Namu Blog

Il volo è stato comprato, la casa camera è stata confermata con una bella e lunga e-mail di 2 (due) righe

Dear student,

We confirm hereby that we have received your housing form and will send a binding reservation to the housing office. No further confirmation will be given.

Welcome to Trondheim

Dopo aver capito il significato di hereby, rimane (o nasce?) il problema della preparazione della valigia che deve rispettare i limiti del volo aereo ma mi deve garantire un po’ di tranquillità per un po’.

Come fare? Un ingegnere, oltre a fare mente locale, cerca su Google…

… e trova il sito The Universal Packing List per vedere una bozza di lista di cose da portare, con il commento! Il risultato è, forse, fin troppo completo e commentato:

Things to do before you leave

By this I mean the things you usually have to fix before you go. The list does not contain any of the travel preparations you have to do, like buying tickets, getting visas and such.

To do for most trips

Wash the dishes
If you forget this you’ll be sorry when you come back. Make a lunch
By having a few sandwiches made in advance you can save quite a lot of money by not having to buy food on trains or at airports where food is expensive, or even impossible to get. Also important if you’re travelling with kids. Shave
For short trips it can be a very good idea to shave before you go and leave your shaving equipment at home. Pet Care
Have someone take care of your pets while you’re away. Unplug electrical stuff
This may reduce the risk of fire if the house is struck by lightning, or if there is some kind of power surge, while you’re away. Some appliances consume electricity while plugged in, even if they are off – televisions are a good example of this – so lets help save the planet by reducing power consumption! Turn down the temperature in your home
If nobody is home, why waste energy heating it? Empty all trash cans
Vegetables left in the trash can quickly become pretty disgusting. Don’t come back to a stinking house! Confirm airline tickets
It seems like everyone is recommending you confirm airline tickets a few days before the flight, but it has happened several times that airline employees sound as if I’m an idiot every time I really DO confirm these tickets. Get your airmiles in advance
Most companies offer signup and monitoring online. It’s worth it! Getting your airmiles after your trip is a pain, so better do it in advance. Order special air meals
This is a must if you are vegetarian, or have other requirements. Some people claim the vegetarian meal by far is the best, so that can be a good choice to avoid the ordinary beef or chicken. Memorize PIN codes to credit cards
So that you can use them with ATM machines to get cash.

“Memorize the PIN numbers and leave them at home with someone you trust, like your parents, so that if you forget all you have to do is phone home. Do not bring them with you, unless you encrypt them! Otherwise all your money might be withdrawn by someone stealing your cards, and you may not get it back since you had the PIN number laying around.”

- Mats Henricson

Check out what hospitals are covered by your health insurance
Whenever I go somewhere with my family, I need to check out beforehand which hospitals are covered by my health insurance, so that I don’t bring a sick child to the wrong place. That can end up being a very costly mistake. Get travel insurance
Make sure your insurance covers the activities you plan to do, such as climbing! Not all of them do! Also very important if you travel with kids. Install or recharge batteries
It is such a pain and hassle to get these replaced in cameras etc during the trip. Get it done before you go and avoid the problem. Rechargeable batteries exists in lots of devices – make sure they are recharged before you leave! Get maps
It can be easier to get maps of your destination from home, particularly since you may not know where the map store is in another city. Sometimes you may get good maps for free, such as at travel agencies or AAA (American Automotive Association) if you are a member. Forward (or hold) delivery of newspapers and magazines
If you’re away for some time, it might be a good idea to forward your subscribed newspapers and magazines to some other place or person. Some newspapers also allow you to put your subscription on hold until you come back.

To do for longer trips

Balance your bank account
It’s also important to let someone take care of incoming salaries or outgoing expenses on the credit card. Wash clothes
It is nice to have all your clothes shining clean when you hit the road. It is also nice to have a clean set of clothes to put on when you return home. Clean out your flat
This is a good idea, especially if you plan to let someone else live there while you’re away. Change the message on your answering machine
It might be a bad idea to leave the message “I’m away to Africa for 3 months” since it gives a thief plenty of time to empty your apartment, but something that stops mom from calling 90 days in a row could be nice. I guess you have to be inventive. Pay the rent and other necessary bills
If you are lucky enough to have a place to live you’d better be sure to still have it when you come back. I like to have it all sorted out nicely when I travel, so the best thing is to give some money to a trusted friend who can pay all necessary bills when you are out of town. Plant care
Have someone take care of your plants while you’re away or they will change colors. Empty all water containers
A filled water boiler can be rather disgusting after a month. Not to mention in what condition a coffeepot or coffee making machine filled with used coffee grounds can be after a month! Absolutely disgusting! Store away things that are easy to steal
Some things, like bicycles, are unlikely to be stolen from your back yard when it is clear that you’re around. But if it becomes obvious that you’re away, such as if there are tons of mail in your mailbox, then a thief may feel comfortable enough to steal things that usually require too much time or effort to locate and move. Empty your fridge of perishables
Vegetables, for example, are pretty disgusting if you have to deal with them 3 months after they should have been eaten. If you empty and unplug your fridge remember to defrost it first, then leave the door propped open. Give copies of your keys to someone else
It is a good idea to let someone else have copies of your keys if you are out on a longer trip, in case something must be done in your apartment. Maybe someone needs to water your poor plants, or take care of your mail. Don’t let them have your own keys, since they might be out of town when you come back, leaving you sitting outside your own door without any way of getting in. Fill in the tax return form
I’m kind of boring, since I’d hate to come back and find out I have problems with the authorities. Do it if your trip coincides with when it is supposed to be filled out, or at least ask for an extension. Hold delivery of snail mail
In many countries you can have your mail held at the post office while you are away. Then the post office will deliver it in a big package when you get back. Wax boots
Change Of Address ( COA )
Tell your friends where they can contact you if it is necessary.

“I have some great memories from collecting Poste Restante mail abroad (thanks Magnus Eriksson for Der Zweck in Cairo).”

