Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips a coat so you don't need to carry a heavy bag

Will be taking a cruise in Sept (Alaska) and need to figure how to pack enough layers to be warm, yet not have a heavy suitcase. And how to move about on shore excursions without a purse. Cargo pants seem like a good idea. The coat looks okay, but pricy. And not very heavy, either. Sue, let me know if it would hold up to an upstate NY winter. I have a small wallet that fits in my jeans pocket, as does my phone. Of course, pockets get picked, so that's not the best thing. Still thinking what to do.

looking at my colleague's coat, her's was much more a jacket than a coat, and probably what i'd buy. could see it being good with say polartec or wool sweater and turtleneck.

but i did see they had winter coats with all those internal hidden pockets as well.

i'm probably waiting til they have the black jacket's in my size again, though i might go ahead and get the tan one now.

silk is a really good thing to pack. ultralightweight, but warm when outside, but not hot when indoors. i love silk turtlenecks, silk longjohns. silk longjohns make good PJs as well. also silk easy to wash out and have dry overnight. big fan of thin silk.

polartec light but bulky. i've found that i can wear a polartec jacket over a turtleneck and cardigan down to 35-40 degrees.

my icelandic wool sweater (that cost me a fortune when i was a poor struggling student in my 20s but has held up remarkably well all these years) will similarly keep me warm with a turtleneck and other layer underneath down to about 40 degrees.

anyway, have a terrific trip! my parents did an alaskan cruise and loved it!


anyway, have a terrific trip!

I wear silk long johns in the winter. During most of fall and winter, I wear the top under my scrubs for work. Took me a long time to find the perfect undershirt for scrubs. And the off-white color works with everything, not that I'm any sort of fashion plate at work. Sort of like working in your pajamas.

Polartek may be the way to go for this. I already have 7 prs of thick wool socks, which I love. (DARN TOUGH, made in Vermont--awesome socks for people with foot pain--cushion is great) But a coat is going to be the tough thing to find. I really need to be able to try it on before I buy. I'll buy socks and long johns online, but I want to touch the coat before I buy it. Weird, huh? Let me know how it is for you.

Definitely looking forward to the trip. Going with my mom and a good friend of hers (who I once worked with 10 yrs ago--small world). Ages 77, 66 and 55 at the time of the cruise. Perfect!