A 15 Pound Pack for Longterm Travel? Here Are the Contents!
11 January 2010 in Miscellaneous, TravelGoal: Travel indefinitely around the Pacific Rim equipped with nothing more than a 15 pound backpack.
One of the things I really take pride in, is my ability to travel light. Other travelers use suitcases, multiple bags, or gargantuan expeditionary backpacks that look like they must weigh a hundred pounds. My
Last year I traveled 4.5 months in Asia. My backpack at its lightest was just under 25 pounds and ballooned to 30 pounds when stuffed with travel books and t-shirts. How will I drop the weight to 15 pounds? I’m eliminating all electronic gear except my small handheld camera.
I started my last trip with a GPS device, external hard drive, laptop, webcam, cell phone, etc. This time? All of it is staying at home. I figure my laptop and associated components alone will drop the overall pack weight by 8 pounds at least. Additionally I’m leaving behind my backpack security blanket, the Pacsafe. I figure the effort of tugging it around and the hassle of using it are not worth the security it brings. The only valuable things in my pack will be the ~$150 camera and my passport, both replaceable.
Everything I take will go in my Blackhawk R.A.P.T.O.R. backpack. This is an extremely rugged pack designed for military special operations, and is easily one of the highest quality products I’ve ever owned. Though I haven’t done special operations, I have put the pack through some severe workouts and regular abuse over the past 5 years. It still looks nearly brand new.
Everybody has packing techniques. I start from the assumptions that I can inexpensively buy nearly any necessity anywhere I go, that the majority of things people like to pack rarely if ever get used (e.g. dress pants, dress shoes, GPS), and that clean socks, underwear, and t-shirts are the only items that really matter at the start of the day. Most of all, I believe there is a direct inverse correlation between luggage weight and travel enjoyment, i.e., the less I pack, the more enjoyable and adventurous my travels.
Without further ado, here is my packing list:
PACK
New Balance 993s
Small combination lock
Rain pancho
Rain resistant windbreaker jacket
Ankle socks x6
Underwear x6
Shirts x6
Shorts with double-buttoned pockets x2
Pants x2
Swim trunks
Passport
Pen
Pocket Notepad
Inflatable pillow
Handkerchief
Washcloth
Camera with charger and 3x 8GB chips
Wiley X sunglasses with removable wind/dust inserts
TOILETRIES
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Deodorant
Tiny bars of soap
Tiny bottle of shampoo
Doxycycline
Tweezers
Scissors
Disposable razors
Fingernail Clippers
Sunscreen
WALLET
Drivers License
Credit Card
Debit Card
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of emergency traveler’s insurance
Nice list. I am on a never ending quest to reduce the backpack too! Dr Bronner soaps are all in one organic soaps which can be used for toothpaste, shampoo, soap and doing your laundry. It would cut down on a bunch of space check it out http://www.drbronner.com/
Gordon, thanks for posting, and nice job sneaking in a plug for your product! haha
Does Dr. Bronner soap have a 3 ounce or smaller container? I think that’s what the FAA/TSA is requiring for commercial flight screening.
I can’t imagine a quality soap that is used for brushing teeth AND washing the body AND washing hair AND doing laundry…but if you send me a sample, I’d be happy to write a review.
Hey, Great list and glad you also believe in traveling light and the enjoyment of travel. I usually carry with me two sets of clothing and wear one outfit till it smells horrible and then change to the clean one while washing the dirty one.
Happy traveling in the Pacific Rim!
Traveling lightly is the only weigh (lol) to go!
Ouch … you thought i was plugging my own product . No dude just trying to help you out. I guess you have the whole ‘he’s trying to extort money from me’ thing that many travellers have. oh well.
Hey Gordon, no offense was intended and my original reply was actually lighthearted for that reason. I nearly contacted Dr. Bronner myself, when I hadn’t heard back from you, to get a sample I could review for the blog.
I get comments all the time that I delete as spam because they are obvious product promotions that often have nothing whatsoever to do with the article. I don’t think they are trying to get money from me, but I do think they are using my blog for free advertisement of their products with absolutely nothing of value (like a solid comment discussing the article) in return.
Your comment was relevant to traveling light, so I left it…but I definitely was mistaken in thinkng you were a product pitchman for Dr. Bronner. I apologize and hope you continue reading the blog!