“Remember to tell your friends the right way to write P.R. addresses. Here is a good example:

SMITH, Peter
General Post Office
Cairo, Egypt

If you write it:

Peter Smith
General Post Office
Cairo, Egypt

it might be sorted under P, not S, which is VERY annoying. Be sure your friends and relatives write your name so it’s easy to read.”

- Mats Henricson

Clothes

This list describes clothes most of us are quite likely to bring with us, biased to male clothing. Avoid clothes that look military, since that might cause you problems in countries where spy paranoia is high (much of Africa). I try to melt into the environment by wearing clothes that don’t look too odd. A good idea could be to bring enough clothes for one week w/o needing to do laundry. Another suggestion has been that shorter trips mean lots of clothes while long trips often mean different climates and thus mean you really need to buy stuff underway.

“You can throw or give away clothes when you don’t need them any more. Reminds me of Cairo where I once saw a goat eating a T-shirt! Tough animals!”

Unisex clothes

Underwear
Can be obtained very cheaply in many towns, but if you prefer the western style, you’d better get a basic set of these at home before you go. Definitely stay with cotton, or possibly silk, if you can afford it.

“One morning in Zaire I woke up at a very questionable “hotel” and could not find my briefs. After a while I found them half eaten in a rather large hole in the floor. I still don’t know what animal fancied my underwear, and I’m not sure I want to know either.”

Shirts
There is almost no place on the globe where you can be without needing a good warm shirt. I usually bring one or two tough flannel shirts, but I leave them at home if my destination is really hot.

“I usually just use a long sleeve cotton shirt when walking in the mountains, but I have come to the conclusion that it is not such a good idea. Cotton chills your body when wet, such as in rain, snow, or if you’re sweating. Go to your local sports shop and ask them what to use. It may cost a bit, but that will be money darn well spent.”

- Mats Henricson

T-shirts
Pretty impossible to be without, unless you just use thin shirts. You can buy them cheaply along the road. Socks
Good quality socks can be a blessing. Wool is best. If you are hiking, be sure to bring a lot of socks in case the weather is bad – walking in wet socks is horrible! Remember that if it is hot summer at your travelling destination, you may not end up using socks at all, just sandals! Trousers ( Pants, Jeans )
I like black jeans at home, but leave them at home if you’re going to a really hot place. Shorts will be a much better choice. Sweater
A must in colder climates, and a good idea if you’re flying.

“I often bring a fleece sweater. It can double as seat cushion, head cover on cold nights, and pillow.”

- Mats Henricson

Cap ( Hat )
Two out of every three Australians who live to the age of 75 can expect to develop some type of skin cancer, so hats are more or less government recommendation in Australia. I’m not too fond of hats, but I have burnt my nose to pure coal so many times now that I’ve bought myself a cool hat.

Clothes for men

Some extra clothes applicable only (?) to men.

Tie
If you need to look formal.

Shoes

Very important. Only use good quality shoes!

Walking shoes
I have been a faithful customer of Dr. Martens shoes for over 20 years, but my last pair broke after just a few months, so I’ve abandoned them since then. Now I’m a proud owner of a pair of Meindl Trattberg shoes. They look sharp, and will probably last a long time, but they need a long and rather painful walk-in period before you can walk a full day in them. Quite expensive and hot, so if you travel in a hot climate, a pair of light jogging shoes can be an alternative.

“I find that with constant wearing (of Dr. Martens) the leather breaks down on the uppers near the place where you lace them up. On other leather shoes you get a crease which gets softer with age and use. Maybe just my feet, though.”

- Malcolm Dunn

“If you are travelling by plane you might prefer ones WITHOUT steelcaps, since they beep at the metal indicators. As a blond, small woman I’ve always been able to communicate with the customs officials but my tall long-and dark haired boyfriend has had a hard time sometimes.”

- Ursula Vesala

Optional clothes

Pick the ones you like, and leave the rest at home.

Belt
Raincoat
I usually carry a Gore-Tex jacket, but it takes up a hell of a lot of space in my backpack. Difficult decision. Leave it at home, unless you are heading for colder climates or the mountains where this is essential.

“Some people prefer a poncho. Packs very small, is light, and doubles for a ground sheet or simple tent. You can buy one at many camping stores for $5.”

- Mats Henricson

Umbrella
Some love them, others hate them. What kind of person are you?

“Can also be used as a sun shade.”

- Mats Henricson

Swimming trunks ( Bikini )
Takes virtually no space in your backpack, and can be very nice.

“I read that women may have problems in some countries if they are too revealing. Reminds me of a friend who told me swimming is not allowed on Sundays on some islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pretty weird!”

- Mats Henricson

Pyjamas ( Pajamas )
Slippers
Scarf
Can save you from getting a cold. Beach pants
Thin cotton pants that are great when shorts are too casual and it is too hot for regular trousers. Also nice on long flights, since they are very comfortable. Jewelry
Easily stolen, so I wouldn’t bring anything too valuable.

Clothes for cold weather

Jacket ( Wind breaker )

“I have brought a black suit/dress jacket on many trips. But if it gets too hot it will end up in your backpack and take up a bleeding lot of space.”

Gloves
Nice if it gets really cold. Mittens
I have on many occasions wished I had brought with me a pair of thin fleece mittens, since it gets cold, even in daytime, when you reach a certain altitude. Forgetting to bring a pair of mittens may not ruin your time at the summit, but you may choose to go down earlier than you had wished. Don’t be stupid like me, bring a pair! A thin pair of cotton, light wool of fleece mittens takes up virtually zero space.

“Will also keep your poor thumb warm when hitch-hiking, as well as protecting your hands while scrambling up mountains.”

- Mats Henricson

Long underwear

“Your track-suit bottoms or beach pants can double as long underwear.”

- Mats Henricson

Knitted (woolen) cap
Nice to have on that glacier in northern Norway.

Money and documents

This list is about what kind of documents and what kind of money you better not be without.

“A good idea is to send important information by email to an account you have access to during your travels, such as Hotmail or Yahoo email.”

