What's taking up space in *your* pack? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

uninspired · 04-18-2006, 06:19 PM

I'm in the midst of packing right now, thinking about how much I'll miss my flatiron and my laptop and all those other nonessentials I can't justify carrying around for three months. And then I look at my stack of disposable contacts, my bottles of contact solution, my glasses and the two somewhat weighty paperbacks I'll lug around. Both the contact stuff and the books are space-eating and heavy-ish, but if I left everything else behind, I'd still take them.

So, I got to wondering--what're the things you absolutely couldn't leave behind, either because you "need" them, or you need them?

**beergal** · 04-18-2006, 06:23 PM

well for me i NEED:

*contact lenses
*some info on the place im visiting...although this is usually 1 guide book of useful info i have made myself
*mobile phone

other things i need:

GHD irons...

**simply_angelic** · 04-18-2006, 06:37 PM

I really dont think I need anything...my hair dries relatively flat, while I do use glasses for distance, I rarely use them...other than clothes, a hair tie, camera and toiletries I'm pretty good....Although I do like to have a travel journal, just so that I'll be able to remember properly in the future...

**Somnambulation** · 04-18-2006, 09:06 PM

One thing I brought that I shouldnt have is a Nalgene bottle. Way easier just to get throw away ones. I shouldve just left it somewhere, but I lugged it around the whole trip for some reason.

Another thing that took up lots of space but Im really glad I had was travel speakers for my mp3 player. Great for long trains rides with buddies in those closed off cabins.

**Joker** · 04-18-2006, 09:15 PM

I always carry toilet paper. Its saved my ass, quite literally. :D

Aside from that, my must have above all else in my pack is a well-equipped First Aid kit, complete with enough stuff to practically operate if necessary. When I gashed my foot swimming in a waterfall, it came in handy. Otherwise I was S.O.L.

Good socks
Moleskin
Rough Guide to where I am
Duct Tape
Snack foods like granola bars
Journal

Anything else is extra.

SleepIsTheCousinOfDeath · 04-18-2006, 10:51 PM

Hmmm...good thread i must say...

Necessities...
-Guide book...seems to normally be Lonely Planet
-Notebook of some sort
-Book(s) to read cuz im an addict
-A spare liver for my tequila problem lol

Unnecessary items...
-little children stuffed in my bags

astro25e · 04-18-2006, 11:09 PM

i always love to have books to read. the thing is that i buy a bunch of cheap books from used book stores to bring on my trip, then when i finish them, i leave them in the hostels for other people to pick up. i've seen other people do this too. books seem to get passed around a lot. it's a pretty cool idea, unless you're super attached to your books

ch3cooh · 04-19-2006, 07:20 AM

Almost all of my extraneous items stem from things to do on trains.

*Books to read on trains
*Beer for when I get sick of books

My nalgene bottle is also a necesity which made me sad when it broke about 4 weeks after I got to austria

**Sabrosa** · 04-19-2006, 07:50 AM

I know this is going to sound CRAZY....but, I'll be in central and south america for 6+ months...given I'm a salsa freak, I'm gonna have to take some kind of shoe I can dance in.

I believe that will be my unnecessary yet necessary luxury. I just don't see any way around it...

**aliz** · 04-20-2006, 12:13 AM

i always have way too many notebooks.. I need a good lined one as a journal, a small lined one for random lists (I make about 2-3 lists a day when i'm travelling, thats not compulsive is it?) a blank one for drawing, an address book, and i always think of reasons to buy more when i'm on the road for various things...

and KindraDC.. of course you need to take dancing shoes. you need fun pretty shoes or you just feel like a frump who's been travelling for too long

**travelpunk** · 04-20-2006, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by uninspired@Apr 18 2006, 05:19 PM
I'm in the midst of packing right now, thinking about how much I'll miss my flatiron and my laptop and all those other nonessentials I can't justify carrying around for three months. And then I look at my stack of disposable contacts, my bottles of contact solution, my glasses and the two somewhat weighty paperbacks I'll lug around. Both the contact stuff and the books are space-eating and heavy-ish, but if I left everything else behind, I'd still take them.*

So, I got to wondering--what're the things you absolutely couldn't leave behind, either because you "need" them, or you need them?

[snapback]113340[/snapback]

Take one bottle of solution and buy more if you need it there. It may be a bit more expensive per bottle there, but how many bottles do you think you're actually going to use?

Add another $20 to your TOTAL budget for your trip and buy your solution there when the first one runs out. My opinion anyways...

As for the guide books. On my trips, I usually cut out the pages that I'll need and staple them together. No need to have a WHOLE lonely planet guide on ALL of Western Europe if you're only going to travel a few countries.

Same goes for S. America, and other continents.

Like Aliz, I take at least 2 lined notepads. One small one for writing random info when talking to people that I'll meet (email addresses, phone numbers, name of a good bar/restaurant, hostel, etc...), and a journal to write the days events and or for doddling or sketches...

It's a riot to read it after the fact...years later!

Kindra, definitley take the dancing shoes! Maybe take your lightest pair that doesn't take up as much room. May not be flashy but you'lll be comfortable and can groove like you do on your home turf.

No need breaking in shoes you buy there while you're traveling! Sore feet are a pain when backpacking!

**Sabrosa** · 04-20-2006, 06:29 AM

Yay!! I'm glad I have tpunk support in hauling around my salsa shoes. :D
Now I just need to figure out which shoes to take (sacrifice)....I certainly want to be cute, AND comfy.