BootsnAll Travel Community

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Ehrlich:
Better luck in romance next time...

Cheers Joe, always good to have Captain Haddock rooting for me in my corner I am after all, supposedly a TinTin Lookie-likey.

Dan

I wished that I had brought along a periscope so that I could look behind me.

In hindsight, it seemed like a great idea.

This is most of what was in my bag after I returned from Thailand. What I brought clotheswise that isn't shown here was abandoned en route. I would have been wearing half the clothes here at any given time (plus the missing socks with my skate shoes) and this all fit into an Arcteryx Needle 35 (approx 33L) pack with a good amount of room to spare.

Whats In My Bag... be sure to hover over the photo for notes.

The list looks good. Definitely a headlamp! The Petzl Tikka plus is very bright and compact. You might want to consider a leatherman tool (unless the swiss army knife has a pliers - they come in handy often). Is Gaffa tape the same as duct tape? Duct tape comes in handy - not an entire roll, just about 10' worth then you can flatten the roll down so it takes up no room. Extra boot laces. Ear plugs.

a selection of about a dozen zip ties of different lengths and thickness. great for running repairs for ripped packs, broken straps, securing extra luggage items to the outside of a pack and fastening luggage to chair legs and the likes for security against snatch and grabs. the possibilities are endless. don't leave home without them!

here's mine for two months in Europe. I leave the day after tomorrow. I suspect I'm over packing..


Clothes:
1 tank top
2 t-shirts
1 button up shirt
1 camisole

1 pair of cropped jeans
1 pair of board shorts
1 skirt
1 pair of gym pants

5 pairs of underwear
3 bras
5 pairs of socks

1 waterproof shell
1 hoodie
1 light sweater
1 hat

1 pair of sandals
1 pair of flip flops
1 pair of grungy sneakers


Hygeine/Medicine:
Tylenol
Cough drops
Immodium
Vitamin C
Insect repellent
Benadryl
Bandaids
Neosporin
Febreeze
Tampons

2-in-1 shampoo
Sunblock
Regular lotion
Body Scrub
Toothpaste, etc.
Hair ties and clips


Other:
1 badass down sleeping bag that compresses to the size of a gallon jug.
2 straps
Several ties
A bunch of gallon and quart sized ziplock bags
Rubberbands
Safety pins
Small sewing kit
Woolite
Water bottle
Camera, plus extra battery
iPod
Voltage converter
Let's Go Europe
Small knapsack
Purse
Watch
Journal
Money belt + essentials
Road maps of UK and Ireland, Spain, and Central Europe
And, most importantly, the towel

I'd say consider a travel ID organizer/holder...I'm not referring to one of those under-the-shirt wallet holders or one of those secret-money-belt things. Nope, I'm thinking of the kind that you just string around your neck and forget about while it holds your passport, plane tickets, liscence, etc. REI has several shapes & sizes of these: check out the REI website, and look up Item 707914 just for an example of what I'm talking about. I used to perceive of these as a bit of a luxury for the rtw backpacker, but I'll confess that it has lately, definitely made getting thru trains & planes a lot smoother, without having to open up any part of my backpack.

I'd also check out this website:
minimus.biz.
They sell travel sizes in EVERYTHING--from Doritos to detergent, including both snacks, meals, personal care, etc. What's cool is that you can even buy "care packages" of combinations of stuff--the "laundry" care package, the "mini-meal" care package, the "personal care--basic/deluxe, male/female" care package, etc. People get the care packages as gifts for their world traveller & road warrior friends...one could give one to him/her self too . I THINK you could have 'em ship you a care package as a "restock" of your stuff if you know your address a few days or weeks out.

That is a very handy site.

I'd add a pair of tweezers and fingernail clippers if you don't have them in your medical kit.

How about a military can opener?

You'll both want compasses, as well. They'll help in making sure you are headed the right direction in towns with weird street directions. If you get some with a ring they'll connect to your bag and not take up any interior space.

How about a fork? I know that I'd get awfully tired of a spoon all the time -- plus some things are harder to eat with one.

Your girlfriend may want to make sure a skirt is on her list to be properly respectful in some cultures.

(Disclaimer: Most of my travel has been in N.A. so take my post for what it's worth. )

1x Collins Gem SAS Survival Guide. Tiny and only £5 packed with useful and interesting stuff could make all the difference in a disaster

quote:

I know this isn't exactly a survival essential, but I don't travel anywhere without a sweetener dispenser.

OK Let's be serious. How about a miniture book for traveling light. At 5000m+ hefty tombes are rather cumbersome. I invested in Rene Descarts - Discourse of Method for the Khumbu and I still haven't finished it.

Duck tape and lots of plastic zip lock bags are ESSENTIAL. Never underestimate the amount of problems you can fix with those two items. And the amount of problems you can prevent. (Bugs finding your food, food/soap spilling in your bag, makeshift purses, fixing sandals/bags/bungalows, etc.) Bug spray. Mosquito net. Small bottle of anti-bacterial hand gel (when there is no soap- or water). Flash light. Chaco/teva type sandals. Toilet paper (or buy some over there). Those are the essentials I would never leave without.

Did you mean duct tape or duck tape?

OMG that is the best picture EVER!

DEFINITELY DUCK tape.

This couple's blog lists everything they brought with them, might help you out.
13 months

They also have really cool photos.

After several travels I've finally figured this one out:

passport
Visa check card
extra (hidden) credit card
$200 cash
shoes
clothes on your back
camera
empty backpack
toothbrush

That's it. Nothing else needed.

for women, it's good to have a big scarf to cover your head in certain regions. and it's just a nice small fashion accessory to spiff up your outfit.

I totally agree that plastic zip-lock bags are a must. I ussually bring 5 gallon bags with me. Often times you can back your clothes right in the gallon bags and seal the bag and I swear things take up less space. The duck tape is a real good idea (not sure if called duck tape outside of US, but its that fatty gray tape that works for everything and anything). It comes in a huge roll and one of the best space-saving things I have seen and used is wrapping a few meters of it around my Nalgene (waterbottle). Hope this helps...sounds like the trip was a success.

Doug

packing list:


1.bring plenty of condoms.
in this case, that is all you need, b/c your other needs will all be provided for you if you use the condoms correctly

a very giddy zopa