- Mats Henricson

Basic documents

Insurance certificate ( Health Insurance card )
Very handy if you want to rent a car in the US without having to pay for insurance. The insurance that covers your car at home often also covers cars you rent, but check with your insurance company before you go, to be sure. Cash
If you bring cash, the equivalent of US $10 and $50 are the most convenient denominations.

“When crossing borders, I have put cash in my underpants since it is unlikely to be found there, but there are no guarantees. I have heard of people having to strip completely at the border to Brazil.”

“Travel insurance won’t cover a large loss of cash. The limit at Swedish travel insurance companies has been US$300 or so.”

- Mats Henricson

Emergency money
In case all your money, or all your gear, is lost or stolen.

“I had all my money stolen in Bangui, Central African Republic. It took me more than a week to get new travellers cheques. During that time I was pretty miserable, and had some odd encounters, such as when I managed to arrange a meeting with one of the thieves and did some haggling to get back my diary.”

“When I travelled to Egypt, I stashed a $US50 bill under the soles of my shoes (which I rarely took off)! In the developed world, $50 is enough for a couple of nights’ food and accommodation plus telephone calls. In Africa it’s enough for a week’s traveling to the capital city where your embassy can help (or at least you can get some money sent to you).”

- Stephen Psallidas

Credit/ATM cards ( Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, American Express etc )
They take virtually no space in your backpack. American Express has the advantage of letting you use the Amex office facilities. In a group, have each person bring a different brand of card. Make sure to carry the phone numbers to call to report if your card is stolen! Remember, typical free numbers (such as 800 or 888 numbers in the US) often do not work from outside your country (for example, calling american 800-numbers from Sweden is bound to fail). Make sure you bring “normal” phone numbers together with the free (800) numbers.

“I thought Visa worked all over the planet, but recently I was quickly brought back to reality when I couldn’t use it to pay for the hotel in Garmish Partenkirchen in Germany. They only accepted American Express.”

ID card
I have my Swedish driver’s license for security if I lose my passport. Address list (with phone numbers and email addresses)
For writing letters, sending emails from a cyber cafe, or for phoning home to Mom for more money.

Optional documents

Some of the items on this list might be very good to have with you.

Notebook

“Although I brought a nice journal on my last trip, I never made the time to write in it. However, I had a small notebook (about 2 inches by 3 inches) in which I wrote down all purchases. My main reason for doing this was to see how realistic our budget was, because this was our first trip. I wrote down what I bought, where & the price. When I got home, I found I had a very complete travel record of where we went, where and what we ate and drank, etc, plus I got to make graphs comparing my budgeted and actual expenditures. (I’m an accountant, that’s fun for me). It was also large enough to press small flowers, and we also made a list of “things we wish we’d brought” and “things we didn’t need” for future trips.”

- Karen

Notepad
For writing letters. This packing list
Can be very handy if you have things stolen. It can be darn hard to remember what you lost otherwise. International Student Identification Card ( ISIC )
Can save you some money in Youth Hostels, trains, museums, planes, so get one if you qualify as a student. If you can, get the brochure with addresses to student travel organisations in different countries, and tear out the pages you want. You will need these addresses if you want to buy student plane tickets.

“In many parts of the world an ISIC is, however, of dubious usefulness. “Anything with a photo and the word ‘Student’ on it works 8 times out of ten.”"

- Mats Henricson

Tourist organization certificate
Can save you money in a way similar to an ISIC card. Calendar
Very nice souvenir, since I like to write down where I have been each day to help me remember what happened on a trip. Envelopes
For keeping documents in, or for letters. Business cards
They can sometimes give you an air of respectability that your appearance might not warrant. Some people bring small cards with just their name and address on. Handy when you swap addresses with someone.

“Business cards may cause trouble in places where authorities might believe you are trying to conduct trade there without first completing their requisite mountains of paper work, paying vast licensing fees, or giving them a cut…”

- Mats Henricson

Phone card
For making phone calls. Membership cards
If you have any of these (AAA, Hertz, Avis, Hilton, …), going abroad may be a good opportunity to use them.

For carrying money and documents

You might end up carrying a lot of important documents, as well as money. This list gives some hints on how to carry them. Remember to carry these things in 2 or more locations. Unless everything gets stolen, this way you’ll have some extra money and papers that will make it easier to replace what was stolen, not to mention that some extra money can make it possible for you to continue your travels while waiting for new travellers cheques or documents. When making purchases, be modest. Don’t flash large amounts of cash. The wallet of a westerner has tempted people in poor countries to commit murder! Please remember this!

“If you are afraid of pickpockets, use a safety pin to fasten whatever you use for carrying money and documents to your pants, shirt or underwear.”

- Mats Henricson

Wallet
This is my favourite! They have a distinct disadvantage though – pickpockets! Where pickpockets are a problem, carry your wallet in your front trousers pocket. Paper folder
I tend to carry quite a lot of paper with me; to prevent it from becoming unreadable from the massive pressure in my backpack, I put it all in a sturdy paper folder. I have never regretted this. The folder also gives some steadiness in the backpack. The stiff envelopes available from Federal Express or Express Mail (in the US) are great for carrying the assortment of papers one picks up. They are a little stiffer than folders and available free of charge.

Tickets

Maybe you’ll be hitch-hiking. The rest of us might need tickets.

Airline tickets

Maps

I always travel with lots of maps. Remember that good maps can be pretty hard to find in many countries.

“I have a GPS with lots of built-in maps, so now I don’t need to bring as many maps as I used to.”

- Mats Henricson

Small scale map
I like to have a small scale map for the occasions when I sit at a cafe and try to figure out where to go next. Large scale map
For more detailed kind of travelling. In cities in the western world you can often get them for free in tourist information offices. Good souvenirs!

“I have a carboard box full of maps at home. My favorite is a map of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. I once read that the Britts laid out the streets of the city to look like the Union Jack, but I can’t see it on my map.”

Books

Books are heavy but hard to be without.

