Another one of those posts...

I leave two weeks from tomorrow. There's too much @!*% in my backpack. Help me take some of it out!

Some details: I'm starting in New Zealand. Will be there for ~4 months, working in forest conservation for two months (need work clothes), then camping and tramping for two months (need outdoor gear). Then to SE Asia, then to S. Asia, then to the Middle East, maybe Africa, definitely South America. I greatly enjoy outdoor activities, but I also like to pack light. It's been a pain-in-the-butt deciding what to bring, since I will see winter, summer, cities, and the great outdoors. And it feels stupid to buy stuff on the road when I've already got it at home. I hate doing laundry every day; I'd rather do it once a week, but I'm willing to compromise.

Without further ado...

CLOTHES:

This feels like a lot, but I'd like to avoid being really dirty, really hot, or really cold for extended periods of time... so... ?

3 pairs pants: quick-dry track pants, khaki hiking pants, jeans (I live in jeans at home)
2 skirts: long macabi skirt, short jersey skirt
4 short-sleeved shirts
3 tank tops
3 long sleeved shirts: long-underwear style polypro, lighter weight merino, microfleece
4 pairs wool socks
6 pairs cotton underwear (I only wear cotton underwear--I go without before I wear synthetic)
3 bras
1 heavier fleece jacket
1 softshell rain jacket
1 pair merino long underwear bottoms

Chacos sandals
Hiking boots
Light-weight sneakers

bathing suit
bandana, handkerchief
wool beanie, small wool gloves & mitts
baseball cap
sunglasses, eyeglasses strap
wristwatch

Question: I guess I could get rid of the sneakers... it's just nice to have something other than boots to cover my feet.

The softshell takes up a lot of room, but I can't afford to buy something smaller.

TOILETRY KIT:

Pretty pared down. I am very low maintenance in this regard. I don't know how much of this I could reasonably leave behind. Maybe the lotion & oil...

1 small bottle of lotion, 1 small bottle of oil (for skin and hair), Dr. Bronner's soap, crystal deodorant, earplugs, tweezers, q-tips, sunscreen, insect repellent, brush & comb, hair elastics, toothbrush/ toothpaste/ floss, gladrags (a feminine need), packtowl & washcloth.

Question: how much bug spray and sunscreen should I bring? Is DEET spray readily available in, say, SE Asia or cities in Africa or South America?

ELECTRONICS:

Camera, extra memory cards, cable, lens cleaner
Steripen
AA batteries & charger (for Steripen & camera)
Headlamp
Plug adapter
Small travel alarm clock - wished I had this when I was traveling in Peru last year
Netbook, USB stick, cable
iPod, earbuds, cable
Cassette converter - this is to listen to music in the vehicle that will take us all over NZ. It'll stay in NZ.

Question: I'm on the fence about the iPod. It's really nice to listen to podcasts... but it's one more thing in my pack. I might try to sell the iPod before I leave. Good idea?

OTHER ITEMS:

Medicine kit
Wallet & paperwork-type stuff (passport, cash, ATM card, copy of passport, travel insurance documents, etc)
2 waterbottles
Camping multi-tool (used mostly for the thermometer & compass)
Small shoulder bag
Photo book
NZ Forest Field Guide - staying in NZ
Sleeping bag - I need a sleeping bag for the forest conservation stuff, ugh it takes up so much space!
Pen, sharpie, tape
Combo lock & cable
Small sewing kit
Travel neck pillow & pillow case for fleece jacket
Spare glasses & repair kit

Question: would it be better to buy a cheap sleeping bag in NZ when I arrive? That seems so silly, since I have one already here in the US, and I'm going to want it again when I'm trekking in Nepal, and I'll also probably want it when I'm couchsurfing...

I have a 75-liter pack, which is HUGE for a woman, but I never fill it up. Right now, it's cinched down, and it measures 30''x11''x11'', which is 3,630 cubic inches, which is right around 60 liters of stuff. Ack! My roommate's scale is broken, but I estimate it weighs 25-27 lbs (11-13 kg), not including my beloved hiking boots on my feet.

So... go nuts. If you were me, what would you remove?

