One of the most useful pieces of advice I ever got about packing for travelling is that you should . . . → Read More: Bags]]>

One of the most useful pieces of advice I ever got about packing for travelling is that you should decide before you leave what kind of trip you are going on. This may seem obvious but there are some items that you simply don’t need on certain types of travel.

For example, an extended vacation to the less developed parts of the world should not be considered as a camping trip. You take a backpack with you as your would when going hiking in the woods or camping, but the similarities pretty much end there.

You won’t need a tent, stove, pots, freeze-dried foods, sleeping bag or a rolled-up sleeping pad.

Certainly, in Europe you can save some money by camping out and cooking your own food on a stove, but this isn’t necessary in other parts of the world where accommodation and food is cheap.

For the cost of a good tent and sleeping bag you can live for months (including meals and accommodation) in the less developed parts of the world.

Plus, if you do take loads of gear there is always the temptation to try to use it all just because you brought it with you, camping out and cooking where it isn’t necessary (outside hostels, for example).

This way you tend to isolate yourself from the locals, trying to reproduce your home life, instead of finding out what it is like to live in the country in which you are staying.

You can always rent, borrow or even buy camping equipment if absolutely necessary or if you find you need it when you arrive, but for the number of times you will actually use it it is just not worth bringing it from home and hauling it around the whole time.

And anyway, you won’t find many designated camp grounds in the less developed parts of the world, plus, you can’t just leave a tent around to go exploring the cities (as you would in Europe) as it probably won’t be there when you return.

As well as the possibility of having it stolen, there is also the problem of losing or breaking something. You may spend hundreds on equipment you won’t use, have to carry around for months, and then leave it somewhere and never see it again, or it breaks when you most need it.

Additionally, the problem with a lot of camping gear is that whilst it will last for the few weeks every year when you go on vacation, it won’t last so long on an extended trip. Hard use and the passage of time will take its toll, and if it isn’t up to the job it may need repairing or even replacing.

All that said, if you are going trekking in remote areas, far way from shops and villages, then there is certain equipment you will need, good hiking boots, waterproofs, emergency gear, etc. And for other types of trip (e.g. mountaineering, climbing), good, reliable, functional (and heavy!) gear is essential. Look for items that are made from sturdy materials that are easy to maintain (with locally bought parts, preferably).

You won’t need as many things on a business trip where you will be staying in hotels and eating out in restaurants. You can leave behind universal sink plugs, shampoo and soap, hair dryers, etc., as you can find all of these at the hotel and, if not, within a short walk at the local store.

And on a two-week beach holiday you really just need swim suits and flip flops, plus a few outfits for the evenings. For both business trips and short holidays you won’t be doing much walking around with your bag either, maybe from the train to the plane then from the airport to the taxi, then into the hotel, and you can always get someone to carry it for you in all these cases (if you can afford it!).

Selection criteria

All of the above considerations will determine what kind of bag you will want to take.

They fall into a few categories; backpacking (including mountaineering and hiking), business and urban travel (including 1-2 week beach/resort vacations), and world/extended travel.

You can get one bag to cover all of the above but you will always end up compromising (I have three bags, one for each kind of trip I go on).

When buying a bag for long-term travel you should consider the following criteria:

Size

The size of the bag you buy will determine how much weight you will be carrying around for your whole trip.

You should buy the bag first then decide what to take, not the other way around.



A good idea is to try to buy one that is ‘airline carry-on’ size. You may never travel on a plane with it but you will find that it fits under seats in buses or in the luggage racks on trains and other small places.

They say that there are two kinds of luggage: carry-on and lost. So if you do end up taking your bag on the plane you will also ensure that you save time at the airport, plus it is far more secure (and convenient) to keep your bag with you at all times.

The emphasis, however, should be on trying to travel light, not to avoid checking bags on flights. You are not trying to pack as much as possible into one small bag, rather to learn to manage living with the things you can pack in a single bag. Also, airline carry-on is probably the maximum size you should consider carrying (smaller is better).

