Anna S. E. Lundberg

Coach, Speaker, Writer

Packing list for a week on the Mississippi: What to bring on your canoeing trip

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Ah yes, one of the most popular topics on my website, the classic packing list post. Who knew that so many people would be interested in how many pairs of socks I bring on my travels…? But then, I have realised myself how helpful it is to get any additional insight at all when you’re planning for a big trip and desperately trying to work out what to jettison so that you can actually close your bag.

Fully laden canoe
The canoes were pretty full with all our gear… Is there space for us in there?!

I find these types of adventures particularly difficult to plan for, as you just don’t know what to expect. We were told to “pack very light” and to “pack for winter and for summer”. Hmm. I should say, though, that we were only responsible for bringing our own personal gear. That meant that Quapaw Canoe Company had everything else like cooking equipment and tents, emergency and first aid kit, life jackets….

So here’s what I brought, and used, for this weeklong trip on the Mississippi River (plus a couple of days in town at either end):

Bags:
1 x waterproof duffel bag from Aquapac (70l)
1 x waterproof backpack from Aquapac (25l)
2 x sets of pack dividers from Aquapac (to keep everything organised and doubly protected inside the dry bag)
(Yes, now that I’ve purchased the proper kit I’m going to have to go on a lot more wet adventures in the future!)
1 x small, old, cross-body handbag for town

Shoes:
1 x pair of flip-flops
(And in fact I went barefoot all week in the sand! But at other times of the year when the water level is higher, you may have to camp further up and it may also get cold, in which case some old trainers or wetsuit booties are not a bad idea.)

Shorts and trousers:
2 x pairs of shorts (1 x pair denim, 1 x pair board shorts)
1 x pair of capri gym/yoga pants
1 x pair of jeans
1 x pair of sort-of-waterproof trousers
(I actually wish I had brought another pair of more comfortable trousers for the evenings, sitting around the campfire, and saved the jeans for when I was in town.)

Tops:
7 x vest tops
1 x long-sleeved shirt

Underwear and swimwear:
underwear for every day
2 x strapless bras (1 x nude, 1 x black)
1 x sports bra
2 x bikinis
2 x pairs of socks (never worn – might be useful, though, when it gets cold at night and if you’re wearing trainers)

Jumpers and cardigans:
1 x black cardigan
1 x fleece

Outerwear:
1 x light windbreaker
1 x light down jacket
1 x waterproof jacket (never worn, but you never know!)
(Some people also had a hat and gloves for the particularly cold evenings.)

For sleeping:
1 x vest top
1 x pair of shorts
1 x thermal top and bottoms (never used)
1 x sleeping bag
1 x sleeping bag liner
1 x sleeping mat
1 x camping pillow (I finally invested in a new one. Lush!)
1 x eye mask and earplugs (crucial for early sunrises and snoring/sleep-talking tent mates)

Accessories:
2 x pairs of sunglasses (you might lose a pair on the water!)
1 x cowboy hat (oh yeah)
1 x pair of earrings
2 x simple bracelets 

Toiletries:
Biodegradable body wash (Kiss My Face peace soap lavender & mandarin)
Biodegradable shampoo & conditioner (Trek & Travel, from a camping shop)
Tangle Teezer brush
Biodegradable face wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor (one of those with a built-in soap bar is pretty practical)
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip gloss with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream, for face and body
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, tinted moisturiser, blusher, lip gloss (not used on the river!)
Hair elastics
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Mosquito repellant and treatment
Tampons
Tissues
Toilet paper

Medication:
Migraine sprays
Anti-histamine tablets

Electronics:
iPhone + charger + waterproof case from Aquapac
DSLR (Nikon D5100) with 18-200mm lens + charger and extra battery
Solar charger
Adapter for the US
LED Head Torch with red light option

Admin:
Passport
American Express, Visa debit card
Dollars in cash
Small wallet

Other bits and bobs:
1 x fast-drying towel
1 x refillable water bottle (Quapaw gave us each a second one, to ensure that we had enough water during the day)
Notebook and paper

Tada! And it only required a little bit of squeezing and sitting on the bag to get it all in…

Packing for a Mississippi canoe trip

Packing list for a 10-day road trip in the US: what to bring and what not to bring

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In the grand tradition of packing lists, I thought I’d finish my tales of travelling across California, Arizona and Nevada with more detail than you could ever have wanted as to what I brought along for the trip.

