Budget Travel Gear Yo Nellie, which backpack should I git? Questions and answers on gear related topics (i.e. backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, hiking boots, stoves, etc.). |
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12-29-2005, 02:33 PM
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#1
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Lots of good tips on this side of the site here.
What are some of the more obscure things that would prove useful on a long backpacking trip? Wanna get my pack planned out asap.
I'll throw out one that I wish I would have packed in Montana:
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12-29-2005, 03:53 PM
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#2
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so very true My feet stank I had to go to a Pharmacia in spain and buy what I could only guess was foot spray.... it worked.
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12-29-2005, 04:32 PM
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#3
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on that same note, gold bond works wonders
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12-29-2005, 05:28 PM
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#4
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8'-12' of a light rope - close line, tying stuff to you pack
duct tape, black tape - priceless stuff
pillow case - its nice to lay down on a clean pillow and it can double as a bag
garbage bag- separate the nasty stuff from the cleaner stuff
extension cord - the outlets can be in the halls
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12-29-2005, 08:56 PM
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#5
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piece of nylon rope - 25ft
ear plugs
rain shell (jackett)
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12-29-2005, 09:04 PM
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#6
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a pen
when i was on my way to nam i didnt take one, and i had to fill ou all this shit at airports and borders and stuff and i was like oh fuck no pen....then i had to wait for some1 to finish usin theres
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01-01-2006, 08:31 AM
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#7
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cuttelery. I bought a small pocket knife the first week, but then i had to steal spoons from all the icecream shops to eat stuff like yougurt with. a fork is also handy.
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01-04-2006, 05:09 PM
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#8
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- head lamp or flashlight for late night returns when you don't want to wake your bunk mates
- one of those really light, super compactable mesh bags for your wet shower stuff
- waterproof compression bag for dirty, stinky laundry
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01-18-2006, 12:47 AM
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#9
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I'm currently 4 months in to a 15 month round the world trip. Things I wish I'd packed...
Half as much stuff. I went to Australia first and after there I send a lot of stuff home, you dont need as much as you think! carrying 100L of stuff in 45 degree C Aint fun!
ohhh people say nylon to use as a clothes line, heres a better tip, take 10-15 foot of strong elastic it WILL save your life a million times.
- twist it and hang it and its a secure clothes line without pegs,
it can fix clothes, it can attach stuff to your bag, it can attach your bag to stuff, it can fix a bus(mine did!).
Packing light is by far the best way to go, nothing make you stick out like having a massive 80L backpack and a 25L day pack on you.
I'm down to a 38L pack with a seperate day bag that store in my main. i rarly use it as my pack is light enough to take everywhere.
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01-18-2006, 07:26 AM
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#10
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You want fries with that?
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A Petzl-styled headlamp. Woulda made that nightime mountain climbing a bit easier and freed my other hand for bracing against the ground when I slipped.
Better(read: heavier) hiking socks. My fox river socks weren't heavy enough for the tough stuff.
More Moleskin for the blisters
Water bottle that could clip to the outside of my pack (think Nalgene Trail sorta thing...)
BTW: Phaedrus, Montana, eh? Sounds a bit punny
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02-05-2006, 09:41 PM
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#11
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What I found really handy are those cheap little "not for climbing" carabiners. I used them to clip my bag to other bags or to stationary objects to prevent "snatch and grabs", I used it to clip shoes and gear bags outside my main back, I used it to hang gear bags for easy access on trains and in tents, and I used the little tiny ones to keep the zippers closed on my daypack so nobody would rifle through it when my back was turned. Little twist-ties come in handy too.
I brought a notepad, which I used twice. I brought those airtight compression sacks, which I didn't use at all. Didn't use my nylon string. Used my duct tape once, but I was glad I had it.
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02-05-2006, 09:59 PM
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#12
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Heres a question:
I was thinking of NOT taking my nalgene. I was figuring I would be buying bottled water from time to time and just using those as a waterbottle.
Good or bad idea? Should I just take my nalgene?
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02-05-2006, 10:32 PM
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#13
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You want fries with that?
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Quote:
Originally posted by Slacker@Feb 5 2006, 10:59 PM
Heres a question:
I was thinking of NOT taking my nalgene. I was figuring I would be buying bottled water from time to time and just using those as a waterbottle.
Good or bad idea? Should I just take my nalgene?
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Well, I guess that works better. I think having a Nalgene requires washing it, and if you don't wanna drink the local tap water that may be a good bet. YMMV. (es la agua seguridad para gringos? :D
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Misadventures of a Crazed Kitchen Pirate
"Steve is the prototypical cool American male. Y'know, I'm talking about Steve McGarrett, alright? Steve Austin, Steve McQueen. Y'know, he's the guy on his horse, the guy alone. He has his own code of honor, his own code of ethics, his own rules of living, man. He never, ever tries to impress the women but he always gets the girl."
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02-06-2006, 09:02 AM
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#14
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Yeah- the Nalgene bottle isn't necessary, unless you have no bottle pockets on your pack and want a bottle with a little loop you can use a clip on.
I have a ton of Nalgene bottels. However, I normally only use them as a nice, reusable bottle to take to work or to the beach or whatever. When I'm actually traveling, the disposable ones make more sense for me, because there is usually not many places to refill a waterbottle anyway. When there are, just refill the disposable bottle. A lot of ultra-light backcountry backpackers don't use Nalgene anymore simply because disposable bottles and camelbacks are much lighter.
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02-09-2006, 08:35 PM
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#15
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A bottle opener. I dont know how many times Ive had to open a beer in the side of a metal railing (or whatever) in Europe because I didnt have a bottle opener. Get a Swiss army knife.
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02-18-2006, 07:04 PM
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#16
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Hand sanitizer! Napkins, paper towels, and access to soap and a sink are sometimes priviledges instead of rights.
Scissors, unless you're bring a Swiss Army knife anyway.
For girls, a large scarf or a "pashmina" type shawl, one of these cotton numbers -- something nice, but sturdy. It can shade your head, add variety to your outfit, be used to bundle up stuff to make a pillow, and also become a light blanket. That's a fashion accessory for you!
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02-18-2006, 07:06 PM
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#17
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...and a sharpie! Like those new small ones you can keep on keychains. You just never know!
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02-24-2006, 10:52 AM
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#18
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Don't cut the red wire...
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"Pack light and carry plenty of cash" - Grandpa Boris
My trip to mexico, I wished I had brought a small tube of Neosporin and some band-aids (spilled my motorcycle and damned if they didn't become infected)
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02-27-2006, 03:59 AM
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#19
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I hate when people tell me I brought everything but the kitchen sink, I always forget it! It's impossible to get a good kitchen sink in foreign countrys they never seem to have an english peaker on duty for some reason.
So don't forget.
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02-27-2006, 07:34 AM
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#20
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REI sells a nice portable kitchen sink - folds up and runs on rainwater too. Very convenient. A bit on the heavy side, but as you said, you can never find one you like when you're travelling.
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