Finally, you will be the one who will carry it most of the time so buy it according to your needs, not the airlines’.

The official FAA carry-on size is 45 linear inches (115 cm), determined by adding the height, width and length. So a bag that is 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 56 x 36 x 23 cm (equal to 2880 cubic inches or 47 liters) should qualify.

It should be no larger than this, which means no pockets sticking out further, no other bags hanging off, and no big bulges in the middle or top.

Airlines are constantly changing the carry-on restrictions, so check before leaving.

Here is a rough guide to various restrictions on carry-on bags (number of items allowed (the second item usually being a purse, camera or laptop), size and weight). This list is probably out of date so check with airlines first and don’t rely on it, it is just used as an illustration of the variation in airline allowances.

TOD = ‘Total Outside Dimensions’

Also these things also dependson who you deal with at check-in and what mood they are in, so even if your bag complies with the regulations you still may not be able to carry it onto the plane. Smaller planes may also make you check your bag due to limited cabin space.

Construction

There are two basic types of luggage construction; soft-sided made from high-tech fabrics (an example of which is shown left), and hard-shelled made from fibreglass, hard plastics, or even metal (shown right).

The soft-sided bags are usually made of industrial nylon, such as ballistic nylon or Cordura. You can get cheaper nylon bags made from inferior fabrics but they will be heavier or thinner and less durable.

Both Cordura and ballistic nylon have their advantages and disadvantages. Cordura is more abrasion resistant, while ballistic has higher tear strength. Ballistic is smoother but doesn’t dye well so usually comes in black. Cordura has the rough feel of cotton canvas and can be dyed easily and therefore comes in different colours. Cordura also make a ballistic nylon.

Hard-shelled bags are heavier and, surprisingly, are not as good at coping with long trips. They are however, more secure as there are no zips to break into and they can’t be slashed with a knife.

A soft bag will not get damaged by bumps and knocks as much as a hard bag, and because they yield (even a small amount) they can also be squashed into smaller and more uneven spaces.

Make sure the zips are good quality. There are two types; chain and coil. Chain-type zips are stronger, keep out dirt and sand better, and are harder for prying fingers to break into, but they are more expensive as a result (but worth it). Look for bags with YKK brand zips if possible.

Design

Try to get a straight-sided bag instead of one with curves, as the former gives a greater internal volume.

Compression straps are very useful (both inside and out). External pockets can either be useful (for quick access to small objects) or a security risk (when in crowded train compartments).

Carrying straps need to be comfortable and sturdy but unless you are hiking or walking long distances you won’t need anything too complicated.

Wheels are not usually a good idea for bags for long-term trips, the mechanism that allows a bag to be wheeled is very heavy (a few pounds minimum), and unless you spend all your time in airports and hotel you will never use them.

Appearance

This is a purely personal choice, but remember that an expensive looking pack may attract unwanted attention in poorer countries, whereas a plain looking pack may not attract a second glance.

Choose dull or neutral colours if you can, and don’t hang loads of expensive gear on the outside.

There are really only two types of bag you can consider when going on a trip; a backpack or . . . → Read More: Types of bag]]>

There are really only two types of bag you can consider when going on a trip; a backpack or a suitcase.

If you are just going to be carrying a bag between cars, planes, taxis and hotels (for example, on a 2-week vacation or on a business trip), then a suitcase will be as good as any other bag.

For walking any distance a suitcase is not recommended at all, as the weight of the bag and contents is carried using the upper body only, and the weight is also off-centre. Even if they have wheels you won’t get many opportunities to use them.

A backpack is far better as most of the load is (or at least, should be) carried by the hips (not the shoulders as you may think).

There are three types of backpack; external-frame, internal-frame, and frameless.

External-frame backpacks

Very popular in the past, but far less common than the internal-framed type these days.

Almost all of the weight is transferred to the hip belt and high above the centre of gravity, which means they are good for hiking on regular trails, but the size and shape can make things awkward when on buses, trains, etc.