VW Beetle
So cute! But so small…

I’m especially proud of my packing on this trip, as I brought a ridiculous amount of clothes and shoes and yet somehow managed to fit it all into a teeny tiny suitcase and bag. Now this wasn’t just a case of self-induced masochism but rather a necessity: I had specifically pushed for renting a Volkswagen Beetle cabriolet and I had checked online and found that it had a teeny tiny luggage space in the back. My aunt and I therefore agreed to pack the absolute bare minimum and to bring a maximum of one small suitcase plus a small bag. Somehow I managed to achieve this feat – only to arrive at the airport in LA to find, of course, that my cheeky aunt had completely disregarded this agreement and brought her entire wardrobe. Luckily I am The Packing Master and I therefore managed to stow it all into the teeny tiny car boot in true Mary Poppins style. Yay me.

So here goes…

Bags:
1 x small suitcase (hand luggage size)
1 x bag (I found a good-sized one at Accessorize)
1 x large handbag (with room for everything including laptop and SLR camera)
1 x small handbag for evenings

Shoes:
1 x pair of ballerinas
1 x pair of sandals
1 x pair of Toms
1 x pair of wedges for evenings

Trousers:
2 x pairs of skinny jeans
1 x pair of comfy trousers

Tops:
3 x short-sleeved tops
4 x vest tops

Dresses and skirts:
2 x long dresses (1 x beachy, 1 x evening – one of these would have been enough but, hey, you can never have too many dresses)
1 x short dress
1 x “nice” evening dress
1 x denim skirt
1 x short skirt (bought at the airport at the start of the trip and I wore it almost every day!)

Underwear and swimwear:
14 x pairs of underwear (YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH UNDERWEAR!)
3 x bras (1 x white, 1 x black, 1 x nude strapless)
1 x pair of socks, for the plane only
1 x swimsuit, never used (but could have been useful in hotel pools or if we had gone kayaking as planned)

Jumpers and cardigans:
3 x cardigans (2 x short colourful ones, 1 x long black)

Outerwear:
1 x denim jacket

Sportswear:
1 x workout top
1 x sports bra
1 x pair of workout bottoms
1 x pair of trainers
(Actually used. Several times!)

For sleeping:
1 x pyjama top and bottoms
1 x eye mask and ear plugs

Accessories:
1 x pair of sunglasses
1 x scarf (useful mainly for the plane rides as well as crazy air conditioned restaurants)
1 x hat (bought in Santa Monica – very useful for avoiding sunstroke with the top down in the convertible! And would have been useful in the Grand Canyon)
1 x pack of gold tattoos, an absolute necessity
2 x flower hairbands, also an absolute necessity
1 x simple bracelet
5 x pairs of earrings

Toiletries:
Small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, face cream, body lotion
Tangle Teezer brush (this is the only brush I use these days! So useful for long hair like mine)
Cleansing wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor
Nail travel kit including scissors, nail file and tweezers
Nail polish
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip salve with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream, for face and body
Hand cream
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, tinted moisturiser, blusher, lip gloss
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Mosquito repellant and treatment
Tampons
Tissues
Hairbrush, hair grips and elastics
Wash bag*
*I like Cath Kidston’s Cosmetic Roll Cases – they come in a larger size (it’s huge!) and a smaller one, which I use for this type of trip. The detachable pockets and the hook for hanging it make it super practical.

Medication:
Migraine sprays
Anti-histamine tablets
Melatonin tablets –  whether it’s a placebo effect or real, I find these help me avoid jet lag completely these days

Electronics:
Macbook Air (11 inch) plus charger (I’ve sold my iPad on eBay now so only travel with my laptop these days)
iPhone 6 plus, plus charger
Earphones
Adapter
Nikon D5100 with 18-200mm Lens plus charger
GoPro HERO3+ plus charger and monopod
USB sticks, memory card, memory card reader

Admin:
Passport
American Express, Visa debit card
Small wallet

Other bits and bobs:
Notepad and paper
Two books (yes, physical paperback books!)

Packing for US road trip

For more “look how much Anna can fit into a small bag!” magic, take a look at my South America and Asia packing lists.

 

Packing list for a week of skiing: what to bring and what not to bring

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Continuing in the grand tradition of packing lists for different trips, here goes for a week of skiing! In this case, a week in Verbier, in the Swiss alps. I’ve only been on a ski trip once before as an adult and I have no idea what I brought last time, so I was a little unsure this time round.

