The one question I always get asked when I'm traveling is "how the heck do you pack so light?!" Easy. When everything you own is strapped to your back, you learn to perfect the fine art of minimalism. Ok, ok. Not everything I own I carry. Mom and Dad keep a dusty closet safe for me full of childhood photo albums, yearbooks, shoes I'll never wear again, and an extra pair of jeans and togs buried somewhere... Nonetheless, I think I may be able to help with some tips and guidelines.
Life on the road is liberating because it really forces you to prioritize; forces you to strip down to the bare minimum and really differentiate between essential and luxury items. You always see that girl, at the airport, at the train station, struggling up the stairs since hostels never seem to have working elevators...she's young, she's tiny and she's carrying a pack that's nearly 3 times her size weighing well over 25 kilos! I feel sorry for her, and I always wonder "what is in there that she absolutely CANNOT live without?!"
Don't get caught looking this sad! Whether you're traveling for 2 months or 2 years, try to only pack for essentials you need to survive 2 weeks. Everything else can be replaced and found easily during your travels (**note, even the most remote places today seem to always have some form of access to civilization and Schick razors**.)
1.) The Perfect Backpack:
If you're like me, hopping around every few days or so, a top-loader will drive you absolutely insane. You'll find that somehow, the very thing you need in a pinch's notice is always at the bottom of your pack. I recommend an all-around zip bag, or one that has many entry points--as long as you keep your pack organized you'll always be able to get to your stuff quickly.
I also recommend one with padded waist straps and a strong back frame. As many pockets and compartments as possible and (I know this sounds funny) one that fits! Try it on, pack it with weight and feel it out. If there are noticeable lumps or kinks, ditch it, because after hours on your back in the heat and humidity you'll want to throw it off a balcony!
Check the zips and choose a brand name that guarantees durability.
Also check for compression straps, will the straps be manageable when you're checking in for flights? I've lost more than my fair share of buckles and straps due to luggage rough-handling in the past.
Remember size matters--if you buy a big pack, you'll fill it. And most importantly, be honest with yourself. Don't waste the big bucks on a super flash mountaineering pack if you're not planning on spending more than a day or two trekking or climbing.
My perfect pack is the Mountain Equipment Co-Op Pangea 60L pack.
The selling point for me was the fact that all the straps and buckles zip under a cover, and the backpack magically transforms itself into a suitcase.
It took years of trial and error to find it, and I had to take a family trip to Canada just to acquire this bad boy!
**Of course international shipping rates are available, just check out their website**
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?
(Banff, Alberta- Canada)
2.) Clothing:
Mom's right, the secret to light packing is packing light layers!
Of course, this is all weather and culturally dependent. (Please, please do your research! Too often I see ignorant tourists prancing around the islands of Thailand topless, not realizing that 5% of the Thai population is Muslim and that most of them live in the southern islands!)
- I always carry 2 week's worth of underwear, at least 6-8 tops and 2 pairs of pants (1 pair of jeans for comfy travel and outings, 1 pair of "working" pants for trekking, climbing, etc.)
-----Work pants that are quick-dry and zip off into shorts are a great buy.
North Face is a great brand, and it's pretty easy to find great steals on sale/clearance sections in your neighborhood outdoor store. In my pack now I have a pair of prAna convertible pants that zip off. They're stretchy, comfy, and tough to rip!
- I always allow myself ONE 'date outfit' for when the occasion calls to dress to impress (happens...rarely, but it happens.) I go for the tunic with leggings look, because it all rolls up into a neat little ball and doesn't require any ironing...Ladies, do us all a favor and leave the heels at home!
- Tops: vary them, a few t-shirts, a long sleeve thermal, a button down cotton long sleeve, a few tank tops...
- I always travel with a scarf and bandana, many uses include: head shade, sweat band, smog/sand/dust mouth cover, immediate warmth, and a shawl to cover the shoulders if needed (temples, sacred sites, etc.)
(Photos from India. Left: desert camel safari in Jaisalmer; Right: Amber Fort)
Just remember, on the road your clothes are up for grabs. They will get dirty, wet, torn, shredded and always lost in the laundry! So don't bring anything you can't afford to lose.
3.) Shoes:
I have to admit, I'm fiercely loyal to my Keen Newports.
My old reliables, they've lasted me years and are suited for every terrain (except maybe cold climates...)
They're water shoes, with lots of comfy straps, and a toe cover when I need to do some serious construction projects or hiking expeditions.
The Andaman Sea claimed my first pair during a particularly nasty monsoon storm years back, but since then I'm all the wiser. I keep a carabiner attached to my shoes, and strapped to my pack at all times when not in use.
Check them out here: http://www.keenfootwear.com.au/product_SP09/womens/trailhead/510230.php
- I keep one pair of working shoes, and one pair of flip flops (thongs, jandals, whatever you call them) and that's it.
----In cooler climates I trade in the flip flops for my favorite travel companions- TOMS shoes. This is a great organization I love to support; their mission statement being "with every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for one."
Read more here: http://www.toms.com/The shoes are comfy, stylish and incredibly easy to travel with. My personals are the Vegan brand made from all organic materials and recycled plastics. They're pricey, but worth the cost to help those and support a worthy organization.
4.) Extras, I never leave without!
- 1 pair of leggings or thermals (immediate warmth if needed)
- 1 rain jacket or poncho
- 1 thermal layer or light sweater
- alarm clock
- washing powder, string to hang your clothes, scrubber for hand washing
- socks!
- address book for friends/places you discover along the way
- adapters/converters if necessary
- journal, music for entertainment
- at least 2 books (exchange and sell them along the way to other tourists)
- daypack and small travel purse (*small* just to keep your valuables safe at the bar)
- 1 or 2 travel locks (if staying in hostels or dodgy guesthouses)
- travel money belt
- passport & important documents holder
- stocked first aid kit (let the Red Cross help you fix a kit):
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d229a5f06620c6052b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=f247e8afd40ee110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD
- -sunscreen and mozi (mosquito) repellent-- good products hard to find in Asia
- -personals: medicines, tampons (ladies: hard to find applicators in most regions), and cosmetics (remember, small travel size and plan to replace on the road!)
- 1 sarong or small pack towel
- 1 or 2 sets of togs, or swimmers, or bikinis
- silk sleeping bag liner (cotton liners are too bulky)
- headlamp (make sure the batteries are easy to replace on the road!!)
- sleep kit (face mask, ear plugs, and Valium if you can score them for painful international flights)
- stash of plastic bags--you'll always find a use for a plastic bag
- pocket knife
- backpack rain cover
Do Not Bring:
- anything you can't live without...anything of value will be the first thing lost or stolen.
- hair dryers or straighteners
- electronics that fry easily in unstable climates
- more than 1 pair of jeans
Right...well this is just my personal, biased information based on what I've encountered over the years. Most of this I learned through trial and error, so hope it helps!
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