Internal-frame backpacks

The internal-frame pack is similar to the external except that frame is inside the pack. The arrangement of straps and hip-belt mean that most of the load is transferred away from the shoulders and onto the hips.

They are also smaller and are easier to manoeuvre on buses and trains.

Most are top-loading, enabling gear to be stuffed into the bag and pushed down, making them very efficient. However, finding specific items may involve emptying the whole bag, unless you plan well when packing.

However, some come with an abundance of external pockets which makes it easier to store and get to commonly used items (and for light-fingered thieves to get to).

Frameless backpacks, daypacks and duffel bags

It is possible to travel with bare minimum of gear using a daypack (similar to student book packs). This is a small, frameless backpack with just shoulder straps. This means, of course, that all the weight is carried on the shoulders.

You can also use a cheap duffel bag in the same way (nylon, not the heavy canvas army type). This is light and convenient but won’t hold much and if it does it won’t be easy to carry for long distances.

Travel packs

There is another type of pack which has become more popular recently; the travel pack.

These look like a cross between a soft-shelled suitcase and a backpack and are built specifically for travel. They are made of heavy duty nylon (Cordura and ballistic) and have a zip-open main body for easy access.

Most have internal frames, as well as straps and hip belts which can be zipped away behind a nylon panel which makes them look like a regular suitcase, with the addition of a handle or strap so they can be carried like one. Some also have external pockets.

The suspension system is not quite as good as an internal-framed backpack, but then you have to decide if you are going to be hiking in the jungle, climbing mountains wearing it, or just walking around a city for an hour or two or from the train station to your hostel.

Some packs come with zip-off daypacks which attach to the front, but these may not be necessary as you can always buy a separate daypack. Also, such a pack will move the centre of gravity further back (especially if you fill it with heavy gear).

My personal choice of travel pack for business and short trips where I will be staying mainly in hotels is the Victorinox wheeled backpack. I am not sure they make this model any more but you can get something similar.

This is exactly airline carry-on size and is made of ballistic Cordura nylon fabric. The handle you use when wheeling the bag through the terminal or hotel lobby rotates 360 degrees and is very comfortable to use.

The shoulder straps and hip belt are hidden behind a zip-away panel and when used they transfer the pack’s weight to the hips and reduce stress on wearer’s back. There is a sleeping bag/boot compartment with an anti-bacterial treatment.

It comes with a front docking daypack (which makes an excellent bag on its own). This has tuck-away, padded shoulder straps with moisture wicking mesh lining, a front pocket, a spacious main compartment with audio pocket, a hydration/audio port and dual mesh water bottle pockets.

The travel pack I use when not on business or for long-term, third world travel is the MEI Voyageur (shown on the right), which meets all of the above criteria. For example, as well as being the ideal size for a carry-on bag (22×14×9 inches), it is also well-constructed, strong and very light.

Internal volume is 3000 cubic inches, about 43-48 litres. The frame is a parallel stay internal frame. The straps and padded hip belt zip away under a panel at the back when not in use. Other carrying options are a rubber side handle, and D-rings which are included for a shoulder sling.

It also has interior and exterior compression straps. The zippers are good quality and lockable. You can buy the packs directly from the manufacturer (in the USA) via their website or by emailing them by clicking here mei-legacy@netscape.com

Packing

One advantage of having straps and hip belts that zip away behind panels (as do both of the packs above) is that they are less prone to get caught in conveyor belts or other machinery at airports, or even in racks in buses and trains.

Packs that don’t have this feature will have to be prepared for travel when they aren’t being carried. This may only be a problem on the initial flight to your destination, however.

So before surrendering your bag to the airlines, try to remove, tuck away, or tie-up any straps, belts, and anything dangling which might catch in mechanisms.

Also, lock, or otherwise secure (tie with string, dental floss, etc.), all zips, pockets, etc.

Put all liquids in plastic bags to prevent them leaking everywhere if they get damaged or burst due to the cold and pressure changes in the hold.

