Tylenol and paracetamol are one and the same drug , sometimes also known as acetaminophen. Tylenol is the US brand name, paracetamol is available just about everywhere and is the most widely used painkiller in the world. Ibuprofen, is an anti inflammatory and I have never had a problem sourcing it anywhere. I doubt many places outside of the US will have heard of Tylenol, most will know of Paracetamol.

The blister plasters ( band aids) sound good, although, touch wood, I never seem to have a problem with blisters, yet...

Craghoppers, huh?? Learn something everyday....

Ace bandage - google KT Tape, precut strips that stretch way out to there, but are flat and compact and adhesive. Available in States at chain drugstores, not inexpensive, but handy and compact. Skin-toned as well as neon colors, about 6-8" x 1". It's a wonderful world.

Your list looks good crellston and at 10kg. is far better than most achieve, congratulations. Your comment, "were determined not to lug around the heavy backpacks we did when last we travelled." says it all. Regardless of how many times anyone tries to tell someone to travel light, the vast majority still seem to have to learn the hard way. I've yet to hear of anyone who went travelling for an extended period of time and then decided that next time they would take MORE stuff. ;-)

To learn to pack light, the best place to look IMO is at wilderness backpackers. There is a saying in that community which is, 'the ultimate backpacker is s/he who travels with the least weight and the most comfort.' Achieving that balance is the goal to aim for.

As part of that I am willing to bet anyone, that if they do not know the weight of every single item they are packing (including the pack itself) then they are carrying more weight than they have to.

The idea is to find the lowest weight possible for any item you consider you need to take. So an example would be a t-shirt as commented on above. You decide you need 3 to not compromise comfort, but have you found the 3 lightest weight t-shirts? Synthetic wicking t-shirts vs. cotton for example. They weight less, smell less, dry faster.

Wilderness backpackers generally know the weight of every item and will change them to save an ounce or even less. That is how you get down to the lowest possible weight. Weight should be the primary criteria in every decision of what to pack.

Here is my 3 season packing list crellston. You might want to compare some items.

Three season packing list.

What to pack is a common travel topic. Packing too much is one of the two commonest mistakes that travellers make, along with trying to see too much in too little time.

Over time, my wife and I have refined our packing list to reach a balance between comfort/safety and weight.

So here is my packing list:

*Pack:* Vaude Triset 25+4. I’ve had this pack for a few years now and the fit for me is excellent. I like the Aeroflex back and find that with a wicking t-shirt my back stays dry (sweat free) all day. Since I won’t be carrying a tent, stove, sleeping bag, etc. it’s more than big enough.

*Clothing:*
*3 wicking T-shirts* Columbia Omni-Wick. 2 short sleeve and one long sleeve. I may try one of Columbia’s new Omni-Freeze instead of the standard Omni-Wick I’m used to.
*2 long sleeve shirts* Royal Robbins Expedition Light. Light weight, wicking, UV protection, low wrinkle and smart enough looking for anywhere.
*3 pair pants* North Face Paramount Peak. These are convertible to shorts (zip-off legs) and easy to wash and dry overnight.
*1 rain jacket* North Face Venture. Packable into one of it’s own pockets.
*1 down vest* Ralph Lauren. A lightweight down vest that can pack into it’s own pocket. Don’t ask, it was a gift but I have to say at least it doesn’t have a big RL logo on it anywhere.
*3 pr. Underwear* Icebreaker 150 merino wool. Keep you cool, don’t smell, feel great and dry quite quickly.
*3 pr. Socks* Rohner original merino wool medium weight. I’ve worn this brand for many years. Arguably the best hiking sock made.
*1 pr. Hiking boots* New Balance H710 Very light, breathable and fit like my skin. These were the first light weight hiking boots made. In 1984, Lou Whittaker wore one of the first pair to the top of the North Col of Mt. Everest. They’ll take you anywhere you are likely to go.

Other items:
*1 first aid kit* My own assembly of items.
*1 toiletry kit* The usual but only smaller quantities ie. Toothpaste. A 4 oz. bottle of Couglan’s concentrated camp soap will wash anything you can wash in water. You, your clothes, your hair, dishes, etc. You use a very small amount so it will usually last around 3 months.
*Miscellaneous* A swiss army knife (never leave home without it), compass, map, baseball hat, 2 – 1 litre plastic water bottles, bandana, small LED flashlight, space blanket, sunglasses, matches, a couple of energy bars. The ‘ten essentials of backpacking’ are covered. Also passport,tickets, money, bank cards, etc. (no wallet, I use my pockets).



Here is my weight chart. Pounds rounded up to 2 decimal places.

