Idea's for Backpacks and Luggage?
Aug 15th, 2013, 03:27 PM
#21
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That article on REI is all well and good, but Improviser wonders why the average traveller carries more weight than a backpacker who also carries food implements and such? Because the wilderness backpacker doesn't have to account for appearing civilized, that's why. The city-bound tourist doesn't want to look like the wilderness tourist, hence the difference.
Aug 15th, 2013, 03:45 PM
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Adrianne, you mentioned Purex Laundry Sheets in your post, and they sounded like such a great idea I went on line to find some. Imagine my disappointment when the Purex site said that the product "is no longer available"!
Does anyone know of a similar product?
Does anyone know of a similar product?
Aug 15th, 2013, 06:04 PM
#23
nukesafe, they're available on Amazon. I prefer the individual packets of Woolite.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ts%2Chpc%2C252
michelhuebeli, you missed the point. Improviser commented that many weight-saving ideas have come from backpacking (and I'll add space exploration). He linked the article not because he thinks anyone should travel like a wilderness backpacker but because the article suggests ways to think about reducing your packing weight while you consider what to take. There's no reason why someone who chooses to pack light/ultralight cannot appear "civilized." It's just a different way of traveling and packing.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ts%2Chpc%2C252
michelhuebeli, you missed the point. Improviser commented that many weight-saving ideas have come from backpacking (and I'll add space exploration). He linked the article not because he thinks anyone should travel like a wilderness backpacker but because the article suggests ways to think about reducing your packing weight while you consider what to take. There's no reason why someone who chooses to pack light/ultralight cannot appear "civilized." It's just a different way of traveling and packing.
Aug 15th, 2013, 07:45 PM
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<i>Idea's for Backpacks and Luggage?
Posted by: macktec on Aug 15, 13 at 12:36am
I have been trying to think of different options of how i can travel with my belongings and cant really think of anything that stands out. Im try to travel Europe for give or take 3 months and traveling all throughout. My concern is my luggage/belongings. </i>
You can get some ideas from http://tinyurl.com/782skuv. Dress in layers. Very simple for a solo male traveler. One week or three months with a carry-on -- it's all the same. Do laundry in your room twice a week.
Posted by: macktec on Aug 15, 13 at 12:36am
I have been trying to think of different options of how i can travel with my belongings and cant really think of anything that stands out. Im try to travel Europe for give or take 3 months and traveling all throughout. My concern is my luggage/belongings. </i>
You can get some ideas from http://tinyurl.com/782skuv. Dress in layers. Very simple for a solo male traveler. One week or three months with a carry-on -- it's all the same. Do laundry in your room twice a week.
Aug 15th, 2013, 10:54 PM
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Well OK!!! This exactly what i was looking for, a WIDE variety of idea (all of which i think are good). Improviser thank you kindly for your list and the article, i will use these both when packing. Only question is would you make any adjustment being that i'll be traveling Fall and Winter or pretty sufficient ?
Aug 16th, 2013, 07:07 AM
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"Because the wilderness backpacker doesn't have to account for appearing civilized, that's why. The city-bound tourist doesn't want to look like the wilderness tourist, hence the difference."
Amusing michel. I do both kinds of travelling. When backpacking in wilderness, I carry more weight than when doing what I call 'urban travel' as opposed to 'wilderness travel'.
I gave a list above which presumably you saw, it allows for doing both on a trip. I rarely go somewhere and only travel in cities etc. I almost invariably also do some hiking (but not camping) when travelling.
For 3 days in wilderness I need to carry about 20-25 lbs. with food, water, tent, etc. For 3 months of urban travel as well as hiking, I need to carry 11 lbs. if not hiking and 16.6 lbs. when hiking from one place to the next.
I like to think and have had no evidence to the contrary, that I look 'civilized' when walking a city street. I'm in the habit of staying in nice hotels quite often and eating in upmarket restaurants. So far none have refused me entry.
No michel, that dog won't hunt. You can look as civilized as you want and STILL pack light.
Macktec, looking at my list I would probably not need to add the Tevas (for warmer weather). That's about all I would see as not fitting your time frame. Bear in mind that depending on where you start out, September can still be a summer month. If you started out on some Greek islands for example, I would pack the Tevas as it will be summer still for all intents and purposes. It will be summer right into mid-October. But I'm guessing you will start in the north and work your way south so that won't apply.
I see no need to schlep a big winter coat for example if that is what you are thinking about. Bulk is an enemy, it's just not as big an enemy as weight. If you wear a long sleeve t-shirt under a long sleeve shirt, under a down vest, under a rainjacket, you should be good for pretty cool weather. If you wanted to add a pair of merino wool long underwear just in case, I could see that. If you do find yourself in real cold and needing a winter coat, then you simply stop in to a charity clothing shop and buy one. When you move on you donate it back to them.
