The UNIVERSAL PACKING LIST
Mats Henricson
THE UNIVERSAL PACKING LIST
version 1.0
Compiled by
Mats Henricson
Sweden
mats.he...@eua.ericsson.se
The UPL is COPYLEFT, i.e. you may use it as you wish. However, if you choose
to use it for any kind of commercial purpose, I will get kind of sad.
Credits to
----------
Johan Schimanski (Norway) and Christina Gisselberg (Sweden) who have
reviewed the list and given me valuable comments.
Background
----------
In january 1988 I left Sweden for warmer climates - Africa. I was there for 5
months. A trip like that would never have been possible without proper
planning. For months I compiled a list of things I might have wanted to bring
with me, as well as things I had to do before I hit the road. When I came
home I found out I could use the list for just about any other trip, even for
weekend trips just 100 km away.
The list has expanded since then, and when I found the rec.travel group on
Internet a while ago, the idea struck me that making my list available to all
travellers could be fun.
How The UPL is structured
-------------------------
The UPL is actually a number of lists. Some of them are for clothes, others
are for hiking equipment, photo equipment etc. That way you can skip lists
that just don't apply for your specific trip. For example, if you plan to go
to Australia in january, the list called "Clothes for Cold weather" most
certainly doesn't apply, and you can just skip it.
Most items in the lists have comments attached to them. It can be an
explanation to why the item is there in the first place, or an anecdote from
any of my trips.
How to use the list
-------------------
Save the list to a file. Read through it all, and skip lists or items you
think are plain stupid. Maybe you always bring your favourite teddy-bear with
you - then add it to the list! Then delete all comments you think are stupid
or unnecessary. Voila! You have a customized list made only for you!
Disclaimer
----------
The UPL lists many thing you can bring with you, but there might be things
missing that is necessary for your particular trip. In such a case, I just say
sorry. We all need different things during our travels, and I just cannot
imagine them all.
However, if you think something is missing, drop me a mail and it might be
in the next version of the list. Maybe someone thinks there should be a list
for climbers; send it to me and I'll consider it for the next version. If you
have a nice anecdote about an item, send it to me and I might add it to the
list. Well, as a matter of fact, send any kind of comment to me, and I'll give
you a golden star in my address list, as well as mention you in the next
version of the UPL.
General comments on packing
---------------------------
We all carry too many things through life. Well, almost: I once met a young
guy from Austria travelling around in Sudan with a bag that just couldn't
have been more than 5 litres big. Three months later I met another guy from
Austria with two big backpacks. One was for normal travelling things, while
the other was for musical instruments he bought underway. The golden rule is
(despite the first guy mentioned above): all backpacks are too big. I have
discovered a perfect way of avoiding too many things on my trips: buy a
backpack that seems a bit too small. My backpack is about 50 litres big, and
that seems just perfect for a long trip. Another fun approach is to challenge
your travelling mate (if you are lucky enough to have a friend companying you)
which of you will have the smallest backpack. The loser pays a splash-out
dinner at the most expensive restaurant in town.
T H E U N I V E R S A L P A C K I N G L I S T
----------------------------------------------------
Books
-----
Books are heavy but hard to be without. You'll end up waiting a lot on most
trips, so a novel or two or three will make your trip more enjoyable.
Phrase-book
Saying goodbye and thankyou in the local language will give you a lot of
response outside of heavily loaded tourist areas: but you will either find
these words in your guidebook, or by asking people you meet (even more
response).
Novels
A guideline is to bring one book per month of travel. Books in your native
language is all nice and cozy on the road, but it can reduce the price of
it on the second hand market. Travellers often swap books, and if you have
a book in Swedish, you're out of luck. Choose English.
Guidebook
I usually have a Lonely Planet guide with me, but they're approaching the
weight of a brick nowadays, so try to reduce it by ripping out pages or
leave it at home. A too good guide-book is kind of boring, since it reduces
the thrill of finding your own hotels and magic places on the globe. You can
be pretty sure that if a place is in the guidebook, it is more or less
crowded with travellers.
Things to do
------------
With this I mean the things you usually have to fix before you go. The list
does not contain any of the travel-preparations you have to do, like buying
tickets, get visas and such.
Cut your hair
I like the feeling of being 110% prepared when leaving home, so cutting
my hair is on my list when I go for a long trip. Having too long hair
can also reduce your chances of being let into some countries. In some
situations, it will also help when hitching rides. As long as you don't
expect to get a perfect cut, you can always do it on the road.
Go to the dentist
I strongly advice you to do this if you go for more than a couple of
months. I'd hate to have to go to a dentist in Kisangani in Zaire.
