Mistakes I’ve made during my travels- packing too much stuff!
While I was never exactly a heavy packer to begin with, I always thought I was pretty good about not packing too much stuff. That is until I started meeting some of the folks in airports and at work and seeing what they carry with them. You can always tell the ones that have some good experiences under their belt, because they aren’t packing too much of a load. It’s pretty easy, when you are unsure of how things are going to be, to bring things that you really won’t need. I know from first hand experience. The key is to pack as light as you can!! 35 pounds is the absolute MAXIMUM I will ever travel with. This is a good target for anyone. One exception is if you have gear that you need to take especially for the trip like photography equipment, climbing gear, or musical instuments are obviously going to be something else, but everything else should be in the other bag!
Here’s what I use as a guideline for packing.
Backpack or suitcase
Clothing for a Hot or Normal Destination
Wind and waterproof jacket – try to get one that is breathable
Fleece or hoodie, designed for under the jacket when cold and wet, or used on its own when just cold
2x Lightweight shirts/blouses – long sleeves – for warm nights with mosquitoes about, and which can double up as slightly smarter wear
2x Light weight pants, long legs, suitable for trekking. Consider zip off trousers/pants that turn into shorts
3x T-shirts
2x shorts/skirts for the ladies
Swim suit
Socks and underwear, any where between 5 and 10 pairs, but I like a week worth personally
Shoes designed for hiking/walking, but also not so shabby as to look out of place in a restaurant
Sandals for when you’re not wearing the shoes, and I prefer to swim in mine quite often
Plastic slippers known as thongs, flip flops as well, for use in showers or just lounging around
Second bag light weight, collapses down to a small size, designed to be packed away 90% of the time
Nalgene Bottle or equivalent
Duct Tape is quite essential, massively strong tape good for fixing just about anything. Black electrical tape, slightly different uses. Can be wrapped around Nalgene
Guidebook and maximum two – one for your destination and the next area, you’ll have to pick up the rest as you go, carrying too many is crazy.
First Aid Kit with bandages, disinfectant wipes, antiseptic cream, pain killers, chapstick and suntan lotion.
Sun glasses – get a good quality pair that protects against UV in your home country, those on the streets often come from dubious origin and may not protect your eyes against harmful UV rays.
Sleeping bag for the occasions where you don’t have bedding provided, or you don’t trust it.
Earplugs cause if you need them they are great to have, and plus they take up no room at all.
Fiction books take two paperbacks, when you’ve read one, trade it for another – hostels often have a trade bookshelf.
Music Player CD Player, Ipod, Cassettes, Minidisk whatever you have. Lot’s of music is good!
Camera
Cell phone that I know will work where I’m going
Flash light, a small one like a LED head torch is perfect, as it allows your hands to be free when in use
Laptop computer
