What is a world traveler:<\/strong> Though mentioned before, I will review again.<\/p>\n\t A world traveler is not on vacation.\u00a0 It is a trip of undefined length with often a fixed amount of money (which is why travelers are often cheapskates).<\/p>\n\t A traveler is not necessarily trying to see or accomplish anything.\u00a0 They may skip the museums or churches in favor of wandering aimlessly or sleeping till noon.<\/p>\n\t Traveling is not planned in advance.\u00a0 The trip begins best with a one way ticket; the next destination is not known.<\/p>\n\t The needs of a world traveler<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\t The world is a big place; you need to be ready for anything<\/em>…and though the world gets smaller everyday, there are still places where it is better to be a self-contained unit.\u00a0 Hopefully those places will always exist, else how are we to learn the joy of self-sufficiency, and the growth associated with a little danger?<\/p>\n\t Pre-Pack: <\/strong>You need receptacles before you can actually pack, water-resistant preferably.<\/p>\n\t The Goldilocks Backpack: <\/strong>A\u00a0 good travel backpack is of a moderate size. <\/strong>Bear in mind you are not camping, and you are not on a vacation.<\/p>\n\t Too small <\/strong>and you’re agile, ready to move, but not prepared for anything.\u00a0 It simply can’t hold all the necessaries and also the niceties that make you happy you have it.\u00a0 As you travel more your backpack tends to get smaller.<\/em><\/p>\n\t Too large <\/strong>and you lugging around something you can’t hike with; it becomes burdensome.\u00a0 You are overprotective of it.\u00a0 Seasoned travelers chuckle at the folks with oversized backpacks. <\/em>Also, it is hard to run in large packs…sometimes you have to make a run for it.\u00a0 That’s just the way it is.<\/p>\n\t Remember:\u00a0 “Things” are fine; they are necessary, but never pack anything you are not willing to have stolen<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 It will happen eventually.\u00a0 Trust me.\u00a0 If it does happen, your trip will get even better, and you’ll take a scooter ride across Mallorca.<\/p>\n\t Day Pack:<\/strong> You will need to take things with you while you’re out during the day. Some backpacks come with detachable day packs or fanny packs.\u00a0 I personally use a separate bag that is much like a sleeping bag sack with some back straps.\u00a0 It is quite small when not in use.<\/p>\n\t Money belt:<\/strong> Cash, Passport, and anything of the sort need to be kept on you at all times.\u00a0 I sleep with my money belt on.\u00a0 I take it to the shower.\u00a0 You only need your passport stolen in Spain once to learn this lesson well.<\/p>\n\t Plastic Bags<\/strong>:\u00a0 Any number and\/or size.\u00a0 They take up no space, and keep things dry.\u00a0 You only need bump down a dirt road 5 hours in the back of an uncovered truck in a monsoon in Thailand once to realize it sucks to have nothing dry to change into.\u00a0 I now have an airtight compression sack for clothes as well; though it isn’t necessary.\u00a0 To reiterate:\u00a0 keep everything in a plastic bag…even the plastic bags.<\/em><\/p>\n\t Items to Pack:<\/strong> In no particular order.<\/p>\n\t Rainy Day Items: <\/strong> This is what you pack because you are a world traveler who may be in Istanbul one day and on the train to Siberia the next.\u00a0 Think you don’t need it?\u00a0 Just wait.\u00a0 Some of these things can be bought of course given time, but it stinks to be caught without them if they’re needed at a given moment.<\/p>\n\t Mosquito repellent:\u00a0 Don’t go to Rishikesh, get eaten alive by mosquitoes, and think you have malaria.\u00a0 Its dumb.\u00a0 Keep some of that high DEET repellent they don’t even sell in the US with you.\u00a0 Its small and packs away nicely.<\/p>\n\t Antiseptic:\u00a0 Don’t cut your dirty foot on a rock in Dahab and envision an emergency toe amputation in an Egyptian hospital from the infection.