Fill in the tax return form
I'm kind of boring, since I'd hate to come back and find out I have
problems with the authorities. Do it if your trip coincides with when it
is supposed to be filled in.
COA - Change Of Address
Tell your friends where they can contact you if it is necessary. I must
say that I have some great memories from collecting Poste Restante mail
abroad. Remember to tell your friends the right way of writing P.R.
addresses. My address would be:
Mr. Henricson, Mats
General Post Office
Town, Country, Etc.
If you write it:
Mats Henricson
Etc.
it might be sorted under M, not H, which is VERY annoying.
Pay the rent and other necessary bills
If you are lucky enough to have a flat you'd better be sure to still have
it when you come back. I like to have it all sorted out nicely when I
travel, so the best thing is to give some money to a trusted friend who
can pay all necessary bills when you are out of town.
Wash clothes
I like to have all my clothes shining clean when I hit the road, and I
also kind of prepare for my home-coming by having a clean set of clothes
at home to put on after the kind of orgiastic shower you are craving for
when you come home.
Hygiene (basic)
---------------
This is a list of the kind of hygiene things all of us are very likely to
bring with us. Remember that I'm male, so the hygiene lists are pretty biased
to what we men bring with us. (If there are any women travellers out their who
would like to rectify this balance, send comments to me, and they can be
incorporated in the next version.)
Shaving equipment
Well, a must if you are a guy. Leave the can of shaving foam at home
unless you like heavy backpacks. I prefer to use soap since you must carry
soap with you anyway. Remember not to shave in dirty or contaminated water
since you can pick up a nasty decease that way. I tend to get small
bleeding wounds after shaving, and it's easy to see why that is bad.
Extra blades to Shaving equipment
This only applies to us who prefer to avoid electric shavers. They are
heavy, and electrical standards are not standards.
Toothbrush
One of the few things you can buy all over the world.
Toothpaste
Can also be bought almost everywhere.
Soap
The ones you find along the road may not smell the way you are used to, but
at least they are available everywhere.
Shampoo
If you are really hard-core, you can use soap, but, well, I'm kind of whimpy
and prefer real shampoo. Not as available as soap, but it should be no real
problem getting it in most towns all over the world. I remember even getting
a super efficient shampoo against bugs in a pharmacy in Assuan, Egypt, by
sketching a bug with legs on a piece of paper and making crawling motions
with my hand in my hair. Pretty international problem, I guess.
Toilet paper
NOT available everywhere, but nevertheless kind of indispensable. In Africa
it took me two months to get somewhat used to using just my hand and water.
Towel
I just used a T-shirt on one trip, but now I think a towel is a must.
Hygiene (optional)
------------------
Some optional hygiene items.
Comb
Takes virtually no space in your backpack (TVNSIYB), and you might be pretty
unhappy without it.
Washcloth
Popular in Norway but by some reason not in Sweden. TVNSIYB, and gives you
the chance to get clean all the way into your pores.
Handkerchief
For whimps!
Detergent
Available almost everywhere, but you can use soap with satisfying result.
Clothes pegs
Pretty usable, actually. I carry with me perhaps 8 of these magnificent
inventions.
Maps
----
I always travel with lots of maps. Remember that good maps can be pretty hard
to find in many countries.
Large scale
I like to have a large scale map for these occasions when you sit at a cafe
and try to figure out where to go the next month.
Small scale
For more detailed kind of travelling.
Clothes (basic)
---------------
Clothes most of us are very likely to bring with us. Biased to male style of
clothes. I don't mind women wearing semi-see-through shirts and other clothes,
but remember that with these on, you could get into very much problems in a
lot of countries. Leave them at home! Avoid clothes that look military, since
that might also give you problems.
Undershorts
Can be obtained very cheaply in many towns, but if you prefer the western
style, you'd better get a basic set of these at home before you go.
Shirts
There is almost no place on the globe where you can be without a good warm
shirt. I always bring one or two tough flannel shirts.
T-shirts
Pretty impossible to be without, unless you just use thin shirts. You can
buy them cheaply along the road.
Belt
Hard to be without.
Shorts
This is a must unless you travel in cold climates. I think it is one of the
most important pieces of clothing you use, since at least I tend to carry a
lot of things in my pockets. Buy a pair of very good quality, and be sure
the pockets are tight enough to give pickpockets a hard time. I lost US$100
in Zimbabwe by ignoring this.
Socks
Good quality socks can be a blessing.
Pants
I like black jeans at home, but they're kind of hot in Australia in the
summer.
Clothes (optional)
------------------
Well, pick the ones you like, and leave the rest at home.
Cap
More or less government recommendation in Australia. I don't like caps at
all, but I have burnt my nose to pure coal so many times now that I might
change my mind. Of course, if you have style, take a hat.
