The Journey is Our Goal

Many people have asked me how I traveled for 13 continuous months out of one backpack. The answer is simple….pack light! My cousin Taylor gave me some great advice before I left, “pack everything you think you need, then take out half of it.” He also told me to just grab my passport and go (I was going to Thailand so you could buy everything from t-shirts to backpacks to toothpaste super cheap), but I figured that might be a bit extreme.

I decided to share with you everything that I brought. I have posted a link to most of the items for when you want to pick some of them up. For the record, Taylor was right. I could have just grabbed my passport and left. You can buy everything imaginable in Bangkok.

Real quick, when I say “backpacking,” I mean really opening up to the culture, people & world around you, using public transit, staying at hostels, guesthouses, or people’s couches, and most likely doing it for several months. By no means am I saying that backpacking is the only way to travel. Even if you only have a week or two off, fly 3,000 miles away or go visit your neighboring city. See something that is on your list of destinations. But I just can’t emphasize enough how highly I recommend long-term backpacking. It was one of the best decisions of my life.

Enough about all that. Let’s check out What to Bring Backpacking.

MUST-HAVES
You can’t leave home without these…

• Passport – As I mentioned above, your passport is your only true “Must-Have.” That and maybe some pictures of your loved ones.
• Backpack – Duh! I have an REI Backpack, but just find one that you like. I recommend getting one that has a daypack that you can attach to it. It can make your life a bit easier and a daypack is a must. Eagle Creek has some top-notch backpack if you can’t decide. Also, before you hit the road, drag your backpack through some mud or the street so you don’t look rich or like a “virgin traveler”… . Trust me, your backpack will see much worse than your backyard or driveway.
• Document Copies – Make sure you have at least one copy of your passport, credit/debit cards, travel insurance (I used MultiNational), and drivers license/school ID (if applicable). This is critical if you misplace any of the above. Also, scan & email yourself a copy and leave a copy with a trusted family member or friend.
• Books – I don’t think any traveler would disagree with this. Down time is inevitable and reading is my favorite way to pass the time while in transit. I somehow read 50 books on my 13-month trip, which was 47 more than the year before. If you want some good fiction reading, I suggest The Dharma Bums, Catch-22, or Sometimes a Great Notion. If you want an easy travel read, check out Saltwater Buddha. There are many used book stores around the world and some hostels will have books swaps. I would bring a notebook or journal, too. You will be surprised how much you will forget.

CLOTHING
This is probably where you need to cut down most. You really only need about 5-7 days worth of clothing, which means you can pack the same for a two week, two month, or two year trip…

• 3-6 T-Shirts or Tank Tops
• 1 Pair of Board Shorts or Bikini
• Convertible Pants – They don’t look as dorky as you’d think and you’ll typically just wear them as cargo shorts. They have them for men & women. Ideally all items in your backpack will have multiple uses. I even used my books as pillows on long bus rides.
• 2-3 Pairs of ExOfficio Underwear – These are the greatest boxers I have ever had. Their motto is “17 Countries. 6 Weeks. And one pair of underwear.” I think you can splurge for two pairs, but do whatever floats your boat. They are available for both men & women.
• Light Rain Jacket – Just something to keep you dry. If you are backpacking somewhere cold, you will obvious need a thicker jacket
• 2 Pairs of Socks – I loved my SmartWool socks. They dried really quickly, were comfortable, and thick. Regular cotton socks tend to smell pretty quickly when you can’t grab a new pair after every use. Plus, you can use them to protect your sunglasses or camera.
• Sunglasses – Protect your eyes! I like my Quiksilver sunglasses, but get whatever you want. Just make sure it will protect from UV Rays effectively.
• Basketball Shorts – I am strongly biased towards these. I think basketball shorts are the most comfortable things in the world. Plus, they are great for running, trekking, rock climbing, or just chillin’.

TOILETRIES
I think these are pretty obvious. Toothbrush & case, toothpaste, soap, small shampoo, shaving necessities, girl stuff, and deodorant. I don’t care what backpacker or über-traveler tells you to cut weight by leaving the deodorant at home…you can’t! I met way too many people on the road that smelled like a dumpster. Here are some others items to throw in there…

• Sunscreen
• Medical Tape
• Floss
• Tweezers
• Band-Aids
• Soap Container
• Hand Sanitizer – Ummm…trust me.
• Toilet Paper – You don’t need to bring this initially, but when leaving your hostel, I would grab a roll of toilet paper from your bathroom. Especially when in poorer countries, it is smart to always have a full roll. Trust me.
• Water Tablets – Water is the gift of life, but most of the world lacks potable water. I always made sure I bought a 1.5-L bottle of water in the morning. Hydrate!

FOOTWEAR
Only bring two pairs…

• Athletic Shoes – I suggest grabbing an old pair of running shoes and inserting some new insoles or the insoles of your newest pair.
• Sandals – Some people prefer sandals with straps, but I always stick with my Rainbows.