Travelling in the ess developed parts of the world is not like a camping trip. You will find plenty . . . → Read More: Sleeping Gear]]>

Travelling in the ess developed parts of the world is not like a camping trip. You will find plenty of cheap food and accommodation everywhere, so you won’t need a stove, tent or sleeping bag,

There may be occasions where you would think a sleeping bag might be useful, in a cold room, sleeping outside (when it is warm), protection against insects, as a seat or cushion, etc., but consider the alternatives first.

Long underwear or other warm clothing will be fine in emergencies, on buses, trains, and cold hostels. A sleep sheet packs small, is light and easy to wash, and should suffice for all other times. Combine this with a plastic sheet, bivouac bag or poncho and you can replace a tent and sleeping bag.

If you do decide to take a sleeping bag then you there are certain things to look out for when choosing one.

Sleeping bag

For camping, cold climates, and trekking in the mountains, you can buy the most expensive, warmest bag you can find. But this will be way too warm to use in the tropics. It will also be bulky, heavy, oftentimes flimsy, as well as hard to wash and dry.



So look out for a small-packing, light bag that is both easily washable and hard wearing. Choose one that is inexpensive so that you won’t mind if it gets damaged, lost or stolen.

The new super-light synthetic bags are good, and one with the zips in the right place can turn it into a blanket for sleeping or picnics.

Down bags can sometimes be too warm (unless you are going somewhere really cold) and don’t perform well when wet. You also need to dry them properly after you wash them to maintain their insulating properties.

I use a Western Mountaineering ExtremeLite down bag. You can find a good selection of both down and synthetic bags at Blacks in the UK or REI in the US.

Using a sleep sheet (see below) inside your sleeping bag will delay the need to wash it for a long time.

Sleep sheet/Sleeping bag liner

Basically a sheet, made from either cotton or silk, folded and sewn into the shape of a sleeping bag. These are mandatory for sleeping in hostels. If you don’t have your own then you will have to buy one. A good substitute for a sleeping bag in warm climates.

I use a Lifeventure Advance Sleeper Cotton bag (shown here). This comes in a rectangular shape (for hostel sleeping or rectangular sleeping bags) or a mummy shape (for mummy-shaped bags). It has anti-bacterial, anti-bedbug and anti-mosquito treatments, and packs quite small.

You can read more about sleep sacks and buy them here or here.

Bivouac sack

The waterproof version of the sleep sack. The cheapest are made of plastic, some are made of nylon, the most expensive are made of Gore-Tex and are like small one-man tents, some with built-in mosquito nets.

Mostly used as emergency shelter when hiking or mountaineering, but can be used when travelling to protect your sleeping bag (on the outside), for extra warmth, and as a replacement for a sleeping bag or tent in warm climates.

They are lighter and easier to wash and dry than a tent/sleeping bag combination, but can be colder and more cramped to sleep in.

In warm weather you don’t usually have to worry about the rain, just the insects. When I am sleeping out in hot climates I use a Bug Hut 1 tent from REI (shown here). This is an ultralight shelter that is fast to put up. It fits completely over your sleeping bag and the poles keep the mesh away from your upper body.

Hammock

A good compromise sleeping solution is a hammock. These are lighter than a tent and more comfortable to sleep in. I use mine for emergencies when travelling.

You would be surprised at the number of places you can use it. The best manufacturer and model I have found (and one that I own) is the Hennessy Hammock UltraLite Backpacker A-Sym (shown here).

Read more about hammocks and sleeping in them here.

Sleeping Pad

This is what you lie on when sleeping on the ground when camping. It both insulates your body from the cold and the hard, sometimes rocky ground.

They come in two basic types, the closed-cell foam type, which is thin and bulky which either rolls or folds up, and the inflating type, which insulates better and packs smaller, but is heavier and more expensive.

Therm-a-Rest (shown left) make the best of the latter kind. These are ‘self-inflating’ (although they sometimes need help).

The lightest weighs just over 1 pound, (455g) but this model is also the shortest and least insulating.

Their construction means that they can get damaged on thorns and other sharp objects, and will stop working if they get punctured. They can be hard to repair (they come with a repair kit).

