All the gear needed for around the world travel

If you haven’t done much long term travelling before, you may not really know the types of things people carry in their backpacks as they travel around the world. The gear needed for around the world travel does change for women and men, but there’s a lot of similarities as well, perhaps more dresses than you’d find in a list for a man, but then it depends on the man.

This list is from a man’s perspective. One who isn’t opposed to the idea of a nice dress, but decides not to travel with them.

Another factor to consider with the gear needed for around the world travel, is the seasons and climates of the places that you’re travelling to as well as the time of year you intend on going.

For some more info on the climates of Southeast Asia or those of South and Central America I have written a handy quick table guide for each of those regions respectively.

I will share exactly what is in my bag at the moment, although this does change over time it will allow you to see what you can fit in your bag. I will briefly explain how I came to make my decisions about what I packed and how it earns its spot in my bag.

Along the way I will share any recommendations that I have for you, seeing as everyone is different and your travel style will be different to mine. Don’t think of this as a list to copy, but consider what I say on why I choose things so that you can properly assess your packing style and your own justifications.

I am not a minimalist!

You won’t see any tips for minimalism here, just me taking what I consider a comfortable amount without being too excessive.

Naturally, this guide will describe the gear needed for around the world travel for a holiday that is primarily in warm climates. There is a small consideration for the colder environments or places at altitude. The reason being is of course because that is somewhat my outline of travel planning, hence the list will follow the same vein.

If all of this is too detailed for you then I have a stripped back version which is more of a pure list, without all the reasoning behind the items.

If you’re interested in the electronics and camera gear that I take around the world to make videos and write this blog, then I also have a separate detailed post describing everything! I do mean everything!

Also, if you prefer a more visually pleasing layout, then I have also added this kit to kit.co, where you can see all of this with some info about each item as well.

*Disclaimer

Affiliate links may be present on this page. These are links to websites such as Amazon, where if you decide to purchase something, then they will offer me a tiny commission. This comes at no extra cost to you and is just a way for me to try and support myself and the blog. I only link to the best of the best with careful consideration, thank you.

It’s important that I let you know about the affiliates at the start of this post. If you want to see prices for these items on Amazon and perhaps purchase them, all you need to do is click the title of the product to be taken to your local Amazon website.

This will only work if that particular item is sold on your local Amazon website.

I will further explain my methodology behind the links after we get through the list of gear needed for around the world travel.

So for now, sit back and enjoy, see how what I pack compares to what you had in mind and maybe have a practice packing your bags at home long before your trip to really nail what you need, what fits, and how it justifies its place in your bag.

Remember, you don’t need to be a minimalist, but you will be carrying this stuff all over the world, repeatedly, so try be strict with yourself (something I fail at all the time).

Things to consider about this ‘gear needed for around the world travel’ list

I would like to clarify some things before we get started.

1. I carry a bit more stuff for creating content on the go, therefore my second bag is full of camera gear. You might not have this issue and therefore will find that you can pack more than me as you are able to split it up more easily.
2. Just because you see something here it doesn’t mean it is necessary for you to buy new stuff. Often times the best stuff is what you already have, unless you’re getting into some more adventurous activities. I’d never buy something marketed “travel underwear” for example, until my own underwear was worn out. Try not to be wasteful in the chase for the best stuff, it won’t make your trip any better.
3. Just to reiterate, this is a list of stuff I have, for a holiday largely based around warm, tropical climates, with lots of outdoors activities. Your style will be different, your location might be different. However this is quite the common theme amongst backpackers, to go to tropical places, where less clothing is required compared to a big winter holiday.

Gear Needed For Around The World Travel – Clothing

I will break this post into 3 sections for the simplest navigation;

• Clothing
• Bags + Pouches
• Accessories

Use the table of contents for quick navigation around the page, as there is a lot of detail to be found here that may not interest you.

Not every product needs a deep dive of pros and cons, so these will be listed in a normal list fashion, without accompanying images, to speed things up.

Firstly we will cover all of the clothing that I currently have in my bag, any numbers that you see inn brackets is just how many of that product I have. All the things without numbers simply means that I only carry one of that item or piece of clothing.