Track-suit
For me, a light track-suit works in two ways: both as something you can
wear when you are washing your other clothes, and as good clothes when it
gets cold. They take up a lot of place in your backpack though.
Raincoat
I usually carry a Gore-Tex anorak, but it takes up a hell of a lot of
place in my backpack. Difficult decision. Leave it at home unless you are
heading for colder climates.
Umbrella
For whimps, and a nuisance to carry with you.
Swimming trunks
TVNSIYB, and can be very nice. I read that women can get problems in some
countries if they are too revealing. Which reminds me of a friend who
told me swimming is not allowed on Sundays on some islands in the Pacific
Ocean. Pretty weird!
Morning gown
Well, my friend Johan Schimanski always has a kimono with him as the
single luxury which reminds him of civilization. Oh boy.
Clothes for Cold weather
------------------------
Well, the title says it all. If you go to hot climates you can just skip this
list.
Sweater
A must in colder climates.
Gloves
In really cold climates this is a must. TVNSIYB and can save a day.
Suit jacket
I have brought black suit jackets on most trips since they have lots of
handy pockets. But if it gets too hot they take a bleeding lot of place
in your backpack.
Long underpants
Only if the temperature is well below freezing.
Shoes
-----
Very important. Only use good quality shoes.
Shoes
I usually use Dr. Martens since you can read "Oil, Fat, Acid, Petrol,
Alkali Resistant" on the sole. Just kidding, but no doubt they are very
tough shoes that can carry you through the longest trip. A bit expensive
and hot, so if you travel in a hot climate, a pair of light jogging shoes
can be an alternative.
Sandals
Very nice to have in very hot climates, but since they don't cover your
feets completely, they might give sand bugs a chance to get a fresh place
to lay their eggs on. Not dangerous, but very ikky. I got them in Tanzania.
For carrying money and important documents
------------------------------------------
You might end up carrying a lot of important documents, not to mention money.
This list gives some hints on how to carry them. Remember to have two places
for this kind of things. Unless everything gets stolen, this way you'll have
some extra money and papers that will make it easier to replace what was
stolen, not to mention that some extra money can make it possible for you to
continue your travels while for example new travel cheques are arranged for.
Pouch for valuable documents
I mean the type you hang around your neck. I hate them by two reasons: they
are pretty horrible to wear when it's boiling hot, and they make it very
obvious you are a tourist.
Money belt
Even worse when it's hot. Easy to empty for a skilled pickpocket in crowded
places.
Wallet
This is my bag for money! They have a distinct disadvantage though -
pickpockets! When you pay for things you buy, be sure not to flash the
contents in your pocket to others. The wallet of a westerner can tempt
people in poor countries to commit murder! Please remember this!
Paper folder
I tend to carry quite a lot of paper with me (see below) and to prevent them
from ending up unreadable from the massive pressure in my backpack, I put
them all in a sturdy paper folder. I have never regretted this. The folder
also gives some steadiness in the backpack.
Money and important documents
-----------------------------
This list is about what kind of documents and what kind of money you better not
be without.
Passport
Visas
A trip to Africa can be very difficult to plan since you have to get all
these visas. I'm not kidding when I say that it can take you two months to
get all the visas you need. Plan ahead!
Vaccination certificate
Some countries demand you to have one to let you in. Be damn sure all
stamps and signatures are in perfect order. On the border between Malawi
and Tanzania the customs officer discovered that a nurse here in Sweden
had forgot to write her occupation on one of the notes. The customs man
said: "This is very very very serious". It was just sheer luck I didn't
have to bribe him to get into Tanzania.
Insurance certificate
I never understood why you need this, but I tend to bring it with me just
in case. TVNSIYB.
Travel cheques/Cash
Everyone knows TC:s are safer than cash, but remember a few things: in
some countries it takes you two hours or more to change a TC, and in some
countries (often the same as the ones with the slow banks) you can get
very much more by changing on the black market. In Iran you could once get
11 times as much on the black market, but I can easily think of funnier
places to get caught in by an undercover agent on the black market. Also,
travel insurances wont cover a greater loss of cash. The limit at Swedish
travel insurance companies is usually US$300 or so.
Receipt for travel cheques
Carry it very much separate from your Travel Cheques. I have lost TC:s 3
times or so, and all of them were very sour experiences.
Cards (Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard)
Well, try to use it in Libya! But, what the heck: TVNSIYB.
International driving license
A must in most countries if you plan to drive.
ID-card
I have my Swedish driving license as a security if I lose my passport.
Swedish is a pretty good language since being fluent in Swedish will reduce
most suspicions at Swedish embassies. Being American or so can give you
some problems if you have no way of proving who you are at the embassy when
applying for a new passport. TVNSIYB.
