(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best camping towels

Here are a couple tips and tricks from personal experience when I marched:

• If you can afford it, get a big rolling duffle like this one. They are pricier, but if you plan on marching multiple years, a high quality one should last you at least 3 seasons.
  
• An air mattress is something else you shouldn't go cheap on, I really recommend getting an AeoroBed. The cheap Intex brand that Walmart sells may be tempting, but I know so many people that couldn't last an entire season with an Intex bed. My AeoroBed got me 2.5 years before it crapped out mid way through my ageout summer.
  
• As others have said, feet are your most important asset. Don't go cheap on shoes and bring plenty of socks.
  
• Microfiber camping towels are useful because they'll save packing space and dry faster than a normal towel.
  
• Don't bring regular laundry detergent, get those Tide Pods, they are much easier to store and you don't risk a liquid spill. 10-12 should be enough to get you through the season (2 per laundry day).
  
• Gallon zip lock bags are incredibly useful for storing liquids such as your bath soap, sunscreen, etc. There's nothing worse than opening your suitcase at a housing site at 3 AM to discover your shampoo spilled all over your bag.
  
• Concerning sunscreen - if you have fair skin, don't get anything less than SPF 50 and apply BEFORE EVERY BLOCK. Bad sunburns can seriously ruin your summer. I recommend getting cream over spray - it's cheaper, bottles last longer, and it usually works better.
  
• Concerning showering - if you don't already, use a loofa. It will do a much better job of getting the dirt out, and you'll find that you'll use less soap per shower. There's nothing worse than running out of soap with a week before your next Walmart run.
  
  I could probably write a whole book about packing tips, but these are probably some of the most important. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions!

I splurged and bought the Lo & Sons OMG bag a while ago because I had this same problem. I can usually fit my gym shoes, gym clothes, water bottle, work stuff, MacBook Air, and small toiletry pouch with room for more things. I usually make a giant ass salad for lunch for the week and bring that in with me on Mondays, so I carry that separately in an a tote bag. It's not ideal but not bad for only 2x/wk.

I travel a lot so here are other tips for downsizing:

• water bottle --> get a foldable one like the Vapur Eclipse
  
  
• towel --> get a lightweight one like the packtowel. XL is the best size (I say this as a petite person).
  
  
• wallet --> get an iphone wallet case like this Vault one and transform any rewards cards into apps on your phone. If you really need to carry a bunch of cards, I like the secrid card case.
  
  Edit: Its also very slushy/snowy where I live (thanks, Jonas!), so I keep work shoes under my desk. Maybe that will help you juggle your shoes?

This Pandora's Mystery Summer Box of Goodies sounds very intriguing!

My interests: reading (but not romance novels), puzzles/brain teasers (not just picture puzzles, also crosswords, sudoku, rubix cubes, etc.), reddit (mostly RAOA, tbh)

Simple pleasures: puppy love (from an actual puppy/dog), listening to the rain (frequently here), a nice cool breeze, curling up with a good book

Perfect summer day: I have simple tastes, so it would probably be sitting in a comfy chair out in the shade with a nice breeze with a cool delicious drink and a good book.

Right addition: probably this because hoopy froods always know where their towel is, and I could use it to wipe the sweat off my brow (it gets really hot here)

What if.... hear me out here... what if, you cut some products out of your life? Im a guy (who doesnt use makeup) but ive known beautiful woman (im assuming you are a woman) who travel with little to no makeup/products. Maybe you could skip some of it.....

Travel size deodorant (i like toms) Get some good travel containers for things like mouthwash, shampoo, any creams, or gels you might need, laundry detergent, etc. I use Dr Bronners for soap/shampoo/detergent to conserve space. Some people even use it for even more than that... If you bring a towel with you, there are really great camp towels that take up very little space and work well. I bet that you can probably find versions of your aerosol products in manual button press spray bottles, which you could then transfer to smaller sized travel containers too.