Enjoy 🙂

Shorts

Hiking Shorts

Kathmandu Trailhead Shorts

Gym Shorts

Nike 7″ running shorts

The brand is irrelevant for all of these by the way, it’s more about the fact that they are lightweight, but again look for something with decent pockets. A lot of running shorts have tiny pockets that are useless for any other activity besides holding a key for your house or an ipod mini.

You need some pockets, there will be occasions you will just wear these as normal shorts so again, versatility is the key here. Of course if you’re not going to be doing exercise these can be swapped for something more trendy, or more swim shorts.

Pants

Hiking Pants

Kathmandu Tupelo Hiking Pants

Second Pair of Pants (optional)

Baubax Chinos

or;

Boulder Denim 2.0 Men’s Jeans

Shirts + Singlets

Merino Wool Long Sleeve

Kathmandu Tomar Long Sleeve Shirt

Long Sleeve Hiking Shirt

Kathmandu Koruna Shirt With Buzzguard

Short Sleeve Shirts

Kathmandu Navua Merino Wool Shirts (x4)

Gym Shirt

Puma Running Shirt

Singlets

New Balance Accelerate Singlet (x3)

Rashie

Billabong Long Sleeve Rashie

Jackets

Rain Jacket

Kathmandu Talas 3 in 1

Hooded Fleece Jacket

Kathmandu Acote Hooded Fleece

Jocks, Socks + Thermals

Jocks (x8)

Ok, so this is important. Take whatever you have, providing it’s not falling to pieces. You want to be comfortable so you don’t want elastic that doesn’t work anymore, but you also don’t want to buy jocks specifically for travelling.

I like to pack more, because this is something that can’t be worn days in a row. You need to change your jocks, if you don’t pack enough then try do more washing in the sink, dry the hanging in a breeze or near a fan.

I personally use StepOne underwear, just because they’re comfortable.

Hiking Socks (x3)

You don’t need 3 pairs if this doesn’t apply to you. I like to have comfortable feet and I use Light Hiking Merino Wool Socks to get a mixture of comfort and save on weight. I use these because I mostly travel warm climates, and am never going on 4+ day treks with 20kgs of water and food.

I like to have 3 pairs for the occasions when I need to double up the socks, when the going gets tough.

If you’re a serious hiker you’ll obviously know exactly what you need already, which is more than likely a slightly heavier duty sock.

Sport Socks (x2)

Completely up to you, if you want to go for a run or just prefer walking in shoes for comfort then you will need some of these.

I try to walk around in thongs whenever I can (part of being Australian I guess), but I do pack two pairs of Asics low cut socks, since I have found them to be the most durable.

I’d recommend you take whatever you have, don’t buy new socks for the sake of it. They can always be picked up while you’re overseas.

Thermals (x1 leggings)

I only take thermal leggings with me. The reason being is that it’s quite hard to keep your legs warm compared to your top half.

You can layer numerous shirts and jackets to keep your body warm, but it’s pretty hard to layer for your legs when you don’t carry many long pants to begin with.

For this reason I carry one pair of merino wool leggings, for times when I am camping at altitude, or hiking in a colder climate. You will use this so rarely, but it is very light and takes up very little space. You’ll be glad you have it.

You can of course use long sleeve thermal tops as well, if you know that you will always be in cold environments, but this does not apply to me.

Headwear + Gloves

Gloves

Rab Vapour Rise

Wide Brim Hat

Colombia Bora Bora

Beanie

For those cold weather days, early morning starts. This is one of those essential items that warms your entire body by keeping your head and ears protected. Any will do, but try go for warmth over fashion.

Cap

Take your favourite cap if you want, I did. It’s easy to throw on, you love wearing it, it helps hide your mess of hair or keep it out of your face. Any brand, just take it and enjoy it as you would at home.

Multi-Purpose Headwear

I have a Buff Original headwear for its multi purpose use. It can be a scarf in colder weather to compliment your beanie, or used as a way to stop yourself getting sand blasted if you’re in windy sand dunes.

You will find a use for it eventually, it can even be a layer for your beanie if your fashionable thin beanie isn’t keeping you warm enough on its own.

Footwear

Hiking Boots

Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX

Running + Walking Shoes

Asics Gel Kayano 26

Thongs

Havaiana’s Thongs

An early attempt by me to try and sort out my bags. You can fit in a lot if you try!

