car or perhaps sky diving?
Why not get some printable iron on transfers which you can print using your computer and home printer.
How about baking a cake or some of his favorite biscuits?
What about a photo album of a frame of photos of dad and the kids
Name a star after the father - there are a number of online websites who offer this service
Casting kits are great fun, get the kids to mould their feet or hands and paint them afterwards.

Although there...

Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

Socks > Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June

5 Killer Ways To Treat Athlete?s Foot

by: Daphne Cameron

If you?ve got an itch on your foot that you can?t help scratching, then you might have a dreaded case of athlete?s foot. But there?s no need to worry because here are five ways that you can treat yourself?no doctor and no prescriptions needed.

Head over to the store

Your best cure for athlete?s foot might be available at your local grocery mart or drug store. Look for creams and ointments that contain clotrimazole or miconazole as their active ingredient. These are topical creams that can be directly applied to the feet.

All you need to do is reapply the cream after you shower to clean, dry feet and then cover with a pair of cotton socks. The cream should be reapplied two to three times a day after that for about two to three weeks.

Going the natural route

Another great way to treat athlete?s foot is similar to the store method, but with a more natural oil. Tea tree...

5 Killer Ways To Treat Athlete?s Foot

Socks > 5 Killer Ways To Treat Athlete?s Foot

The Big Fat Juicer You Can Count On

The Big Fat Juicer You Can Count On

by: Dave Robinson

The juicer has come a long way from the simple utensil that your parents used to squeeze orange juice from an orange when you were younger. In fact, it is now one of the most essential appliances for many kitchens across the country. We have learned so much in the way of why we need to consume juices of various types. Now, with technology, we have some of the best equipment to make drinking that juice easier, more flavorful, and even more cost effective. All this from a juicer? Count on it and so much more.

There are several brands of juicers on the market, but what you will find is excellent features in all of them. Many of them offer a wide range of essential settings in which to use them. And, they all have something else in common as well. They deliver high quality juice just the way you want them to.

A Closer Look At The Options

Taking a closer look at juicer options will...

The Big Fat Juicer You Can Count On

Socks > The Big Fat Juicer You Can Count On

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Catch the Holiday Spirit with Digital Cameras

by: Viojieley Gurrobat

It?s the time of the year when your family and friends spend their time together at home. It?s also the best time to get memories in print. But oftentimes people are frustrated to find out that the pictures they have taken don?t look too good when they get printed. So the best way you could perhaps do to minimize excessive outflow of money and effort is by using digital cameras.

Digital...

battery

Socks > Catch the Holiday Spirit with Digital Cameras

Helpful Tips for Lawsuit Loan Brokers

by: Tony Perkins

The world of a lawsuit loan broker is often turbulent due to a cyclical industry, inconsistent litigation financing companies, and the struggle to weigh advertising expenditures vs. the resulting leads. You (litigation broker) must not only survive but must flourish during active times of the year in order to be able to survive the downtimes. First of all, let me quickly define what is a lawsuit loan and...

financing Light Travel - Carry-On Only

Socks > Helpful Tips for Lawsuit Loan Brokers

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