By and large I had everything I needed, although I misjudged some things, in particular bringing far too many warm jumpers and too few tops. The reason for this is that although it’s freezing outside it gets incredibly hot in the bars and clubs! I had imagined going straight to après ski from the slopes but my friend and I ended up first going home to shower and change. This means more nice tops are required for evenings out and double clean underwear for day and night! I ended up wearing the same thing every day…

*Update February 2016: I learned from my lesson last year and brought a LOT of little vest tops this time round, and a lot of underwear. Plus we were able to do laundry as we were in an airbnb this time. Perfect!*

In terms of kit, of course there’s a huge amount of extra stuff you need for the skiing itself. You can rent at the resort, and even buy clothes there, although it’s likely to be more expensive than if you’ve sorted out your outfit and accessories before you go…

Bags:
1 x black ski bag (I originally thought mine was too big but it was great as I could stuff it with not only my skis but all my ski clothes!)
1 x suitcase/bag with wheels for clothes
1 x small rucksack for water, tissues, sun block etc. on the slopes
1 x small handbag for the evening (I forgot this, so I put money and lip gloss in my jeans pockets but it meant that I couldn’t bring my phone – I don’t know how men manage without a handbag!)

Ski gear:
1 x set of skis, poles and ski boots (it might be cheaper to rent than bringing them on the plane, as most airlines charge extra)
1 x pair of boots for walking to and from the ski lockers/slopes
2-3 x pairs of ski socks
1 x pair of thermal underwear bottoms
2-3 x thermal underwear tops (long-sleeved plus short-sleeved in case it’s a bit warmer)
1 x ski jacket plus 1-2 fleeces/down jackets to wear underneath (I bought a great set from North Face with a turquoise Gore-Tex shell jacket with a removable hood (big enough to cover the helmet) and a blue “Doudoune” Jacket, incredibly thin but incredibly warm)
1 x pair of ski trousers
1 x pair of ski gloves (my mittens with inner finger gloves worked really well – ideally the inner gloves would be tactile i.e. work with your touch screen so that you can take photos with your iPhone without your fingers falling off!)
1 x neck warmer (good extra protection for your neck under your jacket)
1 x headband (again, good extra protection for your ears under your helmet)
1 x helmet
1 x pair of goggles plus cloth for cleaning (apparently I ruined my old ones by cleaning them with my sleeve!)
14 x instant hand warmers to put inside your gloves (These are little sachets that you shake until they heat up. I bought some really cheap ones that didn’t heat up at all! But assuming they work they are great for when even your mittens can’t keep your fingers from getting cold…)
+ snacks (bars, nuts to keep you going on the slopes)

Evening/non-skiing days:
1 x jacket
1 x scarf
1 x pair of gloves
1 x hat/ear muffs
1 x pair of boots for the evenings (I wore my Uggs, and most people were in big chunky boots or trainers. I saw one woman in tight leather trousers and stiletto heels but I don’t recommend it!)
Lots of tops (as I said, it gets hot in the bars and clubs, so layering is the way to go)
Lots of cardigans/jumpers (LAYERING!)
2 x pairs of jeans (at least! Mine got really dirty from mud and beer in the après-ski bar)
1 x pair of sunglasses (in case you skip skiing one day, or else for sunning yourself on the lunch terrace!)

Underwear and swimwear:
14 x pairs of knickers (you need double what you’d usually bring, for daytime and nighttime i.e. for skiing and going out)
2-3 x bras
1 x sports bra for skiing? (I just wear a normal bra)
1 x bikini for spa/hammam

For sleeping:
1 x pyjama vest top and trousers
1 x eye mask and earplugs (crucial when you’re sharing a room with someone!)

Toiletries (the usual):
Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, face cream, body lotion
Face wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor
Nail travel kit including scissors/clippers (important for keeping your toe nails short when skiing!), nail file and tweezers
Nail polish
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip salve with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream for face (high factor for your nose! Mine tends to go red…)
Hand cream
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, powder, blusher, lip gloss
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Wet wipes
Tampons
Small packs of tissues
Hairbrush, hair grips and elastics (I eventually found the ideal hair do to keep my hair back and still look nice when I took my helmet off, a kind of Heidi look with a bun at the back)
Wash bag*
*I like Cath Kidston’s Cosmetic Roll Cases – they come in a larger size (which I use for this sort of trip when I can bring full-sized bottles) and a smaller one (for backpacking/hand luggage). The detachable pockets and the hook for hanging it make it super practical.