Novels
You may end up waiting a lot on most trips, so a novel or two or three will make your trip more enjoyable. A guideline is to bring one book per week of travel. Books in your native language are all nice and cosy on the road, but the price of it on the second hand market may be reduced. Travellers often swap books, so if you have a book in Swedish you may be out of luck. Choose English. Guidebook
I usually have a Lonely Planet guide with me, but they’re approaching the weight of a brick nowadays, so try to reduce it by ripping out pages or leave it at home. A too-complete guide-book is kind of boring, since it reduces the thrill of finding your own hotels and magic places around the globe. You can be pretty sure that if a place is in the guidebook, it is more or less crowded with travellers. At the same time, it is a bad idea to go to a place like Africa without a guide, since you will be unaware of local rules, conflicts and other things that are bound to put you in lots of uncomfortable situations.

“If you buy a massive book that is bound together with some sort of glue (most are; let’s go, Berkeley, Lonely Planet) you can take a razor blade and make it into many small guide books. Just cut the section out you want, making sure that the blade goes through the cover. The glue will hold that section together (it works better if the section is thick, like for a country, rather than for a small town). I also carry a few paperclips to hold them together as they disintegrate… hey, paperclips are handy in general, for fixing cameras, picking things out of cracks, picking your teeth, what ever.”

- Christina

Equipment

Quite a few lists of general equipment handy in different situations.

Things for packing

Items that enable you to bring along the other items as effortlessly as possible.

“Put an up-to-date address label on backpacks, suitcases and day packs. I once lost a suitcase full of my stuff since it had a very old Hong Kong address on it.”

- Mats Henricson

“If you’re travelling with one or more companions, do some “cross packing” – they get a set of your underwear and socks, you get a set of theirs. Then if one of the bags gets lost or misdirected, you have a fall-back.”

- Mats Henricson

Backpack ( Rucksack )
Stay away from the cheap ones! I don’t like the ones with lots of external pockets since they are easy to steal from. I try to use one that seems a bit too small since that forces me to skip some unnecessary things. Remember that you are most likely going to have more things when coming home than when you left. Avoid backpacks with an external metallic frame, since the frame can break if thrown up on a truck or something. They are also not easy to push into small boxes at railways stations and similar places. Backpack rain cover
Many backpacks nowadays are pretty rain resistant, but if yours isn’t, then this kind of cover is good to wrap around your backpack during heavy rain. Small extra backpack ( Knap sack, Day pack )
I can’t be without a small extra backpack, since that is where I carry things when walking around in cities. It serves two other purposes as well. First, it gives you a chance to carry more things along the road since I try to keep the small backpack more or less empty from the start. Second, when carrying the big backpack, I have the small one attached by a carabiner (a climbing D-ring with a spring-loaded latch, and possibly a safety lock so that it will not disconnect) to the shoulder strap of the big one. This way I have easy access to tickets and other important things in the small backpack. The carabiner makes it impossible for thieves to just grab the small backpack and run. To be honest, I’m pretty proud of this idea. Expandable carry-on
The expandable bag will provide more room for souvenirs when returning home from a trip. Rubber-bands
It’s pretty amazing how much you can put into a backpack if you do a good job. By using rubber-bands, I squeeze clothes down to a minimal size. Plastic bags ( Ziploc )
Excellent to put stuff in.

“Visit your local hobby store, and ask if they sell small ziplock bags. I have bought them in sizes ranging from 4″ x 6″ down to 1″ square. They are inexpensive, and handy for a multitude of uses, including: packing batteries so that the “business ends” can’t short out and drain the power (or worse, start a fire); packing pills such as aspirin; keeping small items like safety pins from getting lost in the hidden recesses of your travel kit; keeping your passport from getting damp and sweaty when carried in your money belt next to your skin; keeping your credit/debit cards dry, yet organized, with the magnetic stripes away from each other; storing things like nasal spray so that leaks will be contained; storing your “home” currency and coins until you need them on your return.”

- Dave Smith

“A really good way to pack clothes would be to put an outfit in plastic bags (ziplocked/gallon bags). They are good to use if you are traveling in rain without a waterproof luggage(bag will get wet but clothes wont). They also work great for items that you dont want to get wrinkle( but if cresed is okay). I advise that you iron your clothes and fold them before you put them in the bags. You could also label each bag for which day you will wear the clothes. Its great for living in hard conditions plus its eaiser and lighter to pack. ”

- Teen Traveller (US) aka. ‘Southern Grit’

Stuff Sack
I have a set of small sacks (up to 3 litres) made of cloth with a drawstring, in different colours. I keep different types of things in different sacks, and with this colour code I can easily find what I’m looking for in my backpack. Without these sacks, your backpack will look like a mess in no time. Bring a few spare ones as well. Small box
Can be a good idea for small things that easily get lost in the backpack. Such a box is also a good place to put fragile stuff in, such as a pair of extra glasses. Suitcase
For trips of a more businesslike character, or if you really hate to see all your clothes wrinkled up, it might be worthwhile to bring all clothes in a large suitcase. I have one of the new plastic types with three clasps, and it is very good. Some people dislike travellers with backpacks. A suitcase could make such people treat you better.

“Use cable ties for suit-case security; the plastic ties that have notches on one end and an eye on the other, instead of a lock. Put one throgh the loops where a padlock would go. Warning, these are used by police as handcuffs, so you can imagine that they don’t break. That means no one will get into your luggage, but you need to find scissors or a small, sharp knife when you arrive at your destination in order to get the tie off.”

- Randal Tietz

Luggage belt
It helps identifying your luggage at the airport quickly (many suitcases looks the same). It can also stop your suitcase from cracking open during the (mis)handling at the airport. Bungee cord
I don’t use them myself, but many people recommend them. Padlock
Necessary when using a steel cable or chain to lock your loggage, but also works in cheap hotels where you don’t trust the default padlocks provided by the hotel. Some backpacks are lockable by allowing you to lock the zippers. Keep an extra key somewhere separate so that you don’t end up with a locked room if you somehow lose the first one, or, preferably, buy a combination padlock and make sure you remember the combination! There are also locks that double as motion alarm.