International Student Identification Card (ISIC)
Can save you some money in Youth Hostels, trains, museums, planes, so get
one if you qualify as a student. If you can, get the brochure with
addresses to student travel organizations in different countries, and tear
out the pages you want. You will need these addresses if you want to buy
student plane tickets.
Optional "documents"
--------------------
Well, some of the items on this list might be very good to have with you, so
you'd better read it.
Notepads
For writing letters.
Address List
For writing letters.
This packing list
Can be very handy if you get things stolen. It can be darn hard to remember
what you lost otherwise.
Copies of your passport
I keep a set of these in case I lose my passport. Might be of help. TVNSIYB.
Tourist organization certificate
Useful from the same reason as an ISIC card.
Photographies for visas/passports etc
Carry a dozen in case you need to get a new visa or passport. Cheap and
easy to get in one of these automatic booths in the western world. Can be
hard to get in other countries. TVNSIYB.
Addresses to embassies
Just in case you get into problems.
Calendar
Very nice as a souvenir, since I like to write down where I have been each
day to give me a chance to remember what happened on the trip.
Envelopes
For keeping documents in, or for letters.
Tickets
-------
Maybe you'll be hitch-hiking. The rest of us needs tickets. Remember to
confirm flight tickets.
Airline
Boat
Train
Hiking equipment
----------------
This list is for us outdoor bums. I love to walk in the mountains, so I almost
always bring this kind of things with me.
Hiking trousers
You can walk in a pair of jeans, but I find jeans too tight. Choose a pair
with big pockets. I like to keep a lot of things in my pockets when I'm up
in the mountains.
Hiking Boots
Takes up a lot of place in your backpack, but necessary if you like rough
walking. Also useful if you want to take forbidden literature into a
country. I ripped Lonely Planets book "Africa on a Shoestring" in two,
pushed them into my boots and got it through a thorough check at the
border to Malawi. The book is considered forbidden literature in Malawi
since it has some not so nice things to say about the Life Time President
Hastings Banda.
Compass
I was once lost on a mountain in Sudan. I had a compass with me, but didn't
use it to find my way. Pretty stupid, I know.
Binoculars
On the same mountain in Sudan I saw a couple of baboons on the savannah,
and that was just about the only time I used this set of heavy equipment.
Leave them home unless you are into looking at animals from great distances.
Tent
I carried one with me 10 weeks in Asia, and used it only once to sleep ON,
not IN. Unless you trek in cold climate, leave it at home. Very heavy and
bulky. And very difficult to pitch on planes.
Sleeping mattress
Very useful! I use it in its rolled state for sitting on, and it keeps you
from dirty floors and scorpions at night.
Lighter
For us smokers. Matches can be bought everywhere.
For packing
-----------
Items that enables you to bring along the other items as effortlessly as
possible. A quite important list, I'd say.
Backpack
Stay away from the cheap ones! I don't like the ones with lots of external
pockets since they are easy to steal from. I also try to use one that seems
a bit too small since that forces me to skip some unnecessary things.
Remember that you are most likely to have more things when coming home than
when you go. Backpacks with an external metallic frame are very popular in
Sweden. I think you should avoid them, since the frame can break if thrown
up on a truck or so. It is also not so easy to push into small boxes at
railways stations and similar places.
Small extra backpack (Knap sack)
I can't be without a small extra backpack, since that is where I carry
things when walking around in cities. It serves two other purposes as well:
First, it gives you a chance to carry more things along the road since I
try to keep the small backpack more or less empty from the start. Second,
when carrying the big backpack, I have the small one attached in a snap-
hook to the shoulder strap of the big one. This way I have easy access to
tickets and other important things in the small backpack. The snap-hook
makes it impossible for thieves to just grab the small one and run. To be
honest, I'm pretty proud of this idea.
Rubber-bands
It's kind of amazing how much you can put into a backpack if you do a good
job. By using rubber-bands, I squeeze clothes down to a minimal size.
Plastic bags
Excellent to put small things in. If you carry something in them that
might leak, you also need some kind of seal.
Packing pouches
I have a set of small pouches (up to 3 litres) made of cloth in different
colours. I keep different types of things in different pouches, and with
this colour code I can easily find what I'm looking for in my backpack.
Without these pouches, your backpack will look like a mess in no time.
Steel wire
I have a 1.5 metre long plastic coated steel wire of proper dimensions with
loops at both ends. With it and the padlock, I make damn sure my backpack
doesn't disappear on trains at night. It cannot prevent anyone from opening
the backpack and steal some of its contents, but the wire prevents the
whole backpack from disappearing. It has many times given me considerably
better sleep.
