BootsnAll Travel Community

quote:

Do the packing cubes really work?

I am a big fan of packing cubes.
you'll be lugging around some dirty clothes that you wont want to contaminate the cleans one with. Also, when you need to pack or unpack in a hurry, the cubes help to organize your stuff. I spent a lot of time trying to make the perfect pack fit. It changes everytime you unpack and add stuff as you travel. Ahhhh...to live life with all your belongings on your back, what a great feeling

Packing cubes work for me. My dirty clothes (which I usually have a plethora of) go into a pillow case, not a packing cube.

I (heart) my Eagle Creek packing cubes.

Im sure that in your trip planning phase you've stumbled across this website...http://www.onebag.com/. If not enjoy, it really lent me a little perspective. As far as taking a laptop, you might want to think twice on that one. Internet cafes are ubiquitous these days and a person with a good memory stick or portable hard drive loaded with their necessary apps can do just about everything you could do with a laptop but less weight and more peace of mind. This thread lent me a little perspective when I considered taking my laptop, which I have since decided against:

http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/07/03/14/0358242.shtml?tid=100

Oh and consider a sarong rather than a pack towel. They can be used to dry off and wrap yourself in, are a lot lighter and dry very fast.

Happy Travels
~Quinn

I have a STUPID question re: the packing cubes: I see them working with a full zip pack (a-la-Eagle-Creek-Explorer-LT) but for top loaders, does this help? Perhaps I'm just wholeheartedly challenged when it comes to packing cubes. I've switched to stuff sacks instead because the cubes seemed to create more bulk than remove it. Am I crazy? (You may sincerely answer in the affirmative )

Also - re: the laptop, I've seen that thread and was sold on the EEE (small, cute, durable, etc) but have switched to the N810 + stowaway butterfly bluetooth keyboard. Small but has Wifi and also Notes pgms to use as a journal. I'll bring one of these as well: USB 10/100 Ethernet Adapter or something similar, so I can connect the N810 to an intenet cafe's network. Yes, there are @-cafes everywhere but if this wee device will minimize online banking woes, i'm all for it! My 2 cents...

Malena,

I agree that you don't need 4 long sleeve shirts. I get really cold too, especially at night. I say bring one comfy thermal long sleeve and maybe a button down that can make you look more presentable, be a second layer and even protect you from the sun in hot climates.

If you'll be places that are cold and have sturdy shoes I would bring 2 pairs of heavier socks (I like Smartwool) and then if you want a comfy pair of thin socks to wear at night or something bring a nice small pair. Thin cotton socks get worn through when you're walking 8 hours a day, which is why I suggest the Smartwool. If you're in a hot place you probably won't be wearing socks during the day.

I used my watch's alarm to wake up, no problem (until the sound broke 6 months into the trip).

My bag was probably between 30 and 50 pounds with my SLR, backup camera and laptop! I'm pretty strong, I guess. It was only a 50 litre bag but I stuffed it really tight. Obviously, aim for less weight.

I don't know about packing cubes (they look expensive), but I use two nylon bags to hold clothes. You could also use compression bags to scrunch it all down. I have one bag for clean and one bag for dirty (make sure you get two different colors so you can tell them apart quickly).

I really like the OneBag website, but my absolute favorite travel checklist website is: www.travelindependent.info

If you haven't gone to this website, you should check it out --- it's really sensationally detailed.

I also heart my Eagle Creek packing cubes. My husband thought that they were going to be a waste of money but now he is obsessed with having everything in a little cube because it makes it so easy to manage clean/dirty laundry as well as different types of laundry (i.e. shirts/pants/underwear) on a trip.

Here was the website I was searching for:


http://www.travelingforever.com/index.php?option=com_co...view&id=19&Itemid=43

Great info on laptop vs usb key.

Hope it helps

~Q

Thanks for all the advice (and commiseration!)

