Travel Checklist

globetrekking takes guts and a little bit of planning. here’s my personal check list of items not to leave at home. a special thanks to sol whose personal packing list is where i found much of the items listed here. I’ve chosen to keep brand names down to a minimum with the hopes that people will make their own informed decisions on products to purchase. exceptions were made for brands that “define” a product, e.g. Band-Aid or Zip-Lock

Clothing & Threads

In general, nylon/polyester blends and synthetics are cherished among travelers because they dry quicker, pack smaller, and weigh less when wet. other advantages include the ability to “wick” sweat away from your body and maintain comfort in nearly any climate or condition.

• sleep sheet – silk or synthetic wicking recommended
• super-absorbent travel towel one medium/body sized and one small face-cloth.
• rain gear (expensive) or a poncho (affordable)
• fleece jacket
• tee-shirts, tank tops, easy to buy/replace along the way
• button-down long sleve shirt (wrinkle-resistance cotton or comfortable synthetic)
• long pants (brushed nylon for quick drying, denim for comfort/style)
• shorts that can double as swiming trunks
• 3 pair of socks – some smart synthetics are highly recommended
• 3 pair of boxers/briefs – some smart synthetics are highly recommended

• stuff sack / containers for clothing

  Cold Climate Gear

• balaclava
• fleece gloves
• long underwear – silk, polypro, or fleece

• heavy wool socks

  Shoes

• sandals – greco-roman-sinch style are preferable over flip flops
• light but sturdy travel shoes – well broken in

• hiking boots – optional

  Money belt

• passport
• photocopy of passport (use if you dont want/need to show the real thing)
• driver’s license
• airplane tickets
• ATM card
• untouchable US$ backup
• daily allotment of cash

• all credit card numbers and the phone number to call to cancel them if big pack archive gets compromised

  Personal Necessities

• guidebook (LonelyPlanet.com)
• earplugs (and keep an extra pair in your first aid kit)
• lock (combination code lock is better than keeping up with those tiny keys)
• small leatherman “multiplier” tool with scissors on inside
• pocketknife with corkscrew and good sharp blade
• flashlight (headlamp style recommended)

• ziplock & plastic bags (various sizes: for maps, food, medecines, wet clothes)

  Personal Accessories

• wristwatch with loud alarm (cheap plastic variant)
• travel alarm clock (optional)
• sunglasses (not too expensive, replaceable)
• chapstick with sun protector

• bandana / handkerchief

  Photography

• digital camera
• protective camera case
• memory card(s)
• battery charger

• USB cord for uploading images from camera

  Journalling

• sturdy journal: use it for everything travel expenses, travel diary, scrap book, photo albums and address book.
• reliable ball-point pen or dark pencil
• charcoal pencil for sketching (optional)

• glue-stick

  Personal Distraction Assistance

• books to read: Ishmael, Alchemist,
• mp3 player
• walkman
• headphones

• personal data assistant

  First Aid Kit

• Band-Aids
• moleskin (or duct-tape/toilet paper/antibiotic remedy)
• tweezers
• pepto-bismol tablets & vitamin-I
• allergy & cold meds
• tylenol
• anti-biotic ointment

• bug repellent

  Patch kit (optional)

• buttons
• black thread of varying thickness
• needle (two sizes)
• glue

• small squares of ripstop nylon with adhesive on one side.

  Backcountry gear (optional)

• sturdy gore-tex boots
• gaiters
• trekking poles – also useful for shelter… see “tarp” below
• quality sleeping bag – 700 fill down bag, 15° – 20° rating is recommended for general purpose goodness
• one of the following for shelter
  • backpackers tent – its bulky, but best for two or more people and unpredictable weather
  • bivy sack – a lightweight soloist “sock” that goes around your sleeping bag, not recommended for winter extremes
• tarp – a silicon empregnated nylon tarp is the lightest possible shelter available
• water purifier – use Polar Pure iodine crystals to zap those nasty microbes
• water bladder or camelbak – i prefer platypus bags
• nalgene water bottle
• titanium cookset & cookware – the lightest way to fry

• backpackers stove – while white gas is popular here at home, remember that isobutane is the most globally available fuel source for backpackers

  Bathroom bag

• facecloth – super-absorbant mini-towel (mentioned above in “Threads” section)
• liquid all purpose soap (such as Dr. Bonners)
• shampoo / conditioner
• laundry detergent – bar recommended for hand washing
• abrasive thing for body wash
• razor and good supply of blades
• shaving cream (or soap formulated for shaving)
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• deodorant
• perfume / cologne (optional)
• fingernail clippers (alternatively, leatherman tool)
• nail file (alternatively, leatherman tool)

• condoms

  Archive bag

  the list of infrequently used but really important stuff to store at the bottom of the pack

• photocopies of the following documents
  • passport photo page
• any relevant visa pages
• credit card
• vaccination sheet
• driver’s license from home country
• international drivers license (optional) this really depends on the country
• extra flash memory card for camera

• backup US$ currency

  Staying connected

  a few things to occupy your time before you leave

• create email distribution lists
  • family
• friends
• create a blog
• use a unique post category as the default for entries from the road, some people use the destination as the category while others stick to the more general term “travel”
• have a hidden email to post your blogs from mass emails you send to friends/family
• guestbook – a public place where people can leave you messages while you are on your trip
• create an online photo album
• fotki.com or flickr.com

• scan all important documents and store online (via email or website)

  Preparing for your trip

• google your destination. this should be a no brainer…. did i even need to suggest it?
• a good place to gather general info is The Lonely Planet worldguide
• get intimately familiar with your guidebook of choice, this will be your bible while you are on the road
• scour the thorntree forums for posts about your intended destination, there are many people currently traveling where you are about to be so its a good idea to see whats going on.

• buy a big map and study the routes, cities, towns, and topography of the entire country / region. even though the guidebooks have plenty of maps, you’ll appreciate having a nice big one to reference when you need to plan logistics and get a better idea of distances and terrain between stops. is there even a road that will take you to that remote pueblo in the jungle?