Thanks in advance! This board has been a great resource for planning... hope I can return the favor at some point.

EDIT EDIT EDIT: I have my packing list with pictures and explanations detailed here: http://onegreatdewdrop.blogspot.com/sea ... el/packing It might be easier to get a sense of what I'm talking about if you see the pictures!

I think your list actually looks pretty good for a variety of climates. I'd maybe ditch 2 of the short-sleeve tees and the sneakers. The Chacos are heavy, and if you replaced them with cheap flip flops you could keep the sneakers. Most Chaco wearers seem to be rabid fans though.

I got sick of fleece about 5 years ago and now prefer more compressible synthetic or down options which offer comparable warmth for less bulk, although at an added cost.

Same deal for the sleeping bag, if it's too bulky, you can plan to ditch it after NZ (if it's a warm bag, you won't want it for the months in the warmer places like SE Asia) or you can buy a more expensive but more compact down sleeping bag. Try to get a picture of the average temperatures you'll need it for in NZ, and then see if you can find a smaller bag that will work as a light blanket in other countries and keep you comfortable in NZ with a layer of clothing or something. Best option might just be to buy a cheap one there... even though you already own one. Research this, some outdoor gear is far more expensive in NZ/Aus, and it might not be worth it.

iPod... just take it. I hardly listen to mine (an old Nano) but it has been nice on the odd bus ride or just sitting out in front of my room enjoying the cool breeze once in a while. Ditch the lotion and oil over that. You can find some form of moisturizer in a clinch if you need it on the road.

I think your list looks pretty good too. Maybe ditch the microfleece, the camping multi-tool (especially if you don't really use it), one of the water bottles, and as much paper as possible (scan your travel documents and store them digitally).

You could also trade the jeans for a lighter pair of pants and only take one warm jacket -- either the heavy fleece and a thin raincoat, or just the softshell if it's sufficiently insulated. You can find an affordable rain jacket if you don't go high-tech. It only has to keep you dry. A $2 poncho would even work.

If you're stuck, try taking everything out of your pack and weighing each item on a kitchen scale. It can be eye-opening to realize just how much everything weighs. It will also help you focus and make choices.

Good luck and have fun!

Markus wrote:I think your list actually looks pretty good for a variety of climates. I'd maybe ditch 2 of the short-sleeve tees and the sneakers. The Chacos are heavy, and if you replaced them with cheap flip flops you could keep the sneakers. Most Chaco wearers seem to be rabid fans though.

I might leave behind a few shirts in NZ. Since I'll be in one place for the first 2 months, and my tee-shirts are pretty tiny, I'm going to bring them to start. None of them are favorites, so I won't hesitate to leave them behind.

You'll pry my Chacos off my cold, dead feet. I can't hike in flip-flops. I can barely walk around a city for half of a day.

Still on the fence about the sneakers. You have a point, there.

I got sick of fleece about 5 years ago and now prefer more compressible synthetic or down options which offer comparable warmth for less bulk, although at an added cost.

The added cost is why I'm sticking with items I already own.

Same deal for the sleeping bag, if it's too bulky, you can plan to ditch it after NZ (if it's a warm bag, you won't want it for the months in the warmer places like SE Asia) or you can buy a more expensive but more compact down sleeping bag. Try to get a picture of the average temperatures you'll need it for in NZ, and then see if you can find a smaller bag that will work as a light blanket in other countries and keep you comfortable in NZ with a layer of clothing or something. Best option might just be to buy a cheap one there... even though you already own one. Research this, some outdoor gear is far more expensive in NZ/Aus, and it might not be worth it.

It's a three-season bag. I'm a cold sleeper, and I have to sleep fully dressed in order to handle early spring or late autumn weather in it. That's probably why it packs down so small. I will probably do the same thing with the shirts--take the sleeping bag, then consider leaving it in NZ.

iPod... just take it. I hardly listen to mine (an old Nano) but it has been nice on the odd bus ride or just sitting out in front of my room enjoying the cool breeze once in a while. Ditch the lotion and oil over that. You can find some form of moisturizer in a clinch if you need it on the road.