Padlock
Necessary when using the steel wire above, but also works in cheap hotels
where you don't trust the default padlocks provided by the hotel. Keep an
extra key somewhere separate so that you don't end up with a locked room if
you somehow lose the first one.
Eating/food equipment
---------------------
Read this if you are likely to cook your own food every now or then. Remember
that this kind of equipment weighs quite a lot and takes up a lot of space in
your backpack.
Stove
Well, try to find something so small that it fits in your shirt pocket.
Extra fuel to the stove
Can be difficult to find abroad. If it is a liquid - bring it in a bottle
sturdy enough to stand a direct hit from a nuclear warhead. That's the
kind of pressure your backpack will produce.
Swiss army knife
Buy one! You'll end up using it all the time. Don't bring any ordinary
knife, since it might give you problems at some borders. But then again,
the customs officer in Zaire was worried for me when I told him I had no
weapon at all.
Can opener
One of these things you are bound to need sooner or later. Kind of
unnecessary if you have a good Swiss army knife.
Water bottle
If you go to Africa, Asia or Southern America, you'll be very sorry if you
don't bring a good one from home. Buy one of the metallic types. Pour in
some dubious water and throw in some of these purifying tablets, and in
some minutes you have some horrible tasting water. I prefer bad tasting
water to Amoeba Dysentery.
Tea spoon
OK, I might be persecuted for this, but I advise you to steal one at the
first cafe along the road!
Eating utensils
Also possible to steal, but I think a swiss army knife works OK. But then
again, I don't cook much food on the road.
Miscellaneous
-------------
Things that just didn't fit into any other list.
Pens
You can buy them anywhere, but the quality is often very bad. Bring a bunch
of them. Works as much appreciated gifts to kids.
Watch
Next time I'll buy myself a Swatch or something similar. No big deal if it
gets stolen, and they are waterproof and sturdy.
Torch
I just lost my Maglite (a thin black slick metallic torch with an
adjustable magnifying glass) that I liked to bring with me. It's nice to
carry along at night in strange neighbourhoods abroad. Kind of expensive.
I have this idea that I can knock down threatening people with it, but I
know it's stupid since the best way of avoiding problems is to stay away
from bad places at night. And if you get mugged, just give them what they
want.
Poker cards
Can be a hit when waiting for transport.
Solar cell calculator
The value of different currencies can be rather tricky to track, so I once
carried one of these calculators with me. I ended up never using it, and
eventually gave it away.
Sink plug
When you need to wash your clothes, you often find out that this necessary
thing is missing at your hotel room. You can use one of these lids for film
containers. Wrap it in a small plastic bag and it fits neatly in most sinks.
Extra things and for repair
---------------------------
If any of your equipment breaks or you lose something.
Extra straps
When you need to attach the guitar to the backpack.
Batteries
For your camera, torch and Walkman.
Extra shoe laces
Extra glasses
If you are like me, blind without glasses, you need some kind of backup.
Straps for glasses
The sporty type that makes your glasses stay on your nose. Body-surfing can
be expensive: I have pairs of glasses on the bottom of both the Pacific and
Indian Ocean.
Safety pins
Sewing kit
Some string
Extra buttons
Health
------
Things that can make you stay healthy on your trip.
Condoms
Can be kind of hard to find in some countries. Don't go abroad without
them!
Sore tape
If you need to take care of these blisters you got from cheap shoes.
Sun protection
Can be hard to get in some countries. Bring some heavy duty stuff!
Insect repellent
Shades
I never use them, but most others seems to take them for granted.
Plaster (band-aid)
First aid kit
I have never had to use one, but I carry one with me, just in case.
Pills and tablets
-----------------
There's a lot on this list, since there's a lot of diseases you can pick up.
Remember that with a backpack full of strange pills, you can get into bad
problems at borders.
Water purifying tablets
Take lots of it. Perfect gifts in poor villages in Africa.
Vitamin pills
When travelling, my diet leaves a lot to be desired.
Travel sickness tablets
Fever tablets
Pain relievers
Allergy pills
Malaria tablets
Don't mess around with Malaria! I've seen travellers get sick on the edge
of dying, so bring lots of them. Preferably 2 different kinds. Bring too
much of them, since in small villages you might get in touch with parents
with kids struck by Malaria. Kind of hard to deny them some pills.
Salt tablets
In hot climates, you need lots of salt.
Coal tablets
If the contents of your bowels has a touch of watery consistency to it.
Laxative
If the contents of your bowels has a touch of stony consistency to it.
Shots
-----
Don't travel without taking the necessary shots! Hospitals love to give them
to you, since they charge money for them. You are not likely to be competent
enough to judge if their list of necessary shots is relevant or not, so just
bite your teeth together and pay. You can get them quite cheap abroad, but
remember the AIDS risk. I don't trust needles at all.