Re washing, woolite individual packs work well as do the sheets. Personally, I use the camp soap as noted above which can wash everything. A couple of drops in a sink is all it takes. Bear in mind, generally speaking, when talking about washing clothes, we are not talking about washing ground in dirt out of clothes a kid was wrestling in the school yard in. your clothes are going to be what they refer to as 'lightly soiled'. The worst is likely to be skid marks in your underwear to be honest. Really, what you are doing more than anything is just washing out body oils, sweat and odour, not 'washing' in terms of real dirt. It's more of a 'rinsing' of clothes.
In terms of cutting weight, here is another article to read that gives some idea of just how much can be cut if you pick EACH item carefully. It again refers to wilderness backpacking but that is because I can't find any actually good articles on more 'normal' travel, on the subject.
http://www.backpacker.com/november_0...articles/12659
I think you can directly transfer the message from one kind of travel to the other nevertheless. If you can cut an average of 12.5 lbs. from a wilderness backpack (many of them on the back of people who would consider themselves experienced backpackers) who is going to have to be totally self-sufficient for a 2,175 mile walk, there is no reason to think you can't cut a similar amount from your typical 'experienced' tourist's suitcase.
But what you will see in the article is that it is all about finding the lowest possible weight for every item and smart combinations. A typical and simple example that most people are probably familiar with who were ever in the Boy Scouts or Girl Guides, is the knife, fork and spoon sets that nest together and are made of metal. Today, what is carried is called a 'spork'. Much lighter, with no loss of function, comfort or safety and guess what michelhuebeli, very fashionable as well. Designer colours and even come in left handed models. http://www.industrialrev.com/sporks/
The equivalent perhaps for the 'urban traveller' would be carrying a laptop vs. an iPad. The iPad replaces phone, camera and computer. Knife, fork and spoon. ;-)
Amusing michel. I do both kinds of travelling. When backpacking in wilderness, I carry more weight than when doing what I call 'urban travel' as opposed to 'wilderness travel'.
I gave a list above which presumably you saw, it allows for doing both on a trip. I rarely go somewhere and only travel in cities etc. I almost invariably also do some hiking (but not camping) when travelling.
For 3 days in wilderness I need to carry about 20-25 lbs. with food, water, tent, etc. For 3 months of urban travel as well as hiking, I need to carry 11 lbs. if not hiking and 16.6 lbs. when hiking from one place to the next.
I like to think and have had no evidence to the contrary, that I look 'civilized' when walking a city street. I'm in the habit of staying in nice hotels quite often and eating in upmarket restaurants. So far none have refused me entry.
No michel, that dog won't hunt. You can look as civilized as you want and STILL pack light.
Macktec, looking at my list I would probably not need to add the Tevas (for warmer weather). That's about all I would see as not fitting your time frame. Bear in mind that depending on where you start out, September can still be a summer month. If you started out on some Greek islands for example, I would pack the Tevas as it will be summer still for all intents and purposes. It will be summer right into mid-October. But I'm guessing you will start in the north and work your way south so that won't apply.
I see no need to schlep a big winter coat for example if that is what you are thinking about. Bulk is an enemy, it's just not as big an enemy as weight. If you wear a long sleeve t-shirt under a long sleeve shirt, under a down vest, under a rainjacket, you should be good for pretty cool weather. If you wanted to add a pair of merino wool long underwear just in case, I could see that. If you do find yourself in real cold and needing a winter coat, then you simply stop in to a charity clothing shop and buy one. When you move on you donate it back to them.
Re washing, woolite individual packs work well as do the sheets. Personally, I use the camp soap as noted above which can wash everything. A couple of drops in a sink is all it takes. Bear in mind, generally speaking, when talking about washing clothes, we are not talking about washing ground in dirt out of clothes a kid was wrestling in the school yard in. your clothes are going to be what they refer to as 'lightly soiled'. The worst is likely to be skid marks in your underwear to be honest. Really, what you are doing more than anything is just washing out body oils, sweat and odour, not 'washing' in terms of real dirt. It's more of a 'rinsing' of clothes.
In terms of cutting weight, here is another article to read that gives some idea of just how much can be cut if you pick EACH item carefully. It again refers to wilderness backpacking but that is because I can't find any actually good articles on more 'normal' travel, on the subject.
http://www.backpacker.com/november_0...articles/12659
I think you can directly transfer the message from one kind of travel to the other nevertheless. If you can cut an average of 12.5 lbs. from a wilderness backpack (many of them on the back of people who would consider themselves experienced backpackers) who is going to have to be totally self-sufficient for a 2,175 mile walk, there is no reason to think you can't cut a similar amount from your typical 'experienced' tourist's suitcase.
But what you will see in the article is that it is all about finding the lowest possible weight for every item and smart combinations. A typical and simple example that most people are probably familiar with who were ever in the Boy Scouts or Girl Guides, is the knife, fork and spoon sets that nest together and are made of metal. Today, what is carried is called a 'spork'. Much lighter, with no loss of function, comfort or safety and guess what michelhuebeli, very fashionable as well. Designer colours and even come in left handed models. http://www.industrialrev.com/sporks/
The equivalent perhaps for the 'urban traveller' would be carrying a laptop vs. an iPad. The iPad replaces phone, camera and computer. Knife, fork and spoon. ;-)