I like to workout at lunch sometimes, and my gym is the same way (no towels at the location near work). I have done everything I can with wipes but I never feel "clean" until I shower, so I use a SUPER thin microfiber towel like this one and it rarely gets funky/gross! The micro towel is perfect for a body rinse/dry (if I HAVE to wash my hair that day, I bring a turbie-twist bc the towel isn't absorbent enough for both) - then I drape it over my passenger seat and it dries reallllly fast! (I have even left it loosely crumpled in my bag and it didn't get stinky, so even if you hang it in the locker you should be ok!). Not to say you can't stick with wipes, it definitely works for many! But if you still feel icky, try the microfiber towel :)

I'm leaving tomorrow for a two week trip to Tokyo & Vietnam - 3 days in Shinjuku then 11 days all over Vietnam. I started researching bags about a month ago, and after reading a bunch of helpful posts in this subreddit, I decided to pull the trigger on the Minaal Carry-on 2.0 bag.

Seeing some of the packing pics/vids helped me make this decision, so I thought I'd share my own. I was pretty surprised at how much I was able to cram in this bag, and I'm pretty happy with the purchase. I spent the extra $$$ and got the Minaal packing cubes, which are super helpful - but any packing cubes would do. The photo is actually deceiving, as there's actually more clothing items then you can see as they're stacked/rolled - plus not including the clothing/shoes I'm wearing on the flight.

A few items I'll recommend based on this subs research + my own -

• Herschel packable daypack
  
• Microfiber Travel Towel
  
• TSA Approved Bag Locks
  
• Portable Ext Battery Charger
  
  If anyone wants a full breakdown of everything in the photo, let me know.
  

The problem for really crazy campers - they likely already own all the gear. It's very possible you'll end up buying a lower quality or inferior item compared to what they already have / want. This is common for buying an item for any hobby, when you are going in blind.

It really is best if you could get some info from your friend about what they want / need. A category like - I need a new cook set, or I have been looking for a great hat. Something to narrow it down. Otherwise this stab in the dark is likely to miss the mark.

​

All that said... here are a few random ideas for someone into camping (campground style):

• Fancy Water Bottle, $30: https://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Flask-SYNCHKG105388-Standard-Bottle/dp/B01KXHH62Y
  
• Sun Hat, $40: https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Research-Unisex-Helios-Pewter/dp/B01078BU7G
  
• Neck Thing, $20: https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/2586482011
  
• Towel, $25: https://www.amazon.com/PackTowl-Personal-Microfiber-Blueberry-54-Inch/dp/B01MXM27YB
  
• Poles, $25: https://www.amazon.com/Cascade-Mountain-Tech-Aluminum-Collapsible/dp/B01L2HYPNW
  
• Socks, $20: https://www.amazon.com/Darn-Tough-Vermont-Micro-Crew-Charcoal/dp/B00EJTWHGI
  
• FAK, ~$25: https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/2581773011
  
  ​
  
  'cheap' stuff can also make fun gifts. Campers generally need these things always:
  
  
• Lighter (they come with sports teams, or funny designs)
  
• Batteries (AA and AAA power many camping gadgets)
  
• Ziplocs (protect and organize stuff)
  
• Chocolate (the darker the better)
  
• Fuel (propane or isobutane)
  
  Or go all out and buy them a Yeti cooler and 2 EZ-Up canopies!!
  
  ​
  
  This is one of my favorite websites for shopping. They are more focused on backpacking style gear - but it's still great stuff for all types of campers. Small shops selling high quality stuff. Get a fanny pack! Check it out:
  
  https://www.garagegrowngear.com/
  
  ​
  
  I'd skip the 'junk' that is often advertised for campers. Stuff like:
  
  
• Solar Panels
  
• Knives
  
• Flashlights / Lanterns
  
• Lifestraw
  
• Hammocks
  
• Tshirts with hip pictures or catchy sayings
  
• Any combo tool that tries to weld together more than 2 functions
  
  There are some great versions of these items, but the vast majority advertised online are terrible. If you get from this list, do some serious research to avoid the bogus affiliate marking lies.

