Are you daydreaming about the Autumn in Ireland with an adventure road trip? Here’s a carry-on travel capsule for autumn in Ireland, based on clothes I already have that I know will fit in my Osprey Fairview 40L. It’s my go-to carry-on-only travel pack for Scotland, Norway, and everywhere in between!
September and October in Virginia or the UK can be pretty temperate, but windy and wet as well. So layers and raingear for the win! And we’ve got that covered, of course. And as I learned in Norway, I’d rather UNDER pack, and just stop to wash a load of clothes, than OVER pack and have to haul the extra stuff around with me!
For the Plane
Not everyone recommends jeans for travel, and certainly not for the plane ride. But I’m a jeans and boots kinda person. Especially for autumn in Ireland, I just can’t quite imagine traveling without them yet. So the easiest thing to do is wear them on the plane. Just wear the most comfortable skinny or straight-leg style you have. I like these or these, with the wide, stretchy waistband.
Then layer…
*a comfy tee
*a cozy performance sweatshirt
*a weatherproof vest (good extra layer just in case)
And add some waterproof slip-on boots. These Sorel boots are very comfortable for walking or basic hiking (maybe not Norway hiking) and easy on and off for security. They also don’t take up any more room than standard mid-ankle hiking boots if you end up wanting to throw them in your bag later. I’ve been really happy with them.
For the Carry On
For the main luggage, I’ve got two additional pairs of pants and a mix of long and short-sleeve tops with some rain gear. Autumn in Ireland is pretty unpredictable, weather-wise. Scotland was the same and we planned for rain and we had nothing but sunshine the WHOLE trip. {shrug} So don’t over-pack for the weather. Just pack in layers and you’re ready for whatever.
*2 pairs of pants
For travel pants, I like to make sure I have one black pair that can be “dressed up” for dinner out if we want. My go-to for years have been these by Columbia, but I’m also coming around to these Sightscape ones from Eddie Bauer. They are super-light and comfy and look nice dressed for city adventures too.
For any other adventure pants, I now go with Duluth Flexpedition pants. They. are. awesome. And if you can find the pull-on version in your size, even better. These are do-anything pants. I’ve taken them on our 4-wheeling/dirt-biking trips, hiking trips, weekends, or used them at home. Whatever comes up, they’re tough, they’re light and thin, and they’re mostly weather-resistant. And you can throw a pair of leggings or thermals under any of these pants if you expect cold weather!
*1 sweater I didn’t add a full coat layer for this trip, so you could add the vest to this funnel-neck yellow sweater, or throw the rain jacket over it, depending on need. Or layer it up over any of the other shirts.
*1 cardigan You could go with this classic one (which also works at home for the office!) or this more trendy zipper one (which is basically a coat replacement!), but the idea is another warm layer if you need it, and something to dress up your black pants.
*1 rain jacket (with a beanie just in case, because I’d rather have one than have a migraine!) I can’t say enough about this rain jacket and all its 10,000 pockets! Is it the most packable one I have? No. Will it stand up to any weather? YES.
But I also travel with and recommend this one, which can stuff down to the size of a big smartphone. {shrug} Your call. But I would make sure to have one with me.
*3 Long-Sleeve Shirts For long-sleeves I have a mix of light long-sleeve tees and long-sleeve thermals here and here.
*3 Short-Sleeve Shirts I usually try to stick with a mix of moisture-wicking performance tees (UA are my favs) and simple chiffon blouses that squish up tiny like this, this, or this.
*2 Pair of Shoes I added my low-top waterproof hikers and a pair of comfy black flats for “dressing up” if needed. Since our trips normally included mostly road-tripping, visiting farms, hiking to castles and historic sites, and walking around gardens, I went ahead and kept outdoor shoes in this capsule. My other go-to shoes are an easy pair of Sperry’s. They’re comfortable, pack small, and go with just about anything.
The pair of flats I chose here are a little chunkier than I normally use because I didn’t include my Sperry’s and these might get used more than usual for around towns. Otherwise, I tuck some tiny, squished-up folding ballet flats in a corner.
How Many Days?
I think a week without laundry, but we’ll see. It will partly depend on the weather. I’ll have to add socks and underclothes, of course. And I’m terrible about packing a TON of socks! Packing for autumn in Ireland is so different than our Spring in Norway. For that trip we were packing for any possible weather–and we had it! Every day! We would go through every layer we had, every day. From snow to 60 degrees, the same day. I’m not expecting that kind of swing this time.