5 Gear Ideas for Packing Better
June 5th, 2009 Posted in Travel gearI’m taking off for two months, but I’m not backpacking. I think this is the first time I’ve gone away for this long solid since I had a kid many years ago. To complicate matters further, the first five weeks will mainly be in two places: an apartment we’ve rented in a colonial city and a little beach house in the Yucatan. So I am packing more than I normally would if I were on the move constantly.
Still, I refuse to pay extra baggage fees, so it’s just the one suitcase (my Hovercraft from Eagle Creek) that’s allowed on Continental’s International flights, plus my cool Pacsafe laptop backpack. How did I fit all my crap in there? Well, I’m a big fan of double-duty items and things that enable you to jam in more clothes without adding weight. Here are a few of them.
1) ExOfficio everything, but especially underwear. OK, so it’s hard to get excited about what underwear you pack for traveling, but it matters a lot. My old method was to carry only bikini style briefs that take up less space, but they didn’t dry nearly as fast as the pairs of this travel underwear. These are not cheap, at $15-$20 a pop depending on the where and when, but the first pair I got has been on 12 trips now and is still looking almost new.
These days I look like a walking ad for ExOfficio actually, with their Cruz’r short-sleeve shirt, an Air Strip Lite long-sleeve shirt, a pair of their Insect Shield pants, a sun hat, and more. They make great stuff that dries quickly after a sink washing and is wispy-weight light.
2) Teva sports sandals and water shoes. Sports sandals are one of the greatest packing boons of the past few decades. You can use them for the beach, for rafting, for light hiking, walking around a city, and on and on, all while keeping your feet cool without stubbing your toes. There are plenty of other versions out there (I’ve had a Skechers pair for a few years), but the real deal from Teva are still the best. I’m packing these nice Omnium ones.
3) Callpod for charging multiple devices. You know how sometimes you use something once, go “Holy crap!” and then forgot how you ever lived without it? That’s me with this Chargepod Callpod thingy. I’m annoyed to death that electronics makers have to have 478 different connectors for the simple exchange of electricity and this item keeps me from traveling to a trade show just to punch an executive of any of these manufacturers in the face. See you just have to take the pod, the plug, and the connectors for your devices. With mine I can charge up a family assembly that can include an iPod or two, two Nokias with different connectors (bastards!), and something else that always seems to come along for the ride. Four or five items, but not four or five wall adapters. Just one. Sweet.
4) Wicking shirts and lightweight pants. I was in the anti-wicking crowd for a long time, until they got the stink out. I couldn’t help but notice the correlation between stinky backpacker and synthetic t-shirt in the tropics. But then the companies starting building in odor-killing properties and I converted. I like the idea that they whisk moisture away, but the real benefit is fast drying after a sink washing. So you can pack less and stay fresh-smelling.
I also carry mostly lightweight travel pants too, like these I picked up at REI. I pack a pair of convertible pants too so it’s double-duty with the shorts. I can pretty much scoff at the 50-pound weight limit you get on most U.S. airlines as I’m always way under.
5) Buying local. I called this “gear ideas” instead of “gear items” because this last one is a strategy more than a thing. There was a time when you would find it hard to get what you need where you were going, but those days are mostly gone. Sure, it’s hard to find plus-sized clothes in Asia or big hiking boots in India, but if you’re of a relatively normal size you can get what you need after arrival. Some items are tougher, so do stock up on tampons, sunscreen, or your favorite face moisturizer, but in most cases you can find what you need for close or less than you would pay at home.
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2 Responses to “5 Gear Ideas for Packing Better”
By Linda on Jun 6, 2009
I agree on the shoes. If you can’t do two or three different things with each pair of shoes, don’t pack them! They take up too much space.
By Mary on Jul 10, 2009
If I can’t wear a clothing item with at least 3 other things then I don’t take it. Also, I pack in clear plastic zip bags. Keeps things clean, dry, easy to find and wrinkle free.