Cholera
Jaundice
Typhus
Polio
Yellow fever
Tetanus
Plague
Photo equipment
---------------
I'm a very bad photographer, so lately I have ended up not bringing a camera
at all. There are two other reasons to leave it at home: Cameras are very
prone to be stolen. I hate to be paranoid about the risk of being robbed.
Cameras are also very heavy, and my shoulders are weak. Except for that, a
camera is a must.
Film
Bring lots of it, and try to keep the same ASA/DIN sensitivity on all of
them. I have ruined a lot of film this way, since I forgot to change the
settings on my camera after changing film type. Yeah, I know, I'm stupid.
Camera
Camera bag
Extra lenses
Music
-----
A Walkman can be heaven and hell. It can be stolen, and it can also give you
some of the best highlights of a trip. I remember one night walking down the
centre of Khartoum with Red Lorry Yellow Lorry on maximum volume in my
earplugs! A truly special memory!
Walkman
Music cassettes
If you bring too many, they take up a lot of place in your backpack. If
you bring too few, you get sick and tired of them in a flash.
Microphone
TVNSIYB and tapes with sounds from trains or cities can be marvellous to
have to remember how the trip was like.
Sleeping things
---------------
Things that might give you a better sleep, or actually give you a chance to
sleep at all.
Alarm clock
I think a watch with alarm is perfect, but I sleep like a stone and need an
alarm clock that can wake the dead.
Sleeping mask
A black hair band is said to work as well, when for example trying to sleep
on a intercontinental flight or on a ferry.
Inflatable neck supporter
Kind of whimpy, but has given me some good nights sleep recently.
Earplugs
TVNSIYB and can save you a nights sleep. Toilet paper is said to work as
well.
Sleeping bag
Only necessary if you go to cold climates. Takes up a hell of a lot of
space in your backpack.
Sheets
If you find out that you don't trust the ones you get in hotels. A sheet
bag might be the best alternative.
Jack Campin
scarf. I've done at least the following things with it:
- sunhat
- rain/wind hood
- tablecloth
- towel
- sling for injured arm
- packing at the top of my rucksack to stop things falling out
- rolled up as a pillow
- as a light travel rug on buses
- knotted as a bag for dirty laundry
- stuffed into a chink in a window to keep the draught out
- padding for fragile objects
Thankfully I haven't yet had to tear it up for bandages but I've always had
that in mind too.
It's the product of thousands of years of design evolution for travelling
in hostile environments, so it's hardly surprising it works.
(I am told there's a colour code for them in Palestine itself - blue for a
King Hussein supporter, green for Islamic fundamentalists, red for PLO and
black for the rejectionists - but I don't know how widespread that is and
have never had that confirmed).
--
-- Jack Campin -- Room 1.36, Department of Computing & Electrical Engineering,
Mountbatten Building, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS
TEL: 031 449 5111 ext 4192 FAX: 031 451 3431 INTERNET: ja...@cee.hw.ac.uk
JANET: possibly backwards BITNET: via UKACRL BANG!net: via mcsun & uknet
Miriam Nadel
For extended trips, I generally take along the clothing that I'm planning on
getting rid of and throw it out along the way. This is a good way of getting
a last use out of underwear that got shredded in the clothes dryer or a
shirt I never really liked much, etc.. On a month long trip to Europe,
my old raincoat doubled as a bathrobe and got left at my final stop in London.
I learned this from my mother who is proud to say she's thrown out clothing in
about 20 countries. The main advantage is that you tend to buy things
along the way and, this way, you have plenty of room in your luggage for the
stuff you bought.
As for luggage, I generally use an internal frame pack (really intended as
a day and a half pack), as it's easy to carry. I tuck a tote bag in for
any overflow of souvenirs and the like. When I came back from Australia,
the tote bag was entirely filled with stuffed animals (koalas, kangaroos and
one wombat), much to the amusement of the customs inspector who saw all
those little heads sticking out the top of the bag.
Liquid soap in little containers is more convenient to carry than bar soap.
I refill a sample size bottle from normal size bottles.
For women, it is useful to keep in mind that there are few places in the world
where you'll be inappropriately dressed if you wear a basic shirt dress (I
prefer cotton knit fabrics). Add a cardigan or linen blazer for chillier days
or places where you're expected to have your arms covered below the elbows.
Miriam Nadel
Jon Corelis
things myself when I travel. Here's a couple of other suggestions:
Labels for post cards. Get a set of peel-off labels and write on
them the addresses of all the people you want to send post-cards to.