I think I'm going to take it. It's multi-function to me... I also use it as a meditation timer and listen to podcasts, my main method of getting news and entertainment on the road.

Thanks very much for your input. It's basically confirmed a lot of my reasoning.

Liforce wrote:I think your list looks pretty good too. Maybe ditch the microfleece, the camping multi-tool (especially if you don't really use it), one of the water bottles, and as much paper as possible (scan your travel documents and store them digitally).

You could also trade the jeans for a lighter pair of pants and only take one warm jacket -- either the heavy fleece and a thin raincoat, or just the softshell if it's sufficiently insulated. You can find an affordable rain jacket if you don't go high-tech. It only has to keep you dry. A $2 poncho would even work.

I will need both waterbottles for NZ. I will probably leave one behind, just like the shirts and sleeping bag. All of my documents are scanned as a backup--I hate carrying around paper! Unfortunately, the softshell has NO insulation. And it's bulky. I'm considering leaving the microfleece, and taking the mid-weight fleece. I do already have a lighter long-sleeved shirt, which I can layer over a tee-shirt. Good thinking.

Good luck and have fun!

Done and done.

How serious are you about reducing weight? It looks like you have your stuff organized pretty well and fairly low weight already!

Reducing weight further might depend on your budget. Also, it usually is not a good idea to buy new equipment just before a long trip. Having said that...

cascada wrote:Ack! My roommate's scale is broken, but I estimate it weighs 25-27 lbs (11-13 kg), not including my beloved hiking boots on my feet.

In my experience weight estimates have never worked, and have resulted in larger than expected pack weights. Beg/borrow/steal a scale!

cascada wrote:I have a 75-liter pack, which is HUGE for a woman, but I never fill it up.

Sell it. Buy something smaller (and maybe cheaper?)

cascada wrote:1 heavier fleece jacket
1 softshell rain jacket

Sell them. Get a synthetic puffy and lightweight hardshell. You might be able do this in NZ if you don't have time before leaving....

cascada wrote:Chacos sandals

I had a pair for a while - they weighed 1 pound. You might want something lighter.

cascada wrote:Question: how much bug spray and sunscreen should I bring? Is DEET spray readily available in, say, SE Asia or cities in Africa or South America?

AFAIK, sunscreen is more easily available than bugspray. You might want to post in the regional forums...

cascada wrote:Camping multi-tool (used mostly for the thermometer & compass)

You should be able to get a cheap, light thermometer and compass at local military surplus stores for pretty cheap...

cascada wrote:Photo book

???

cascada wrote:Sleeping bag - I need a sleeping bag for the forest conservation stuff, ugh it takes up so much space!

...And weight! Sell, sell, sell... Get one that is appropriate for the weather where you'll be. Unfortunately the lightweight sleeping bags i've seen are pretty expensive...

Again, it looks like you are well organized. And, IMHO, you are going to fairly well traveled areas and you *should* have opportunities to purchase or barter for better/lighter/prettier gear down the line... don't sweat it!

have fun!

In the end, I think I'm going to go with what I've already got. If something really is too big and too heavy, and I can't deal with it, I can donate it on the road and buy something lighter/ cheaper. I'll wait until the point when I'm sure it's not going to work out, rather than buy stuff I really don't need right now. The only sticking point I can see is that this might not work for footwear (I wear a women's size 8, US).

I took pictures of my packing list and posted it up on the internets. The Obligatory Packing List, if you will. It does give a better sense of the amount/ volume of stuff that I'm taking, which I'm beginning to think is reasonable for an open ended trip across multiple climates. It's here: http://onegreatdewdrop.blogspot.com/sea ... el/packing

Thanks again for the great feedback. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to read and comment. Have a great day, folks!

I think you're making good decisions. You've got lots of time in NZ to figure out what is and isn't working.

Have fun!

You're bringing way, way more clothes than you need to. Check out this girl's packing list. She's traveled around the world for 16 months out of a 35L bag.

Jeans are the absolute worst item to bring while traveling. They're too hot in warm weather and too cold in cold weather. They're heavy and they take DAYS to air dry. Cotton is horrible and you seem to know this. Don't like synthetics? Use wool or silk instead.

