Only one backpack a piece?
This has been the $64,000 question! We’ve done a bunch of research, asked a lot of questions and taken plenty of verbal suggestions. As opposed to debating RTW packing philosophy, we will simply list the stuff that we left Portland with. This is not to say that any of these items won’t get shipped back home or end up being gifted to the locals we meet along the way. We keep reminding ourselves that our first destination (SE Asia) also happens to be where most of our stuff is made so…we can always buy it over there at a fraction of the U.S. price. With the risk of sounding like a commerical and a label hound, I’ve shared the brand and purchase location for those of you readers who may be planning your own trip.
Scott’s List
1) 85 litre Jansport backpack. I recieved this as a gift a few years ago and haven’t used it a single time. I’m an expert backpacker:).
2) Two pairs convertible travel pants. one green, one light brown. Both are North Face. Got one on Campmor.com and the other at a great travel store in Troutdale, OR called…darn I forget.
3) One pair thin navy blue linen pants to be “dressy”. I have had these for a few years. think I got ’em at the world famous travel store The Gap.
4) one pair blue cargo shorts. these too are North Face and I got them from Campmor.com
5) one swim suit with liner, doubles as running shorts – khaki. Columbia brand, from the same great travel store in Troutdale, OR.
6) one pair chaco sandals – blue. Hand me downs…Mr. Rice gave these to me at a cut rate. Thanks Rice I love ’em.
7) one pair low top, hiker/runner (gore tex). Merrell XCRs. Sportsman’s Warehouse in Boise, ID.
8) 2 pair SmartWool blister resistent socks (low cut). REI. two pair Wright Sock anti blister running socks. GI Joe’s.
9) 4 pair underwear. I went with the REI quick dry, wicking, boxer brief – leopard skin pattern
10) three Dri-fit type tee shirts (solid colors). Collected them over the years. Nike and Adidas of course, we live in Portland.
11) one long sleeve Dri Fit shirt – grey. Nike.
12) one collared Ex-Officio short sleeve camp shirt – multi colored. GI Joes in Portland.
13) one light cotton, collared, short sleeve shirt – multi colored. not sure. I think I bought it in San Diego.
14) one pair (top and bottom) thin capilene base layer. Had for a few years. Patagonia.
15) black, light weight, waterproof jacket. Adidas. Thanks J.P. . Got it out the outlet store for next to nothing.
16) light waterproof pants. Helly Hansen. My golf rain gear, had them for years.
17) one fleece jacket – black. North Face. present from my lovely wife several years ago.
18) one ball cap/one collapsible floppy hat. standard hats.
19) one waterproff pack cover – got it at Campmor.com. one size fits all.
20) three bandannas. to wear around my leg when breakdancing.
21) emergency waterproof parka. $4 at REI
22) bought several of the Eagle Creek “separators” they allow me to jamstuff into little cubes to keep them more organized. I originally thought they were a waste of $$ but have come to dig them.
Terra’s List:
Terra is pleading the 5th on this one. She is only happily admitting to taking ONLY one pack. She went with the 25 inch Eagle Creek Switchback. This is a really nice travel pack that came highly recommended (Andy and Joe, Willie and Mel).
OTHER items
Shaving kit items: have this in the main pack. also have a mini version for air travel. I had to buy a new one as my old one is being used for the first aid kit. I went with the Eagle Creek Sport model. Because I’m sporty.
1) deodorant
2) toothpaste/toothbrush
3) floss
4) chapstick
5) eye drops
6) tweezers
7) nail clippers
8 ) shampoo
9) soap
10) razor, blades (no shave cream), using soap until further notice. Got this one from my friend Sow.
11) little mirror. it came with the case 🙂
Air travel pack: this is just my CamelBak loaded up with air travel gear. Not sure what model the Camelbak is but it is several years old. mid sized
1) Digital Camera: Cannon powershot SD 100 Elph. Great little camera.
2) memory cards. wasn’t exactly sure how to handle this one. I’ve got three cards. 520MB, 256 MB, and 64MB. I’ve got one in the camera and the other two for backup. I’ve been told that we should be able to take the card into intenet cafes and they’ll burn the pictures onto a CD. We’ll make copies and send them home.
3) One backup battery for the camera
4) pens
5) mini first aid kit: one of the thin ones that you can get at most stores. 33 pieces.
6) a few ziploc bags. You never know when you’ll want to eat the rest of your burger. perhaps at the Louvre.
7) Wet ones. (Thanks Fuller) For when you have that not so fresh feeling. Had it yesterday in Dallas.
8) toothbrush, mini toothpaste
9) mini deodorant
10) exederin
11) Ambien
12) Airborne
13) Hand sanitizer
14) playing cards. regular size. I reserve the minature cards for playing poker with Symms, Rice and Pierce.
15) i-pod
16) Journal
17) Magazines/books
18) I also bought a small PacSafe brand mini-carrying case. these have the built in wiremesh anit-theft system. We’ll keep the “valuables” in this. It is small enough to fit inside the CamelBak.
19) head lamps
First Aid Kit
A disclaimer: Terra is a Nurse so…
1) Malaria pills (Doxycycline)
2) Ciprofloxacin
3) Omphalia 11 & Patrinia 7
4) Tamiflu – I really have no idea what any of these do. I just hope I’m taking the right ones
5) sunblock
6) anti dia you know whata
7) vaseline. protects minor cuts, scrapes and burns. Says so on the tube.
8) Hydrocortisone cream.
9) more hand sanitizer
10) neosporin
11) waterproolf first aid tape
12) water purification tablets
13) surgical scissors
14) Zymar
15) super glue
16) mini sewing kit. in case I have to go Rambo on myself after falling 300 feet through trees and what not.
17) Sharpie with duct tape wrapped around it 1/4 thick. Saw this idea on line.
18) lidocaine cream
19) sterilized q-tips
20) mini roll of Charmin
21) a bunch of different sterile dressings. eye pads, alcohol pads, insect sting relief pads, iodine pads, landing pads etc
22) big bandaids
23) surgical gloves
24) first aid masks
25) more Wet Ones
26) dramamine
27) Instructions on how to use all this stuff
Special thanks to Toni and Dave who got Terra and I great multi-purpose tools to use as well. We love them. Carpe Mundum!
Well that’s it. By the way, I promise never to write a Blog entry this long again.
Tags: Before We Leave, luggage, packing, pre-departure, The Little Differences
Weiser Wander
🙁 Somethings are missing from your list.
Try cutting back on the Wet Ones to save room! 🙂
If you do have them, nevermind. But please email me now and then with suggestions, comments, how often the other half is provided…Thanks!