\u00a0 Take some antiseptic.\u00a0 Again, it is small.<\/p>\n\t Sun tan lotion:\u00a0 Hiking in Peru, the beach in Thailand…wherever.\u00a0 Nothing can ruin a trip faster than a blistering sunburn that leaves you with chills and unable to go out.\u00a0 Get that SPF 50 white paste.\u00a0 You’ll be thankful.<\/p>\n\t Water purification pills:\u00a0 Very unlikely you’ll get caught without access to clean water hiking in Nepal; however, since water is necessary to live you’ll be really happy if these come in handy.\u00a0 Also, they are very small so its a good item just in case.<\/p>\n\t Rope:\u00a0 Take some rope.\u00a0 Not the big sailing rope of course; just something thin and sturdy as a precaution.<\/p>\n\t Flashlight: Holy Moly.\u00a0 Don’t get caught trying to find a tarantula in your room in Cost Rica in the dark\u00a0 (didn’t sleep too well that night).\u00a0 Take the really good LED flashlight or mag-light.\u00a0 Take extra batteries.<\/p>\n\t Leatherman:\u00a0 At the least it is an overpriced bottle-opener or pocket knife that doesn’t take up much space.\u00a0 They are very versatile though when needed.\u00a0 I struggled with this one a while after 9\/11, since it caused you to have to check your bags (no sharp objects on the plane)…but now you can’t even take normal sized toiletries on the plane, so you really have to check your backpack anyway.<\/p>\n\t Something warm:\u00a0 I don’t care if you’re going to the hottest place on the planet…take something warm, a fleece, some layers…something.\u00a0 It gets cold in the desert; it rains in the tropics.\u00a0 Sometimes you get stuck in Salzberg in the snow at 4 in the morning and you wish you had something warm.\u00a0 This one is a bit of a struggle to find the right balance, because jackets take up space…too much space.\u00a0 Take something small and long sleeve.<\/em> If it really gets cold and you’re stuck, you’ll need to buy something or depend on people’s help until you can buy a jacket.<\/p>\n\t Gloves\/Scarf:\u00a0 Take them.\u00a0 They are small, warm, and invaluable if needed.<\/p>\n\t Rain coat\/Poncho:\u00a0 Take something in case you are outside and it rains.\u00a0 These can be a bit heavy, but can pack up small if you’re careful.\u00a0 I suggest a Poncho.\u00a0 Even a trash bag will work if you’re creative.<\/p>\n\t Pack Cover:\u00a0 Again, don’t let your pack get soaked so that everything you own is wet.\u00a0 It sucks, and can ruin your electronic equipment (which should be kept in plastic bags).\u00a0 Pack covers are small.<\/p>\n\t Voltage Converter\/Plug Adapters:\u00a0 This is a new item.\u00a0 When I first traveled there were no iPods, cameras used film and batteries lasted forever.\u00a0 Now with iPods and digital cameras you need to be prepared for countries with different voltage requirements and outlet configurations.\u00a0 You can buy small voltage converters for low wattage devices; however, they are heavy.\u00a0 The plug adapters are small and light.<\/p>\n\t Phone Card:\u00a0 Though less important in the age of the Internet, and possible to workaround, it is still important to be able to call if something drastic happens, or you have to change flights, or need to call a contact in the next country.\u00a0 You can always buy a local calling card, but since they are small its a good idea to keep a general purpose calling card from a major carrier with associated country access numbers available.\u00a0 They don’t cost anything if not used.<\/p>\n\t Extra Space:\u00a0 NEVER LEAVE WITH A FULL PACK<\/strong>.\u00a0 You will buy stuff and it will be better than the stuff you brought from home.\u00a0 I try to leave at least 1\/3 of my pack empty at the outset.\u00a0 Don’t forget to dress out of your backpack when you leave home (otherwise what you are wearing is an extra set of clothes).<\/p>\n\t Mainstays: <\/strong> These are the items you will always pack when you go somewhere.\u00a0 They are less important<\/em> as you can always replace them, they are rarely needed on the spur of the moment, and are generally widely available.