MY RANDOM ESSENTIALS
These are some things I wouldn’t leave home without. All of these things could fit in one pocket…

• Headlamp - I would not travel anywhere without a headlamp. It can light up the path home from late night parties, illuminate your latest book selection before bed or on a bus, and guide you through your room when you don’t want to wake up your dormmates. Also, so many countries that you are likely to backpack through will have questionable electricity and some will just have candles at night.
• Towel – I brought my REI MultiTowel and that worked perfectly. Get the XL. It folds up small, but is big enough to wrap around yourself and dries very quickly. That is the important part. A regular cotton towel will be too bulky, takes too long to dry, and will definitely start smelling quickly.
• Lighter – This can light that candle you are using and whether you smoke or not, a good chunk of people you meet will. Having easy fire is a must as it is a survival tool. I usually grab a Bic.
• Q-Tips – These are not just to clean your ears. They can be used on many of the coin machines on old washers & dryers. I found this to be especially true in Australia.
• Nail Clippers – Being able to clip your nails to keep hygienic is nice, but they can double as scissors at times. Also, they are small and can easily be stored in your Travel Kit or Day Pack.
• Deck of Cards – Make sure you know some fun games. No matter what language the other people speak, numbers are universal. A variety of drinking games won’t hurt, either. Trust me on that one.

ELECTRONICS
These are more expensive items that you don’t have to bring, but I sometimes do and enjoy what they bring to the table…

• Plug Adapter – If you bring any electronics, this is a must. I highly recommend the Travel Smart All-in-One. It works everywhere and is just one piece. You don’t want to mess with separate plugins.
• Camera – This could arguably be included in the ‘Must-Haves’ section, but some people can’t afford them or aren’t “Camera People.” I took my Canon PowerShot SX100IS. It took amazing photos, but I am now in the market for a smaller camera that can fit in my pocket. Maybe one that is waterproof and can do HD movies. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Also, I get a lot of photography tips from Digital Photography School. You should check them out.
• Memory Stick – I like my 8 GB Patriot Stick, but any will do. They have gotten so cheap that picking up one big one or several small ones will be very beneficial. It is a great way to not only save your pictures and clear your memory card, but you can use it to “steal” your travelmates pictures as well. Along with this, I think it is a good idea to burn your pictures to CDs and send them home. Anyway to protect your pictures is a good idea. Sometimes memory cards and USB sticks can fail and nobody wants to lose all of their pictures.
• Laptop – I didn’t leave home with one, but I picked up an Acer Aspire One in Australia. This netbook is only 8.9″ and has many built-in features. My favorites are the built-in camera & microphone that made Skyping home so easy. I would only bring one if you really like to write and be strict with the amount of time you allot yourself to use it.
• iPod – I brought my iPod that I got for Christmas back in 2004, but that sadly got stolen in Nicaragua. Tear. I now have the iPod Touch, which I love. Music, movies, photos, apps! I would enjoy having full-time internet access on it though. If you know how to make that happen, please comment below or email me.

SAFETY
It is always good to play it safe. Especially when you are thousands of miles from home…

• Backpack Locks – You should always lock your backpack when it is unattended and not in your room. Make sure they are TSA approved.
• Pocket Knife – No need to get anything crazy. Something inexpensive like this will do. Remember, this is not to inflict harm. It is just reassuring to have something and a knife (and the other functions) will come in handy often.

Well, those are my suggestions on Backpacking: What to Bring. I will finish up with some websites to utilize.

• Skype – Easily the best way to keep in contact with your family & friends. I was able to Skype home for Thanksgiving & Christmas, which really made those holidays special. The best part about this program is that it is free when you are calling Skype-to-Skype. Tell your family & friends to join. If your parents can’t figure out how to set it up, do it for them. Did I mention you can call from anywhere in the world for free?
• XE.com – I use it for up-to-date exchange rates. That way I can watch the US dollar fall even further… .
• TravelBlog.org – This is what I used to host my first Travel Blog. It is free, extremely user-friendly, and a great way to show your family & friends what you are up to without having to email them all separately. You will be so happy you did this.
• Schwab – I recommend this not really for the site, but for the banking. It saved me so much money while traveling. They reimburse you on all fees (you will rack up a ton while on the road). I can’t emphasize enough how much this helps. I would always withdraw 2 or 3 days worth of funds so I never had much cash on me. This came in handy also when I would cross borders because I never had “leftover money.” On top of that, it can be used where all Visa cards are accepted. Wow, now that sounded like a commercial. Trust me, I have nothing to gain from you joining Schwab.

That might sound like a lot of stuff, but it really isn’t.

Lastly, don’t forget to call your mom. She is going to miss you!

Picture Story: I was following a bunch of fellow backpackers boarding the Big Buddha Boat on our way to Koh Phangan. It was one of the most memorable travel days of my life because it was my first stop on my RTW Trip.

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What do you pack in your backpack? I have Headlamp at the top of ‘My Random Essentials.’ What do you have in yours?

If you could go backpacking anywhere, where would you go? And for how long? More importantly, why haven’t you?