Gear Needed For Around The World Travel – Bags + Packing Cubes + Pouches

Ok let’s take a quick look at the organisational aspect of things. I know some people that don’t really see the benefit of packing cubes and the like, but I do prefer them as a time saving tool, it helps me find stuff easily and notice if something is missing straight away.

Don’t forget I also have a lot of other bags and electronic items that I need to try keep tabs on so everything that lessens the burden is a godsend as far as I am concerned.

Main Bag

Osprey Soujourn 80L

Packable Day Bag

Arkadia Supply Alta 21

Toiletry Bag

Peak Design Wash Pouch

This is a little bulkier than the one on offer below. I actually travel with two toiletry bags, with this being the main one that has everything I need often at hand including: Electric razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash and more.

This pouch is bulky, but it does stand up on its own, while remaining open for you to grab whatever you want. If there is no bench space, then it also has a hook, which will allow it to hang open against the wall for you to still access everything without drama.

It is extremely good quality, probably better than it really needs to be. The downside of course being the weight and increased size, but I enjoy the premium feel of it.

Sea To Summit Toiletry Bag

This is my original toiletry bag, which is still going strong. When empty it takes up no space at all, weighing next to nothing. This would be my recommendation for most people.

I use this to store things I need less frequently such as: mosquito repellent, sunscreen, shampoo, malarial tablets and more.

This bag is also my storage for big bottles of liquid during flight, because if something popped inside it would be contained, then I could easily clean this in the shower and it will dry quicker than the peal design pouch above.

Packing Cubes

Peak Design Packing Cube Medium (x2)

You would consider me crazy if I could truly express how amazing these packing cubes are. For someone who has never cared that much about cubes, I can’t help but smile when I use these.

These are a premium product, they are made of a stretchy elastic fabric that will form to the clothes inside.

They have expansion zips, which can then be cinched down to compress gear, or left open if you pack a lot of clothes inside.

They also have a separate compartment for the dirty clothes so that they don’t mix with the clean stuff.

I bought 2 of this size. One holds all my rarely used items and lives at the bottom of the bag. It has my thermal leggings, hooded fleece, two pairs of pants and the rain jacket.

The other holds all of my singlets, long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts and the rashie.

Peak Design Packing Cube Small (x2)

Does everything the big brother does but smaller. I also bought 2 of this size because I just love them.

One holds 8-10 pairs of Jocks, 3 pairs of hiking socks and 2 pairs of sports socks.

The other holds my 4 pairs of shorts, with a bit of room to spare. These aren’t even being stretched yet.

Shoe Pouch

Peak Design Shoe Pouch

Nothing super special about this, except for the normal high quality build. Most shoe pouches do the same thing, these feel very nicely made though, they’re air tight to stop bad smells from leaving the pouch, easy to clean and lightweight.

These do not hold hiking boots.

Sea To Summit Shoe Bag Large

I have this as well as the peak design pouch. This is large enough to hold a pair of mid-height hiking boots like my Salomon X Ultras, I haven’t tested them with full sized boots though.

Very sturdy design. Both of these companies are high quality brands.

I use the two shoe bags for the hiking boots and the gym shoes because I can always simply clean my thongs or sandals under running water, plus one pair is on my feet during transit anyway.

Pack Liner

Sea To Summit 70L Ultra Sil Dry Bag

This won’t be necessary for most. In hindsight I would have gone a smaller size but the 70L is handy if you want to protect the entire contents of your bag from the rain.

This is good for transit days, especially if you’re catching a speedboat where all the bags are tied to the roof and exposed to the storms of Southeast Asia.

At the very least get your clothes and a towel inside the dry bag before you take off for the next location. That way you’ll be a happy camper upon arrival, your bag can get soaked, the insides won’t!

Gear Needed For Around The World Travel – Accessories

Congratulations! You’ve made it this far, now for the little things you often forget you need and often forget you even have in your bag.

Some of this is pretty basic stuff, but since I’ve come this far I may as well list it all!

Headlamp

Petzl Actik Core Rechargeable Headlamp

Filtered Water Bottle

GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz

Towels

Sea To Summit Tek Towel (x2)

I travel with two different towels, one is a little larger than the other, both are lightweight microfibre.

