I had big dreams of going ultra-light on my travels, both to give myself the mobility I prefer and to save more wear and tear on my already taxed joints. I bought the Osprey Farpoint 40 to keep myself in check, but in the end, I needed a separate daypack to accommodate the loot that wouldn’t fit in the Osprey. Here’s what I’ve got:
Clothing:
3 cotton shirts for everyday use
2 tank tops
1 wool long-sleeve shirt (for layering on higher-altitude hikes)
1 long-sleeve capilene shirt (also for layering on higher-altitude hikes)
1 pair capilene long underwear
1 long-sleeve hiking/safari shirt w/SPF
2 pairs hiking pants (one w/zip-off shorts)
1 pair lightweight jeans
1 pair lightweight pants
1 dress
1 pair cotton shorts and t-shirt for sleeping
1 pair yoga pants
2 regular bras/2 sports bras
7 pairs underwear
2 pairs hiking socks/2 pairs regular socks
Safari hat
Bathing suit and rash guard
On a side note, I squeezed most of this into a large Sea to Summit compression bag. I put the smaller items in Eagle Creek packing cubes. I found the compression sack allowed me to pack more in, while the packing cubes were better for organizing.
Shoes:
Salomon Quest Hiking Boots
New Balance 993 running shoes (for walking around)
Chaco Sandals – I love these sandals. It took a bit of wear for them to feel just right, but once they did… You can use the straps to perfectly fit them to your feet–and they look great, too!
My shoes are some of the biggest space-hoggers in my bag. You may able to save space in that area. For me, these were definite needs for my itinerary.
Technology:
iPad Air 2
Unlocked iPhone 6
Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS40K (I bought this used at B&H Photo and saved about $150)
Anker Astro E1 Portable Battery
Belkin Travel Surge Protector
Miscellaneous:
Toiletries
Prescription medications
Natural supplements for everything from intestinal issues to malaria prevention (I will detail these in a separate post)
Contact lenses
Sea to Summit Dry Lite Towel
Patagonia Super Cell Rain Jacket
Patagonia R2 Fleece Jacket – I love this jacket and the rain jacket I got from Patagonia. Great looking, high quality and dad-approved (he always asked us if we had a “light jacket” before we left the house). Thank you again to the special couple who got me the 40% off discount!
Ziploc freezer bags
Sea to Summit Dry Sack
Vapur Water Bottle
Sawyer Mini Water Filter
I’ll update this post in six months and let you know what was the most useful!
6 Comments
Barbara
April 11, 2015 at 4:46 pmI am amazed at how much you got in there! Incredible!
bdemouy
April 11, 2015 at 4:48 pmYes! The compression bag helps, and it is stuffed to the gills! I hope to get rid of some of it as I go. I want to go lighter!
Lulubird (Nancy)
May 28, 2015 at 1:48 amI’m so impressed with all you packed. It’s a big trip compared to our small adventures. I hope you won’t need the meds for bad stuff.
Sue brown
July 23, 2015 at 3:09 amHow much does your pack weigh?
bdemouy
July 24, 2015 at 2:59 pmHi Sue,
Sorry, I’m not sure how much it weighs, but I’m actually flying again in a little over a week. I’ll try to remember to check the scale when I check in so I can let you know. It’s not light, but I manage with it.
Bridget
bdemouy
August 30, 2015 at 10:48 amSorry for the delay, Sue, but I have an answer! 10 kg for the larger Osprey pack and 6.5 kg for my EMS daypack.