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Packing List

Posted by Dave on 27 November 2007. Tags: , ,

I created a really cool interactive packing list using Flickr notes. Please check it out here (opens new window). Below is the photo without the cool mouse-over feature. My itemized list below looks like a lot, however as you can see in the photo, it’s not much!

Packing List

Packing List

Trip Inventory (all pictured unless otherwise noted, including the clothing I’ll wear)

** Items marked “new” were bought in 2007 for this RTW trip. Items from previous adventures are noted as such.

Clothes and Packs

  • Gregory Chaos backpack (2,800 cubic inches, from Summer ‘98 Europe)
  • Patagonia daypack (new, not pictured, replaces green Jansport canvas bag)
  • Merrell hiking boots (I might regret taking these, from Spring ‘05 Costa Rica)
  • Saucony running sneakers w/custom molded orthotics
  • Brazilian flip flops (from Spring ‘05 Costa Rica)
  • North Face windbreaker (from Spring ‘05 Costa Rica)
  • North Face khaki cargo pants (from Summer ‘98 Europe)
  • North Face khaki cargo shorts (from Summer ‘98 Europe)
  • Bathing suit
  • 2 T-shirts
  • 3 pairs of socks (2 new crew Smart Wool, and 1 Ingenius liner hybrid)
  • 3 boxers
  • 2 bandannas (from Spring ‘05 Costa Rica and ‘06 Belize)
  • Baseball cap – DC Nationals camo (new, not a fan of the team – just like the design)
  • Eagle Creek money belt (from Summer ‘98 Europe)
  • Oakley sunglasses
  • Prescription glasses w/case (new, though I have 20/20 vision)

Toiletries and First Aid

  • Small paktowel (from Spring ‘05 Costa Rica)
  • First Aid Kit – homemade w/Tupperware. Includes assorted band aids, gauze, Q-tips, digital thermometer, Sudafed, Imodium, Gas-x, Benadryl, moleskin, healthy travel and first aid booklets.
  • Toiletry bag – toothbrush, dental floss, nail clippers, Motrin, Aleve, Gold Bond powder, Centrum vitamins, 2 safety razors, 1 roll toilet paper.
  • 1 quart Ziploc bag with <3oz/bottle – Campsuds, suntan lotion, Neosporin, Cortizone, shaving cream, toothpaste, eye drops, bug spray, skin lotion, Prep-H

Electronic Gear (I think I crossed into official flashpacker territory)

  • Canon PowerShot Digital Elph SD700IS camera w/soft case (new)
  • 2 camera batteries and 2 memory cards (new, 2gb each)
  • Canon battery charger (new)
  • Petzl Zipka LED headlamp w/2 AAA batteries (new)
  • Casio Pathfinder digital watch (new, love it!)
  • Creative Zen V Plus 8gb MP3 player w/headphones, cloth pouch (new)
  • Universal Adapter/Power Converter (new)
  • Universal Charger by Creative (new, specific to mp3 player)
  • Card reader (new)
  • E*Trade digital security token (new)
  • SanDisk Cruzer Micro 1gb Flash Stick (new, loaded w/Skype and Firefox + my personal bookmarks)
  • Cheap headset/mic for Skype (new)

Documents and Money (all items to be scanned and e-mailed to self, copies left at home too)

  • Passport w/Chinese Visa
  • Photocopy of passport info page
  • Printout of Australian electronic Visa
  • 9 extra photos (for Visas)
  • Driver’s License
  • Anthem health insurance card
  • WHO Immunization card
  • 4 flight e-ticket receipts, NYC bus reservation
  • Lonely Planet Tahiti, Rough Guides New Zealand
  • E*Trade Visa debit card
  • Suntrust Visa debit card (back-up, expires 9/08)
  • Capital One Visa credit card
  • 3 paper E*Trade checks
  • $150 in travelers checks
  • $300 cash (USD)

Miscellaneous

  • Notebook and pen
  • Camera and watch manuals
  • ~ 70 Moo/Flickr mini cards w/blog and e-mail address
  • Sewing kit (from Summer ‘98 Europe – yet to be used!)
  • Gum

Things I might have done differently:

  • Picked 1 debit or credit card to be MasterCard instead of all Visa
  • Bought Merrell crossover-type trail runners instead of full-fledged boots (thus not needing to bring a separate pair of sneakers)

Am I forgetting anything????

