What to pack when visiting Planet Earth

This was hard for me. Deciding what to pack. I love stuff, and I had a lot of it before I sold/donated it all, so I deferred to those greater than I and stole a little bit from several of the people in my blogroll and maybe a few others I have forgotten.

This is what I packed.

My bag:

An Osprey 65L (red, yuck) I picked up from REI a few years back for another trip. I figured out most of the quirks with the bag and it is still pretty comfortable and nearly the same as most other peoples bags who I have researched. It’s a top and bottom loader, but has size access zippers so I can get at things from the middle. I’ve matched this with an Osprey Airporter LZ for checking the bag on flights and a small Nike daypack.

My Clothes:

Most of the clothes I have take a while to dry if you can even dry them at all. I was tempted to pack a pair of blue jeans, but decided against it as they would be bulky and slow to dry.

• 1 pair Tru-Spec khakis
• 2 pairs aeropostale cargo shorts (tan and brown)
• 1 set top & bottom Under Armour Cold Gear
• 4 pairs of boxers
• 1 pair havaiana sandlas
• 1 pair zinetics slippers
• 1 pair Merrell Moab shoes
• 2 pair short PHD smartwool socks
• 2 pair long Nike dri-fit socks
• 2 pair normal short cotton socks
• 1 blue cotton t-shirt
• 2 adidas running shirts
• 1 EVS Tactical undershirt
• 3 bandanas
• 1 long sleeve Fox jersey
• 1 Quicksilver rash guard
• 1 pair ONeil board shorts
• MSR XL Pack Towel
• Kelty rain jacket

Tools:

I went overkill on my tool bag, I think. Some of these ideas came from training I took to prepare for the trip. Some came from experience, some came from other travelers.

• Leatherman
• Tape (duct, scotch, electrical)
• Zip Ties
• Ziploc BigBag
• Mini socket/allen/wrench set
• Camerabag strap
• 3 ten meter lengths of 550 paracord
• 12 clothespins
• draw string backpack
• army surplus can opener
• mosquito net
• 30% DEET spray
• Lemon Eucalyptus bug repellent
• army suprlus spoon/knife/fork/corkscrew
• all purpose rubber drain plug
• key ring light
• key ring compass
• PrincetonTec Quad headlamp
• LED Pocket flashlight
• 2 spare pairs of eyeglasses
• Pocket Umbrella
• immersion heater
• cable lock
• 3 TSA approved luggage locks
• 4 assorted key locks

Electronics:

This was a little difficult to decide on. I’ve seen some people have success with a Digital SLR and others caution against it. I’m planning on taking my DSLR with me and accompanying it with a waterproof point and shoot that I have as well as my HD Flip for video with it’s waterproof housing.

• Canon Rebel XT w/ extra memory card and battery
• HD Flip with waterproof case
• Sealife Reefmaster Mini dive camera
• Blackberry (unlocked for global use)
• extension cord
• port multiplier
• light socket voltage tap
• autosensing transformer
• 2 sets of global outlet adapters
• 2 USB/AC adapters
• USB cables (extension, standard, mini)
• rechargeable AA and AAA batteries with charger
• Cat5 cable
• several SD memory cards
• 4 gig USB stick
• Logitech USB Skype headset
• iPod Classic
• Etymotic ER-6i headphones

Health and Medical:

I went with Malaria pills on a daily basis and a number of other items that may or may not have been necessary, but I would hate to be caught without them.

• Doxycyclene
• Steripen Journey
• 2 quickclot bangades
• suture and wound closure kit
• 2 courses of penicilin
• self adhesive 4″ leg wrap
• gauze pads
• Ciproflaxin
• Azithromycin
• Tamiflu
• compact hand mirror
• 70 spf
• 1 roll TP with cardboard tube removed