The right gear

We need the right kind of gear for this trip. It will help us be prepared, make certain aspects of the trip more manageable, and adapt to the different environments we will experience. One thing we did was pack clothes made of quick drying material. Another was to choose luggage that doubles as a backpack so we could move it and ourselves more efficiently when the time came. In this post, I will go over certain items we packed and the thought process behind them.

First, I'll go over our luggage. We've used eBags for several years now. These are incredible for any trip we've taken. They've gone with us on short jaunts to visit family for a weekend, camping vacations 1-3 weeks long, and a month-long trip to the UK we took several years ago. The versatility and durability of these bags are what make them so great. They have shoulder straps so that you can wear them as a backpack, or they can be packed away for use as a duffle bag. There are some small compartments in the front, a larger front pocket with numerous storage spaces, the primary storage space, and a laptop compartment. These bags can "zip-down" or expand. There is a zipper that goes around the bag that, when zipped closed, will take up less space. Once you are packed, there are two buckle straps on each side for you to cinch down so everything is more compact.

We have read about how having your passports with you in major cities while in a foreign country is good. We'll also have other things on us, but we wanted to be weary of pickpockets. Instead of constantly wearing cargo pants with bulging pockets, Tanya got a windbreaker specific for traveling with lots of pockets, and I got a vest. Mine could have been more specific to travel, but having six pockets was plenty for me. This way, Tanya didn't have to bring her purse every time, and whatever she needed could be carried in her jacket. There are travel vests, but this one didn't scream tourist so much.

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Sometimes, Tanya will still need her purse, so we got a Travelon brand. It is made explicitly for security when traveling. The material is slash-resistant, the zippers can lock when closed, it has RFID-blocking pockets, and the straps are slash-resistant. She got one when the two of us traveled to Italy, then took it to the UK, and now this trip. We also have a Travelon backpack with the same features we use to carry laptops and other electronics.

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As an added measure, we packed a variety of security pouches. There are a couple of belly bands, two that hang around the neck, and one attaches to your belt but goes inside your pants. With these, you don't have to worry about not having closeable pockets. It's also easier if you only need a few small but important or valuable things.

Since we would be walking a lot, we'll need to bring water and food. A convenient item we packed was two backpacks that can be packed down small enough to fit in your pocket. We have used these for much more than food and water. It's easy to be one with in case we need it for a small grocery order or souvenirs. We also have a Coleman insulated backpack used frequently for similar purposes but mostly to keep our drinks cool and food stays good longer.

It's hard to know how well-stocked the places we will stay will be. For this reason, we brought collapsible plates, bowls, and containers. We brought our camping utensils as well. These will come in handy for picnics, which we love, and they pack very easily. The containers will be used for leftovers and serving meals. We brought three sizes, two each, that conveniently nest when collapsed.

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Speaking of picnics, we brought a travel blanket that cleans and dries quickly. It can be used as a ground covering, which will be handy for the beach. Since we will have beach days, we bought travel towels that function the same as the blanket. They aren't as thick as regular towels and large enough for beach towels. It will also be helpful if we stay somewhere and there needs to be more towels for everyone. The towels came in cases, which I didn't pack to use the space better.

Laundry will need to be done, but only some places we will stay have a washer, and none have a dryer. Due to this, we bought a unique bag for cleaning clothes. It has a textured interior for scrubbing so dirt and stains are removed. Add water and detergent and press down on the bag while rolling it back and forth like a rolling pin. You can only fit two or three shirts or similar-sized articles of clothing at a time. We also have elastic laundry lines with pins that slide along them and clips on the ends so they can be more versatile, depending on the space available.

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While on this journey, we want to ensure we have clean water. It is recommended to refrain from drinking the tap water in some of the places we are staying. We purchased a portable water filtering system to go through fewer water bottles, thus not spending as much. It's called a Grayl and made the most sense for us. Here's how it works: There are two containers, one you put water in and the bottle you drink from, with the filter attached to the bottom. After filling the first container, you push the bottle into the water. The water is forced up through the filter on the bottom and into the drinking part. The two containers' fit is precise, and a seal makes it airtight. A clean, new filter takes about eight seconds to push all the way down. The more it gets used, the longer it takes to push down. It's time to change filters when it takes 25 seconds to push it down. We plan on going on some hikes, and this could come in handy to filter water from streams.

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I hope this can help anyone get some ideas on how to pack for future adventures of your own. We've combined ideas for packing from study, camping, and other past trips. It all came to a head when trying to figure out how to pack for nearly a year.