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This post was written by:

Dave - who has written 960 posts on Go Backpacking.

Dave Lee (Editor-in-Chief) blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing, and lamenting his untimely departure from Medellin. Follow him on Twitter @rtwdave

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  • Skip
    I'm sure your forgetting something... and taking some other stuff that you will eventually decide that you don't need :roll: (isn't this always the case?) But you seem amazingly organized!!!
  • Good points Skip - the cell phone and flash drive were truly last minute ideas. My pack feels fairly light, and compact, though I know that'll start to change immediately. I'm going to weigh it this morning.
  • Stu
    Id ditch the flipflops for a pair of crocs or walmart waldie knockoffs. and ditch one pair of shoes. keep the trailrunners and let the others go.

    ditch the daypack. you can use a belt like as sling and hitch it to the backpack lid thats removable :) or turn the lid into a bumbag.

    ditch the cargo pants and shorts and get some zipoff ones (north face make some nice zipoff hiking trousers).

    liner socks are a mmm choice. some people love liners some dont. unless your gonna REALLY were every day some bigass hiking boots liner socks are futile.

    I hope all your electronics your taking dont distract you from the travelling + view etc ;) imo too much electronics but its a personal thing eh.

    only thing I would add is a couple of travellers cheques as some emergency money.
  • Yea - I realize the utility of sport sandals, and already have an Ocean Pacific pair I got in Costa Rica I could bring, however I find flip flops to be more comfortable and a tad more stylish (though I'm all for function over form!). Maybe I'll bring them instead and pick up cheap flip flops on the road.

    Gotta keep the daypack - carrying water bottles, journal, camera are all part of my modus operandi, which has suited me well so far!

    I considered the zip off pants/shorts, however I figured I could save the money and just use the pants/shorts I've already got (plus I know how they perform, and they're already worn/dirtied).

    The "liner socks" aren't real liners, however they're thinner that normal socks so I referred to them as such.

    I definitely think I've stuffed a bit too much electronic gear, though I will leave myself open to shipping or dropping some along the way (Yea, I know every backpacker says that!!)

    Traveler's checks and money - getting that from the bank today!!! :)
  • Alan
    Did you take something like ibuprofen? Nothing's more annoying than an headache and nothing on hand to kill it!!!!

    I also always bring a retractable backpack cable lock. Helped me feel safer about my stuff during my travels.
    http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-24-Inch-Retra...
  • Yep - I packed Motrin (also a suggestion by my mom)!

    I've gone back and forth on the lock thing. I mean people can easily slice the pack or strap and take your bag anyways, so I normally forego it. It can also make people more curious about what you've got in the pack. I do have a little combo lock on the top pouch so I have some small sense of security when I want to put away my camera or mp3 player.
  • Alan
    you've got a point, that sounds fine!
  • Alan
    oh and I remember actually I originally bought the lock not for thieves in the countries, but for people from the air companies!!!

    It happened that I was in a plane where many people's bags were not put in time during a connection. The air company told me I would receive my bag the following day at home. Indeed, I got it by a special delivery, and when I opened it, I found out I was missing stuffs!!!!
  • Jonathan
    Dave, you boot. Any Marine worth his salt would recognize a Junk on Bunk inspection. Next time I better see Grunt Rolls made out of your socks and underwear or there'll be hell to pay. Oh, we'll play games.

    Is that the same backpack I took with me? That's bonkos! How old is that thing?
  • Jon - I have no clue as to what you just said (your Marine speak bewilders me). Are you suggesting I remove something from the list?