Medication:
Migraine sprays (not used, hurrah!)
Consider Ibuprofen or gel for your sore muscles!

Electronics (because I’m “always-on”):
Macbook Air (11 inch) plus charger
iPhone 6 plus + charger
Earphones
Adapters for Switzerland/whatever country you’re going to
Nikon D5100 with 18-200mm Lens plus charger
GoPro HERO3+ plus charger and harness for chest or helmet
USB sticks, memory card, memory card reader

Admin:
Passport
Visa master card and debit card
Small wallet
Local currency
Ski pass

So what do you think? Anything missing that you couldn’t live without? Anything I’ve included that you think is completely unnecessary? Let me know how you get on with packing for your next ski trip!

Why not also check out my other packing lists: for South America, for Asia, and for travelling as a digital nomad!

Anna above the clouds

Packing list for Australia, New Zealand and Asia: what to bring and what not to bring

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Since returning from my three-month backpacking trip to South America, the post that gave my take on what to bring and what not to bring has consistently been one of the most visited on my blog. I hope my new packing list for Asia, once again with the benefit of hindsight, is equally helpful…

This time around it was a shorter trip, 31 days, I wasn’t travelling into winter weather, and I wasn’t going hiking, which all helped! On the other hand, it was still another tricky one as I was combining completely different countries, climates and trip types. I was starting off on the north island of New Zealand, which would see the coldest temperatures of around 13-14 degrees and where I would be driving around with my friend in a flashy BMW Z4. Then on to Sydney and Melbourne, where I’d be living the city life in museums, shopping malls and bars. The second half of my trip would take place over in Asia, bussing up and down the west coast of Malaysia before ending up in Singapore where the temperatures would be 30-35 degrees.

I had planned to be “roughing it” for the second half of the trip but in fact I continued my trip in comfort, staying in nice hotels and even flying domestic sometimes instead of taking the bus. I was also treating this trip differently, in that I would be working remotely while travelling. This meant bringing my computer as the iPad just wouldn’t cut it for working on documents, editing my business website, and so on.

Backpack vs suitcase: Last time, after lugging my big backpack around for three months, I actually decided that a suitcase with wheels would be a more civilised choice going forward. I once again succumbed to convention this time, though, and packed a backpack – a smaller backpack, but a backpack nonetheless. It felt like the right choice for Asia and, let’s face it, having a backpack is sort of integral to the concept of backpacking. It worked fine but again a suitcase would have been absolutely fine too. I wasn’t travelling on chicken buses and there was always a lift up to my room since I was staying in hotels rather than hostels. Next time: SUITCASE!

Sleeping bag: I didn’t bring a sleeping bag; I did bring a sleeping bag liner but didn’t use it, again, as I was staying in nicer hotels with clean sheets!

Jeans: It’s true that you don’t need jeans in Asia. It’s HOT. You need light trousers, shorts and skirts. But I brought a pair anyway for the plane journey there and back again and to wear in New Zealand as well as on the cooler evenings in Australia.

SLR vs point-and-shoot: I’m getting more into my photography and so I made the decision to bring my Nikon D5100 on this trip. I brought only one lens, a zoom lens (18-200mm) to cover most situations. I didn’t bring any other kit, I had no tripod, and I didn’t have the proper bag to put it in, carrying the camera loose in my shoulder bag for easy access. (I felt less uncomfortable with my big camera in Asia than I would have in South America, but I’m still surprised by all the tourists who openly flash their big brand cameras and iPads around all over the place.) I also brought my GoPro for the first time, shooting short video clips throughout the trip. And I had my iPhone to take some candid pics for Instagram 🙂

Computer vs iPad: I took a big gamble and brought my Macbook Air. I was very careful with it, in Asia especially: I didn’t get it out on buses or in public places, I didn’t bring it to cafés or bars. I had backed everything up ahead of time, and turned on the FileVault encryption for added security. This was a bit of a test for me as I start to live more of the “digital nomad” life…

Bags:
1 x 50l backpack (Lowe Alpine Cholatse II ND Backpack – Black/Lavender, Size 50-60)
1 x old Longchamp bag* (Le pliage)
1 x small handbag (I also bought a shoulder bag during the trip that I could wear across the body in Asia)
6 x packing cubes to compartmentalise my clothes (eBags Slim Packing Cubes)
1 x mesh bag for dirty laundry
*No small backpack this time, as I wasn’t hiking

Shoes:
1 x flip-flops (Havaianas)
1 x old sandals (thrown away and replaced during the trip)
1 x old ballerinas (thrown away at the end of the trip)
1 x sandals with heels for the evenings (barely worn but good to have them)
No trainers or hiking boots!