I don’t have beach towels or anything like that, some hostels offer them, otherwise just drip dry and shower when you get back to your accommodation.

Sunglasses

Rayban Polarised RB 4165

This is my preferred style of Rayban.

I can tell the difference in quality between these and cheap sunnies you buy from the street vendor or even from some surf shops. You can carry an extra pair if you want to have a cheap pair for the beach for example.

I look after these because they are so much better for me than cheap ones, so I find it hard to ever switch back.

Passport Wallet

Pacsafe RFID V150 Passport Wallet

I didn’t buy this due to the RFID. RFID protection, while it does work, is not something you need to protect yourself against.

I bought this because it hangs about my neck, holds my two passports, a lot of the spare cards that aren’t in my wallet (I like to split them up) and my International Driver’s Licence.

It’s handy for going through airports and having a central container for all the stuff you need, as well as holding your own pen for customs declaration cards and what not.

Multi Tool

Leatherman Skeletool

Although I do have one, most people probably don’t need one. For me it was more a case of wanting to be prepared for the curve balls that you sometimes face.

However I find it is often used to open packages or bottles more than anything truly inspiring. I went with this model as it is a little bit more stripped back, cheaper, and lighter than the top of the range tools on offer.

Locks

Pacsafe Retractable 250 (x2)

I got these as a way to lock up multiple zips on my camera bag at the same time, as opposed to buying four locks and having them hanging everywhere.

The design of some bags makes it hard to lock them, but this fixes that issue so long as they have good metal zippers with large enough lock pass-through points.

The other benefit of these is that you can lock your bag to a bed post or to another bag to make it less tempting for thieves to steal.

Master Lock Small Combination Lock (x2)

I then carry a handful of these for when I am checking in my bag or leaving it in a spot in transport where I can’t see it. These fit through the dedicated locking loops of bags that are designed to have them.

There is one zip on my camera bag that I never use so it permanently has this small lock on there so it can be forgotten about.

Master Lock Large Combination Lock (x1)

Lastly I carry one of these for hostel lockers. I much prefer to have my own lock on there even when one is provided.

This lock is a little beefier than the small ones.

No locks guarantee your stuff is safe!

Keep in mind that these are mostly deterrents for the opportunist thieves, if a thief wants to break your lock he probably can in a number of ways.

• If your bag is cable locked to a pole, someone can just cut the bag strap and take your bag.
• The small combination locks can be figured out by a method of pulling on the lock and feeling for the combo by those who know what they’re doing.
• Hostel locker doors can sometimes be broken into by breaking the door without needing to touch the lock.
• Locks can be broken using leverage applied sideways to the locking arm with two spanners.
• TSA approved locks can be opened with a key that people can make from 3D printers.

Don’t let it scare you, it’s still better to have the locks for sure, but be careful what you leave around and who you leave it with.

Travel Clothesline

Nasdom Travel Clothesline

The brand doesn’t matter. Get something with good reviews and avoid anything with suction cups!

Suction cups are not strong enough, you want hooks so that the line is attached to itself and wrapped around something strong.

Your clothes last longer if you hang them to dry instead of putting them in a tumble dryer.

Dive Computer

Cressi Leonardo Dive Computer

This is for diver’s only and relatively beginner ones at that.

It’s not the most advanced or expensive but it’s an easy to use intuitive dive computer.

It will help you keep track of your dives, so you don’t exceed your limits when you dive with different dive companies in a short period of time ,all with a brand new rental watch that is unaware of your recent history.

Packs away small and will be very handy if you dive a lot and have flights to catch or are unsure of how long your next dive should be.

More advanced diver’s should look elsewhere.

Earplugs

Mack’s Ultra Soft Earplugs

Self explanatory. If you stay in hostels, or go on noisy transport then these are little life savers.

You can also get reusable ones as well that take up no space whatsoever in your bag.

Mosquito Repellent

Repel Sportsman 40%

The best protection is prevention.

Anything over 40% is mostly a waste as you don’t get any extra protection it just lasts a little longer. However you should be reapplying with activity so 40% is the sweet spot here.

No it’s not bad for you if applied correctly.

Apply sunscreen before applying repellent.

