1, my girlfriends knickers
2, a learn spanish book and 4cd set
3, a decent 'shirt' (always too creased to wear)

flipflops are essential if you know how to wear them, ie not the american way with white knee length sport socks

when i travelled for a year with two girls, they carried 2 pairs of GHD hair straighteners, incase one broke

i'd say these things:

1. money pouch
2. slippers for nasty hostel floors
3. tape player with tapes

Hmmm...I would say

1. Hair dryer - girlie girls unite! Unless I'm in a wilderness, I'd better have my hair dryer. (Though, oddly, I've been home all day and didn't dry it today! How weird!)

2. Postcards from my hometown to share with/force upon any of the locals I might meet. It's fun to be able to show where I'm from, especially if I don't speak the language well. Postcards because they're a little more durable and scenic than pictures I've taken.

3. Wild Berry Skittles. They became a running joke on a rough ferry crossing over the Channel, and ever since a package of them must be in my bag.

camera
journal
condoms
corkscrew

I cant count!

all this, and i haven't even included my own - doh!
I would say:-
1. laptop - yeah, yeah - i know - its heavy. but it could be deemed unecessary
2. teabags - tetley teabags. great to whip out in the company of other english tea lovers, and a super pick me up when you are missing home (sad, but so very true)
3. compass - i'm a freak, but i swear by it. i feel naked without it!!

keep em coming!!
nath

1) My old iPod and its charger; it broke down so often that I barely listened to it.

2) My Cell phone/PDA (and its charger). The phone rarely works outside of American continent.

3) My (older-style) digital camera: It is bigger and lower pixels than the newer types. And now I can take still pictures with my camcorder so ... (By the way, this one was stolen on a night train in Hungary last August )

Conclusion: There are too many electronic gadgets that we cannot separate ourselves from these days. But many of them are actually not that necessary. Hopefully the new generation of cellphone/WIFI PDA/digital camera-camcorder/MP3 player (all in one) will be more convenient (and comes with a smaller charger)....

soft pair of socks to wear on the plane and in hotels/hostels

travel size pillow

guidebook

---
I consider a camera and journal (and related supplies) as necessities. The "extra" that goes with me for my camera is a 1.5 pound tripod. I don't have to have it. I may never use it after hauling it around a continent, but I can't leave home without it.

quote:

Originally posted by Saricie K:
Conclusion: There are too many electronic gadgets that we cannot separate ourselves from these days.

Redefine 'cannot' and leave them at home. I mean a small cheap mp3 player is great, we all need sounds, you ain't gonna notice if it even gets nicked, but surely feeling bound to so many devices is part of the reason for hitting the road in the first place? For myself, I can't wait to not have a phone. Maybe it's just me. Each to their own and all, but just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by RalphTheWonderLlama:
^

I agree, I brought a phone and camera on my last big trip. I didn't use the phone except one which wasn't nessicary. For me these things just turn into more worries and things for the Ryanair baggage agents to steal out of my luggage. I'll have to bring my camera on my next trip but that's all the electronics that are comming along.

1. a book (sometimes I just HAVE to read - get cranky if I don't - I guess thats kind of weird)
2. Tea - I'm taking normal tea, earl grey, camomile and rooibos. (i don't drink them every day but when I want tea - I want tea)
I cant think of a third right now, assuming camera and journal is necessary.

1. Earplugs - I like the squishy ones that expand
2. Deck of cards - Lifesavers when travelling with kids
3. My trusty glow-in-the-dark Frisbee (can also be used as plate/tray)

1. Vegemite - always packed, always used, but I can not really claim it is necessary!

2. iPod

3. one of those little elastic clotheslines - never used it in all these years but some how it always gets packed.

GULP. I've packed for my upcoming trip and have left all the items I mentioned earlier on this thread out of the luggage. First, I've left out the tripod. I didn't use it on my last month long trip. While I'd like to have it to take some night pictures of the Parthenon, I'll find another way to stabilize my camera. I can't justify hauling even a 1.5 pound tripod for 3 weeks for a few night shots, not with my back how it is.


At the moment, my travel pillow is also out of the pack. In the next 11 days, I may break down and stuff it back in, or may by one of those inflatables, instead, to at least have on the plane.

I even left out the squishy socks. I'll have a regular pair on anyway...and can wear my watershoes around the hostels.

Hmmm. I really can't think of any unnecessary stuff that is packed anymore...cause camera stuff is necessary.

Man, this is just awesome!
I'm absolutely amazed at what people 'must' take with them in their rucksacks!
...I feel a post coming on about this.
great work - keep 'em coming!