The Perfect Pack
The Perfect Pack After years of tweaks and trials I am finally there. I think I have reached the pinnacle of travel packing excellence (some might call it anal-ness). My technique:
- One tough-ass pack: my North Face Base Camp Duffel bag doubles as a pack. It's totally waterproof, easily lockable, close to impenetrable, and just the right size for up to 10 days of travel. And bright red for easy spotting on the baggage carousel (although I have since noticed that the bright yellow version might have been more easily spotted from afar).
- One TSA-spproved padlock: I've been on-the-fence about locking my bags. On the one hand, it does discourage those quick-fingered Jo'burg baggage handler-types. But on the other, it draws attention to your bags, screaming 'this is too valuable for you to open'. But in the end I figure this 'tough-ass pack' needs a stanley knife and a lot of determination to get inside. So it's probably the best compromise. Oh, and TSA-approved so those paranoid customs officials in the US can open it and nosey around without doing damage.
- One well-equipped medical kit: A few must-haves in here include oral rehydration salts, imodium, and plenty of garden variety panadol. The rest is tailored to the context, such as anti-malarials (not for me, but some choose to go down this route), trauma kits, syringes, etc.
- One medium-sized clothes pouch: my Eagle Creek packing cube is the ideal size for folded shirts, thrice-folded trousers, and boxer shorts. Throw all the clothes in one easily-removable compartment for easy access.
- One small bag for toiletries and one for electronics: I found these perfect mini-replicas of my tough-ass pack, also from TNF; the Base Camp Travel Canister. One in black for iPod cables, phone charger, etc. The other in bright yellow for toothbrush, etc.
- One compelling read: a good book is always a must.
By compartmentalizing everything I can quickly get to whatever I'm looking for. It also keeps it neat and tidy, avoiding those creases and messes resulting from mis-handling. And should real abuse be leveled at your precious cargo, and leakage occur, my water-tight segments will hold the mess from spreading.
Easy to pack, easy to unpack, easy to find whatever you need. Done!
Comments welcome.
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on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 at 05:00 and is filed under travel and tagged with how to, pack, technique, tips, travel.
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The Perfect Pack After years of tweaks and trials I am finally there. I think I have reached the pinnacle of travel packing excellence (some might call it anal-ness). My technique:
I love packing posts, especially those with pictures. Be encouraged that others share your anal-ness.
Can I ask how you made the decision to go without anti-malarials? Having just returned from Africa, it was hard to know what was really necessary. And if you listen to the medical people, they err on the side of giving you EVERYTHING. I’d like to hear from a seasoned traveller.
Does the north face pack have straps like a backpack or carrying loops?
And if you can recommend one of those good books from your travels, I need something to read this summer.
Travel safe, Christy
Hi Ash
I’m going to need a new backpack soon, and will definitely try out the compartmentalising next time. If the above is good for 10 days, what’s your packing advice for longer than that?
Hey Christy. Glad I’m not alone in my anal-ness and pursuit of packing excellence
OK, I’ve updated the post with links to the actual products. My base camp duffel has shoulder straps also so it doubles as a rucksack. A great combo for airport through to light trekking.
Anti-malarials: this one’s born out of a few side affects of having been on doxy once. The way I look at it, either I’m in one place too long to be willing to pump myself full of medication for months, or I’m there for a shorter time and the price of a week or two of meds either side is too high. OK, so there are some anti-malarials now that only need a couple of days before and after. But there’s another side to it; as I understand it if you are on anti-malarials you can still contract malaria, and if you do it will be harder to treat (maybe a doctor can weigh in here and embarrass me). So all in all, I would rather keep the meds down to a minimum. My approach is ‘don’t get bitten.’ So the DEET goes in front and centre.
And finally, as for a good read… OK, here’s the best book I’ve read over the past year: Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Fantastic read, awesome writing. Enjoy!
Hi Carly. Well the pack I mention above comes in three or four sizes. So pick the flavour that’s right for the length of travel. I’ve found it great for short trips without much hiking. It’s really tough and waterproof, and easy to secure. But I wouldn’t like to climb Everest with it as it has no structure and the straps are on the thin side. So if you’re going for some heavy outdoorsey time, maybe a nice Lowe Alpine or something would suit.
I have the medium size duffel, but its larger sibling would be good for a couple of weeks easily. I usually find that I don’t pack very differently for 2 weeks than I do for 5 though. I need the same basics and just need to find a way to wash some underwear once in a while
My confession though is that my other, larger bag is a Calvin Klein duffel for those times when you don’t want to show up at a nice hotel with a rough pack
Hey mate,
Enjoyed the read. I too, like Christy, am keen on posts about packing and traveling light. I’ve had my eye on the Eagle Creek Packing Cubes for some time now. Must be about time I gave them a go
Now, if only I could get the camera/laptop/electronics bag a little lighter. It’s a killer
Cheers,
Tim
Thanks Tim. And I have found one solution to reducing the weight in my camera bag – check it out here. Although, it’s strongly discouraged
Nice to see you posting again man. I have a certain amount of packing gizmo envy.
@Christy- Malaria- I generally agree with Ash on this front, for long periods of time in a malaria zone the negative side-effects of the malaria meds generally make it an unappealing prospect. You’re better off not getting bitten. Of course this is easier in a place like Yemen than someplace wet and tropical where there are more mosquitoes and the malaria season lasts longer. I’d base the decision on where you’re going, how long you’ll be there and the conditions you’ll be in. For example if you’re going to a hot dry country, travelling outside the peak malaria season, and staying predominately in urban areas for early mornings and evenings/nights, then malaria tabs probably aren’t worth it. If you’re going to a wet tropical country, travelling extensively in rural areas overnight (e.g. staying in tents and not so close to good medical care), and travelling during peak malaria season, I’d think about taking tablets for the duration of the trip, as your chances of getting bitten by something nasty are much higher. But not getting bitten is still the most important rule, because even if you’re on anti-malarials, there’s still skeeter-borne disease like Dengue, Yellow Fever, Encephalitis and/or Sleeping Sickness, all of which are generally worse than malaria.
It’s also worth thinking about the type of malaria. There’s two main strains (P. Fulciparum and P. Vivax), the former being the most dangerous, so depending on which strain you’re most likely to be exposed to you might want to make a decision accordingly. Over the last 7 years I’ve been in and out of malaria countries, including 2 full years in 2 places, and prolonged (up to 3 months) stays in others. I pretty much stopped taking malaria meds in 2005 and have never had malaria (although like Ash says, I work hard not to get bitten).
@Carly- Yeah, I’d endorse Ash’s suggestion- Lowe Alpine is the way to go. My main packs are both Lowe Alpine and I swear by them. I have a 75+20L and a 60+10L and they’re both awesome. The pack structure is really solid, supportive but adjustable, they’re comfortable and strong (one I’ve had for 7 years all over the world), and they’re practical (strong fabrics and lots of straps and compression and fitting stuff on the outside). Love ‘em and live for months out of ‘em.