Wherever I travel, I make a packing list, and make it early — not only because it’s smart, but because it makes me feel like the heroic leader of a National Geographic expedition. I start spreading my stuff out in the basement about a week before a trip. As I survey my soldierly lineup of trekking gear, I feel empowered. Indiana Jones had his hat and whip; I have my headlamp and clothesline. With any luck, I’ll find that I don’t have everything… yet.
Usually, I hate to shop — guess I’m missing a gene on one of my X chromosomes. But as a gear geek, I love to buy travel toys. Roaming a recreational equipment store to try out trekking poles, binoculars and Swiss army knives feels like an adventure in itself. I squeal like a goofy kid as I rummage through goodie bins full of fire-starting flint, roll-on mosquito repellant and tiny, travel-size toilet paper rolls.
A headlamp lights the way up Mt. Meru, to watch sunrise over Kilimanjaro.
Even if you’re not jonesing for your very own mosquito net, even if you’re only hitting the beach, do yourself a favor: don’t wait until the day before your trip to pack. You don’t want to find out the night before your flight that the bathing suit you could have sworn was in the bottom drawer is missing, and you definitely don’t want to forget the Imodium — unless you envision diarrhea as an opportunity to reach your goal weight.
Over-packing can be just as bad. The middle of the night before a big travel day is not the best time to decide what to leave behind, just so you can close your suitcase, or lift your backpack.
If you’re backpacking, make sure you keep your pack’s weight down to a third or less of your total body weight. More than that and you’ll risk injuring your back and joints, not to mention having a miserable time. That’s another good reason to pack ahead of time, and set priorities.
Before I went on my eight-month trip around the world, I stepped on a scale, first without, and then with, my full backpack. I stepped on and off several times, removing items until I got the pack down to my weight limit. I decided to live without the rain pants, figuring a rain-repellant jacket was enough to keep my core warm. I dumped the triangle bandage, deciding my bandana would make a great sling if necessary. My Campsuds did triple-duty as shampoo, soap and detergent. If you’ve never backpacked before, you’ll be amazed at what you can live without. I began to understand freedom when I discovered that almost all my needs in life could fit in a small, 35-pound load on my back.
During 20 years of independent travel, I’ve come up with a few favorite items and tips that I now consider essential. I prefer a backpack that opens from both the top and the back, so I don’t have to dig through everything to reach something at the bottom. I hide money in more than one place, so if someone robs me or picks my pockets they probably won’t get away with everything. In Asia, I take my own chopsticks, because some restaurants sanitize the reusable ones in a common water bowl — looks dodgy if you ask me. I always carry duct tape, and almost always use it: my duct tape has plugged holes in mosquito nets, mended torn gear and helped a fellow-hiker repair a blown-out boot. Who needs MacGyver, when a girl trekker is on the job?
My favorite girl-gear may sound a little gross, but it can save a lot of hassle: OB tampons, or any tampons without applicators. They pack lighter and tighter, saving weight and space in a backpack or suitcase. The Irish blessing says, “May the road rise up to meet you…” But I say: “May the road return you to the city before you run out of feminine hygiene products.”
Sample Packing Lists
I used to check other travelers’ packing lists online. But now I’ve got it down. So it’s my turn to pack it forward: you’ll find two of my typical packing lists below. The first is from a tame trip to Scotland, featuring ancient stone ruins in the windy Orkney Islands and a three-day mountain bike trip on the rainy Great Glen Way — where someone drove our luggage to each stop. The second is from a wild adventure in Peru, featuring two multi-day treks through the Andes and one through the Amazon — where mosquitos carry malaria. Take your pick: tame or wild. Please let me know if you find these lists helpful, and if you have any suggestions to add.
Layers are important in cold windy places, like Scotland’s Orkney Islands.
SCOTLAND PACKING LIST
1) Daypack
2) Duffle Bag
3) Fanny Pack
4) Small Travel Pillow
5) Windbreaker
6) Rain-repellant Jacket & Pants
7) Fleece jacket
8. Fleece shirts - 2
9) Trekking pants wi/ zip-off legs - 2
10) Regular pants - 2
11) Jeans
12) Bicycle shorts
13) Belts - 2
14) Microfiber trekking shirt
15) Short sleeve tops - 2
16) Long sleeve tops - 2
17) Cold weather pullovers - 2
18) Long sleeve T-shirt
19) Short sleeve T-shirt
20) Tank tops - 2
21) Pullover sweater
22) Dressy outfit
23) Sweat shirt & running pants
24) Long Underwear - pants & top
25) Bathing suit
26) Hat with visor
27) Wool cap
28) Warm gloves
29) Bicycle gloves
30) Bandanas - 2
31) Microfiber underpants - 7
32) Bras - 3
33) Socks - 7 pairs
34) Hiking Boots
35) Sandals
36) Running shoes
37) Nice boots
38) Pack towel
39) Camelback water bladder
