What to Wear?

First off, I’d like to apologize to my loyal readers for not posting something sooner. Just under a month ago Heidi and I returned to Minneapolis, having completed the U.S. leg of our so-called “gap year.” Unfortunately, the stresses of the road, coupled with the death of a friend’s grandmother, precluded us from making it to the Big Apple. Otherwise, we pretty much made it everywhere we had hoped and I would characterize the journey, thus far, as a success. That’s not to say it hasn’t been hard and we haven’t had our share of struggles, both as individuals and a couple. That being said, we are stronger for those tribulations and fully prepared for the next leg of our journey, which begins in Lima, Peru in a matter of hours (fewer than 72 to be precise).

Since we have been home we have both had the opportunity to mentally recoup and spend invaluable time with friends and family. It truly has been great to see all of you…and if I missed you we’ll have to hook up in April upon our momentous return. (And to all of those concerned with my last, short-lived, blog post, I apologize for any undue concern or stress that may have placed on you.)

Since we are backpacking for the next 8 months, over three continents and more than a dozen countries, we will have to carry our own gear a significant amount of time. As such, what we pack is extremely important. While you might bring a 50 pound suitcase for a weeklong trip to Mazatlan, that just isn’t feasible for a situation such as ours. When taking intra-city buses one will often have to keep their gear on their lap, or pay for an additional seat…and everyone dreads standing around the carousels at the airport wondering when- or if- their bag will arrive. As a result, Heidi and I have jammed the next 8 months of our lives into 46 liter backpacks from the Osprey Porter series. The bags are also the maximum size allowed to be carried on board a commercial airliner. While Heidi’s weighs in at about 25 pounds, fully packed, mine is just a few more pounds. So, what does one take on a round-the-world journey with a variety of destinations and climates? Well, here’s what I am taking along. (Heidi’s list is similar, although we have some variations in our lists. For example, Heidi has a South America guidebook, but no camera, as we decided to share each of these items to save space/weight.)

Clothing:
2 REI long sleeve button shirts (fast-drying, synthetic material)
1 REI short sleeved button shirt (also fast drying)
1 Rocky Mountain Hardware synthetic t-shirt
1 Brooks synthetic A-shirt
2 pair REI convertible travel pants (lightweight, fast-drying and synthetic)
1 pair of Speedo swimming trunks
1 pair lightweight synthetic shorts (for sleeping, sports, etc.)
1 Kangol baseball cap
1 Columbia wide-brimmed hat
1 bandana
1 pair light fleece gloves
1 lightweight fleece hat
1 Merino wool v-neck sweater
1 mid-weight fleece jacket
1 packable water-resistant windbreaker
5 pair synthetic boxer briefs (fast-drying, odor resistant)
5 pair socks (all fast-drying; of varying thicknesses)
1 pair thermal underwear (top & bottom)
1 pair Merrell Sandals
1 pair Vasque hiking boots
1 pair sunglasses
Necklace and bracelet (from Tanzania)



Personal Care:
1 REI fast-drying travel towel
1 REI fast-drying travel washcloth
1 roll Travel toilet paper (ESSENTIAL!)
1 stick Old Spice deodorant
1 toothbrush
1 small tube toothpaste
100 yds. Dental floss
1 bar Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Castille bar soap (for bathing, shaving, clothes, etc…)
Gillette Mach 5 razor and 3 cartridges (may be brought on plane)
Nail clippers
Tweezers
Plastic comb
30 Q-tips
188 malaria pills
Basic First-Aid kit
Sewing kit
Eyeglass repair kit (for Heidi)
Small bottle 100% DEET insect repellant
Small bottle shampoo
Travel clothesline/universal sink stopper
Emergency poncho
Umbrella
Silk sleep sack (for hostels, etc.)
Inflatable travel pillow
Eye mask
Small roll of duct tape
1 Platypus brand collapsible 1L water bottle



Electronics/Entertainment:
Canon S3IS digital camera
4 extra AA lithium batteries (for camera)
1 LED headlamp (Heidi has a mini flashlight)
Seagate Free Agent 250 GB hard drive
Two 4 GB SD memory cards (for camera)
Two 1 GB miniSD memory cards (for mp3 player)
Sansa SanDisk e250 mp3 player (8GB)
Cheap digital watch
Unlocked cell phone (for use with local SIM cards and as alarm clock)
Duracell 4 GB flash drive
2 electric outlet adapters
1 deck playing cards
Book: The Gulag Arhcipelago
Small notepad
Small journal



Organization/Security:
1 Osprey Porter 46L backpack
1 Eagle Creek clothing organizer
1 Cable and TSA-compliant combination lock (for backpack when on buses, in hostels, etc.)
1 space saver bag (for bulkier clothing items)
2 mesh lingerie bags (for organizing clothes in backpack)
1 medium sized garbage bag (to put backpack in during deluge)
1 Tupperware container (for electronics/small items)
1 Travelon neck wallet (Heidi has a money belt)
1 Vicotorinox Velcro wallet
1 case for sunglasses
1 canvas tote bag (for day trips, shopping, etc.)
Copy of passport and other pertinent documents
16 extra passport photos (for visas along the way)
ATM card(s)


One thing to keep in mind is that most items can be purchased anywhere on the road. If we need more clothes we can buy them. They even sell batteries and socks in the third world! Who knew that people in developing nations still need to eat, drink and have the basic necessities of life?

Stay tuned for life in Lima and points beyond in out next installment.