Things for sleeping

Things that might give you a better sleep, or actually give you a chance to sleep at all.

Sleeping mask
A black hair-band is said to work as well, when for example trying to sleep on an intercontinental flight, a bus or on a ferry. Inflatable neck supporter
Kind of wimpy, but has given me some good nights sleep. Sheets ( Bed covers )
If you find out that you don’t trust the ones you get in hotels. A sheet bag is also an option and a requirement for sleeping in many YHA youth hostels. Pillowcase
A pillow is too large to fit in a backpack, but you can make one by just stuffing clothes into a pillowcase.

Cooking equipment

Remember that this kind of equipment weighs quite a lot and takes up a lot of space in your backpack.

Stove
Well, try to find something so small that it fits in your shirt pocket. Some reports say “multi-fuel” stoves are excellent. Extra fuel

Can be difficult to find abroad depending on the fuel. If it is a liquid – bring it in a bottle sturdy enough to stand a direct hit from a nuclear warhead. That’s the kind of pressure your backpack will produce. Can opener
One of these things you are bound to need sooner or later. Unnecessary if you have a good Swiss army knife or multi-tool. Eating utensils ( Cutlery )

I think a Swiss army knife or multi-tool works OK. But then again, I don’t cook much food on the road. People going to China are often advised to bring their own chopsticks, since washing bamboo ones doesn’t sanitise them. Drinking cup
There are some indestructible plastic drinking cups. Very useful. Some models can be used also as a plate. Plate
The best kind is made of heavy-duty plastic. Sometimes also works as a Frisbee. Washing-up liquid
Try to find a small bottle that can hold just as much as you’ll need on your hike. Reports say that shampoo can double as washing- up liquid. You may not want to try the other way around.

“Please be sure never to use any sort of detergent in a natural waterway or lake. Even though some products are biodegradable, this does not mean instantly, and in the weeks it does take them to break down they can have serious effects on water quality and chemistry, and subsequent effects on plant and animal life. Minimal impact camping and trekking advice suggests that you carry any water for washing well-away from the stream or lake, where you can then use your detergent wisely and tip the waste water onto the ground. Also of importance is that in some areas, you may very well be contaminating other people’s water supply.”

- Viki Cramer

Eating equipment

This list contains items that might be good to bring along even if you don’t cook your own food.

Swiss army knife

I think a multi-tool is better, like a Leatherman.

“The customs officer in Zaire was worried for me when I told him that a Swiss army knife was the only weapon I brought with me.”

Multi-tool ( Folding knife )

A Swiss army knife is good for many things, but the blade is usually too short for slicing bread or fruit. Avoid anything that might look military unless you want problems at border crossings.

“There are a few expensive but handy multi-purpose knifes, like SOG and Leatherman. Fortunately there are cheap copies to be bought in most countries. I own a Leatherman and am pretty happy with it.”

- Mats Henricson

Bottle opener
Bring a good Swiss army knife or multi-tool instead. Cork screw

Bring a good Swiss army knife or multi-tool instead, but make sure the screw is long enough or the cork may stay in the bottle. Thermos
Nice for keeping liquid cold in hot climates, as well as keeping liquid warm in cold climates. A metallic indestructible thermos can double as a water bottle. Heavy.

Miscellaneous equipment

Things that just didn’t fit into any other list.

Pens
You can buy them anywhere, but the quality is often very bad. Bring a bunch of good ones. Works as much appreciated gifts to kids. Bring a few with a very fine point felt top since they are excellent for writing compact letters. Candle
Nice in your hotel room late at night when the electricity is gone, or in a tent, or in a mountain cabin with no electricity. Poker cards ( Playing cards )
Can be a hit when waiting for transport. Earplugs
Invaluable on long flights. Packs very small and can also save you (or your fellow traveller) a night’s sleep. Lighter ( Matches )
Matches can be bought everywhere but are sometimes of lousy quality. It is a good idea to bring a cheap gas lighter even if you don’t smoke.

“Always carry a lighter, whether you’re a smoker or not. It can give you emergency lighting, sear the unravelled end of a cord or a loose thread, melt a fraying nylon seam, light a candle in a church, or destroy papers you don’t want to have go any further, like credit card receipts that you don’t plan to keep.”

- Dave Smith

Sunglasses
Small ones are cool but will leave your eyes pretty unprotected. Keys
To places you plan to visit that you have keys to.

“I once forgot the keys on a short trip to our summer house. Very very annoying!”

Extra things

If any of your equipment breaks or you lose something. There are actually kits you can buy that contain many of the items below. It could be an option instead of buying them one by one.

Extra straps
When you need to attach something to your backpack. Happened to me recently when my hiking friend hurt his knee and I took some of the things from his backpack. I had no extra straps, so it was a bit of a mess. Safety pins
You are wrong if you think you don’t need them.

“Take a variety of sizes. The best use for them is as fasteners on back/day packs. I always fasten the little tab on the zippers on my back/day packs with small safety pins. These suckers are tough to open. So if my pack is on my back, it is very difficult for someone to open the zipper and take stuff out! This saved my sister’s belongings in Rome when she was accosted by a group of gypsy kids. Note that the big pins are easy to open. I have also heard of people using them to seal pockets on their clothes as protection from pickpockets. Women can also use them as a small weapon to poke at a pickpocket, or if they are physically assaulted.”

- Sanjiev Chattopadhya

Paper clips
Sewing Kit
These are normally the size of a softcover book of matches, and can be purchased for a reasonable price from most travel stores, and many airlines even give these out for free. They usually contain 2 needles, a little bit of different coloured threads, and a couple of buttons. This can be *VERY* handy sometimes, and does not take up any space at all. Unfortunately the kits you get for free invariably have the cheapest, weakest cotton thread made. Bring a few yards of strong black, grey or light brown thread, and throw away the thread in the kit. Sturdy nylon cord ( Clothes line )
Can be used for just about anything, including a clothesline string.

