Backpacking group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Packing -- what's great to take?

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whereisliz Joined: Oct 03 Points: 8654 Posts: 164 Posted: 2003-11-06 20:55:00    As I'm working on getting together my pack for my next long-term trip, I thought I'd ask for your expertise. What are some of your essential items, things that you've found work the best and you wouldn't want to live without on the road? Specify brand names if that's relevant -- for instance, I've used four different travel towels, but Micronet towels http://www.mcnett.com/ are by far the best I've used... softer and less bulky than PackTowl, still soaks up loads of water and dries quickly (stays smelling nice longer, too). Any other tips out there? --- travel inspiration & information at whereisliz.com Reply    Reply with quote    Contact whereisliz   bryan. Joined: Nov 03 Points: 44 Posts: 10 Posted: 2003-11-09 01:31:00    pack what you think you need then dump half of it for starters. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact bryan.   marianne Premium account Joined: Sep 03 Points: 20248 Posts: 349 Posted: 2003-11-09 11:52:00    Hi Liz, I don't take towels, not even the light weight ones. I take my multi purpose sarang whicjh I bought in Indonesia but any cotton piece of cloth will do. It serves me as: towel sheet beach mat dress It my most treasured travel item. --- “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis Stevenson Reply    Reply with quote    Contact marianne   ta-shy Joined: Jun 02 Points: 4110 Posts: 170 Posted: 2003-11-27 20:49:00    hey Liz! Good health and high spirits! As a professional backpacker some essential items to bring are travel pack "wet ones" perfect for bus rides, dusty trips or just an all around refresher if you can't get to a shower. Also a major thing to me is Dental Floss. I lost mine one time and kicked myself in the ass for it cause I couldn't find any for the whole 2months I was in Africa. I did master the stick cleaning thing though :O) also of major importance are hair bands, sunglasses, lemon scented lotions or Avon skin so soft "original spray" only and original sent Avon soaps (for mosquitoes). Depending on where your going a fleece blanket(small) My back pack contains this: toothbrush/toothpaste small bottle shampoo dental floss wetones tampons (very hard to find if you run out most countries have bulky kotex) (if you run out of hygiene products you can typically buy them for cheap overseas) non-smear makeup no facial products(humidity is terrible on it you sweat too much) hair bands/clips sunglasses sarong fleece blanket (5'x5') for cold desert nights one heavy sweater one pants 2 socks 5 underwear 3-4 t-shirts 2 shorts all clothes can be washed by hand or bought on your trip. 1 pr.sandals 1pr runners. one very small first aid kit (bandaids, needle, thread, antibiotics, alchol pads, ozonal, polysporin, immodium and a very powerful Antibiotic like Cephral(sp) only to use when absolutely necessary. travel tabs or gravel, larium, ibuprophen) if you ever run out it's cheaper to get overseas. I keep copies of my passport, insurance etc in the pack and the originals on my person. --- LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE! ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD! ALWAYS! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ta-shy   ta-shy Joined: Jun 02 Points: 4110 Posts: 170 Posted: 2003-11-28 05:05:00    i forgot q-tips, a hankerchief for your head and one for your face. --- LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE! ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD! ALWAYS! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ta-shy   whereisliz Joined: Oct 03 Points: 8654 Posts: 164 Posted: 2003-11-29 01:37:00    Tashi, thanks so much for the detailed packing list! I have been looking for ways to lighten my pack, and what you have listed looks like a great framework! I finally finshed updating my own packing list (not nearly so succinct as yours!) and the items I found most useful are detailed here: http://www.whereisliz.com/packing/packing8.html Happy trails and lighter loads, Liz --- travel inspiration & information at whereisliz.com Reply    Reply with quote    Contact whereisliz   ta-shy Joined: Jun 02 Points: 4110 Posts: 170 Posted: 2003-12-01 07:10:00    where are you going for your next trip? I usually go to 3rd world countries where the less you bring the better. p.s. where the hell did you find that menstral cup? that is the weirdest thing I ever saw.. how do you keep yourself clean? how do you wash it if your on the road? --- LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE! ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD! ALWAYS! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ta-shy   whereisliz Joined: Oct 03 Points: 8654 Posts: 164 Posted: 2003-12-01 07:19:00    Yes, it is different, and I wasn't sure how well it would do on the road, but I found in Europe it worked great. I can find them in some, but not all, drugstores here in California, marketed under the brand name "Instead". Washing is easy, just pour clean water over it (wash your hands, first!) With a little practice it can actually be quite clean, but I do recommend strongly that you practice at home first and get used to them. As for how they will work in 3rd world situations, I guess I'm going to find out one day! Liz [ This Message was edited by: whereisliz on 2003-12-01 07:20 ] --- travel inspiration & information at whereisliz.com Reply    Reply with quote    Contact whereisliz   kathmandukitten Premium account Joined: Sep 03 Points: 2729 Posts: 82 Posted: 2003-12-02 14:13:00    I'm with Marriane on this one. The most useful item i take travelling is a sarong. So far i have used it is a top, a dress, a skirt, a beach towel, a curtain, aid for privacy, a blanket, a sleeping bag liner, a bag for my dirty laundry, a bag for shopping, an emergency mosquito net, a scarf, a hammock, a pillow (stuffed with clothes), a floor covering (for those dirty shared bathrooms) and sun shade... to mention but a few! 2 of those in your rucksack and you don't need much else to get you by. --- Would you risk it, for a biscuit? Reply    Reply with quote    Contact kathmandukitten   bryan. Joined: Nov 03 Points: 44 Posts: 10 Posted: 2003-12-02 18:55:00    I'm not a sarong type. One extra pair of jeans, one change underwear and socks, and a couple of t-shirts.Everything can be cleaned on route, anything else need is extra bagage and most likely available cheaper where i'm going than where i'm coming from. All hostelries of any type and class plus traveling stop offs, ie highway services, railway stations, airports in many destinations have soap and towels in the restroom, otherwise do as the locals do and they dont take their bathroom around with them in a huge bag. Only extra is if camping then tent and sleeping back. And the camera for the pics!! plus note book for the record. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact bryan.   Page: 1 2