Trousers and shorts:
1 x jeans
2 x loose trousers
1 x lacy shorts

Tops:
4 x short-sleeved tops
2 x vest tops
1 x tunic top for temples (to cover my shoulders)

Dresses and skirts:
2 x casual short dresses*
1 x maxi dress
1 x knee-length denim skirt
*Barely worn. Even though other tourists (especially the Chinese) were wearing skimpy little skirts and hot pants, I was more comfortable wearing my long trousers while travelling in Malaysia, which is officially a Muslim country.

Underwear and swimwear:
14 x pairs of knickers*
3 x bras – 1 strapless nude, 1 white, 1 colour
1 x socks for cooler evenings (barely worn)
1 x bikini, with bag to put it in when wet
*Last time I only brought enough underwear for a week so this time I went all out!

Jumpers and cardigans:
2 x cardigans

Outerwear:
1 x light windbreaker (from Uniqlo)
1 x warm pashmina
1 x light scarf
1 x sunglasses*
1 x mini umbrella (especially useful in Malaysia and Singapore)
*Instead of my cheap sunglasses that I brought to South America, I brought my old Chanels this time darling…

Additional clothes bought on the trip:
1 x midi-skirt
1 x maxi dress
3 x tops
Ahem. I had a bit of a shopping spree in Sydney and then again in Melbourne…

For sleeping:
1 x sleeping bag liner*
1 x pyjama vest top and shorts
1 x eye mask and earplugs (no inflatable pillow this time)
*Never used, as I stayed in nice hotels with clean sheets!

Toiletries:
Small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, face cream, body lotion
Cleansing wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor
Nail travel kit including scissors, nail file and tweezers
Nail polish
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip salve with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream, for face and body
Hand cream
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, powder, blusher, lip gloss
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Wet wipes
Tampons
Tissues
Hairbrush, hair grips and elastics
Wash bag*
*I like Cath Kidston’s Cosmetic Roll Cases – they come in a larger size (it’s huge!) and a smaller one, which I use for this type of trip. The detachable pockets and the hook for hanging it make it super practical.

Medication:
Insect repellent, after-bite cream
Malaria tablets, antibiotics, Imodium, rehydration tablets*
Small first aid kit, sterile needle kit*
Migraine sprays
*I never used any of the medical kit, which is a good thing!

Electronics:
Macbook Air (11 inch) plus charger
iPhone 5S plus charger
Earphones
Kindle plus charger
Adapters for Australia and New Zealand (Malaysia and Singapore are the same as the UK)
Nikon D5100 with 18-200mm Lens plus charger
GoPro HERO3+ plus charger
USB sticks, memory card, memory card reader

Admin:
Passport, photocopies of passport
American Express, Visa debit card
Vaccination booklet
Printed flight bookings
Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei*
Small wallet
*I had this on my Kindle but I would really recommend the paperback version. It’s so much easier and more enjoyable to flip through the book in your hands, to find pages that you’ve marked, and to refer back to a map or reference that you need.

Security:
Padlocks*, including one with a cable
Money belt to wear under my clothes
*Never used on this trip, unlike in South America where I constantly padlocked my backpacks while travelling as well as locking my things up in the hostel lockers.

Other bits and bobs:
Travel towel*
Headlamp*
Notebook and pens
Toilet paper**
*Never used as I was staying in hotels and private rooms instead of hostels and dorm rooms
**I picked this up along the way and it did prove useful at some bus stops and bus terminals in Malaysia.
I didn’t bring travel detergent or a washing line this time – in New Zealand and Australia I was mostly staying in apartments where I had my own washing machine, and in Malaysia you could send off your laundry really cheaply. I had a bit of a shock when I wanted to wash something in Singapore, though, as prices there are on a par with Europe. 

