I was wondering how people have managed when they have travelled around the world and visited both cold and hot places. Plus, places where they are going to need something smart too, like a temple.

The only time I've used a backpack, was years ago when I was a teen. we got the largest we could thinking that was the way to go.

It was a nightmare.

The thing weighted a ton, there was no where to leave it, it was hateful on all forms of transport.

So I don't want to do that again, but if a medium pack, the different types of clothes will be an issue.

The only options I can think of is to buy on the road?

Ideas?

Cheers,

Dante.

The latest garments for trekking/travel are mostly made of synthetics like nylon and polyester, which are easy to dry and much lighter than cotton. There're also new fabric materials made for wind/waterproofing that are very versatile for variable environments and climates. You would dress in layers... base-layer, mid-layer, outer-shell, and remove/add layers as you need.

I'm in the same situation. Check out my pack

Depends on how long you're going for. If it's a longer trip (several months) then I'd suggest buying on the road.

For cold it's nice to have technical gear that packs light, but if you're buying local inexpensive stuff then you can use it and lose it. If you can find discounted gear that's good enough for your travels then it might net you some karma points to donate it somewhere useful when leaving the area you've traveled through. I realize most travelers are on a budget but think about all the areas you travel to where the cost of your plane ticket is a family's annual income.

For warm areas you do well with those cheap cotton t-shirts that you can buy virtually anywhere. They'll actually keep you much cooler than an expensive technical piece although these days I really hate recommending that anyone buy non-organic cotton products if they can help it.

I've got technical clothing up the yinyang, but I'm only taking [organic] cotton T's with me to Costa Rica next week. If I was going some place colder then I'd do the opposite and load up on the synthetics.


Actually, that reminds me. Merino wool is a good option for high performance in both hot and cold conditions. I'm sure there is a thread on it around here somewhere, but take a look at the brands Icebreaker and Ibex. I'm sure your local outdoor gear shop will have other brands as well. It's generally not cheap though.