Essential packing tips

By FIONA HAWTIN

Some people make travel look easy. Effortless even. They can travel to the ends of the Earth without so much as a crease in their trousers, except the tailor-given ones down the front.

Somehow, these cunning people have outsmarted long-haul flights. Experience and the odd disaster have made them pack masters. Essentially, it's about preparation, planning, being disciplined and knowing which low-maintenance fabrics to take.

We now have the technology to make some clothes travel-friendly. They wrinkle less or, if they do crease, they hang out easily. Some can even be washed and dried quicker than you can work out the scenic route to the Louvre from the Arc de Triomphe.

Frequent-flier businessman Julian Reynolds, co-director of the Saks group, swears by the Traveller range at Ermenegildo Zegna. It's more for your James Bond-type traveller than your crocodile hunter adventurer. The classic suits, jackets and trousers work on the principle of "quick recovery," says Reynolds.

"They don't need to be sent out to a presser. They'll hang out. We're talking 12 hours."

These products of new technology and high quality are less-inclined to crush and de-wrinkle themselves. The fabric is fine, merino wool grown to specifications in the South Island and Australia's New South Wales.

The wool is around 19 microns. By comparison, fine, human hair is 4 and cashmere is between 12 and 14 microns. "We're talking about a robust product here," he says.

Still, don't expect the garments to look ready for cocktails if you fold them carelessly and shove them in the bottom of your suitcase. They cost an extra 15 to 20 per cent more than other Zegna suits (between $2000-$2500) so care should be taken. Likewise, good quality, 100 per cent cotton shirts of the $300 variety crumple less when they're being worn than cheaper types because they are almost double the thickness.

Reynolds says changing into your sartorial best on the plane is the best way to ensure you step off in style. He packs according to his business destination. If he's off to Germany, he'll take his most formal clothes. ("You cannot overdress there.")

For a three-week business and pleasure trip to Europe he usually takes one suit, three shirts, a jacket, two pairs of trousers, a pair of business shoes, a pair of casual shoes, a pair of runners for exercising and some casual wear. And he recommends conducting business in the first few days to make the most of the freshly laundered shirts.

To prevent lost luggage, he has dispensed with suitcases that need to be checked. "I don't want anybody else to have it."

A carry-on with wheels is his mainstay. For a larger capacity, a suit-bag, although deemed "useless" by Reynolds, means carry-on is still possible.

"I take a suit-bag and say 'hey, will you hang it for me?' Even if you're travelling economy class, they'll hang it for you."

If you can't carry on the jacket, wrap the precious suit in tissue paper, paying particular attention to the sleeve heads. And roll, rather than fold all clothes.

This means ties also, which does away with the heavy, leather tie cases of old. "Everyone travels lighter these days."

Pieter Stewart, organiser of the upcoming L'Oreal New Zealand Fashion Week, is a stylish expert at travelling, with a less-is-more philosophy. It's all packed away into a wheelie case with a pull-out handle.

"Just take black," she says. Compulsory: a stylish jacket, trousers, a good pair of shoes, a pair of flats, a few coloured tops for underneath the black, the odd scarf, a belt and, in summer, a few white T-shirts. Her gas-operated curling iron means good hair isn't dependent on having the right power adaptor.

Stewart favours superfine wool and Paula Ryan's range of Simply You pieces. They keep you warm on a plane chilly with air-conditioning, travel well, don't bag at the knee and don't need as much ironing.

With such a refined wardrobe, Stewart says while you can get sick of wearing the same old thing for what feels like day after day, no one's going to notice.

"It's like being pregnant. But people don't see you much more than once, so it's not an issue."

Merino wool is also popular with the adventure-seeking traveller. Emma Stead, Bivouac Outdoor's marketing manager, says the finer-gauge pieces can be washed out and left to dry overnight.

"The beauty of merino is that it doesn't smell as much [as some of the non-breathable synthetics]. When I've been away skiing and haven't had a chance to wash one, after a day or two it's still fine," she says.

Icebreaker's merinos come in fine, thermal under layers, the insulating mid layer (choose from superfine or mid-weight) and the protective and thicker outer layer of felted merino.

Plus it is fashionable and won't make you look like you're ready to climb Mt Everest. That's best left to the waterproof Gore-Tex shell jacket.

The new Gore-Tex XCR, extended comfort range fabric uses the latest membrane technology to make 25 per cent more breathability than its classic fabrics.

"For your standard traveller who is not going to use it tramping or mountaineering, it can be overkill sometimes," says Stead, who never travels without a head lamp.

Because fleece jackets come in different weights, the lighter ones function as an extremely practical wind-stopper. The hydrophobic (water-hating) fibres mean the fleece also stays dry and insulates the body.

"When you wash them they dry really quickly. You can put them in the washing machine and pull them out and they feel like they're dry."

Which is why travellers, whose idea of a tramp is a brisk walk through Regent's Park in London, are shopping at camping stores like Bivouac Outdoors and Kathmandu. No one wants to spend the best part of a trip holed up in the hotel ironing and waiting for things to dry. Save the Chinese laundry for home.

The Good Traveller:


Packs only easily coordinated and comfortable pieces.

Takes just two pairs of shoes. They're the heavy things that take up space.

Wears mostly dark colours. They don't show the dirt as readily as white.

Remembers to pack a small bottle of laundry detergent.

Avoids linen like the plague.

Transfers toiletries into small containers.

Has wheels on all luggage.

Leaves behind the just-in-case pieces.

Makes sure all luggage can be carried, if need be.

Rolls, never folds, clothing.

Wraps good clothing in tissue.

On the plane:


Wears comfortable clothes with some stretch.

Has a shawl at the ready for unexpected chill.

Slathers on good moisturiser. Likewise, lip balm.

If there is a business appointment immediately at the other end, The Good Traveller asks cabin crew to hang a suit, then changes close to the destination.

Remembers to keep toothbrush, lipstick and hairbrush handy.

Avoids tight shoes. (Once you take shoes off you may not get them back on if your feet swell.)

Wears a coat or bulky jacket, leaving more room in luggage.

Nifty little things:


Evolu's skin care travel kit. The stack contains 10ml tubs of hand and cuticle cream, creme cleanser, moisturising day cream, replenishing night moisturiser, soothing eye gel. Costs $39.95 but if you're travelling first or business class on Air New Zealand, these are the new amenities kits. For stockists contact www.evolu.co.nz

Victorinox's Swiss Card is about the size of a credit card and has a pen, ruler, toothpick, tweezers, pin, scissors, knife and nail file. It costs $35.95 at Bivouac Outdoors.

A portable clothesline is as sensible as cotton knickers. Korjo's one is $7.50 at Kathmandu.

Again, Korjo to the rescue with a plug adaptor for $11.95 at Kathmandu, which lets you use your electrical gadgets.

A compact travel umbrella makes sense. Kathmandu's is $29.90.

Links:


Evolu