As you can see, this was more flashpacking than a traditional budget backpacking trip. I had my computer and my big camera, I had a Longchamp bag, and nice sunglasses. And, though not planned, I ended up staying in nice hotels throughout the trip. If you’re going to do luxury, though, you might as well do it in Asia, where you get a huge room with 5-star service for the price of a closet in the big European cities like Paris and London.

So what do you think? Anything missing that you couldn’t live without? Anything I’ve included that you think is completely unnecessary? Let me know how you get on with packing for your next trip!

Why not also check out my other packing lists, for South America and for travelling as a digital nomad!

Packing for Asia

Packing list for three months in South America: what to bring and what not to bring

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The time has come to share my two cents on how to pack for a trip to South America. I was 99% happy with my packing: I used almost everything, and didn’t miss anything important. Of course it was annoying to carry around lots of medication and first aid kits that I (thankfully) didn’t use; and I wish I could have worn my pretty clothes more often instead of spending day in and day out in my basic backpacker gear; but overall I didn’t have any regrets.

I used a couple of great sites for inspiration as I planned the trip, the most useful being Travel Independent and Worldly Nomads. Of course, although the basics will stay the same for everyone, the rest will depend on which countries you’re going to and at what time of year, and if you’re a solo traveller or travelling with someone so that you can share some things like toiletries… I was alone so I needed to bring absolutely everything in my own luggage, while I was expecting hot weather in the beginning and then heading into South American winter so I needed quite a range of clothes.

But first, my take on some of the most controversial discussions raging on the topic of packing for this kind of trip:

Size of the backpack: Every cool travel blogger recommends travelling with a small bag of a maximum of 40 litres, while making sure that you have space left over for things that you’ll buy along the way. This sounds great, and I did buy a small backpack – a beautiful teal one – and tried to fit everything in… but it was close to exploding, even with the use of vacuum packs to save space. In the end, I returned the small one and took my big old backpack, with lots of spare room as I left, and a weight of 13kg as I boarded the plane.

Backpack vs. suitcase: Beyond the size of the backpack, the next question is whether you should have a backpack at all. It’s called backpacking for a reason, you may say, and indeed you lose a bit of street cred if you arrive at a hostel with a trolley bag. BUT I’m leaning towards taking a suitcase on my next trip – I simply can’t see the benefit of having a backpack, except maybe as you climb the stairs to the upper floors of a hostel. Otherwise, a suitcase on wheels will be much more practical as you walk to the bus or to your accommodation, and will avoid the sore shoulders that I was left with after three months of lugging my big bag around. I’m 30 and I can do what I want.

Sleeping bag: I didn’t bring one – you don’t need it when you’re staying in hostels or hotels, and for things like the Inca Trail and the Salar de Uyuni tour you can rent a good one cheaply.

Jeans: A lot of sites tell you not to bring jeans. Qué?! I don’t understand this one at all. Well, if you’re only going to countries that are hot both during the day and at night then maybe this makes sense, but for the rest of us, jeans are indispensable in the cool evenings and, during winter, in the daytime as well. In fact, I wish I’d brought two pairs, as I ended up wearing the same ones every day for the last few weeks.

SLR vs point-and-shoot: I was very tempted to bring my SLR – I’m by no means a professional photographer, but even set to automatic the SLR gives me much better photos, in particular close-ups. But the fact remains that it is huge, and it is a complete magnet for thieves (I would have felt very self-conscious every time I brought it out; and carrying it around in a big Nikon case would not have been a good idea either…). My Nikon Coolpix has a 14x optical zoom which is great for wide shots, and the close-ups and portraits aint too bad either. If you’re an average Joe traveller, a point-and-shoot will be just fine; and if you want professional shots of the blue-footed booby on the Galapagos you can find them via Mr Google…

So without further ado, here is my list in all its glory:

The contents of my backpack

Bags:
1 x big backpack (I don’t know how big it is, I can’t find it anywhere on the bag! Maybe 60l?)
1 x small backpack
1 x small handbag
6 x mesh bags to compartmentalise my clothes, including 1 for laundry

Shoes:
1 x flip-flops (for beach and hostel showers)
1 x hiking shoes
1 x comfortable sandals
1 x old ballerinas
1 x nice sandals for the evenings*
(5 pairs?! I know! But most of them were slim and took up little space)

*Considering the winter season in which I was travelling, I would have been better off with a nice pair of trainers, as I spent most of the cold days and nights in my hiking shoes.