40) Water bottle wi/ belt
41) Money Belt
42) Small shoulder purse
43) Headlamp
44) Mag-light
45) Extra flashlight batteries - AA & AAA
46) Swiss army knife
47) Pens
48) Matches
49) Fork, knife, spoon
50) Sturdy travel mug wi/ lid
51) Binoculars
52) Camera
53) Camera pack
54) Tripod
55) Camera batteries
56) Lonely Planet Guide
57) Small address book
58) Journal
59) Reading books - 2
60) DEET mosquito repellant
61) Multi-vitamins
62) Lip balm
63) Duct tape
64) Ear plugs
65) Sun block
66) Eyeglasses
67) Sunglasses wi/ leash
68) Plastic bags
69) Toilet Paper
70) Tissues
71) Money - cash & travelers checks
72) Credit Card & Debit Card
73) Passport
74) Driver's License
75) Packet of Documents & Info, including:
Phone numbers in case cards lost or stole
Copy of passport
Copy of Driver's License
Contact lens prescription
Travelers checks receipts
Plane Tickets
Birth certificate
Itinerary & copies
Confirmations of all reservations
Bike Tour Description & Directions
76) First Aid Kit, including:
Imodium (loperamide, for diarrhea)
adhesive bandages of various sizes
splint
non-adherent pads
gauze pads of various sizes
stretch gauze roll
moleskin
tape
antibacterial wipes
Neosporin (antibiotic ointment)
sting wipes
cold & allergy medicine
antacids
Ibuprofin (non-aspirin pain reliever)
elastic bandage wi/ clips
non-latex medical gloves
antimicrobial hand wipes
waste bag
bandage scissors
splinter forceps/tweezers
safety pins
first aid booklet
triangle bandage
oral rehydration salts (for dehydration)
laxatives
dramamine - less drowsy formula
cough drops
blister treatment
anti-gas medicine
instant cold-pack (for sprains)
emergency space-age blanket (for hypothermia)
79) Toiletry kit, including:
soap in travel bottle
shampoo in travel bottle
hair conditioner in travel bottle
hair goop
facial moisturizer
body lotion
hairpins
small tooth paste
tooth brush
floss
razor
deodorant
Q-tip cotton swabs - travel pack
20 pairs contact lenses
contact lens solution
contact lens case
eye rewetting drops
nail clippers
emery board
OB tampons (or other non-applicator tampons)
sewing kit
blow dryer
hair brush
mascara, lipstick (doubles as blush)
Trekking poles come in handy on the Lares Valley Trek in Peru.
PERU PACKING LIST
1) Day Pack
2) Duffle Bag
3) Fanny Pack
4) Sleeping Bag & Small Travel Pillow
5) Sleeping Pad
6) Rain-repellant Jacket & Pants
7) Fleece Jacket
8. Trekking shirts wi/ roll up arms - 2
9) Short sleeve top
10) Tank top
11) Trekking pants wi/ zip-off legs - 2
12) Mosquito Net
13) Long Underwear - pants & top
14) Bathing suit
15) Hat wi/ visor
16) Wool cap
17) Warm gloves
18) Bike gloves (for hikes that require scrambling)
19) Bandana
20) Underwear - 4 thong, 4 regular
21) Bras - 2
22) Socks - 4 pair (1 light, 2 med, 1 heavy)
23) Hiking Boots
24) Hiking Sandals
25) Pack Towel (lightweight, fast-drying)
26) Water Bladder
27) Trekking Poles (lightweight)
28) Headlamp (for hands-free needs)
29) Extra Headlamp Bulb
30) Mag Light (small backup to headlamp)
31) Extra Flashlight Batteries
32) Swiss Army Knife
33) Pens - several
34) Matches & Lighter & Flint
35) Fork, Knife, Spoon (sturdy travel plastic)
36) Travel mug wi/ lid
37) Binoculars
38) Camera
39) 3 Camera Batteries (charged)
40) Camera Pack
41) Camera Tripod (lightest weight)
42) Electric Outlet Converter
43) Lonely Planet Guide (Rip Out Needed Sections Only)
44) Journals - 2
45) Reading Book
46) Deet bug repellent (30-35%)
47) Permethrin spray bug repellent (for clothes)
48) Lip balm
49) Duct Tape
50) Ear Plugs
51) Sunblock
52) Eyeglasses
53) Sunglasses
54) Sunglass leash
55) Ziplock Bags - 7
56) Toilet Paper (travel roll)
57) Tissues (travel pack)
58) Antibacterial Wipes
59) Knee supports (elastic)
60) Candles
61) Money Belt
62) Passport (in money belt)
63) Driver's License (in money belt)
64) Debit Card & Credit Card (in money belt)
65) Money - Cash & Travelers Checks
66) Itinerary
67) Reservation Confirmations
68) Ziplock Packet of Documents & Info, including:
Phone numbers in case credit cards lost or stolen
Copy of passport & driver's license
Travelers check receipts
Birth certificate
Copy of Itinerary
Copies of Reservation Confirmations
Immunization Card
69) Toiletry Kit, including:
Campsuds (soap, shampoo & detergent)
Hairpins
Toothpaste (travel size)
Toothbrush
Floss
Razor
Deodorant
Q-tips (travel size)
12 pairs contact lenses
Contact solution (travel size)
Contact case
Eye Rewetting drops
Nail clippers (wi/ file)
Sewing Kit (travel size)
Hair Brush or comb (travel size)
Multivitamins
OB tampons (or other non-applicator brand)
70) First Aid Kit, including:
Immodium
Cipro (antibiotic, prescription)
Mefloquine (anti-malarial, prescription)
Pepto Bismal Tablets
Rehydration salts
Ibuprofin
Water purification tablets
Laxatives
Cough drops
Anti-gas medicine
Cold & Allergy medicine
Antacids
Mole skin
Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
Splint
Non-adherent pads
Gauze pads
Stretch gauze roll
Gauze tape
Elastic bandage wi/ clips
Triangle bandage
Antibiotic Ointment
Blister Treatment
Sting Wipes
Non-latex medical gloves
Antimicrobial hand wipe
Bandage Scissors
Splinter tweezers
Safety pins
First aid booklet
Cold pack (instant)
Emergency blanket (thin "space-age")
Snake-bite kit (optional)