A sweet old Burner in our camp made headbands/neckwraps for our camp that were stitched together with a cooling-fabric. Once wet, the fabric stays wet for long periods of time and at significantly lower temperatures than normal. I don't know exactly what sort of fabric she used, but it's something like the link below. It was a lifesaver for sure!

https://www.amazon.com/Microfiber-Cooling-Hyper-Evaporative-Feeling-Sports/dp/B071HQCTD9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520379406&sr=8-1&keywords=evaporative+fabric

I didn't... I think the mods did. So I'm going to sneak in and repost.

What are some of the staple gadgets and gizmos you have to maximize portability, versatility, durability, and price, time, and space efficiency?

Here's my list:

-Feiyue shoes. Crazy cheap, they take up no room, and they don't look out-of-place in most situations.

-Light My Fire titanium spork. This is the only eating utensil I ever use, and I take it everywhere.

-Pyrex 4-cup Bowl. As long as I'm just making food for me, this dish is the only one I need. It can withstand pretty much everything, and the microwave-friendly lid is awesome.

-Platypus roll-up water bottles. Carrying around an empty water bottle is really annoying. These guys hold lots of water, and only take up as much space as the volume of water they contain.

-Milk crates and heavy-duty Rubbermaid containers instead of furniture. The only thing you can really do with a chair is use it as a chair, and the only thing you can do with a chest of drawers is use it as a chest of drawers. Might as well combine the two -- and make them really light and portable to boot!

-Lifetime folding table. This is the closest thing I have to furniture.

-Coleman 4-in-1 Quickbed. It's a twin mattress, or two separate twin mattresses, or a king-size bed, it's comfortable as poo, and it folds up to nothing.

-Night Ize Gear Ties. I've used these for everything from coathangers to patching the handle on a neighbor's lawnmower to attaching the basket to my bike.

-MicroNet Microfiber Towel. Linen actually takes up a surprising amount of room. This guy works great, and folds away to nothing.

-Wellspring FlipNote. I've had my FlipNote for 5 years and it's been in my pocket every single day -- whether I was in South Africa, military combat training, business meetings, or going out with friends. It's an idea journal, an address book, a wallet, a writing surface, a pen... all kinds of stuff, and it's super-slim and super-durable.

-Bug-out bag. This isn't quite the one I have -- mine was about $60 and came with a CamelBak and tube inside -- but it's the right idea. When I was discharged from the military, I fit my entire life in this amazing backpack with room left over for the full CamelBak and hiked up and down the California coast for several days with no problems. The same backpack's still the only piece of luggage I use for travel, for class, for everything. It expands from normal backpack size to HUGE.

TL;DR If I can't pack everything I own into my tiny car in one hour, I have too much stuff.

(Edit: This list isn't everything I own, but it's the things that I figure would be useful to anyone.)

I sweat a lot so I now carry a microfiber cloth with me, I fold it up nice and neat. Does a great job and helps a lot.

cloth

We loved our Chilly Pads. https://www.amazon.com/Frogg-Toggs-647484036325-Chilly-Cooling/dp/B00DF4AW92/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1474605168&sr=8-3&keywords=chilly+pad

We also kept a water bottle filled in bathrooms and wore light/dryfit shirts.

But we only needed all of that on the sunny days. The rainy days were awesome. Do not avoid the rain!

• Feet: Since you're wearing dress shoes I recommend you either a) pack galoshes or b) pack a pair of sandals or very lightweight shoes to change into when it rains. You can keep a pack towel in your bag to dry your feet when you get to work, or use paper towel from the bathroom.
  
• Legs: I have some Bellwether Aqua-NO Pants. They work great and are relatively inexpensive. There are ankle zips so you can put them on without removing your shoes and they don't take up much space in a bag. Are they the best? No. Is your commute two miles? Yup. Unless you're riding two miles up the side of a mountain I wouldn't worry about them making you overly sweaty. If you can't find the Bellwethers any other cycling specific rain pant with ankle zips should do. Stay away from hiking pants because they usually have too much material at the ankles and tend to get caught in your chain.