“Remember that drying clothes overnight indoors only works in hot and dry climates. It can take several days if it is damp and/or cold.”

- Mats Henricson

Duct tape ( Racing tape )
Rolls of silvery grey sticky tape are standard issue for National Geographic photographers out in the field, and it is also used by astronauts!

“Related to duct tape is “gaffa tape”, or “gaffer tape”. It is stronger, but is quite sticky. It can do anything Bringing along a few different types of tape might be a good idea, such as packing tape, masking tape, duct tape, etc.”

- Mats Henricson

“Clear tape is for repairing paper tears. Beige masking tape is for holes in mosquito nets, and peep holes in hotel walls. Heavy clear tape is for packages, and to cover addresses on packages in case they get wet, so the writing doesn’t bleed. Duct tape is for big problems like shoes falling apart, or torn bags, etc. We did use it all!”

- Marc Brosius

Cable ties ( Zip ties )

“I always take along a few cable ties. These vary in length from 6 to 12 or more inches, and can double as luggage locks, shoelaces, rubber bands, backpack repair supplies, key rings or any of a number of useful items. In their unused state, they take up almost no room at all, and can squeeze easily into any unused corner of your bag. When fastened, they have to be cut off with pliers or a good, sharp knife, so they’re pretty secure. Available at most hardware stores, or Radio Shack.”

- Dave Smith

Hygiene

This is a list of the kind of hygiene things all of us are likely to bring with us. It is a good idea to put most of these things in a separate pouch so that you can easily bring everything with you when you go to the bathroom.

Hygiene

Toilet bag ( Bathroom bag, Necessaire )
A handy bag where you put all your hygiene items. Razor
Either a razor with disposable blades, or disposable light-weight razors. They are actually good for several shaves.

“Remember not to shave in dirty or contaminated water since you can pick up a nasty disease that way. I tend to get small bleeding wounds after shaving, and it’s easy to see why that is bad.”

Extra blades for Razor
This only applies to we who prefer to avoid electric shavers, since they are heavy, and electrical standards are different all over the world. Shaving gel ( Shaving foam )
Make sure you bring along a really small can. Another option is to use brushless shaving cream, or shaving oil. Electric shaver
If you are just going for a shorter trip and don’t mind the weight. But then again, if it is a short trip, why not just leave it and shave when you get home?

“Remember that you may need a Wall socket adapter if you wish to recharge the batteries in the shaver.”

- Mats Henricson

Mirror
Must be pretty sturdy. Glass may not be a good idea for some journeys. Highly polished stainless steel mirrors are available. Also very reflective are the undersides of CDs. Toothbrush ( Electric toothbrush with charger )
One of the few things you can buy all over the world. Toothpaste
Can be bought almost everywhere. Toothpicks
Handy for that strange vegetable plate with the stringy stuff, or to reset a PDA because of a different time zone. Soap
The ones you find along the road may not smell the way you are used to, but at least they are available everywhere. Soap box
The box where you keep your wet soap. Liquid soap
Liquid soap in little containers is said to be more convenient to carry than bar soap. A sample size bottle can be refilled from normal size bottles. Shampoo
If you are really hard-core, you can use soap, but, well, I’m kind of wimpy and prefer real shampoo. Not as available as soap, but it should be no real problem getting it in most towns all over the world. Also available at all hotels, free of charge, but it may not smell like you’re used to.

“I remember getting a super efficient shampoo against bugs in a pharmacy in Assuan, Egypt, by sketching a bug with legs on a piece of paper and making crawling motions with my hand in my hair. Pretty international problem, I guess.”

“A combination shampoo/liquid soap is sometimes very handy. Make sure you bring a small bottle, or it will be half full when you come home.”

- Mats Henricson

Styling gel ( Hair gel )
I don’t use it myself, but most other people do, it seems. Deodorant
Some say this is a must. Some even say “lots of deodorant, PLEASE!!! Sunblock lotion
Can be hard and/or very expensive to get in some countries. Bring some heavy duty stuff!

“Factor 15 was not enough last time I was up on a mountain, so I’ll go for at least factor 20 next time. And a hat.”

Lip balm
If the climate is dry or windy, or if the sun is just outrageously strong.

Hygiene (optional)

After taking a sneek look at some womens makeup “equipment”, I realize that this list could easily grow to ridiculous proportions.

Comb
You might be pretty unhappy without it. Packs very small. Hair brush
Bulkier than a comb. Detergent ( Laundry soap )
Available almost everywhere, but you can use soap with satisfying results.

“I don’t know about other parts of the world, but at least in India, it is usually easier to have a laundry person (they call them dobi’s in India) do your laundry than to find a laundromat. They do their best, but the soaps they use can sometimes be a bit more harsh than you’re used to. Because of this, my mom and all of our friends will always tell you, NEVER let a stranger (like the dobi) wash your underwear. People that do can sometimes end up with something we call “dobi rash” in some very delicate places. You’re not going to die from it, but it won’t be pleasant either, far easier to just wash your own underthings.”

- Nina Cohen

Clothes pegs ( Clothes pins )
Pretty usable, actually. I carry with me perhaps 8 of these magnificent inventions. Laundry bag
A special bag where you put your dirty laundry, to keep it separate from your clean clothes. Sink plug
When you need to wash your clothes, you often find out that this necessary thing is missing from your hotel room. You can use one of these lids for film containers. Wrap it in a small plastic bag and it fits neatly in most sinks. They also sell “universal plugs” which are actually flat pieces of rubber large enough to cover any size drain. Dental floss
Is said to be perfect as a cheese slicer, and reports say it is perfect as heavy-duty sewing thread!

“I also found it useful to mend my tent, tie up a broken strap on my daypack, even as an emergency shoelace! I heard of travellers using it as fishing line when camping beside rivers and lakes. Floss is very strong, practically unbreakable in most situations.”

