Posts in the Travel Products category
Raincoat Round-up
I’ve been on the lookout for a stylish raincoat for what feels like forever. A light, waterproof cover-up is a travel wardrobe essential, so why are they so hard to find? Well, it turns out that truly waterproof coats are pretty darned expensive to produce (they’ve got to have sealed seams and all that) which means that affordable options are often merely “water resistant”. Still, they DO exist! I’ve tracked down a small but cool selection, some more heavy-duty than others, that won’t make you feel like a hiker on the streets of Paris.
1. Petit Bateau – Womens Raincoat (Yellow)
2. American Apparel – Flannel-Lined Rain Parka
4. Petite Bateau – Womens Raincoat (Smoking)
5. Orla Kiely – Birdwatch Raincoat
6. Terra New York – Rain Cape (they seem to be having some website issues, so check back later)
Istanbul treasures
A friend recently asked if I had any recommendations for a European getaway in November. I immediately thought of Istanbul, which has remained a vivid memory ever since my first (and only) visit a few years ago. It’s a beautiful city, with the sparkling harbour giving a sense of space that balances out the crowded streets and dense markets. Another nice thing about Istanbul is that even though it’s a huge, modern city, it still has a very distinct cultural style – and as a result is a wonderful shopping destination.
Latitude is an online store that fuses travel and fashion, giving the shopper a carefully curated taste of some of the world’s most iconic cities. Of course, Istanbul is represented, and since it may be a while til my next visit, perhaps a little long-distance shopping may be in order. Here are some favourite items.
The search continues
The ongoing search for a practical, good looking and discreet camera bag recently led me to this nifty number from the very smart folks at Think Tank. The Retrospective bag is specifically designed to blend in with the crowd and remain inconspicuous in any situation – perfect for travel. But just because it looks basic doesn’t mean it isn’t full of features. It can fit a DSLR with a couple of lenses or a Micro Four Thirds system (like the Olympus Pen pictured here) and has heaps of other space for bits and pieces. Think Tank are rapidly encroaching on the professional camera bag market too – keep an eye on them!
The search continues…
If you haven’t already noticed, the search for the perfect camera bag is a slight preoccupation here at Skip Town. That elusive mix of style, practicality and discretion is something we’re always keeping an eye out for. This Mt. Rainer Designs camera bag, spied over at Inventory, may not check all of the boxes (I want one that I can fit other, regular, stuff into while travelling) yet it’s nineties-style charm is still working for me.
Passport Holders (Etsy round-up)
Hello! It’s moving day for me and I’m as busy as can be (that rhyme was accidental, I assure you!) but here’s a little something for those of you planning to travel further than a couple of suburbs. We all know Etsy is the place to go for hand-made treats, and indeed, there is a great selection of passport holders on offer.
My first instinct was to go straight for tried and true tan leather…
… but by gosh, then I saw the periodical table option. Not relevant to travel? Who cares! Now we can brush up on the elements while waiting to board. Smart thinking Owlsay.
But if that hasn’t convinced you, here’s some other great patterns.
*Etsy artists clockwise from top left: downstairsDesigns, moxieandoliver, and Owlsay and MyPaperGarden.
Any bag camera bag
Here is an idea that is so simply practical and obvious that I wonder why it didn’t exist earlier. It’s a protective bag for your camera gear that can be inserted into your regular bag. The kind folk at Photojojo put me onto it after I featured their Sloop bag in my camera bag round-up a little while back. Check it out here.
Ready to wear (everywhere)
Mention special ‘travel clothing’ to me and normally I’d be thinking practical quick-dry trousers and jackets that make you look like you’re about to climb Mt Everest. But really, all that’s needed for travel is something that is well made enough to last a while, doesn’t get too wrinkly, and goes with a large percentage of whatever else you have packed. Oh, and preferably looks like ‘you’ rather than some person who got lost in the camping store pre-departure.
The Travellers range from Obus ticks all these boxes – some items are even reversible so that you can change the neck line style! What’s more, they’re designed and manufactured in the city I now call home – Melbourne.
Crumpled city maps
How about this for preempting the inevitable split map situation while visiting a new city? A pre-crumpled map – well I’ll be darned!
A bag for all timezones
I did something silly a couple of years ago when I was traveling with my old digital SLR.
I’d been on the go for three months by this stage and had staunchly refused to use a camera bag, instead stashing my camera in my shoulder bag along with wallet, snacks and god knows what else. So anyway, on this day I’m in the cliff-top village of Oia on Santorini, waiting to watch the famously beautiful sunset, when my camera dies. Dead.
I know – I had it coming! But there were several reasons for my neglect, some of which were more sensible than others. Firstly, if you’ve got anything bigger than a compact camera, the usual cases are quite bulky which means you end up carrying two day bags instead of one. Secondly, they’re very recognisable as camera bags and depending where you are it may not be a good idea to advertise the fact that you’re carrying expensive gear. Thirdly, *shame* camera bags are usually so ugly!
I’ve since learned my lesson, but I still don’t like big camera bags. I currently use an Olympus Pen which I carry in one of those snug leather cases, so I can still fit it in my shoulder bag. But if you’re a digital SLR user and want to fit everything (camera gear plus personal stuff) into a stylish but protective bag while traveling, here are some ideas.
For the ladies;
Man I love these! Emera do classic designs, with quilted and canvas styles available.
If you like a bit more colour, check out the Epiphanie range featuring such styles as the ‘Clover’ below.
For everyone;
The Cloak camera bag suits those stealth shooters who don’t want to miss a thing – it doesn’t have a base which means you can shoot out the bottom! Okay, so you can’t fit anything else inside, but it’s still very cool.
The reliable folk at Photojojo have designed their own camera bag – the SLR Sloop.
But for something more utilitarian, try the Incognito camera bag from Courierware.
And for the record, I did get a few nice shots before the ‘incident’. Here’s one.