They come in a variety of sizes (long, regular, short lengths) and insulating properties (3- 4-seasons, for example). I have the Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4 Regular which is a 4 season, regular length (72″, 183cm) sleeping pad.

You can buy them from Blacks in the UK or REI in the US.

Pillow

Inflatable pillows can make it easier to sleep on a plane, train or bus. There are two types, one that fits around your neck like a collar and ones that look like regular pillows.

You can also buy a stuff-sack which, when filled with clothes, can make a good pillow, particularly the ones that are specially made for this that come with a cloth lining (turned inside-out when used as a pillow).

Check them out here. They come in two sizes, I use the 10″ x 20″ model for my sleeping bag stuff sack.

You can buy toiletries almost anywhere in the world, often for less than it costs it home.

You may . . . → Read More: Toiletries]]>

You can buy toiletries almost anywhere in the world, often for less than it costs it home.

You may have your favourites, however, and not every brand is available overseas (sometimes there are worse, sometimes better alternatives). You can’t always be sure of the quality, either.

For these reasons you might consider bringing your own.

Space and weight can be saved by taking small, travel- or trial-sized bottles, or better still, buy some small, refillable plastic bottles and containers and fill them with your own products.

Liquids can weigh a lot, and a lot of bottles of liquids can weigh a considerable amount.

You also have the problem of leaking, although this can be made better by putting the bottles in a leak-proof plastic bag. There are non-liquid alternatives for most toiletries, some of which are listed below.

Starting at the top of the head and working down:

Hair

Shampoo generally comes in liquid form but you can get it in a bar (like soap) which is lighter, more compact, and more leak-proof than regular shampoo.

Don’t take a huge bottle, you will probably have to carry it around with you for ages before you make a dent in its contents.

Soap

Soap comes as a liquid and a bar. You can also get universal soaps that wash hair, clothes, and crockery. You can buy soap anywhere, too, all you need worry about is something to carry it in.

Teeth

Some people cut the handle off their toothbrush to make it lighter for travel, but this saves so little weight and it is annoying to use, so it’s really not worth it.



However, you should get toothbrush covers, which are very useful if your brush is squashed into your bag every day.

Floss is essential, not just for your teeth, but for other uses such as thread, tying up things, cutting food (like a cheese-wire), emergency shoelaces, a clothesline, and so on.

Shaving

You can either use nothing (just hot water), or just soap to shave with, but both of these are hard on your skin.

You don’t need to take a large can of shaving foam as there are smaller, lighter alternatives, such as shaving oil.

Cheap plastic razors can be bought anywhere, but a good travel razor is the AVID razor, which is cheap, light, and works well.

Deodorant

Comes in non-liquid form as deodorant sticks, which also come in small, travel sizes. Available everywhere.

Nails

Standard nail clippers are fine, stainless steel are better. You can use toenail clippers (straight, or slightly convex) as regular nail clippers (usually concave) if you don’t want to take both. Be aware that if you take nail scissors they might not be allowed in your hand baggage on some flights.

Mirror

Don’t take glass mirrors, there are so many good (lighter and unbreakable) alternatives made of plastic (acrylic) you can buy these days, such as the Coghlans Plexiglass Mirror

Towel

Towels from home are heavy and bulky. You don’t need something that large anyway, a thin hand towel is fine, even one cut in half can be used in most situations.

You can get some made of synthetics (viscose, for example) which are very absorbent for their size and weight.

Universal sink plug/stopper

Sink plugs are hard to come by in some countries as they are both useful and . . . → Read More: Laundry]]>

Universal sink plug/stopper

Sink plugs are hard to come by in some countries as they are both useful and portable, therefore they don’t stay around too long in one place.

It is always best to carry your own, they don’t take up much room and are very useful when doing laundry in hotel and hostel sinks. The best are the large, flat type that fit any sink. You can also use a sock or fashion a stopper out of a variety of materials (duct tape, for example) if you don’t have one.

Detergent

Woolite is a traveller’s favourite as it is a good cold-water detergent. You don’t need much in a sink to wash a lot of clothes.

