I keep thinking of that commercial that asked, "What's in your wallet?" I'm pretty sure it was a bank card ad, but it's got me thinking about what Tom and I carry in our bags each day. We're pretty proud of how we've packed - we have less stuff than most long-term backpackers we come across and, when we aren't loaded down with things we've bought, we can fit all of our things into our 2 large packs without even needing to carry a day pack. These days, we're traveling pretty light. The below list is just our essentials, though we do have a lot of other stuff with us. These are the things we use every day and recommend to other travelers. If you're using this list as a packing guide, please note, this list is what we've been carrying in India - in the south in October and November and in the north in December and January. (For a full list of what we brought with us, visit this page, but note that it needs a little updating.)
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| This is what we started with... |
Always in our day bags:
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| The Flash18 has become an extra appendage |
- REI Flash 18
- Baggu Big Baggu Tote
- Chapstick
- Cameras (Canon G10 and Panasonic DMC-TS20D Tough Camera)
- Cell phones
- Deck of cards (We've become serious gin players.)
- Notebook (either our journals or a small notebook)
- Toilet paper
- Sunglasses
- Steph's reading glasses
- Water
- Pepto Bismol Tablets
- Imodium
- Hair ties
- Small Swiss Army knife
- Contact cards
- Sarong (can be used as a scarf, a beach towel, a head cover, a skirt, a dress, a bag, etc....)
- Pens and marker
- Money
- Hand sanitizer
- Clip-on compass (this is surprisingly helpful when we are trying to figure out what platform our train is arriving on)
In the north, add:
- Clothing layers, including a scarf and hat (it can be cold)
- Eye drops (it's incredibly dry and dusty and our eyes are always bothering us)
In the south, add:
- Sunblock
- Insect repellent
For travel days, include:
- Go Girl
- Ear plugs
- Eye masks
- Hair brush
- Apple 160GB iPod Classic
- Ear bud headphones with splitter
- Journal
- Kindles
- 2x Small, MasterLock Cable Luggage Lock
- 2x MasterLock 3-Foot Retractable Cable Lock
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| Remember Beatrice? |
- Cocoon 100% Silk TravelSheet Sleep Sack (Double size)
- Tripshell Adaptor
- Apple MacBook Air
- Essential oils (great for freshening up musty rooms)
- Water bottle sling (great for having both hands free)
- Our North Face Terra bags
On Steph's Must-Have List:
- Sports bra (when you're sweating non-stop, a regular bra is just torture)
- The Mirena IUD. Tampons are virtually non-existent here and very expensive when you can find them, so not having a period has been key. This might be the best decision I made on this trip. Mirena = No period = No tampons, Mirena = No baby = No life crisis
- Smith's Rosebud Salve Tin - great for lips, blisters, dry skin
- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 'Romantic' Red - My hair is never rarely combed and I never wear makeup, but this balm makes me feel pulled together.
- Compartments, small bags, organization - We are constantly packing and unpacking, and lots of small bags give things some order!
On Tom's Must-Have List:
- Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants
- Merrell WaterPro Manistee Shoes (with orthotics)
- RooCase for the laptop
- Reliable headlamp
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