Hello! Tim here. I've finally been allowed to contribute to this blog and I thought it was high time someone tackled the thorny issue of packing.
One thing that I was wondering about when we started planning this trip was how on earth you can pack for a trip lasting for three months, or any trip for more than a fortnight. My normal formula is to take one pair of pants per days holiday plus one for the pot; so for Project Maracas this would come to a total of 78 pairs of pants. This seemed a little excessive so I started looking at a few blogs with round the world packing lists to see how other people manage it. Now most of these sites are written by super spartan travellers who claim to rotate a tiny roster of clothes and fly everywhere with carry on luggage only. Some of them take just two (TWO!) pairs of pants and work a one on, one in the wash strategy, presumably until either they fall apart or they work out a strategy for washing them whilst in situ using bottled water, hand soap and a regimen of front foot lunges. Anyway, I didn't quite manage the carry on only strategy but I think I did alright.
My packing list for three months in South American looks like this:
One thing that I was wondering about when we started planning this trip was how on earth you can pack for a trip lasting for three months, or any trip for more than a fortnight. My normal formula is to take one pair of pants per days holiday plus one for the pot; so for Project Maracas this would come to a total of 78 pairs of pants. This seemed a little excessive so I started looking at a few blogs with round the world packing lists to see how other people manage it. Now most of these sites are written by super spartan travellers who claim to rotate a tiny roster of clothes and fly everywhere with carry on luggage only. Some of them take just two (TWO!) pairs of pants and work a one on, one in the wash strategy, presumably until either they fall apart or they work out a strategy for washing them whilst in situ using bottled water, hand soap and a regimen of front foot lunges. Anyway, I didn't quite manage the carry on only strategy but I think I did alright.
My packing list for three months in South American looks like this:
Base layers, hats and stuff
Thermals (for camping, altitude and down South where the glaciers are)
Wide brim sun hat
Waterproof warm hat
Six pairs of pants only!
Socks, short and long - all walking jobs
Two buffs
Cycling shorts
Walking gear
Waterproof coat (Rab Bergen)
Windproof fleece
Waterproof(ish) walking trousers
Trendy North face walking trousers which are acceptable in the pub provided it is fairly dark and is one of those places where they let dogs in
Shorts
Mini fleece (it's all about the layers)
Three hideous looking wicking t-shirts in clinging nylon
One OK looking wicking t-shirt
Two wicking short sleeved shirts which are surprisingly normal to look at
Normal clothes
Trunks
Polo shirt
Lightweight chinos
Reassuring grey jumper
(the spotted item underneath is a duvet cover/sleeping bag liner)
Boots
Scarpa walking trainers
Mammut hiking boots
...and that's the lot. It comes to 12.4kgs when packed including my half of the medical, toiletries, and so on.
Coming next...electronics, books, cameras and chargers!
I almost daren't ask, but, "...one for the pot..."?! Wishing you both all the luck of the Irish as you represent Notts & Worcs in an intrepid fashion in the Southern Hemisphere.
ReplyDeleteOops - just noticed that you're going this Saturday, and not next week as I had been thinking. As there will now be no time to send a card, can I just reiterate the best wishes expressed above, from both myself and Shauna. It will be an absolutely tremendous adventure and we very much look forward to reading all about it as you go along and hearing about it up in your return. Love, Paul & Shauna xx
ReplyDeleteloving the packing now...lets see Kates packing!!
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