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#1: You have 13 hours from me posting this to check out this Insignia 50" 4k TV w/Roku that Best Buy is selling for $349.99 USD. | 11 comments
#2: [Amazon] 2 Pack Large Size,Fitness Sport Cooling Towel (Use this code 84NFFBK3 after code : $9.99) | 3 comments
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I commuted to school a little over 12 miles during a month, my senior of high school so I know where you're coming from. I road a heavy mountain bike. I would first suggest getting a better fitting/appropriate bike, this will definitely decrease your time travel. Some other ideas:

• Get Sea to Summit Dry Towel or Speedo Towel
  
• Sick with some all natural deodorant
  
• If it is that bad bring a change of shirt/shoes
  
• Try to mix it up with Public Transportation
  
• Drink water
  
• Add panniers (No experience, but I have heard that it helps with back sweat)
  
• Enjoy your ride, take in surroundings, and smile
  

I use the 4monster towels on Amazon (24X28) which are perfect and dry quickly. My gym recently stopped giving out free towels and people started complaining about bringing their own, but I love this one to fold back in its case and hang it up at home later in the evening. Towel link

I get mine in Poundland (English version of Dollartree), from the baby section (small versions) or the cleaning section. I do remember reading that there are two main types of microfibre cloth- the very smooth ones like for cleaning lenses, and then the more visable pile types that I've bought from the pound shop. But I can't find the blog, and I can't remember which it said was better for OCM XD

A few years ago I got a body towel from this brand which is smoother than the microfibre clothes I have now, and very absorbant. Though not quite as smooth as the ones for cleaning lenses.

Maybe this would be what you're looking for?

I like the Kindle idea, the $79 is the lightest eReader around and is really good.

Or if you want something cheaper get the MSR Ultralite backpacking towel. Remember to get the XL size. Best thing ever for travel/backpacking.

How about an old film camera (and a few rolls of nice film). They're pretty indestructible. Also, I love coming home and getting them developed and reliving the trip without having to sift through 1408925409 shitty digital images. You could make her an album too.

Otherwise maybe a book or something like this: http://www.amazon.com/MicroNet-Suede-Ultra-Compact-Microfiber-Towel/dp/B003V4RDT8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1372734748&sr=8-5&keywords=travel+towel

Firestarters - cotton balls soaked in Purell, 20 to a ziplock bag. Skip the lighter fluid.

Prep, mince, slice, dice & marinate & freeze as much as you can b4 leaving and pre-cool your ice chest with ice for at least half a day.

Compressed towels!!! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K8F1J1H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f6YBDb3T0TZKQ

Gold Bond powder

Flushable wipes

A good "rope" for camping is "550 paracord". Priceless for hanging stuff from trees, as a clothes line, rigging tarps, etc. Buy a 100-foot section.

Spices & condiments - I've git a whole kit of just this!

Develop a system of subsystems, e.g. I use ziplock and mesh bags a lot to sort like things together in a backpack or other large container so finding & accessing things quickly is easy. Everything has it's place, every place has it's thing, every bag has a "parent bag" to which it belongs.

Spare oil for car?

> Also, get a water mister fan combo!

I have one of these and love it. It's a little bigger than a deck of cards so easily fits in my bag. Way cheaper and smaller than the ones they sell at the parks.

I've heard people recommend Frogg Toggs too but I've never tried them.

Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Purple CP100-64 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00569I5V6/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_55FVub1PGPHFE

Cooling towels are amazing.

http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-DryLite-towel-Eucalyptus/dp/B001Q3KLEK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1410463033&sr=8-3&keywords=travel+towel

Very thin but very absorbent. Dries quickly and doesn't stink like a big terry cloth towel does.

I actually have a Microfiber travel towel in my kit bag. Bag is usually in my vehicle so it is nearby though not exactly EDC.

Get a couple of these or something similar. Get two (or cut one in half) and keep one in the drink cooler (best to have a separate cooler for food that you open less often), keep the other over your head and/or neck and swap them out as needed.