For more information on mosquito repellents, avoiding bites, and information about malaria, check out my guides for Southeast Asia or South and Central America.

Hand Sanitiser

Purell Hand Sanitiser 4 pack

Even if you don’t use this at home in your day to day life, it is important to use when overseas in places with less sanitary conditions.

I am not one to be OCD when I’m at home, but when I travel I carry hand sanitiser. There are a large amount of awful diseases that you want to try and avoid.

Everything else not worth writing about that you might forget

• Beaard trimmer.
• Sunscreen / Zinc.
• Tweezers.
• Nail clippers.
• Medication (Malaria, Diarrhea, Antibiotics).
• Document protector (for A4 paper prints of visas, flights, accommodation etc).
• International Driver’s Licence.
• Immunisation handbook.
• Scuba diving log book.
• Pens.
• Passport(s).
• Deodorant.
• Toiletries (Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss, Body Wash, Shampoo + Conditioner, Lip Balm, Savlon etc).

I am sure I will or have forgotten something, but I am also somehow sure that this is everything that I pack.

Discussing The List Of Gear Needed For Around The World Travel

Alright, so that took me half of forever to write up and find links and what not, so let’s just break it down a little bit. I will clarify some things for you that you might be wondering about.

I have attempted to pre-empt some thoughts that people might have had whilst reading through this, especially those of you who have read the other post about packing camera gear for travel around the world (see the link in the relevant title).

If you have any other questions feel free to leave a comment or get in touch via my contact page 🙂

For those wondering why some of the links don’t take them to their local Amazon website

These links will only take you to your local website if your local Amazon store has an exact match. For those of you in America for example, this means that a lot of the links to Kathmandu branded clothing will not work for you, as they don’t appear often with listing in Amazon.

In these instances, I’m afraid I am unable to really assist you, but you can find the products through other means if you really do enjoy what is on offer.

For those wondering why there were more specific, detailed recommendations in my list of camera gear for travel vlogging

The other list which was all about the gear I used to make videos, take photos and provide content for this blog while travelling the world did have a bit more detail in the recommendations section of each item.

When it came to recommending the gear for others to purchase, I was able to provide much more detailed information based on my own research, as well as a mix of things I plan to buy, or have previously owned.

When it comes to clothing I find this much harder to do.

Without ever trying a certain brand and having that brand confidence, I don’t want to recommend them to others just for the sake of affiliate links sales, like other bloggers seem to do. On top of this, people often find brands that they have good experiences with, who make clothes that serve them well and fit well, but this is different for everyone so it would be dumb of me to try and guess.

Therefore you will see that the only things I could properly recommend were the bags that I had bought and sent back, the shoes that I had worn in the shops and some other things that I had actually considered enough to research when I was looking to buy.

In comparison to the camera gear, my knowledge of clothes is less because they’re not as big of a purchase as a lens or camera. Therefore I research them less, preferring to just try them on in the shops and then buy what is good for me (and usually on sale).

For those wondering why certain brands appear so often

You’ll notice there’s lots of Kathmandu gear here.

Do I think they’re the best? No, not even close.

I think they’re an easily accessible brand, who often have large sales on. This is the only time I buy, because otherwise I consider them overpriced. However at 40-60% off they are of great value. They are a brand that has always worked for me, as for some reason they seem to have a really good fit when I try on their items.

There are a lot of companies out there who specialise in active, outdoor style clothing. Some are better at certain things than others for sure, but Kathmandu has always been one of the closest shops to me so are easily accessible, allowing me to take products back if I change my mind. I don’t think everything they make is good though, I’d never buy their bags.

The other company you might have notices a bit of is Peak Design. This is a company that makes great stuff for sure, but I don’t like a lot of what they make either. I think their tripod is so overpriced that it’s a joke, their everyday line of bags have horrible straps, and the rest of the line up is overpriced because of their name.

In saying that though, their travel line (tech pouch, wash pouch, packing cubes) is the most premium set of travel accessories I have ever seen. I truly love their packing cubes, I’d recommend them to anyone, but like anything it’s worth trying to wait until they’re on sale.

I was lucky enough to get it all during the original kickstarter campaign and saved a ton of money.

So yes, some brands appear often, but they’re just the things I like and my honest opinion.

