I’ll never forget my first trip abroad at 18 years old. I brought a massive non-rolling suitcase packed with several pairs of shoes and nearly my entire wardrobe. The memory of that steep hike up to our hotel in Capri still makes me a little sore. I later moved onto carrying large hiking backpacks because, well, when you’re in your early twenties that’s just what you do. But a bag with straps is little consolation when it’s heavy.
It wasn’t until we traveled to Patagonia this year that I thought more carefully about traveling light. After all, I would be carrying my pack, water, food, stove, tent, sleeping bag and clothes for miles every day. So I brought a couple of T-shirts, two long-sleeves, a jacket, two pairs of hiking pants, underwear and socks. Maybe I wasn’t the freshest after several days on the trail, but my back thanked me. While we won’t be carrying food and camping gear during our trip to Southeast Asia, we will have a decent amount of photo, sound and editing equipment. I’ve tried to keep the equipment light and compact, as I’ve blogged about yesterday, but it will still be at least 5 lbs per person of extra weight. So that means I have to keep my personal effects light. Here’s a few items packable light items I love to travel with:
1. Eagle Creek Packing Cubes ($12.49 The Container Store): These packing cubes fit a surprising amount of stuff. We each bought two. One for pants and shorts and the other for T’s, underwear, socks and bathing suits. Prior to purchasing these, I’d have to dig through the layers of clothes at the bottom of my pack to find what I needed and then refold or re-roll all of the clothes again. With these cubes, I can just take a cube out, get what I need and return the cube to my pack or even place it in the drawer of a guest room as is. By purchasing two, we’re self-imposing a limit on the number of clothing items we can bring.
2. Method Concentrated Detergent ($14.99 for a full bottle at Target): I use this concentrated detergent at home. One bottle lasts for 50 loads or about 4 months for us. Each squirt is equally measured so you’ll never use more than you need to. The bottle has a slim profile and packaging, which means less plastic in the landfill and less space in your linen closet. I squirted more than enough Method in this small wide-mouth bottle to bring along with us so we can do a quick wash of our clothes in a guesthouse sink.
3. REI Large Camp Towel ($19.50 at REI): We purchased this for our trip to Patagonia and it’s been indispensable ever since. It’s basically like a large Shamwow that wicks the water off you post shower then dries quickly when hung. It also packs really tightly. I can use it for the shower, at the beach, and maybe for a little yoga practice, which brings me to the next item…
4. Resistance Band: I purchased these at a small discount store for a few bucks but you should be able to find them online or at other sports retailers. While we’ll be walking a lot, we won’t have the opportunity to go to the gym. So resistance bands are the next best and lightest thing. Together with some self-guided yoga, my fitness needs on the road will be met. It could serve well as an emergency tourniquet though I hope I won’t have to use it that way.
5. Toms Canvas Shoes ($44 at Toms): While bulky hiking shoes are often unavoidable, slim and packable shoes for wandering the city and going out in the evening are not. Toms provide more cushion and coverage than flip flops but are just as packable and wash and dry easily. And if you purchase a pair, Toms will give another to a child in need.
6. REI Flash 18 Day Pack ($29.50 at REI): Sometimes you just want to pack lightly for a day in the city or even a hike. When we go trekking in Northern Thailand and Vietnam, we’ll want to take as little as possible and store the rest in storage lockers at city guest houses. But we don’t want to bring another bag that will be cumbersome. This little guy is made simply of thin nylon, has pockets for an optional water bladder, has an emergency whistle and daisy chains to hang a water bottle or hat. When not in use, it doubles as a stuff sack, so it takes next to no room in your big pack.
Love this! Thanks for these great adventure packing tips & trick!