Packing: What's Important
What to pack is always a big concern on everyone’s mind before they leave the country. After all, the stuff you take will have to last you for as long as you’re away, and if you need that one little gadget late one evening and you don’t have it with you, you’re stuck. On the other hand, if you’re carrying that three volume dictionary with you that you never end up using, that is a waste of space and energy.
I guess it all comes down in a large part to philosophy, and how much you can put up with inconveniences and how much you are willing to carry. My philosophy, let me be up front, is minimalist: take half of what you think you will need. If you run out of something, unless you’re in Siberia, chances are you’ll be able to buy it. Yes, they do have razor blades and contact lens solution in Europe…
First of all, a good, comfortable backpack is a must. A daypack — a little bag you can take out for a day hike — is almost as essential.
Good shoes are another priority — I learned this the hard way. What makes the choice harder is that you’re not likely to be taking two pairs of shoes with you (not counting sandals/flip-flops, which I found less useful than I expected), so these things had better do everything you want to do. I ended up being very happy with a pair of black, low cut shoes (made by Cat; the style is similar to Doc Martens). What made these shoes nice was that they were very durable and comfortable, but cleaned up a little bit in the men’s room they looked entirely adequate for a night on the town. Not that as a back- packer you’re ever going to be fashionable, but freshly washed jeans and a clean t-shirt and decent shoes go a long way to making you feel a part of society again.
The crappy weather I experienced in Europe this summer has made me a bit biased on the part of warm clothes, but I think a waterproof jacket — Gore-Tex is heaven-sent — and a thick fleece or sweater are essential. A woolen hat, or something that covers you’re ears, is also very useful — ounce for ounce, a hat keeps you warmer than any other piece of clothing you own.
I had two pairs of jeans, though I probably could have done with one pair, and of the three pairs of shorts I brought, I only used one pair, exactly twice.
Good socks are important, and carry exactly twice as many socks as you carry underwear (I won’t go into the duality of feet here, but having everything run out at once spares you the agony of deciding if you can wait with laundry until tomorrow) I carried five pairs, and this was adequate. Light laundry is very conveniently performed in just a sink and hung on a string which you shouldn’t forget. Don’t, for god’s sake, bring powdered laundry detergent in a little sandwich bag. After the third wash it will be a monstrous mess. Better use bar laundry soap, or just plain regular soap.
A few t-shirts that you know are going to put up with a bit of abuse, a shirt you can put on to perhaps go out, and that should round out the minimalist wardrobe that should see you for a few weeks of summer traveling.
A first-aid kit with the normal bandaids, etc. is very important, and put in it some pain medicine, antacid, and a needle and thread (just get a very small piece of cardboard, wrap the thread around it, and stick the needle through everything so the point is hidden. Guys, ask your moms how to sew on buttons). A swiss army knife is very useful — I got mine in Switzerland!
An alarm clock, the smaller the better. Sunglasses, a flashlight, a lighter. Rubber bands, safety pins, those little cable ties that go click click and that you can’t open. They’re good as locks.
Everyone says to bring a sleep sheet, but I’m a bit ambivalent on this point. True, some hostels require them but in my experience, many didn’t. I think this is a regional thing. And at any hostel that required them, you can rent them. I brought my own and a few weeks later lost it to an overzealous cleaning lady and never got it back. For the remainder of my trip I was sleepsheetless and happy for it. They are surprisingly bulky and heavy, and over the course the remaining six weeks I might have spent $5 renting sleep sheets and not having to worry about carrying one. Your call. If you do decide to take one, just fold an old bedsheet in half and sew with a sewing machine (while asking mom about the buttons) the bottom and 2/3 of the way up the side (so you can stick your arm out while having your head on the sheet still).
Indispensable is a water bottle. Keep it filled at all times, because you never know when on a train you’ll be parched and not have 28 kronar for a bottle of water. I had one of those water bags (MSR Dromedary?) that I use for hiking. It is wonderful because it holds a lot of water, but collapses when empty to take up hardly any space. Take a towel!!!
I disagree strongly about taking cash for the first umpteen countries you’re going to visit. First, if you’re anything like me you don’t know which countries you’re going to hit. Second, the exchange rate is the most favorable 1) out of an ATM or Credit card (if you buy something. If you use credit card for a cash advance you’ll be paying through the nose), followed by 2) cash exchanged in the country you’re in (rates vary, and watch the commission) In other words, don’t buy Deutche Marks in Britain. Since there’s always the frightening scenario that you arrive at a country and the ATM doesn’t work, bring US dollars with you. I had a $100 bill tucked in somewhere for just this case, but I never had to use it for emergency reasons (unless you call beer an emergency…) The US dollar, along with the GB Pound, German Mark, are among the most easily exchangeable currencies in Europe.
All the stuff I mentioned here should fit easily into a medium-sized backpack, and it should be enough to last you for a long time. You will want to, of course, bring a few more personal things, but remember, keep it light and keep it small. I have seen people with huge packs on their backs and their daypacks, also filled, on their stomachs. In my opinion, they have way, way too much stuff — carrying around so much is just punishment.
Written By,
Matt Wyczalkowski
