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.

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.

Links to the suppliers of the travel gear I use and recommend can be found through out this site. . . . → Read More: Suppliers]]>

Links to the suppliers of the travel gear I use and recommend can be found through out this site. Here is a list of those suppliers on one page.

I don’t work for any of the companies listed, neither do I receive any money from them to list them here. The list changes all the time as I add new suppliers and test out new gear.

I buy my equipment from companies on both sides of the Atlantic (I am both British and American). US-based companies and website links are preceded by and those in the UK by

For example, most of the things I buy I get from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

When I am in the States I frequently shop at REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.), and have bought equipment from them online too. All the products have been high quality, including their own brand. You can also become a member of their cooperative by paying a small joining fee which entitles you to an annual dividend (about 10% of what you spent with them the previous year).

I have bought equipment online from Magellan’s International Travel Inc (based in California). They have a US website and a UK website. I order mostly from the UK website as if they don’t have what you want they can get it quite quickly (I assume from the US).

Another supplier with websites for both the US and the UK is Tilley Endurables. I have bought hats and travel underwear from this company and am very happy with both. Everything is very good quality and worth the little extra it may cost.



I bought my main travel pack, the MEI Voyageur, directly from the manufacturer, you can read about them here. The website has their email address but you can also contact them by clicking here: mei-legacy@netscape.com

I bought one of Kiva Design’s lightweight backpacks for carrying small amounts of shopping and sometimes laundry. It packs away really small in its own stuff sack and fits in a pocket or clips to a belt.

A good clothing store where I shop in London is Rohan. They also sell travel accessories and have an online store.

As well as being a travel equipment supplier both in their stores and online, Nomad have a travel clinic which gives advice on travel health and can give vaccinations and supply you with malaria pills.

Craghoppers don’t have their own store but many stores stock their excellent gear. They also have an online store from which I have bought equipment before.

Other US suppliers I have used are Campmor for camping equipment, and Sierra Trading Post, an online outlet mall for clothing and equipment.

All my hammock requirements are met by Hennessy Hammocks, I have the Ultralite Backpacker model.

You can find Eagle Creek gear in a lot of other stores and websites but they also have their own online store. I like their money belts and pouches (I have two).

For water purification I use products like the Aquapure Traveller water bottle and the Steripen handheld, pocket-sized water purifier.

The MIOX water purifier is supplied by Mountain Safety Research. They also make some great stoves, tents and other gear.

Good knives and other tools are supplied by Leatherman and Victorinox (Swiss Army knives) and can be bought anywhere.

If you need to buy gear, get it from the classifieds, craigslist, ebay, buy it used, or borrow it . . . → Read More: Tips for Saving Money]]>

If you need to buy gear, get it from the classifieds, craigslist, ebay, buy it used, or borrow it from friends.

Stay in hostels, rather than hotels. Stay in a tent, rather than a hostel.

Take a train instead of a plane. Walk or get the bus instead of taking a taxi. Hitchhike instead of taking a train or bus.

Don’t buy water, use a plastic bottle filled and topped up with tap water.

Don’t eat out in restaurants every day, especially in Europe. Supermarkets and bakeries are so much cheaper and the food is often better (than McDonalds, for sure).

You can cook for yourself in hostels, and, if camping, you can use a stove to make some great meals.