[Oregonkiwi]

We're down to our last 2 weeks so the packing is starting and with it, the disagreements. (No container so it's either suitcases/mail/get rid of.) We've got 2 sleeping bags, nothing fancy but nice enough, 3 or 4 lb polyester-fill ones that would cost maybe US$20 or $30 at Kmart here. Nik says it's not worth trying to get them to NZ as they're bulky and replaceable and we should sell them at his parents' garage sale this weekend. I think sleeping bags will be a darn sight more useful than all those Stephen King books he mailed to NZ. Are they more expensive to replace in NZ? I tried looking at sleeping bags online but everything was over NZ$100, except for one for $54 at the Warehouse, but I'm not sure if I'm just not seeing the cheaper ones. Any thoughts?

[jess]

I haven't priced out sleeping bags here, but short of secondhand stores I doubt you'll find much cheaper than The Warehouse. I say ship 'em. Could easily come in handy. Unless the shipping costs are enormous.

[Smiler]

Avril

OH bought one is a sale at an outdoor shop at around $70, but yours sound like much better quality. So if you can, I'd bring your's.

[wanderingoregonian]

Sounds like similar discussion are happening in your household as in mine. My OH has a HUGE box of Terry Pratchet books - lovely and very entertaining, but not exactly something I suspect we'll be rereading in NZ. I'm praying a run to Powells Bookstore to sell them is in my future!

We've decided to bring our sleeping bags. We got great deals on them here at REI's quarterly sale on returned good (less than $20 for $150-200 bags). I have two friends here, both who have parents living in NZ, who swore of the important of sleeping bags, particularly when traveling and staying with friends and friends of friends or just staying wiht people you meet in route. Plus, we have no idea where we'll be living when we get to Welly - so they might be very handy. They seem like things that woudl be easy to ship - light and don't break! or even bring one to use as a blanket on the plane:)

How soon are you leaving? We're sorting shipping at the moment for a Nov departure from Oregon and may opt out of doing the container thing as well. Who are you shipping your boxes with?

Cheers - shannon

[Ana&Steve]

Sounds like similar discussion are happening in your household as in mine. My OH has a HUGE box of Terry Pratchet books - lovely and very entertaining, but not exactly something I suspect we'll be rereading in NZ. I'm praying a run to Powells Bookstore to sell them is in my future!


I noticed that books in NZ were more expensive than in the States...probably the same for UK. If you or OH ever want to reread or lend them someday, it might be better to bring 'em, IMHO. (I'm bringing my Terry Pratchett and Robert Jordan, and a few others, for sure! :p )
Ana

[Oregonkiwi]

thanks all. I've been going back and forwards on this one all day (I need one thing to obsess over per day it seems :)) but it looks like we'll bring them, I found a box they'll fit in and figure it will cost around US$30 to mail the box which is cost effective I think. My sister in Auckland says she bought sleeping bags for around NZ$20 but she did say they were thin and "ok for summer", while our ones kept us warm in Colorado a couple of weeks ago when it dropped below freezing overnight.

Shannon - we're leaving in 2 weeks. We've been mailing boxes to my parents' address in Auckland by surface mail, no problems, takes about 6 weeks. PM me (or search my previous posts) if you want more info.

Avril

[Jo_b]

As a general rule, decent outdoor kit costs a lot more in NZ than in the UK and US. Not sure why...

And not sure about cheapy sleeping bags either!

[Sean-n-Judy]

As a general rule, decent outdoor kit costs a lot more in NZ than in the UK and US.

As a general rule, EVERYTHING costs a lot more in NZ than in the UK and US.

Sean

[Ana&Steve]

As a general rule, EVERYTHING costs a lot more in NZ than in the UK and US.

Sean

Hey, buck up, Muppet! :D
Ana