Ireland In A Carry On (Fall)

Ahhhhh Ireland. Sweet, sweet ireland. I could travel to Ireland with little more than the clothes on my back and be a happy camper, but I understand that you might want to pack a bit more.

If you remember, I adhere to the idea of SPSMS, so as always this is what will fit in one carry on (and one personal item).

Outerwear

Here is what you need to know: be prepared to get wet and if you somehow don't, buy a lottery ticket. It has rained for some amount of time, every time we've been to Ireland. We have actually been fortunate with pretty great weather, but the days it did rain, we were able to pull on our waterproof (not water resistant) gear and keep on keepin' on. If you're planning on hiking, I would recommend a shorter (hip) length jacket, along with rain pants, but if you are going to be spending the majority of your time in the city, forego the rain pants and invest in something a bit longer. I have this jacket and I think that would be enough.

1. If you're planning on spending time outdoors in Ireland, you will need waterproof gear: a shell and rain paints.  This one and these ones are similar to what I have.
2. This is actually the exact same anorak I have. Just something mid length and not too bulky. 
3. At least one scarf - not a heavy knitted one, but something a little more light weight. You gotta mix it up, girl.
4. Running gloves. These are the exact ones I have. I know this seems excessive, but especially if you're hiking and get caught in wind and rain, you'll be glad you have these.
5. A baseball hat (good for keeping rain out of your eyes).
6. Waterproof, mid height hiking books AND waterproof sneakers. These and these are similar to what I have. Nearly every time I've gone to Ireland I've been glad to have a second pair of waterproof shoes.

Clothing


If I can be totally comfortable bushwhacking through Ireland, it's allowed in my carry on. 

For whatever reason, we tend to socialize more in Ireland. I think because the pub culture is so ingrained that regardless of the size or remoteness of the town we're in, we usually find ourselves at a bar with a drink at the end of the day. For this reason, I do tend to pack a little more in the way of "normal" (non Nike) clothing. However, my one and done rule still applies. If I can only wear it once, it gets ditched.

1. I can't get away from the loose, comfortable sweater. It's my safety net.
2. I don't pack a ton of long sleeve shirts, because layering is the name of the game but 1 - 2 henleys are a good option. This one and this one are also great.
3. I bought a pair of green moto jeans from Zara and they are incredibly comfortable, plus Kate Middleton has them. Similar here and here. 
4. Stretchy jeans. I love these ones.
5. I always bring a plain black and white tank. I am still on the hunt for the perfect, heavy weight with stretch tank top and so far H&M has the best I've found.
6. A couple short sleeve t shirts that would match either pants and also fit under jackets. No puffy shirts. This one and this one would do the trick.
7. A zip up hoodie and... 
8. A lightweight jacket. If the hoodie can fit under your jacket: BONUS round.
9. If I know I will be spending a couple days in a city on my trip, I will usually pack a casual jumpsuit. They're comfortable and practical enough to wear all day and can be easily dressed up with a couple small accessories. I've found them much more useful than tossing a dress in my bag, just in case. The one I have is sold out, but this one is pictured and this one would also work.
10. My trusty black flats! I've worn these EVERYWHERE.

Activewear 

For the most part, the hiking we've done in Ireland is really walking with maybe some strenuous stair climbs, but we've rarely had to scramble. For this reason, I don't think you need to worry as much about your hiking gear as you might in other places. If you get lucky with the weather, you could manage most hikes with a pair of comfortable jeans, a sweatshirt and some sneakers. I never count on luck though, so in addition to my outerwear, I bring a pretty standard arsenal of activewear.

I always follow the same general rule of thumb for activewear, and that's for 2+ hikes I bring 1 zip up/shell and 2 of everything else. Doesn't matter if it's 3 hikes or 9, I will only bring 2 of each thing. In the rare case where I do more than two strenuous hikes back to back, I will just alternate short/long sleeve shirts and hand wash my sports bra if I won't be getting to a laundromat in time.

1. Any kind of quick dry, half zip or zip up. I love these.
2. Anymore I am super cautious of exposing too much skin to the sun, so most often you will see me outdoors, regardless of the weather, in a long sleeve shirt. Nike Golf has some good long sleeve UV shirts, but you can also get some online. 
3. Even though I try to keep my arms covered, I do usually bring a couple short sleeve shirts as well. They're good for layering and especially if it's a hot, shaded hike I will risk that death ball in the sky. 
4. I almost always bring ol' faithful, the Nike legendary tights, but any two pairs of athletic tights or hiking pants will do.
5. 2 comfortable sports bras. This is not the time to get fancy, just whatever feels best.
6. A couple pairs of hiking socks. I have these ones. 
7. I know you've probably already packed a beanie, but I also sometimes like an ear warmer as well. It's small, it can change up your look for a picture and you can keep your hair in a ponytail all at the same time. This one is kewt.

Other

In addition to all these clothes, I also brought:

• A pair of slipper socks - a lot of places ask you to remove your shoes, so I always come prepared.
• One pair of pajamas
• 2 pairs of athletic socks
• Toiletries, etc. If you are like me and planning on staying at mid range and B&B type accommodations, make sure to pack a couple carry on sizes of shampoo/soap. Very few places provided them.
• Refillable water bottle
• Sunglasses
• The 8 items I never travel without!