EDIT: I have updated my packing list since being on the road for 4 months.
The packing post! It's here! I have been looking forward to writing about this for weeks. I've been asked numerous times what I am taking on the trip, and my response is usually along the lines of "not much". I decided on using a 40L pack long ago and narrowed down the list until it became feasible. The employees at REI got a good laugh out of Daniel and I scouring the daypack section for the perfect bag. We've endlessly obsessed over our gear for months. Well folks, here it is. Everything I am bringing is pictured above.
The breakdown:
- 1 Shorts
- 2 Pants/Capris
- 1 Running Shorts
- 1 Running Shirt
- 2 T-Shirts
- 2 Tank Tops
- 1 Light Hoodie
- 1 Thick Hoodie
- 1 Waterproof Shell
- 1 Bra
- 2 SportsBras
- 3 Underwear
- 3 Socks
- 1 Swimsuit
- 1 Running Shoes
- 1 Keens
- 1 Hat
- 1 Towel
- 1 Silk Sleep Sack
- 1 Travel Pillow
- 1 Moneybelt
- 2 Headbands
- 1 Pack of Hairties
- 1 Sunglasses
- 1 Lock
- 1 Sewing Kit
- 1 Sink Plug
- 1 Clothesline
- 1 Bag of Plastic Bags
- 1 Headlamp
- 1 Collapsible Daypack
- 1 Toiletry Bag
- 1 Medical Bag
- 2 Notebooks
- 1 Pen
- 1 Deck of Cards
- 1 Passport
- 1 Vaccination Record
- 2 Credit/Debit Cards
- 1 iPhone 4s
- 1 iPad
- 1 Kindle (unpictured)
- 1 Headphones
- 1 1TB Hard Drive
- 1 USB SD Card Dongle
- 1 Garmin Forerunner 110
- 1 Purse
- 1 Compression Sack
- 1 40L Backpack
A Peek Inside the Medical Bag:
- Malarone (enough for a small army)
- Transderm-Scop (motion sickness)
- Azithromycin (traveler's diarrhea)
- Acetazolamide/Nifedipine (altitude sickness)
- Clindamycin gel (acne)
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Chapstick
- Naproxen, Sudafed, Immodium, and Benadryl all mixed in one container*
- Unpictured: Neosporin, bandaids
*I am the worst pharmacist ever.
Inside the toiletry bag:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Conditioner
- Shampoo bars
- Hairbrush
- Soap
- Diva Cup
- Tweezers
- Ear Plugs
- Nail Clippers
Inside the miscellaneous tiny electronics bag:
- Garmin with charger
- Headlamp
- Kindle cable
- iPhone/iPad cable
- Hard drive with cable
- USB Dongle
...and there she is all packed up!
I must say, the compression sack and small packing cubes are what made using a 40L pack possible. I ended up having plenty of room to spare. In the above picture, the side pockets and large front pocket of my bag are completely empty. I am curious to see what I will end up ditching and if there are any omissions that I pick up along the way. A few obvious things that are missing from my list (including camera and laptop) are going to be carried in Daniel's bag. My prediction is that the money belt, sewing kit, and travel pillow will be the first to go.
There you have it! Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions about my packing list are welcome.