Backpack contents

Here's everything I'll be bringing in my Gregory Deva 60 backpack:

Contemplation of the contents of my carry-on

I've been thinking lately about what I should bring on the plane with me.  Since my main bag will be a large backpacker's pack and will be checked, my carry-on bag needs to be some kind of shoulder tote (i.e., not another backpack).  For the first time in a long while, I'm really at a loss as to what kind of bag to use.  So I tried to make a list of what needs to go in it:

• travel documents (tickets, passports, itineraries, accommodation confirmations, etc.)
• travel blanket (takes up quite a bit of room but is very lightweight)
• inflatable travel pillow
• aluminum water bottle
• snacks
• iPod
• hand sanitizer
• lotion
• Go Girl
• sleeping mask & earplugs
• bathroom kit (it's surprisingly small)
• hat (saves my fragile ego from suffering the effects of "greasy plane hair")
• easy change of clothes

"What, no reading materials?!" you ask incredulously.  Sadly, no: I can't read on planes (or in any moving vehicle, for that matter).  The only book I might bring in my carry-on is Top 10 Barcelona, and maybe not even that.

I also have a tiny cross-body purse as my other carry-on, which will contain my wallet, lip gloss, sunglasses, Vegan Passport, and other small but important sundries.

So, based on what I plan to take with me on the plane, I've been looking for lightweight shoulder totes that are sturdy yet fold flat and are not a pain in the ass to zip open/closed.  I scored a huge beach tote (it's bigger than it looks) at Target last week that I'm fairly certain will end up being my carry-on.  It's sitting on the table in our office right now, and so far everything fits in it with room to spare!

For Eric's carry-on, I will probably ask him to bring the laptop backpack, his favorite one-shoulder urban bag, or a duffel bag.  (It really just depends on what size backpacker's pack we get him.)  It will contain:

• netbook & charging cord
• camera
• reading materials
• sketchbook
• sleeping mask & earplugs
• travel pillow (takes up a lot of room but is very lightweight)
• bathroom kit (quite small, since I carry the bulk of it)
• easy change of clothes
• whatever I can't/don't want to fit in my carry-on

What's your favorite carry-on bag, and what do you like to bring in it for long flights?

Preparations, part II

I've got two items to discuss in this post: first, travel insurance; second, travel clothes. 

Travel Insurance 

I've been reading up on travel insurance lately and am thinking it would be a good thing to get.  According to the wise and well-traveled ladies at Go Green Travel Green (an immensely helpful blog/website for travelers interested in minimizing their carbon footprint), one of the best travel insurance providers they've found for backpackers is a company called World Nomads.

I went to the World Nomads website and got a quote—it's free, right from their homepage.  It looks like it won't actually cost that much to cover both Eric and me for all four weeks of our trip (I was expecting it to be way more expensive).  Thanks to the sound advice of my friends on the VFF, we'll probably get it.  Better to be safe than sorry!

Travel Clothes

The next item I want to discuss is travel clothes.  When you're backpacking, your mantra should be "minimalism plus functionality."  That means packing lightweight, comfortable, multi-purpose clothes that dry quickly, and expecting to wash at least a few items in your sink almost every night.  And if you're going overseas for just one or two weeks, you can do it with just one bag: check out the One Bag Girl blog.

Important factors to consider when choosing appropriate clothes for your adventure are:

• your destination(s)
• what you plan to do there
• the weather

We'll be traveling through Western Europe during the hottest time of the year and will be doing mostly city walking—nothing as extreme as snowboarding, spelunking, or hiking through the rainforest, which would obviously require an entirely different set of clothes and gear.

Some of the best sources for travel clothes are Patagonia, ExOfficio, Prana, Horny Toad, REI, and GoLite.  For ladies, Athleta has a nice selection of lightweight, quick-drying travel clothes, and they have a great sale section, too.  Even stores like Target, Marshalls, TJMaxx, and Old Navy often have clothes that are perfect for traveling.

The main things you want to look for in your travel clothing are:

• Fabric — Is it breathable?  moisture-wicking?  quick-drying?  easy to wash in the sink?  Cotton is best for breathability, but it wrinkles easily (so you can just forget about linen!).  Cotton items with some stretch usually have better wrinkle-resistance.  Another great travel fabric is the "featherweight stretch" combination of polyester/spandex, which wicks moisture away from your skin and dries super fast.
  
• Versatility — Does it match a good portion of what you're otherwise bringing?  Will you be comfortable wearing it during most of your planned activities?
• Longevity — Will you wear it before and after your trip?  Do you like it outside the traveling context?
• Packing considerations — How small can it be folded?  How lightweight is it?  Can it be crumpled into a ball and shaken out without being a mess of wrinkles?
• Other considerations — Does it require you to wear it with something else, like a belt, jacket, camisole, etc.?  Does it have any special features for travelers, like a hidden pocket?

