BootsnAll Travel Community

So, every year, about a month or two before my travels (which is right about now, for my October European romp), I get into this shopping frenzy for travel gear. I convince myself that I either need certain items or that my existing gear is not good enough. Typically, about $500-$1000 later I realize that I've blown my entire travel budge on things that I won't even use. I'd like to know what your thoughts are on travel gear, how you make do, what some cheap solutions are.

For instance, I always like to bring my swiss army knife, but for some reason I'm compelled to shell out $60 for a leatherman tool, convinced that I might need a set of pliers for the trip. Likewise, I usually like to bring my small AA-battery size Mag-light flashlight but I'm not compelled to spend $30+ on one of those fancy new super bright LED flashlights. The list goes on, but this year I really need to put a stop to this or I won't have any spending cash for the actual trip!

When I started planning for my rtw I didn't have any travel gear. I have gone on some vacations recently and have picked up what I thought I needed for those. Before I go on my rtw I'm going to buy the things I wished I had on my last trips.

Just think, whatever you buy you need to carry.

I can sympathize, Redleader, since I used to do the same thing. I think the thing that finally cured me was going to a store and realizing that I had everything I could possibly use.

Also, every time I come back from a trip, I'll lay out everything I have and think about what I used and what I didn't. After doing this a couple of times, it became much more obvious what to take and what to leave behind.

I'm supposed to be finishing my thesis and I'm planning a trip to go on after I hand the thesis in. Because I'm a grad student, and therefore a master of procrastination, I've been spending ages researching and buying all these things I might want to take on my trip. The thing is, I'm spending money I should be saving, I may not even get to go on the trip (but I'll spare the sob story) and assuming I do go I probably won't even bring/need most of the crap I've bought.

I think it's the anticipation... it makes me feel like it's actually going to happen or something.

I just don't want to have regrets either way about not bringing/buying something. As an example, last year I recevied a head-lamp as a gift. You know those lights that you wear as a headband (usually for camping, etc.). Well, I brought it with me to Africa, just because I thought I might need it, even though I felt it was ridiculous since I already had a flashlight. Well, when I got to the campgrounds I realized that at night its pitch black and just about everyone else on the campgrounds had one of those head band lights. Obviously, if I had really thought about it I would have known that such a device would have been quite necessary, but I brought it thinking it would just take up space. Other things I've brought that have found rather un expected use are the shortwave radio.

Because I move so much when I am back in the States, I finally decided to put all of my "travel" stuff in one Rubbermaid tote. I make a list of things I wish I would've had with, and then I check online for sales. If I do acquire a new piece of gear, I put it in the Rubbermaid tote. Then before I leave on my trip, all of my things are in one place and I don't have to spend a fortune getting the things on my "wanted" list.

here's something that helps me pack.

i sit down in my house and i think about the average monthly income of hte folks in the country i am about to visit.

i think about all the crap i already own or that goodwill can sell me cheap that will help me check off all the boxes on my checklist

i think about how much more i would spend on new shit then think about the poverty in the place i am about to go on vacation then i realize i dont need new stuff and pack my old stuff

then i go have fun in their beautiful country and hopefully have a conversation w/ some locals along the way

This is exciting. Nice to see you Zopa. Sexy and chastising all at the same time. Teach me teacher, spank me.

hey, pieface!
i know that may come off as sounding snide, but hey, its the internet!
zopa

You misunderstand....

teach me.....


spank me....

I know what you mean. I probably have everything I need but still look at new things. I also have all my travel stuff in one place and when I see something I want I put it on a list. Sometimes I find that after some time has passed I no longer want the item as much. If I still want it then I put it on my birthday or christmas wish list. When people as me what I want I know exactly what to tell them. There will almost always be things you wished you had brought or things that you never used and wish you'd left at home...try not to stress too much about it. Maybe try making yourself a travel gear shopping budget. Set aside a certain amount of money that you would be willing to spend on gear and stick to it.