The Backpacker’s Lament - Packing
One of the best trips you’ll ever take is when you throw on a backpack and head overseas or off to some interesting destination. The only question to consider is what you should take along with you.
Before we get into packing, we need to discuss your backpack. The days of one backpack fits all trips are long over. My friend, we are not talking specialization whether you like it or not.
Most people buy a backpack without having a clue and get a bad result. Select your pack based on what you are doing. If you are climbing Everest, get a high end pack. If you are stomping around Spain, get something more relaxed.
Conversely, the blue light special backpack might be great for a three week trip to Europe. If you are going to be climbing in the Andes, however, it will be laughably insufficient.
We are finally ready to actually do some packing. Our first list is going to focus on what not to take instead of what to pack. Remember, less is always more when it comes to backpacks. Anything you pack, you must carry!
The internet is a beautiful and addictive thing. That being said, leave your laptop at home. Cyber cafes are almost as common as bars these days. You can access the web from anywhere and save yourself the pain of caring a laptop.
As a general catch-all, it is vitally important to remember one thing. You are not going to another planet. The world has progressed to the point where if you can buy it at home, you can probably buy it at your destination.
I like sweaters, but they are terrible for backpacking. They simply take up too much room. If you can′t roll it up, you should ditch it. The goal is to minimize the space and weight for each item. You can always buy clothes at your destination.
With this in mind, it is unnecessary to pack multiple bars of soap, tubes of toothpaste and so on. You can buy books, clothes and just about anything around the world. I once found an English book store in the middle of Siberia for example.
No matter how specific you are with your packing, you’ll end up with unused stuff. There is absolutely no reason to haul it around. Donate it. Heck, toss it. If it has sentimental value, send it home via international mail.
Your general approach to packing should be to take the absolute minimum possible. Even taking this approach, I always come home with something I didn′t wear or might have worn just once. Don′t make the same mistake.
