Words
- by Roberto Rocha
- published from Canada
- on 2010.01.28
The things we’ll carry
Ask 10 backpackers what one should carry on a long trip and you might as well ask them their favourite movies. The answers will be just as disparate.
When you’re living for several months with only what you carry on your shoulders, packing becomes an intensely personal affair. Yes, there are the utilitarian basics, but trying to agree on a standard list is as productive as – ALERT: nerd reference – counseling Mac and PC disciples on the principles of empathy.
To wit: see this list on nine useless things travelers tend to pack. I disagree with six of them. Guy sounds like he never left his city limits. But to him, it makes sense.
And so, here is a partial list of the things that make sense for us to carry for one year on a 50-liter pack each.
For him:
2 T-shirts
1 collared short-sleeved shirt
1 button short-sleeve shirt
1 button long-sleeve shirt
1 light fleece jacket
1 pair pants
1 pair convertible zip-off pants
1 pair shorts
1 pair swim shorts
1 pair of “speedo” style swimsuit
Socks and underwear
1 pair all-purpose walking shoes
1 pair sandals
Rain poncho
Sleeping sack
Traveler towel
Brazilian flag (it’s World Cup year, after all)
Money belt
Flashlight
LED belt clip light
Swiss army knife
Nylon clothesline
Duct tape
Compass keychain
Pandeiro (percussion instrument)
Toiletry bag
Shared items:
13″ MacBook
iPod Touch with external battery pack
Camera
Gorillapod flexible tripod
Voice recorder with clip-on microphone
SteriPEN UV water purifier
Plug converters
Flexible bowls
Waterproof bag
Platypus 1-liter foldable water bottle
Snorkel
For her:
Hell, I don’t even want to try to list this. I’ll let her do it later.
Comments
Nice – hey I recognize some of these items!
Btw, why bring a voice recorder and an iPod touch? Doesn’t the iPod have a mic? Mine does.
For the same reason we’re taking a camera and not taking pictures with a cell phone. A dedicated gadget is much better at its function than an all-in-one device. Besides, we decided on the iPod months after buying the Olympus.
A hiker saying is “your gear reflects your fear”. You guys seem pretty fearless. Though I have mixed feelings about the water purifying pen..
I read plenty on the SteriPen to give me confidence before buying. Tested it on some tap water in Fiji that was deemed unsafe to drink. I’m still around.
Hallo Annika, hallo Roberto,nicht immer le4uft alles so glatt wie man sich das wfcnscht, aber meistens rfcttelt sich dann doch alles zheucrt. Die Hauptsache ist, dass ihr gut zusammenhaltet. Ich wfcnsche euch ffcr euere weitere Reise nach China alles Gute. Ihr seid ja nun gut ausgerfcstet.Blacky ist ganz begeistert von eurer Fahrt und plant demne4chst auch so eine Tour. Ich glaube aber, dass er hf6chstens bis Ff6rtschendorf kommt und sich dann wieder abholen le4sst.Liebe Grfcdfe und viele UmarmungenKarin
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