    Yes, it's the same pack you took to Europe - I like it that way - plenty of history and dirt gathered upon it. Just goes to show if you make a good investment from the start, travel equipment (and clothes in the case of my North Face pants/shorts) can last decades!
  • Dave, you should send this over to Justin Glow at Gadling for their "What's in Your Pack?" feature. I think he's still looking for submissions.
  • Great suggestion! I e-mailed him and he's already working on posting my packing list (for next week)! :)
  • Phil
    What about a pair of tweezers? For ticks and splinters and such?
  • Got 'em!
  • You're not missing anything I wish I'd brought. Since you're going to modern countries early on your trip, you can get anything else you might need there. But clean underwear and a debit card can get you a long way.
  • I recognized Your blog as a wonderfull. I’m traing to travel.
    Here you can see some of my trip.
    www.lifegallery.blog.pl
  • Glad I double-checked with Sprint - turns out my whole conversation last night was about international rates when calling from the USA, not what I could pay if I used my phone in those other countries! And my model phone is not GSM-compatible. So, that's one thing I'm actually dropping from my packing list (I edited my entry above).
  • Karl
    Dave - it's Karl again from Dewey Beach! Your blog is so detailed, I feel like I'm heading around the world with you!!!!! :grin: Keep up the awesome work on the blog, and have a blast out there! Take care......
  • Looks good to me, as for the electronic stuff most of it is small and packs well the weight is minimal music and pictures a must.. Have a Safe Trip Dave, Enjoy the Experience!!!!!
  • Hi Dave.. You have a big Packing list.

    I really love your blog. Great design and i really the title.
  • Ames
    Looks great.... just wish I was going with ya!! Your preparation is amazing. I'm very excited to read about your upcoming adventures!!! Please keep us posted!!
  • Hi Amy - nice to see you on here. :)

    I'll be sure to live it up in New Zealand for the both of us!
  • Shane
    Dave I noticed that you packed smartwool socks that are great for wicking moisture. Did you also pack something like ex officio synthetic boxers, or just some cotton ones? I am getting ready for a backpacking trip to Thailand this summer and have hear suggestions for synthetic boxers as well mainly for the quick drying. What do you suggest?
  • Shane -

    I just brought 3 pairs of my normal cotton boxers which have been just fine. In tropical weather like northern Australia and Indonesia, it was more comfortable to wear board shorts without underwear at all. Much more comfortable. I'm guessing I'll be doing the same in Thailand at the beaches and islands as well. Plus, it's harder to have your pocket picked from a boardshort pocket as they're usually small and oddly placed on the legs.
  • gina
    I am going to costa rica for 2 weeks with my nephew 21 . He has me set up to go in hostels Well I am 41 and really want to find out if I am going to end up being a dorm mother. Dont get me wrong I like to have a good time. Just wanted to know will there be anyone my age?
  • In Costa Rica, probably not. I did find in South Africa there were some older folks using the same hostels, which were some of the nicest I've seen in all my travels. Don't worry though, you'd only become a dorm mother if you let things get to you - messy people, people returning late drunk, etc. Usually, people (or you) pass on in a day or two so it's never too unbearable.
  • Niru
    Hello Dave,

    I always admired the way you meticulously update your blog with details of your wonderful trip. In particular, all the posts related to planning et al are very useful.

    Since you are more than a year into your trip, what do you think of your packing list now? What are the items you barely touched and those that you needed, but failed to bring? It would be really great if you would consider writing a retrospective post about your packing list.

    Thanks so much & happy travels.
  • Thanks Niru! I will be answering your question in the next week or two, as I switch from reporting on my travels to summing them up. The contents of my backpack have changed quite a bit over the last 15 months. :)
  • Did you bring any light weight long pants?
  • Hi Deb - yes, I brought my trusty lightweight, quick-drying North Face khaki cargo pants! Not the most form-fitting, fashionable attire for globetrotting, but they're comfortable and damn durable (have them 11 years now)!!
  • What do you think about Cash cards.They are touted as good options to western union and credit card.
  • If you mean debit cards, then yes, I think they're a great idea (and what I used for most of my trip).
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