You can carry small amounts of powdered detergent in a plastic film container (if you can find one these days). Small, plastic pill containers (with screw-top lids) make a good substitute.

Clothesline

The quality of travel clotheslines varies considerably, so make sure you buy one that is long enough, strong enough, has good attachments at both ends (not suction cups), and holds wet clothes without pegs or clothespins.

A good brand is Flexoline. This is made from surgical rubber tubing, the wet clothes are inserted between the strands.

Fixing

There are a number of things you can pack which are light, small, cheap, and versatile when it . . . → Read More: Repairs]]>

Fixing

There are a number of things you can pack which are light, small, cheap, and versatile when it comes to making repairs on the road.

Para (parachute) cord comes in a variety of thicknesses and colours and can be used for making repairs to bags, clothing, sleeping gear.

Also it can be used for other things such as shoelaces, tying parcels, even making shelters and snares if you are in a survival situation!

Wrap it around something, maybe even replace your shoelaces with the right length piece of cord.

Sewing

Sewing kits are cheap and ubiquitous, but if you don’t have one and need to make repairs you can just ask the receptionist in any moderately priced hotel and you may get one for free, or just buy one in a fabric store.

There is no guarantee that doing either will get you good quality materials, however. The thread can be thin and the needles can blunt quickly, so sometimes it pays to make your own kit.

Choose stainless steel needles and strong thread if you do, put them in a small container (a plastic film container is fine), along with some spare buttons and safety pins.



Safety pins also have many other uses apart from sewing. They can be used for temporary clothing or gear repairs, as paperclips, for hanging curtains in cheaper hotels, lock pick, toothpick, as clothespins,

Sticking

There are two ways of sticking things, tape or glue. The best multi-purpose repair tape is duct tape. These come in smaller travel sizes but you can wrap a length around a pencil or pen.

It can be used for other things too, for parcels, for securing bandages, and so on.

For its size, a small tube of Superglue can be useful for all kinds of repairs, just make sure it doesn’t leak (put it in a small, resealable plastic bag.

Plastic bags

Not really a repair item, although they can be cut up and used for various things, rain covers, waterproofing, or left whole for wet laundry, food sandwiches, etc. Ziploc make a good range of sizes and closings.

Also good for protecting your bag against potential leaks from liquids in bottles. Mandatory these days for carrying liquids on planes.

Waterproof bags

Used to separate and keep various items dry in your bag. Good for keeping valuables and electronics. . . . → Read More: Miscellaneous]]>

Waterproof bags

Used to separate and keep various items dry in your bag. Good for keeping valuables and electronics. Simple Ziploc style bags are good for this. However, much better are the plastic bags made by Aloksak.

These are very strong but lightweight, transparent storage bags. They come in four sizes: 7 x 4.5 inch, 6.75 x 6 inch, 9 x 6 inch and 12 x 12 inch.

They are made of a patented, super-stretch plastic, and very puncture-resistant. They close easily and are Waterproof to 200 feet.

Gifts

A final suggestion is to think about taking along some small items that you can present to people you encounter along the way. There is no faster way to endear yourself to the families you meet.

The colourful (economical, flat) press-on stickers you can generally buy near gift wrapping supplies are appropriate for many ages.

Another good idea is to carry a supply of the balloons used to make animals, hats, and the like. You’ve almost certainly seen this done, and perhaps never realized how easy a skill it is to learn (at least for simple items). T. Myers Magic will provide the instruction – including how to blow up the balloons without popping your eyeballs – and the supplies.

For adults in less industrialized areas, inexpensive (but not cheap, throwaway) ballpoint pens are a good choice. They also make good bargaining chips at markets.

High quality fish hooks will be very scarce in poor fishing communities, making them excellent gifts and trade goods (especially for fish!); make sure you get the flat variety.

Bandanas, not widely available outside North America, are another good choice.

Other adults may appreciate a souvenir (perhaps a small flag pin) of your home country, or maybe a interesting coin of your own currency.