The Packing List

For the last 5ish years my professional life had me running around the country like George Clooney in "Up in the Air." After my first six months or so on the job I also started to think like his character. I found ways to streamline what I take with me and still always be prepared. I don't think I've done particularly well packing my bag for this trip, I know there's too much in it, but I'd like to think I've avoided rookie mistakes.

Since so many people have asked I'm posting my packing list below. May definitely be TMI but this trip is another test/experiment in what works and doesn't so we can't make judgments without the facts. :) I already know there are several items I will leave along the way and others I will pick up. So far I'm only a day and a half in and I'm thankful for many items on the list.


Clothes
  • 4 Dresses
  • 1 Long Skirt (doubles as a swim coverup)
  • 2 pair black hiking pants
  • 1 pair grey capris
  • 5 Tshirts (one SPF tech shirt, one UW madison shirt)
  • 2 Tanks
  • 1 Cardigan
  • 4 Long Sleeve shirts
  • 1 pair leggings
  • 1 pair Palazzo pants
  • 1 pair lounge pants
  • 2 pair sandals (Keen, Ahnu)
  • 1 pair hiking shoes w/arch supports (Ahnu)
  • 1 pair flats (Tieks)
  • 1 pair slippers
  • 1 pair flip flops
  • 4 pair of ExOfficio underwear (I discovered these in Seattle and am super impressed)
  • 3 braziers
  • 3 pair socks (one pair compression for long flights)
  • 1 swimsuit
  • 1 Raincoat
  • 1 down jacket
  • 1 Scarf
  • 4 pair earrings
  • 3 necklaces

 Sleeping Gear
  • SleepSheet
  • Fleece Blanket
  • Lumbar pillow (inflatable)

 Electronics
  • Surface Tablet and charger
  • Cell Phone and charger
  • Kindle
  • Camera (Charger and backup battery)
  • Converter
  • USB power backup
  • Noise Canceling earbuds
  • Regular earbuds
  • Headlamp

 Misc.
  • Ear Plugs
  • Duct Tape
  • Kleenex
  • Extra duffel
  • Travel Towel (Xlarge)
  • Travel Towel (small)
  • Travel clothes line
  • Whistle
  • Door Stop
  • Padlock
  • 2 TSA locks
  • Bamboo fork/spoon
  • Journal
  • 2 pens
  • 2 pencils
  • Vintage Deck of Cards (thanks Courtney)
  • MiniBusiness cards with my facebook/email on them to make it easier to meet up with others on the road.
  • Backup Document packs as usual
  • Coconut Chia Bars (just in case)

 Personal Care

Makeup
  • Blush stick
  • Lipstick
  • Mascara
  • Eyeliner w/ sharpener cap
  • Eyeshadow

 Toiletries

Drugs and the like
  • Oral Rehydration Solution
  • Emergen-C
  • Dramamine/Bonine
  • Aleve/Excedrin/Ibuprofen
  • Zantac
  • Claritin
  • Moleskin
  • Band-Aids
  • Neosporin
  • Seaband (for motion sickness)
  • Malaria Meds
  • Zpak
  • Altitude sickness meds
  • 2 bottles 100%DEET insect repellent
  • 1 can of premetherin insect repellent for clothes/gear
  • SunscreenPowder (my face really doesn't like sunscreen lotions, so this topical powder keeps me from feeling like my face is burning off)
  • 4 bottles sunscreen
  • SteriPen (uses UV light to sterilize water in about a minute)
I carried on my day bag and the extra tote since I wasn't hitting my destination for 4 days. I will have to check my bag most of the time as the can of premetherin I found was over 6 ounces. This is still the heaviest bag I've packed (31 lbs)--it still has 3 inches of expansion to go...thanks Rick Steves.

Popular posts from this blog

Weeks 29 & 30, Peru and Ecuador: Buses and the Galapagos

Image
I know, I've been home for about 6 weeks. Admitting that this chapter is closed is not my favorite. I'm determined to finish the blog though. This post in particular was difficult to write because it was AMAZING and the pressure to make it good was high. So quality be damned, I am putting something likely sub-par out there to close this out. The experiences It will be obvious in a minute why I'm combining these weeks, but this one will be a bit long because I had a new type of travel experience that I quite liked. I spent a few nights in Lima, Peru where I didn't do too much but relax, read, and book a bus to Quito, Ecuador from where my Galapagos tour left. I did, as usual, walk around the hostel neighborhood. I had to see Kennedy Park where 50 plus cats live. It's a very pretty park and the cats are just happily napping or being cuddled by people on a break from work. It does smell like a litter box though. Looks like a normal park.... Until you look ...
Read more

Week 21, Germany: Home

Image
The experiences Aside from a run to the mall to get comfort food (read: McDonald's), nasal spray, cough drops and a new kleenex supply I didn't see much of Leipzig. I did try to go see Woman in Gold but it was in German so I didn't. My German isn't that good and my mind was foggy enough that I wouldn't want to pay money to see it and get nothing out of it. My hostel in Leipzig was a fantastic place to be sick. The beds even had adjustable inclines so my head was comfortably propped up. I made cup upon cup of tea (my hostel in Prague was more of a hotel and I had to ask the bar for hot water every time I needed it). I had a very delicious breakfast and another long sit in the hot shower. I did enjoy the city even though I only walked around a couple times. I would definitely go back. It was a quiet, relaxed, university town recommended to me by Amin who I met in Vrindavan India. Also according to later conversations, though I didn't get to see it much i...
Read more

Week 22, Germany: Koeln, Heidelberg, and Muenchen: The castles begin...

Image
So, it's been a while and I've not been able to sit down, but I do remember what happened a month ago and it was entertaining, I think. The experiences I spent my first full day in Koeln on a walking tour, good move since this city like many others take Sunday off. The only things you can find open are cafes and restaurants--and churches (duh). And at some point I'll invest the time in learning the way to put umlauts on my vowels using my Surface . Koeln has some unique public artwork that's really fun and interesting history too, what was a little tough to figure out coming from a city like Berlin is what I needed to see. It wasn't a typical tourist destination. It does have an enormous Dom (Cathedral) but that seemed to be the main attraction. This is the city that reminded me I could relax in Europe too. Much of the last two months were about running non stop to see all I could or hop on to the next destination. Koeln was a great college city, fourth larges...
Read more