(If you have access to the right computer and printer you can use them
to print labels.) Take them along, and use them to label postcards you
send. I first found this suggestion in a book on travel writing, and
it seemed dubious to me: I thought, as some of you are probably
thinking, "For heaven's sake, how long does it take to write an
address?" But I tried it out, and it was surprising how much time it
seemed to save. Additionally, it made it very easy to keep track of
who I'd written to so far.
Sunscreen. Maybe Mats mentioned this. I've found that in some
countries good SPF sunscreen is horrendously expensive, if available at
all, so I bring my own supply.
Photocopies of passport, plane tickets, and eyeglass prescription.
Numbers list. I make a comprehensive list of all numbers I might
conceivably need -- passport numbers, numbers of credit cards I'm
carrying, phone numbers to call to report lost credit cards, travellers check
numbers, phone numbers of hotels I have reservations at in case I have
to tell them I'll be late, emergency phone numbers (of friends or
travellers assistance hot lines I have access to, for instance,) phone
numbers for airlines needed to reconfirm reservations, numbers of plane
tickets, phone number of doctor and dentist at home, specific and
generic names of any medication I have, and in general any numbers or
other information I might have reason to need while on the road. I
print several copies of this up in very small type so it's compact, and
secrete them in several places in my luggage and on my person, so
unless I'm shipwrecked and washed up totally naked on the shore, I'll
be in pretty good shape to recover from losses or other problems. (Some
people might feel it's risky to have so much personal information
written down, lest it fall into the wrong hands. I minimize this risk
by not putting my name anywhere on the list. At any rate, I feel the
potential value of having all these numbers to hand outweighs the
risk.)
Cheapo clogs. Buy a pair of cheap plastic sandals for the beach and
hotel bathroom, and throw them away before you leave for home.
Photocopies of guidebooks. After experimenting a lot, I've found
that what works best for me is to photocopy relevant sections from most
of the guidebooks I like, and then throw them away on the road as I use
them. If possible, copy them duplex to make them compact.
Finally, always take a rain coat, not so much because you might need
it as because if you don't take one it will rain, even if you're going
on a trek across the Sahara in July.
ba...@uwovax.uwo.ca
> I think Mats's list is a pretty good one, and take a lot of those
> things myself when I travel. Here's a couple of other suggestions:
>
readers can pick and choose. Here's another item: a small bit of fairly
strong duct tape. Can be wrapped around a pen or pencil (though the
pen/pencil gets pretty fat). For repairs (shoes, luggage, back-pack).
Not as necessary if you carry two pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of shoes will
weigh you down.
Re: Swiss army knife. Try to get as many trinkets on it as possible.
I found the scissors to be particularly valuable (worked as nail clippers
in a pinch -- nothing more frustrating than a split nail accident with no
way to effect "repairs"). Corkscrew quite valuable too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Douglas Baer, Department of Sociology,
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6A 5C2
Internet: BA...@UWOVAX.UWO.CA
Mr R J Tinsley
>One thing left off that list that I invariably take with me: a Palestinian
>scarf. I've done at least the following things with it:
Sounds like the towel from Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. ;-]
--Bob (ma...@csv.warwick.ac.uk)
'Science, like Nature, must also be tamed,
with a view towards its preservation.' - yafurq
Erik Futtrup S|rensen
> I think Mats's list is a pretty good one, and take a lot of those
>things myself when I travel. Here's a couple of other suggestions:
[stuff deleted]
> Finally, always take a rain coat, not so much because you might need
>it as because if you don't take one it will rain, even if you're going
>on a trek across the Sahara in July.
Well, I think it takes up a lot of valuable space, and unless you plan
to go to a country in the rainy/monsoon-season, I would definately
recommend to leave rain coats and umbrellas at home!
If, on your travel, you should run into a rainy week, you can always
buy an umbrella and throw it away again later - and it dosn't cost
much in Asia and Africa! (Europe and the States are a different matter...)
_______________________________________________________________________________
"Yes, it is true," he was saying, "that sometimes unusually intelligent and
sensitive children can appear to be stupid. But, Mrs. Benson, stupid children
can sometimes appear to be stupid as well. I think that's something you might
have to consider."
Ralph Standish - Chief Consultant Psychologist
_______________________________________________________________________________
| |
-- Erik Futtrup | Email: fut...@daimi.aau.dk |
|_____________________________|
Stefan Lundstrom
I think it's much better to bring a small travel umbrella along on a trip
not involving heavy outdoors activities than carrying around a rain coat/
rain jacket-and-trousers. And it beats sitting around the YH or running in
and out of museums just to keep out of the rain while spending a week in
for example Berlin.