Trousers and shorts:
1 x pair of jeans
1 x cargo pants
1 x tracksuit bottoms
1 x denim shorts
1 x short white leggings
1 x long grey leggings*

Tops:
6 x vest tops
1 x short-sleeved t-shirt
1 x long-sleeved t-shirt*
1 x nice top for evenings

*I only wore my leggings and long-sleeved top once, for sleeping on the coldest night while camping on the Inca Trail.

Dresses and skirts:
1 x casual short dress
1 x nice short dress for evenings
1 x maxi dress
1 x casual short skirt

Underwear and swimwear:
8 x pairs of knickers*
3 x bras – 1 strapless, 1 normal, 1 nice
3 x pairs of socks, including 1 for hiking
1 x bikini, with bag to put it in when wet

*I wish I had brought more underwear! It takes up no space at all so really there is no reason not to stuff your bag full. Each time I had to do my laundry it was because of my underwear, not because of dirty tops or trousers.

Jumpers and cardigans:
2 x cardigans
1 x merino wool jumper

Outerwear:
1 x light down jacket (I bought a great lightweight one that stuffed into nothing, the Ultra Light Down Jacket from Uniqlo)
1 x light windbreaker (also tiny, the Light Pocketable Parka from Uniqlo)
1 x warm pashmina
1 x light scarf
1 x cheap sunglasses

Additional clothes bought on the trip:
1 x alpaca jumper (I only wore this when my merino one was in the wash)
1 x pair of gloves
1 x woolly hat
1 x pair of warm socks
1 x rain poncho
1 x sun hat
1 x panama hat

For sleeping:
1 x sleeping bag liner
1 x pyjama vest top and shorts
1 x inflatable pillow, eye mask and earplugs

Toiletries:
Small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, face cream, body lotion
Cleansing wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor
Nail travel kit including scissors, nail file and tweezers
Nail polish
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip salve with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream, for face and body
Hand cream
Make-up for nights out – waterproof mascara, eyeliner, concealer, powder, blusher, lip gloss
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Wet-wipes
Tampons
Tissues
Hairbrush, hairgrips and elastics
Foldable wash bag with a hook to hang in the bathroom

Medication:
Insect repellent, after-bite cream
Malaria tablets, antibiotics, water purification tablets, Imodium, rehydration tablets
Motion sickness tablets and wristbands
EchinaceaFirst aid kit
Sterile needle kit
Migraine spray*

*I only brought two migraine sprays as I thought that I would be migraine-free on my holiday! I had several migraines, though, at the start of the trip, so I would recommend that you bring plenty of any special medication that you need and that you won’t be able to get easily hold of while travelling.

Electronics:
iPhone, iPad (some websites are still built in flash and don’t work on iOS, boo, hiss!)
Earphones
Kindle
Chargers and adapters*
Nikon Coolpix camera

*I brought a ridiculous amount of chargers and adapters, didn’t use most of them, and still had to buy specific ones in Chile and in Argentina.

Admin:
Passport and ID
Photocopies of passport
VISA credit and debit card
Vaccination certificate
Printed flight bookings
Small wallet
Cheap wristwatch

Security:
Padlocks, for the big backpack and hostel lockers, including one with a cable
Money belt to wear under my clothes

Other bits and bobs:
Travel towel
Head lamp
Swiss army knife*
Lonely Planet’s South America on a Shoestring
Lonely Planet’s Latin American Spanish phrasebook
Spanish language book
Notebook and pens
Travel detergent and washing line**
Toilet paper***
Pack of cards

*As is the case for most people, I think, I never used the Swiss army knife.

**I didn’t use the washing line at all, as I always handed my laundry into the ‘lavandería’ in the hostel or in a nearby launderette, and on the rare occasion that I washed my underwear in the sink, I just hung it up to dry in the bathroom.

***I bought special compact travel paper but it was so stuck together it was hard to open. Normal rolls are fine!

So what do you think? Anything missing that you couldn’t live without? Anything I’ve included that you think is completely unnecessary? It seems like a ridiculously long list and, hey, if you can travel with less, good for you! But I like to have a choice of what to wear each day, I like to be comfortable, and I like to be dressed right for the weather; and I was very happy with my packing for this trip!

Why not also check out my other packing lists, for Asia, for skiing, and for travelling as a digital nomad?

 

Here’s where this packing took me in South America…

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