Customized Fleeces for Sporty Travelers

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As predicted, it took me and my husband, Dan, two days to travel from our summer home in northern Michigan to our new apartment in New Orleans. Although we've been known to make such a lengthy journey in less than a day, maturity has since reared its not-so-ugly head and compelled us to take it a bit easier than we once did. So, despite a little rain, one rather unsettling ticket in a Kentucky speed trap, and one unexpected bout with carsickness for our normally adaptable kitty, Ruby Azazel, the trip was fairly uneventful – and needless to say, we were both delighted to be back in the French Quarter.

I was also thrilled to find a package waiting for me at my local postal emporium on Bourbon Street. Inside the box was the laser-etched fleece that I'd recently ordered – and to my delight, it was a comfortable fit – something that often concerns me when procuring travel apparel from an online catalog.

Now, before I describe this particular fleece, I should point out that I've rarely discussed travel apparel on this blog. True, I've mentioned the need to pack basic items like swimsuits, rain gear, and cold-weather clothing in a post entitled “Essentials for a U.S. Road Trip,” and in a more recent post called “Top Ten Must-Pack Items,” I've admitted that I never leave home without a hooded sweatshirt and a wide-brimmed hat. But, in general, I've never promoted a particular item or manufacturer. Inspired, however, by my colleague Christopher P. Baker's post about SCOTTEVEST, a company that, in his terms, produces the “perfect travel wear for Cuba and Costa Rica,” I decided to share my experience with another company that fashions travel clothing.

Of course, the fleece that MultiSport Journeys gave me the chance to review is a bit less utilitarian than the clever, pocket-filled vests, hoodies, jackets, and pants produced by SCOTTEVEST, but nevertheless, I think that their whimsical offerings are definitely worth mentioning. After all, beyond choosing the type of apparel (such as hats, cotton T-shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts, and gender-specific vests and fleeces), color scheme, and size, travelers are able to customize each item with one (or more) of hundreds of cartoonish images that relate to various sports, outdoor activities, and travel interests. In this way, you can personalize your travel apparel in order to highlight or honor your favorite recreational diversions, including golf, soccer, biking, snorkeling, RVing, and much, much more. For a nominal fee, you can often add a customized slogan (such as “Live to Play Another Day”), and depending on the item, you can also choose the location of the artwork, such as on the back of the fleece.

As pictured above, I ordered the Timberline Lady Revelstroke ($40), a women's full-zip micro-fleece, in a harvest-and-chestnut color scheme, with the image of a female yoga enthusiast laser-etched (to maintain permanence and prevent washing or fading out) in the left pocket position. Warm and snuggly yet lightweight and roomy enough to wear a shirt or two underneath, this new fleece will definitely make a welcome addition to my ever-evolving list of must-pack travel items, especially during the fall and winter months, when it pays to dress in layers. I'm half-tempted to buy an additional one – perhaps this time, I'll opt for the canyon-moss-and-sage-green color scheme, so I'll better blend in with the trees. Now, if only the artwork were as easy to decide!

So, what do you recommend in versatile travel wear?

Moon New Orleans giveaway

As stated in my last blog post, I've extended the deadline for my latest guide giveaway to 11:59 p.m. PDT tomorrow night. If you enter by Thursday morning, though, I won't be upset in the slightest. For a chance to win a signed copy of my recently released Moon New Orleans guide, simply answer the following question: “Upon arriving in New Orleans, what would you like to see, do, or eat first?” You can do this in one of three ways: leave a comment below this post, send an email to laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com, or post a comment on the Moon New Orleans Facebook page. The winner will be chosen at random from all entries received.

For a taste of what the guide offers, check out my seven-day tour of the Big Easy. I should also add that, since no one has yet entered, your chances are pretty favorable at the moment – so good luck!

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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below, contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com, or connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: While I occasionally accept free or discounted travel assistance when it coincides with my editorial goals, my opinion is never for sale, which means that everything written in my American Nomad blog and Moon travel guides is my unbiased reflection of the things that I see, do, and experience while traveling across the United States.

Photo © 2012 Daniel Martone / Text © 2012 Laura Martone

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Laura Martone is Moon’s American Nomad and the author of Moon New Orleans, Moon Michigan, Moon Florida Keys, and Moon Baja RV Camping.