For those wondering if I own all of the items linked here

I own every single item exactly as linked, except for:

• The mosquito repellent (I do carry 40% repellent just a different brand).
• The hand sanitiser (same size travel type but I have a different brand).
• The travel clothesline (again, just a generic one, but I actually think the linked one is better).
• The singlets, gym shirts, gym shorts, towels, swim shorts and thermals (I don’t know what the exact names of my clothes are, but I do have a puma gym shirt, nike running shorts, Billabong swimming shorts with pockets and 100% merino wool leggings).

Everything else is the exact item that I own, including the water bottle, the sunglasses model number, locks, dive computer, headlamp and everything that is of more importance.

Those generic clothing items I felt were of such low importance that I didn’t bother getting exact matches, even though they’re very close to being matches anyway.

For those of you wanting me to define my travel style briefly

Ok. So my travel style is mostly summer based travel, as evidenced by;

• Rashie
• Shorts
• Singlets
• Shirts
• Thongs
• Sunglasses
• Hats
• Limited amount of pants and jackets

With a hint of cold weather protection, mostly for climbs or hikes involving altitude, as evidenced by;

• Beanie
• Pair of gloves
• One pair of thermal leggings
• 2 pairs of pants for the off chance they’re needed

I allow some items that give me the freedom to do a range of activities outdoors so long as they justify their weight;

• Hiking pants
• Hiking long sleeve shirts
• Hiking boots
• Filtered water bottle
• Hiking sandals
• Headlamps
• Dive Computer
• Comfortable hiking socks

I am quite an organised person as you can see by;

• Passport wallet
• I have 4 packing cubes
• I have 2 shoe pouches
• I have 2 toiletry bags

I am not a minimalist as is shown by;

• A bag with wheels that weighs 4kg when empty
• TRX suspension trainer system
• 4 pairs of footwear (although two are thongs/sandals)
• A mixture of summer gear but still accommodating some cold weather stuff

I think that gives a good overview of the style of travel I do, which can chop and change at any moment, but this is where it sits right now.

What Did I Want To Take But Didn’t?

This is a great question because it goes to show just how much we feel like we need when we prepare a list of gear needed for around the world travel.

At one point or another I considered all of the following items and even tried to pack them into my bag, because I was sure I needed them. I will briefly explain what made me change my mind.

Rain pants

I thought I would need these in the extreme conditions of Patagonia on some hikes. Purely as a wind break more than anything. In the end I decided that it was just too excessive a thing to carry for such a long time on the off chance you need them.

You can’t wear them in hot climates when it rains or you will just be covered in your own sweat instead. So these had to go.

Down Jacket

I wanted to pack the down jacket that I got as a part of my Talas 3 in 1 jacket (see the rain jacket section above). The fact it came as a part of another garment and fit perfectly with it was hard to overcome. I kept wanting at least one warm jacket, but in the end I couldn’t do it.

It was extremely warm and I have no doubt that I would have used it in South America quite often, but the weight and size of a down jacket, even when compressed, is just too much to carry around for such a long time. It left me having to use more layers whenever I get cold instead of a nice warm jacket.

Jeans

My jeans by Boulder Denim are the best pants that I have ever owned. This gave me the unfortunate paradox of both wanting them more than anything, as well as simultaneously being too scared that something would happen to them.

In the end I used some logic, they were too heavy to justify bringing along for the few times that they would be worn. I swapped them out for a lighter pair of chinos that I could also hike in as required.

First Aid Kit

I still have medications to stop diarrhoea and such, but got rid of the bandages and all the excess stuff that I’d probably never use for the entire trip.

Guitar

I play a bit of guitar, not very well mind you but it is a great outlet and very soothing to have one on hand. I did look at getting a half sized travel guitar for a while as an item of comfort. I do miss playing it, but I know it would have been a bridge too far on days when I was in transit. Even the small guitars are awkward and can slow you down. Again the camera equipment took priority.

Hiking Poles

I really wanted to bring a pair of these. For the majority of hikes where you need them, they can be hired. By hiring them though you will end up spending more than the cost of a good set after only 25-35 days of hiking, depending on the price of the rental.

By having my own pair it also would have allowed me the freedom to use them on smaller hikes where they are not offered for rental, which would help protect my knees. In the end though it was just one too many things that could break or get stolen, and they are awkward to pack for transit.