Hiking boots are completely unnecessary; it's the one item everyone who carries it wishes they didn't bring. Chances are you're not going to be hiking everyday and it's just a lot of wasted space. If you really need them, rent some. Ideally just get one pair of walking shoes that you can do light trekking with.

Chacos are super heavy, if they were your only pair of footwear I would take them, but as a THIRD pair I think it's unnecessary. Also, Chacos smell horrible after a while. A lighter pair of Tevas or flip-flops are better.

Your toiletry kit is pretty great actually, for a girl's needs. The only items that are not readily available are feminine hygiene products, but everything else you can get on the road including bug spray.

I don't know what rating you need for your bag, but if it's no less than 40F you can get by with a sleeping bag that fits in a water bottle.

AceTracer wrote:You're bringing way, way more clothes than you need to. Check out this girl's packing list. She's traveled around the world for 16 months out of a 35L bag.

Jeans are the absolute worst item to bring while traveling. They're too hot in warm weather and too cold in cold weather. They're heavy and they take DAYS to air dry. Cotton is horrible and you seem to know this. Don't like synthetics? Use wool or silk instead.

Hiking boots are completely unnecessary; it's the one item everyone who carries it wishes they didn't bring. Chances are you're not going to be hiking everyday and it's just a lot of wasted space. If you really need them, rent some. Ideally just get one pair of walking shoes that you can do light trekking with.

Chacos are super heavy, if they were your only pair of footwear I would take them, but as a THIRD pair I think it's unnecessary. Also, Chacos smell horrible after a while. A lighter pair of Tevas or flip-flops are better.

Your toiletry kit is pretty great actually, for a girl's needs. The only items that are not readily available are feminine hygiene products, but everything else you can get on the road including bug spray.

I don't know what rating you need for your bag, but if it's no less than 40F you can get by with a sleeping bag that fits in a water bottle.

Hey Ace (may I call you Ace? ),

I feel pretty confident about the jeans, the hiking boots, and the chacos. Not to sound like a total blog attention whore, but I go into more detail about why I'm bringing those three things on the link I posted a few posts up.

I don't think you're implying this, but nonetheless I think it's important to point out that I'm not trying to see whether I can "beat" other backpackers to carry the smallest bag. I want to make sure that I'm taking the appropriate things for the activities I hope to do in the climates I hope to visit. I really hope to emphasize quality over quantity, by limiting the number of cities I visit in each region and staying longer in each place. This means that I won't have to shlep my bag on a bus every other day! I expect it to be (relatively) cool or cold on the South Island of NZ, in the Himalaya, the winter in Israel, and at high elevations in South America. Hence a lot of the cooler weather clothing.

"For a girl's needs?" Ok, I'll take that as a backhanded compliment. Enough time outside teaches you that hygiene is the priority, and hygiene can generally be met with ol' fashioned soap and water. Everything else is icing on the cake, LOL!

My bag is rated to ~30F, ~0C. I sleep cold, so in order to have a comfortable night at that temperature, I need to sleep in layers (including socks and hat) and sleep on a mat. The bag in the picture isn't compressed all the way. When it's really scrunched down, it's slightly larger in circumference than a Nalgene bottle.

Anyway, thanks very much for your input. If I do ditch my jeans, chacos, and hiking boots after NZ, and there is a chance I may do so, I will remember where I heard it first!

I'd bring jeans if I was travelling where I need to wear pants, unless I was hiking and camping every day. Living out of a tent for a while is a different thing though.

I hate the vast majority of quick dry materials, and I live in jeans at home, ergo....

The reason I posted that link is to show you another girl's packing list, and for no other reason than that. It's hard to find information specific to ladies, and I found that one was a pretty good resource. You'll notice she even carries stuff that I would find a little extraneous (hair straightener?)

The toiletries bit wasn't a back-handed compliment. If I was a girl I would need more things than I currently do, simply because feminine hygiene requires more effort than male hygiene. So yeah, your list is pretty good...for a girl.

I used to live in jeans too, until I got a pair of really comfy pants from REI before a trip and they're all I wear now. I've worn the same pair of pants for about 11 months now. Anything else just doesn't seem as comfortable/convenient.