Pack: 1200 grams/2.64 lbs.
T-shirts: (4.8oz. x 2, 6.2oz. x 1= 15.8 oz.) 448 grams/0.99 lbs.
Shirts: (5.0 oz. x 2 = 10.0 oz.) 284 grams/0.63 lbs.
Pants: (17.6 oz. x 3 = 52.8 oz.) 1500 grams/3.30 lbs.
Rain Jacket: 400 grams/0.88 lbs.
Down Vest: 284 grams/0.63 lbs.
Underwear: (3.0oz. x 3 = 9.0 oz.) 85 grams/0.56 lbs.
Socks: (2.82 oz. x 3 = 8.46 oz.) 80 grams/0.53 lbs.
Hiking boots: 454 grams/1.00 lbs.
First aid kit: 354 grams/0.78 lbs.
Toiletry kit: 340 grams/0.75 lbs.
Miscellaneous: (approximate) 454 grams/1.00 lbs.

Total all items: 6.21 kg./13.69 lbs.

Off course you have to add the weight of water carried, 1 or 2 litres at 1kg/2.2lbs. per litre as well as a ‘picnic lunch’ when hiking usually. Say another .5kg/1.1 lbs. But then you have to subtract what I am wearing and therefore not carrying in the pack. That can be as low as 1.15 kg./2.54 lbs. (shorts, t-shirt, socks, underwear, boots).

Total carried (dry weight): 5.06kg./11.16 lbs.

Maximum load carried (wet weight): 7 .56 kg./16.67 lbs.
I’d love to break that 7 kg. maximum but just can’t see how to get there without sacrificing comfort or safety. Of course I am well under it when in a town or on the plane.

My wife’s weights are slightly less primarily due to smaller clothes sizes and therefore slight weight reductions on each item. She carries a small make-up kit instead of a first aid kit and her miscellaneous items differ as well. On our next trip she will carry her Ipad 3 for taking photos, making calls (Skype) and internet access. It’s relatively heavy at 652 grams/1.44 lbs. but she feels it’s worth it. Overall her list is basically the same for clothing. Her total dry weight is just under 5 kg./11 lbs. Her wet weight is almost right on the 7 kg. mark.

I call this the 3 for 3 pack. Good for three seasons and any number of days from 3 to infinity. Whether on a city break or in the country; whether travelling for 7 days or 7 months, on streets or hiking trails, it makes no difference.

The only other item sometimes added is a pair of Teva sandals. They are only added if it will be really hot weather or we plan on visiting beaches. They weigh 680 grams/1.50 lbs. but generally when we need them we don’t need a rain jacket or down vest and so the overall weight remains the same. If travelling alone, some items that are shared would have to be carried by the individual and would increase overall weight by perhaps 7-8%.

The key to successful packing is to always take the lowest weight item you can find that will do the job. Look for multiple use items (like camp soap) that can replace several individual items. My wife adds, colour co-ordinate everything to look good. Pack smart, not heavy.

This may provide a specific list for those new to light weight travelling to compare their own lists to and see where they could save some weight and add to their comfort. Feel free to question or comment.

Improviiser. An impressive list although I fear I am not quite as obsessive as you in trying to reduce weigh, after two months of travelling I " could do better"

I could easily lose one, maybe two tee shirts as they do weigh a lot and are hard to dry. Wickable tee shirts just do not do not do it for me. I have a short sleeve shirt that I have yet to wear and one LS shirt would have been enough as it is easy enough to " wash and wear" most stuff except in humid areas like rainforest etc. I would also lose a couple of pairs of socks and go for quick drying ones next time.

I agree re merino stuff, I have thermals and socks and my wife swears by the Icebreaker stuff. I didn't know they did underwear and am now keen to give them a try ( as long as they are not boxers!). At the moment I have M & S sports pants and they do the job ok. Again, I could do without a couple of pairs.

I have an aversion to zip off pants, no matter how much weight they save and will stick with separate shorts!.

The iPad has been invaluable and I would not be without it. I invested in an VPN which makes it ultra secure for banking etc and also allows me to stream TV from UK only websites.

Interesting you took a Swiss Army knife. How did you carry it on to the plane? I always travelled with my clasp knife but left it behind as I assumed , based on previous experience, that it would not be allowed in the cabin?

No knives on planes. Still. Guess Imposter has been an armchair traveler or at least one restricted to his home country for quite a while now.

I travel with an iPod Touch for wifi, and two cameras (point and shoot and a micro 4/3).

I love those icebreaker type tops and they are my go to for a warm layer, a warm vest, and a breathable shell.

Personal preference does play a part in your choice of what to wear. It's interesting you say wickable t-shirts 'do not do it for you'. In what way? I would never go back to cotton t-shirts since I first discovered wicking t-shirts around 15 years ago. I have about 2 dozen of them, all from Columbia. I have tried some other brands but none have impressed me as much as the Columbia ones.

Zip-0ff pants I can understand some people not liking. The key there is to find ones that you like both for feel and look. Some look better than others, that's for sure.

I bought two pair of the relatively new Columbia Silver Ridge shorts model last year. I like them a lot and this year I will probably try the Silver Ridge convertible pants. The convertibles weight 12.6 oz. compared to my current 17.6 oz. convertibles. That difference is signifigant(just under a pound for 3 pair) and would allow for trying a different combination of long pants and shorts while not increasing weight but in fact probably decreasing weight overall. Columbia do not note the weight of clothes online so you have to actually find a pair to weigh or someone who has a pair and has weighted them. They also make a Silver Ridge non-convertible long pant which should weigh less than the 12.6 oz. a convertible pair weighs.