<\/p>\n\t Clothes:\u00a0 Bring two changes of clothes at least (and also at most)…so you can have something to wear while you’re washing clothes.\u00a0 I take shants (pants that zip off into shorts) and a lot of synthetics (capilene, polyester, etc.\u00a0 clothes that are warm, pack small, and dry fast).<\/p>\n\t Shoes:\u00a0 Take one good pair of shoes that are comfortable and you’d be willing to wear everyday if necessary (because it might become necessary).<\/p>\n\t Toiletries:\u00a0 Take them because you always do.\u00a0 They can be replaced though.\u00a0 I do recommend travel sized toiletries, a fold up toothbrush, and a small soap case.\u00a0 Don’t take a big bottle of shampoo and conditioner.\u00a0 They take up too much room.\u00a0 Get used to being a little dirty.<\/p>\n\t Towel: Don’t take a full sized towel.\u00a0 Its big.\u00a0 Take a pack towel, and get used to drying yourself with something the size of a hand towel.\u00a0 That’s life.<\/p>\n\t Camera:\u00a0 I suggest splurging a bit on a good camera.\u00a0 Travel doesn’t leave a lot of residual assets other than the memories.\u00a0 Sometimes pictures are the only concrete thing left.\u00a0 Bring LOTS of memory for your camera and extra batteries (charging them covered above).\u00a0 You don’t want to run out in Patagonia (one of the most beautiful places on the planet) because you were too dumb to buy an extra memory card.\u00a0 That being said, there is always the possibility that your camera gets stolen.\u00a0 Nice, compact camera, yes.\u00a0 Amazing, SLR camera; be careful.<\/p>\n\t Music:\u00a0 Music is the soundtrack of your life, and Travel is the Greatest Hits.\u00a0 Take an iPod or something.\u00a0 I’ve traveled before portable music, with mp3 cds, and with truly portable music (iPod)….music is awesome when you travel.\u00a0 I could write a whole post on good travel music.\u00a0 It matters.<\/p>\n\t \n\t \n\t Items not to pack: <\/strong> Just as important as what to bring, is what you think you should bring that you really shouldn’t.\u00a0 The general rule is to take half the stuff and twice the money<\/em> you think you’ll need.\u00a0 Even if you don’t have the funds to take twice the money (who does?), half as much stuff is still a good rule of thumb.<\/p>\n\t Hat:\u00a0 They are needed, but you can always buy one.\u00a0 If you need cover immediately, tie a T shirt around your head and improvise.\u00a0 If you have a favorite hat, of course take it.<\/p>\n\t Sunglasses:\u00a0 Again, usually needed eventually, but available within short order if necessary.\u00a0 Expensive glasses are just something to lose or get stolen.<\/p>\n\t Toilet paper:\u00a0 There are places where you will get stuck wiping your ass with leaves on the top of the world in Nepal….but you don’t need to take toilet paper with you from your home country.\u00a0 Buy it and keep it with you as you go.<\/p>\n\t Jacket:\u00a0 You’ll need it, but it is so bulky it is impractical to pack.\u00a0 Buy it on the road.\u00a0 Discard it afterward or send it home by mail if it has become sentimental.<\/p>\n\t Sleeping Bag\/Tent\/Cooking Gear:\u00a0 We’re not camping.\u00a0 They are way too bulky to bring with you.\u00a0 Even sheets are too bulky.\u00a0 Rent camping equipment if needed.<\/p>\n\t Clothes:\u00a0 You find the coolest clothes on the road.\u00a0 Buy them.\u00a0 The crap you bring from home is just to get your started.<\/p>\n\t Shoes:\u00a0 Don’t take a bunch of pairs of shoes.\u00a0 You can’t anyway because they are too bulky, but be aware that you’ll need to make some compromises with shoes.\u00a0 You can’t take a shoe for every occasion.<\/p>\n\t So there it is: \u00a0 A complete guide to the all purpose world travel backpack.\u00a0 Pack up, buy a ticket, and have at it.<\/p>\n\t Here is what it looks like after a job well done (the pack is small, and you are tired, but happy:)<\/p>\n\t
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