A travel umbrella isn't bulky, it goes easily into one of your external
backpack pockets, leaving alot of room for other stuff. And it's very
nice to have when you're hitching and the occasional soaker comes along.
Somehow I think motorists are mor inclined to pick you up if they find it
somewhat probable that you won't make their car look like they had forgotten
to close the windows in a Car Wash.
I would also like to suggest adding a backpack rain cover under a new
department of the UPL called 'Wet trips' - something Mats probably never
had the use for... It's kept my sleeping bag cozy a number of times, not
to speak of my clothes.
/Stefan - as myself. Not Stefan, employee of Ellemtel.
Stuart Lee
>I would also like to suggest adding a backpack rain cover under a new
>department of the UPL called 'Wet trips' - something Mats probably never
>had the use for... It's kept my sleeping bag cozy a number of times, not
>to speak of my clothes.
I'm planning to backpack in Europe in June, and was wondering if a backpack
rain cover is really necessary if the backpack is made of Codura nylon, which
is supposed to be waterproof.
For rain gear (as well as for regular wear), I was planning on wearing
a waterproof parka with hood and just leaving the backpack exposed (assuming
the backpack is waterproof). Is this a bad idea?
-- Stu
Stefan Lundstrom
>In <1993Apr30.0...@eua.ericsson.se> eua...@eua.ericsson.se (Stefan Lundstrom) writes:
>>I would also like to suggest adding a backpack rain cover under a new
>>department of the UPL called 'Wet trips' - something Mats probably never
>>had the use for... It's kept my sleeping bag cozy a number of times, not
>>to speak of my clothes.
>I'm planning to backpack in Europe in June, and was wondering if a backpack
>rain cover is really necessary if the backpack is made of Codura nylon, which
>is supposed to be waterproof.
If the material is waterproof I s'pose you're OK. As long as you keep all
your stuff inside. I have one of those packs with an external frame and
alot of space for attaching things, so my sleeping bag, clothes pack,
tent and mattress ususally go on the outside of my pack (once waterproof).
(Rather good since, as somebody rightly pointed out, the amount of stuff you
carry is proportional to the amount of time you've been out, except for the
trip back - then it gets exponential, and it's nice to have unlimited space
for bulky things). So I need a cover.
>For rain gear (as well as for regular wear), I was planning on wearing
>a waterproof parka with hood and just leaving the backpack exposed (assuming
>the backpack is waterproof). Is this a bad idea?
Your question is difficult since I don't know where you're gonna go or what
you're gonna do. I'll assume you're going to spend some time above central
Europe, and that you're not going to go hiking, hitching or the like, but stick
to trains and visits to towns/cities/villages. In this case, a parka would
probably be OK (I would probably bring a small umbrella too, though). But I
urge you to bring good shoes, prefarably light hiking shoes made out of
GoreTex(R) or the like. It's not exactly fun to walk around in a couple of
sneakers in Munich or Berlin a rainy day.
Happy swimming!
>-- Stu
/Stefan
Eric Maniloff
Could somebody email me the 'Universal Packing list'? I missed it!
Thanks in advance!
Eric Maniloff
em...@ppc.lpc.ethz.ch
N...@awiwuw11.wu-wien.ac.at
thanks, Roland.
Gerrit Conradie
>From: sl...@crux1.cit.cornell.edu (Stuart Lee)
>Subject: Re: The UNIVERSAL PACKING LIST
>Date: 30 Apr 93 16:37:40 GMT
I survived Europe in the winter with only a waterproof parka. Never
waterproofed my backpack and it stayed dry.
- gerrit
Julia Eulenberg
out here who also missed it the first time around and want it. Thanks.
ZZZ
Z
Brian Lucas
>Could somebody email me the 'Universal Packing list'? I missed it!
It is available by anonymous ftp from ftp.cc.umanitoba.ca as the file
pub/rec-travel/general/packing_list.
--
Brian Lucas
<lu...@ccu.umanitoba.ca>
Mr R J Tinsley
This is
THE UNIVERSAL PACKING LIST
version 1.0
Compiled by
Mats Henricson
Sweden
mats.he...@eua.ericsson.se
Handkerchief
For whimps!
Passport
Notepads
For writing letters.
Airline
Boat
Train
Extra shoe laces
Safety pins
Sewing kit
Some string
Extra buttons
Insect repellent
Plaster (band-aid)
Travel sickness tablets
Fever tablets
Pain relievers
Allergy pills
Cholera
Jaundice
Typhus
Polio
Yellow fever
Tetanus
Plague
Camera
Camera bag
Extra lenses
Walkman
----- End inserted text -----
--Bob 'Science, like Nature, must also be tamed,
(ma...@csv.warwick.ac.uk) with a view towards its preservation.' - yafurq