I'm still struggling with my bag, trying to take a few pounds off here and there, but I think I've reached a point I'm pretty happy with. I will be bringing a laptop as I plan on doing some pretty serious writing, web development, and a bit of image processing on the side (plus applying to law schools from the road... ugh.) I definitely don't think a laptop is right for everyone, though, and if I get sick of it I'm going to mail it home.

Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have pictures of my luggage for other people to see

What a great thread! I'm heading out for a 100 day RTW starting in April, and it's great to see so many others planning extended trips...I'm so jealous!
After reading this thread and visiting some of the links, I am now convinced I need to return my 60L, 5 lb (when empty) North Face backpack and use something smaller and lighter! This was the smallest I could find (I'm only 5'3"), but obviously, have not tried very hard.

Well, this is my "just about finalized" packing list: I fly out of New Orleans on Thursday! I'm going to make some modifications on the road, I'm sure

The pictures link to Flickr images where I've painstakingly made notes on just about every item I could.

Link to Packing List

Help!

So I obviously spent hours deciding what to bring and what to drop from my bag to keep it a manageable amount. The first two weeks of my RTW I'm spending in Mexico with my grandmother. Today we went shopping and she literally forced a pair of small fairly nice flats on me, and refuses to understand that I DON'T WANT THEM. Should I actually keep them? Will I need them? I really only want to bring sandals and a small pair of hiking shoes, and now I have another pair of dressy small heels that I can't imagine ever using. ARGH. Anyways just venting.

hey malena. i checked out your blog and it's great! i didn't realize the contest you won was via A Map for Saturday. Congrats!

As for the flats - take'em: your grandmother doesn't understand you don't want them, you might want something less conspicuous than hiking boots / sandals and - in the end - you can ditch them later if needs be. I don't know about your grandmother, but I've certainly found that it's easier thanking mine instead of trying to explain why the gift isn't helpful for me

Good luck and looking forward to following your adventures.

If you think you're having a hard time, try figuring out the logistics of packing for four people on two bicycles!! It was sheer madness, I tell ya'!

As for your question - you don't need much at all. We tend to take two sets of clothing and wear one until we have a chance to wash it. then we put on the other. Yes - that might mean we wear the same clothes for a week, but it's worth it.

the only thing I've ever regretted bringing was too many clohtes. I bring 3 outfits now, two casual and one a little more dressy. I'm wearing one outfit so I only need to carry two sets of clothes. I also bring a swimsuit, something to wear to bed and a packable jacket. I almost always stick to warm climates but if I do go somewhere cooler I also bring along a lightweight base layer. I also make sure they are all clothes that I am able to handwash in a sink. I find it easier to wash out something in the sink that lug around a lot of clothes and have to look for a laundry. You can always buy clothes on the road. I do get sick of wearing the same clothes over and over, but when I can't stand it anymore I can buy something new and throw out something old.

You need much less than you imagine. We only have a one pair of socks and two pair of underwear ( my daughter has more) and that has worked fine for us so far and we are 19 months into our open ended RTW trip.

My husband brought a pair of jeans but we are giving them away as they have never been used, he lives in one of his 3 pair of exofficio pants. Jeans are too heavy and take too long to dry. Quick dry is the key and those kinds of things take up less space.

I have never worn my one skirt or one dress, so will give them away as well.

We do not backpack, but often go off for a month or more with 3 small daypacks each and often backpackers are amazed at how little we carry. We carry one or two laptops,a few toys, & homeschool supplies in those day small daypacks besides clothes and supplies.We wear a lot of black and wear things over and over. Stain, wrinkle, & smell resistant clothes are good.

We love our special towels that fold up to nothing, dry quick and can be used as blankets , shawls or sarong. Love a japanese washcloth that drys almost instantly and is long so good for back scratching. The socks are smart wool and great. We have not bought any clothes on the road, except finally for my daughter this fall as she is outgrowing things. My husband and I have VERY few things & we go 4 seasons.

My advice is go with as little as you can. It makes life easier. Carpe Diem!

Malena,

If you don't want to hurt grandma's feeling take them and if it turns out that you will only have occasion to use them once every 2 months give them to someone to a nice local you meet or trade them for something you do need.