Camping Equipment (Tent + Sleeping Mat + Sleeping Bag + Camping Stove)

Believe it or not but I was looking at all of this stuff in great detail, I got the idea when I was checking out the Osprey Xenith 88L bag and begun to romanticise the idea of pitching a tent and occasionally cooking simple meals for myself.

All of this fell by the wayside as my camera gear started to really come into play, I prioritised the camera gear of the camping lifestyle in the end because it was more in line with what I wanted to do.

For those wondering, it would have added between 3.08-3.62kg to my pack depending on my choices. It would have also cost me between $1,075 – $1,875 AUD depending again on the final choices I made. The cost in theory would eventually pay itself off, but this is more common for those backpacking Europe, not many pitch tents in Southeast Asia as it’s not set up for it.

The size, weight and cost was too much for me in the end so I canned that idea.

Things That Were in This List That I Posted Home

As you travel you gain a knowledge about your own personal preferences that overpowers all of your pre-travel conceptions and overrules your original justifications for travelling with certain items.

The two items below I have sent home, I have left the text unedited so you can see how I originally justified them to myself, but now I will tell you why I sent them home. This way you can see how things change, and that you will never get things perfect when you are trying to pack for such a long and varied journey.

TEVA HURRICANE XLT2:

Although I have no doubt these are great sandals for the average man, for me a major flaw was revealed when I took them on a jungle trek. The two main reasons I sent these home were;

1. ) Although I had bought the right size for my feet, I hadn’t been able to anticipate just how tightly they would need to be strapped down when you begin walking through rivers, and then walking on a trail that has a significant slope or camber.

Due to my skinny ankles and the shoes slippery surface, I had them as tight as can be, but I was still sliding within the straps and I was left with bleeding sores by the end of the trek. That wasn’t much fun at all.

The shoes themselves have good grip on the ground, but the grip of your foot on the shoe is a different story. I can’t complain at all about the manufacture of the shoe, or the strength of the sole. Both of those aspects impressed me. I do think that sandals just might not be for me, instead I will need a water shoe for river crossings.

2. ) After that jungle trek I started to wonder if I really needed these at all, considering I could only use them for city walking where the roads are flat, they suddenly seemed to not be justifying their weight, with a pair of them weighing about 550g, it was an easy decision to post them home.

After all, 4 pairs of footwear is excessive and I probably never really needed them, I only wanted them for easy jungle treks through streams and rivers , and the first one I took them on they let me down.

To clarify, I still recommend these to the average person, just be warned if you have skinny ankles that they might cause you issue on the wrong type of trails.

The trail that I took them on was not a serious hike, it was flat and well worn, but there were sections where you were walking on a camber and these were horrible.

They would perform better on a more challenging rocky surface than they do on a smooth surface that is sloping.

TRX GO SUSPENSION TRAINER:

No issue whatsoever with these, the quality was great and the weight for what they provide is first class. But as the weeks rolled on I realised that it was just sitting in my bag, because I was always looking for gyms to work out in, and therefore never did a workout with the bands.

So it wasn’t that I was too busy to workout, it was that I was enjoying finding different gyms, comparing them gave me an idea for blog posts, and finding them had me walking the streets, which I enjoyed doing because it felt like I was more of a local.

Then as always, you reach the point where you consider yourself a bit silly for ever thinking you needed them, and the weight, although great for what it is, is still 1kg of dead weight, so off they went back home.

Travel Sandals

Teva Hurricane XLT2

Exercise Equipment

TRX GO Suspension Trainer

In closing

I really hope this has been handy in some way. Not as a list for you to copy item for item but as a way to see what someone else carries and how I justify it all to myself. This might help you get the logical part of your brain firing on all cylinders and assist you in creating your own justifications for what you travel with.

It might make you realise you’re missing something, or have a few items too many (which is probably where I fit in).

Donn’t forget to check out the in depth look into my camera gear and electronics, or for an overall look at what I pack then have a gander at the stripped back list that encompasses both electronics and clothing on the one page.

Good luck with your packing, but trust me, you won’t ever truly know what you need until you’re already overseas 🙂

See All Of My Packing Lists Here