A general note about avoiding unwanted attention

Let me preface this section by saying that I'm all about subverting the arbitrary appearance norms society has placed on us.  I want people to dress and look whatever way makes them feel best.  However, garnering attention while traveling is the last thing you want, if only for your security.  I'm not saying you should cut off your mohawk (hell no!).  What I am suggesting is that you try to look less like a tourist, because looking like one can make you a target for pickpocketing and/or other unwanted attention.

With that in mind, I have a few words of wisdom about clothing and blending in.  In Europe, you generally don't see a lot of flip flops, baseball hats, sports team t-shirts, or cargo shorts (sorry, Dad; I know that's your entire wardrobe).  To blend in a bit more, you can instantly "internationalize" yourself by swapping just a few items.  Trade your Old Navy flip flops for your sleekest pair of non-white sneaks.  Leave your baseball cap at home and bring a Fidel-style hat instead.

Dudes, trade your cargo shorts for smooth, flat-front shorts (or, if you enjoy subverting American gender norms, get yourself some capris, aka manpris!*).  And for the love of maude, get some low-profile ankle/runner's socks.  Nothing screams TOURIST!!1!1 like white tube socks cropping out of your spotless New Balances. 

What are your best tips for travel clothes and blending in?

* I'm going to secretly try to convince Eric to get a pair of manpris while we're there. ;)

Preparations, part I

Because we're going to be backpacking, we'll need to pack light and only bring the essentials.  We plan on doing a little bit of laundry every few days, so we'll only be bringing about a week's worth of clothes.  As for our other stuff, though, I've started to hunt down some items.  Here's my list of must-haves.

Basics:

• Large internal-frame backpack (some good brands are Osprey, Arc'teryx, Kelty, Gregory, Lowe Alpine [thanks, Cory!])
• Discreet laptop backpack
• Cross-body day bag or purse
• Travel clock (preferably one that tells the date, month, day of the week, and temperature, and can switch from 12-hour to 24-hour time)
• All-in-one travel plug adapter (try not to bring anything that requires voltage conversion, like a hairdryer; most laptops and some cell phones will accept anything between 100-240v)

For flights and trains:

• Neck support pillow (inflatable is good; takes up less space when not in use) 
• Folding travel blanket (can also be used as lumbar support pillow)

For the hostel (sleeping, bathing, securing your sh*t, doing laundry):

• Flip flops for the communal bathrooms
• Sleeping mask
• Multi-pack of disposable ear plugs
• Travel safe (securely holds valuables, made of slash-proof material)
  
• Cable lock and luggage lock(s)
• Quick-drying "pack" towel
• Laundry: travel clothesline, laundry hooks, sink stopper, your choice of detergent (I'm going to bring soap nuts, which we use at home)

Miscellany:

• Metal water bottle (keep it empty through security and fill it once you get inside the airport terminal)
• Mini first aid kit (you can DIY or buy a prepackaged one)
• Quick-drying boxers and/or undies (ExOfficio and Patagonia are two good brands)
• Swisscard
• Small flashlight
• Flat-folding shoulder/duffel bag that has a zipper and can be checked or used as a carry-on.  Rick Steves also makes a similar bag that's slightly bigger than the one above.  Essential for items you might purchase on your trip!
• Packable shopping bag (for groceries, shopping, etc.)

Special gear for the gals:

• Go Girl or similar device (perfect for those scary bathroom situations as well as those teeny tiny bathrooms on planes and trains)
• Diva Cup or similar device (seriously, don't waste precious packing space with tampons or pads)
• If you don't [always] need the support of a bra, consider something like these, which will save packing space and keep you cooler and more comfortable

For the traveler with discriminating taste:

• Your tablet of choice (takes up less space than a laptop; also doubles as an e-reader)
• Cocoon-style travel sheet
• Vegan passport
• "Translator" card (Grandma Bee swears by hers for international travel)
• Travel corkscrew (what else will you use to open that €3 bottle of wine?)

I've purposely avoided adding any kind of hidden money belt to my list, as I find them annoying, inconvenient, and completely unnecessary—especially if you're just traveling to Europe.  The only time you might possibly need such a device is if you're going to a country with a travel advisory warning.  Otherwise, they're more trouble than they're worth.  Who wants to be digging in their pants for their passport when the train conductor comes through as you arrive in Prague?  No thanks!

Can you think of anything I forgot on my list above?  Tell me!