- Stephen Psallidas

Fingernail clippers
Moisturizer
Can also be used on hair if sun makes it impenetrable for your comb. Qtips
Cotton on a stick to clean the ears after dusty bus trips. Tweezers
The metal tongs women use to pluck hairs from their eyebrows, but also handy for pulling out splinters. Baby wipes ( Towlettes )
The pre-moistened disposable ones.

“They are great for cleaning up a variety of messes:

• Spilled pop or juice – dry towels just can’t get rid of the sugary stickyness
• Instant bath – you can wipe yourself allover with them. Some even have a moisturizer like aloe in them
• And my favourite – they even clean up axle grease – we got a flat and almost severed our emergency brake cable in the same trip and they cleaned up wonderfully.

”

- Anna Deak

Health

Things which can help preserve health on your trip. Put most of your things in this category in a special pouch. On long trips through many remote parts of the tropical world you should count on becoming ill at some point and make allowances for this eventuality. Many things can be sorted out, given time and care – be prepared to forget your schedule and stay put for a week or so.

For other sources, check our resource/reading checklist, as well as about other health concerns.

General health items

Prescription medicine

“Travellers should make sure they take ample supplies, especially if it is a life preserving medication and they will be travelling in unindustrialized parts of the world. In the States it can be difficult to obtain medication in advance due to cost saving requirements imposed by managed health care companies. Those travellers will need to have their pharmacist or physician (or both) request a vacation override agreement with the insurance company. This can be a very time consuming process if dealing with a large volume of medicine or a particularly bad insurance company. Start the process well in advance of the departure date. Ultimately, travellers may have to purchase the medication outright so they need to be prepared to factor the cost into their budgets.”

- Dilip Tripathy

Condoms
Can be kind of hard to find in some countries. Don’t go abroad without them! As for birth control pills/devices, these can cause some raised eyebrows (or worse) at customs checks in some countries if the woman is travelling alone. Wearing a wedding ring even if you’re single is often recommended.

“Bring your own condoms and plenty of them. Buying them in a foreign country can be embarrassing, especially if you’re allergic to nonoxynil 9. I bought some in Spain that were small thick and had some of the most powerful spermicide known to man. The words burning sensation should be enough warning to all. Anyhow, condoms are waterproof, if nothing else you can put your money in one and safety pin it to the inside of your swimming trunks.”

- Christina

Sore tape ( Adhesive tape )
If you need to protect and/or cover these blisters you got from your shoes. Band-Aid/bandages work alright for this; however, there are excellent products available which are made specially for walking blisters/sores. Band-Aids ( Plaster )
These are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Take a good selection as well as some tape rolls. First aid kit
I have never had to use one, but I carry one with me, just in case. Water bottle
If you go to Africa, Asia, South America or even the Rocky Mountains in Canada, you’ll be very sorry if you didn’t bring a good watertight bottle. Soda bottles are sometimes OK, but they don’t last very long. Buy one of the metallic types (e.g. Sigg, they also make fuel bottles) or a sturdy plastic one (Nalgene). Pour in some dubious water and throw in some of these purifying tablets; in some minutes you have some horrible tasting water, but bad tasting water is better than Amoebic Dysentery or “Beaver Fever” (Giardia). Trust me. If you hike in the mountains, bringing along a water bottle is more important than many people think. Any climb of a mountain is bound to make you sweat. At high altitude water is very important, if only to reduce the risk of headaches. Bring enough of it in your backpack. You also absolutely need a water bottle or two with water if you travel with children.

“Headaches, stomach cramps, misery; I’ve had some really bad days in very hot places without enough water. On a recent climb, White Mountain between California and Nevada, I used a funky plastic bottle shaped like one of these old time pioneer water sacks that you sling across your shoulder. It was a huge hit! The first plus was that it was always available. I could drink water without having to stop. The other plus was that I could rest my arms and hands on it while walking. I will bring it along on all my future hiking.”

“Many people are now using these small backpacks you can fill with water that have a plastic tube and a valve at the front, so that you can drink any time. They seem very useful, but I haven’t used them myself, except when biking.”

- Mats Henricson

“*After* the purifying time has passed and the water is safe to drink, you can neutralize the yucky iodine taste with Vitamin C. Which some people carry anyway to ward off catching a cold.”

- deb

Water purifying filter
If you know you have to purify large amounts of water for a long time, then this gadget might be an option. Quite expensive and quality varies. Many water filters have appeared on the camping market in recent years. It would be wise to read reviews about them before purchase, or stick with the old standard (Katadyn). Water filters also vary in what they will remove. Some are capable of removing virus organisms and even chemicals. Others filter only larger organisms and particulates. Determining what your needs are will help simplify your choice. Chewing gum
Helps adjust to cabin pressure changes during flights. Copy of prescriptions
It can be a good idea to bring along copies of the prescriptions you use at the pharmacy back home. The prescription itself is not valid abroad, but it can give a doctor you meet in another country a good hint as to what medication may be best for you.

Pills, tablets and medicines

There’s a lot on this list, since there are many diseases you can catch. Remember that with a backpack full of strange pills, you can get into border problems. Keep the pills in their original containers, and stuff them all in a box so that they don’t end up being ground to dust by the pressure in your backpack.

Water purifying tablets
Take lots. Perfect gifts in poor villages in Africa. Remember that they are also necessary in “civilised” places like the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where there is now a greater incidence of “Beaver Fever”, a form of giardiasis.

“The only thing I regret in life (truly, I promise) is that I didn’t drop a bunch of my purifying tablets into that toilet in western Sudan, bubbling with intestine worms. Could have become a real show.”

Vitamin pills
When travelling, my diet leaves a lot to be desired. Motion sickness tablets
Also available are “patches” which attach to your skin (behind the ear) and slowly release the required medication. There are also devices, wrist bands, which are reported to provide relief by applying pressure to wrist pressure points. Jetlag tablets
Melatonin and Tylenol-p is supposed to work, but I don’t know personally. Fever tablets
Paracetamol/acetaminophen is recommended by some. Pain killers
Headaches are quite common during travels. You can easily get it from not drinking enough, or any of the various sicknesses you can get. Or altitude. There are many different types, so make sure you bring a type that works for you. Allergy pills ( Anti-histamines )

Electrical stuff

General electrical or electromechanical stuff sometimes worth bringing with you.

General electrical items

Alarm clock ( Travel alarm )
I think a watch with alarm would be perfect, but I sleep like a rock and need an alarm clock that can wake the dead. Essential if you have a flight very early in the morning. Many PDAs and cell phones works as an alarm, so don’t pack one too many. Cell Phone ( Mobile Phone, Cellular Phone )
Remember that there is a risk your phone may not work in other countries. It could be the wrong network technology, or your phone service doesn’t allow you to use it outside your own country, or even outside your own state in the US. An alternative is to rent a phone at your destination, but that is probably expensive.

“The cell phone has become ubiquitous in many parts of the urban world. Lost hikers in the mountains nearby have been saved by having a cell phone with them. However, there’s something slightly comical (or sad) seeing somebody pull out their cell phone after having just completed the arduous but spectacular climb to the top of the Stawamus Chief, a sublime mountain near Squamish, in beautiful British Columbia. I still applaud the gent who, while dining in a London, UK restaurant, deposited the cell of a constantly connected fellow diner in the nearby lobster tank.”

- Malcolm Dunn

Charger to Cell Phone
Remember that you may need a Wall socket adapter if you wish to recharge the batteries of the telephone, unless you have one of those new solar-powered cell phone battery chargers. Computer
There are many choices from Laptop, Notebook to Subnotebook. Make sure you really need it, since many of them are heavier than you first might think! Many times an internet cafe will be all you need to process your emails. Remember that you may need a Wall socket adapter if you wish to recharge the batteries in the computer.

“In some parts of Africa and other parts of the world, be prepared to be arrested constantly for being a spy if you insist on travelling with this kind of equipment. And, nearly everywhere, you’ll be a very interesting target for thieves and other opportunists…”

- Malcolm Dunn

PDA

“My handy Palm computer provides a lot of benefits for its small size and weight: a calendar, a notebook, telephone numbers & addresses, a schedule of planned excursions (with alarm reminders), a converter for distances and weights I may not be familiar with, a calculator, an alarm clock, a record of expenses, and games for those boring air miles when you’ve seen the movie and don’t feel like sleeping. It can even be used as a mirror, in a pinch! In some places, you can download maps (such as the Paris or London subway systems) and restaurant lists, packing lists, pub locations – the uses are limited only by your memory size. Mine uses replaceable AAA batteries – an advantage, as I don’t need to carry a charger or power adapters.”

- Dave Smith

Watch
I use a cheapo watch when I travel. No big deal if it gets stolen. Be sure the battery is fresh! Some watches have a handy alarm feature and a built-in tiny compass. Another handy option would be a watch with a built-in calculator, but they are unfortunately often ugly beyond description and also seldom watertight. Flashlight ( Torch )
I have a Maglite (a thin black slick metallic torch with an adjustable magnifying glass) that I like to bring with me. It’s nice to carry along at night in strange neighbourhoods abroad. Kind of expensive. The smallest Maglite is called “Solitaire” and can hang off your key ring. An alternative is the tiny, long-lasting LED lights that cost about $10 US. Get the kind with the lockable on/off switch for hands-free use.

“Some people bring miner’s headlamp style torches. “Great for camp cooking as you always have your hands free”.”

- Mats Henricson

Bookmark reading light
A small travel light in the form of a bookmark. Very useful and works with AA batteries. Also good for fully discharging lithium batteries, which help prolong their life. Extra batteries for your camera, flash, torch, watch, MP3-player, PDA and GPS
Portable DVD player and disks
Perfect for long flights, especially if you travel with children. Many laptop computers these days can read and display DVD disks (or even ripped ISO files from the hard drive), so bringing it on as hand luggage can be a really good idea.

Digital Camera equipment

In many cases a digital camera is probably a better choice for a trip than a normal camera, since they are so much simpler to handle, takes up less space in your luggage, and are cheaper to use in the long run. But the quality of digital photos aren’t yet really as good as normal photos, so if you are really into this, then you’d better bring a normal camera and normal film.

Digital camera
Be sure the batteries are fresh, or bring along a charger. Memory cards
Some memory cards are now so large that you are able to get away with a single card for the whole of your trip. Try to estimate how many pictures you’ll take during your trip, and how much memory they normally take up on your memory card, and you should be able to calculate what size memory card you’ll need. Battery charger for camera
If your camera uses non-standard batteries, and you’re off to a longer trip. You may also need a Wall socket adapter. Associated cables
To your charger, or from the camera to your computer, in case you want to move some of the pictures off your memory card, to make room for more pictures.

Generic photo equipment

Various things to bring with you if you bring along a camera or video camera.

Camera bag

Music items

A music player can be heaven and hell. It can be stolen, and it can also give you some of the best highlights of a trip.

“I remember one night walking down the centre of Khartoum with Red Lorry Yellow Lorry on maximum volume in my earplugs! A truly special memory!”

Music player ( Cassette, CD, MiniDisc, MP3 )
For travels it is probably best to take an MP3 player since they pack small and can hold a lot of music, as well as many MP3 audio books. Particularly great if you can’t read on buses. Even better if it has a radio tuner. There are solar cell battery chargers you can buy, so that you don’t need to buy so many batteries. Remember that you may need a Wall socket adapter if you wish to recharge batteries the normal way. Headphones
Can also be a good idea on long flights, since the ones you’re offered on planes are often of very low quality. Music media ( Music cassettes, CDs )
If you bring too many, they take up a lot of place in your backpack. If you bring too few, you get sick and tired of them in a flash. One option is to leave them all at home with your music player. That way all your music will be like brand new when you come home. Microphone
Tapes with sounds from trains or cities can be marvellous to have to remember what the trip was like. Packs very small. Headphone ‘doubler’ plug
It plugs into your the headphone ‘out’ socket but has two sockets on the other end to plug two sets of headphones into. That way two of you can listen at the same time.

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