Guessing, 2 pair of Silver Ridge non-convertibles plus a separate pair of Silver Ridge shorts plus a pair of Silver Ridge convertibles could come in weighing less than my current 3 pair of convertibles.

Re shirts, the long sleeve RR I have allow you to roll up the sleeve and fasten it with a tab on the inside to a button on the outside. Thus converting them to short sleeve. My wilderness backpacking experience has conditioned me to always looking for items that perform multi-functions and thus save weight.

The Swiss Army knife always goes with me. I check my bag as you are right, you cannot take it carry-on. Some of the uses my Swiss army knife has been put to over the last 30 years or so, you would not believe. The most useful items on it are the awl(for making holes in the soles of boots/shoes to then wire the soles on when they started falling off down in the Grand Canyon for example), the scissors (for everything from sewing jobs to trimming your nails or cutting away dead skin from blisters) and the corkscrew (whose use needs no explanation). My corkscrew has opened some very fine bottles of wine indeed.

Given the choice of travelling carry-on or travelling with my SA knife, is a non-decision. When travelling I would say there is not a week in which I do not need to use my SA knife for something at least once.

Corkscrews without knives are permitted. I bring nail clips, a mini screwdriver eye glass kit, and a knife-edged spork, and a P38. All have made it through carry on.

I try to never do checked baggage. Sometimes it isn't possible (some local airlines have impossible limits, like 4 kilos). For me the ability to adapt quickly because my luggage was not checked has payed off, eg re-booked on nonstop flights or a better connection.

Are you sure that 4 kg limit is for checked baggage? I see 4-6kg often for carry-on but I have never seen that for checked.

I meant that I do checked only when the carryon limit is impossibly low.

While my SA knife means checking my bag even though my carry-on weight is 5kg. and can easily be lowered by simply wearing a couple of more items. (I've never seen an airline with a carry-on limit below 5kg. except for very small ie. 10-20 passenger planes where no carry-on is allowed at all, all luggage is weighed and stored in the hold.)I don't see that as the real issue with carry-on.

Weight and size are not the real problem. All of the 'contents' part of the carry-on restrictions are making it increasingly difficult to travel with carry-on only. The liquid restrictions in particular can stop a lot of people. Restrictions such as this: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...quid_rules.pdf
One ziplock bag for all liquids and none more than 100ml.

The other issue is that they constantly change. I once had the 'guts' of a zippo lighter confiscated, they let me keep the outer case. On another occassion a keychain size SA knife was confiscated even though blades under 2" were supposedly allowed. It is simply getting too complicated to meet the requirements for a given airline, a given airport, on a given day. If you fly to one place on one airline you may be able to meet their requirements but if you are on an extended trip using various airlines etc. chances are you will run afoul of some rule. Overall, I think carry-on may well be going the way of the Dodo.

Star Peru has a 4kg weight limit on carry-on bags. That is just one example. And those are jets, BAE 146 that carry 77 to 112 passengers.

I have never had a problem with the ziplock bag restriction, which goes inside the personal item, which can be a large tote or a daypack, depending on the type of vacation. I am not the only person who has been able to figure out how to take a month long international trip with carry-on only. Packing for a month is not really much different than packing for a year.

I twice forgot that a Swiss Army knife was still in my carryon, discovered at overseas Security screening. One time I was able to mail it home (from the Auckland airport). The second time in Costa Rica there was no postal service at the airport. Amazingly, the agents allowed me to find someone on my flight willing to carry it in their own checked bags and return it to me in Los Angeles. Now the pen knives, and all other contraband items, stay home.

I would not be so foolish as to try to take a lighter or flammable items on a flight. Such items can be easily purchased on arrival.

I gather then that I am the type of poster that is able to respond with facts contrary to your observations (such as the one regarding the carry-on weight limits).

Accordingly dishing it out but not being able to take it.

Ostrich like behavior is appreciated.

"All of the 'contents' part of the carry-on restrictions are making it increasingly difficult to travel with carry-on only" I would say the opposite is the case. There is a lot of discussion about airlines/ governments reducing carryon restrictions in the near future. Added to this many budget airlines have already increased carry on weigh allowances and are charging for checked baggage as a way of reducing costs. Apart form the knife issue, I have never had a problem with the restrictions. Even the knife is not a big issue as I bought a cheap one on arrival in Quito and will donate it to someone before I leave.

Imp. My problem with the wickable tee shirts is that a) the do not feel good and, b) they look awful. Believe me, I am no slave to fashion but I really do not want to look like a manner in that has come to life and stepped out of a outdoor store window. If people want to dress head to toe in any sort of "uniform" then that is their choice but I do prefer just a little more individuality.

As for the question of L/S versus S/L shirts. If you you take a long sleeve shirt and roll up the sleeves ( even with the button facility yo describe , and I have on my own shirts) then what you have is still a long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Rolling up sleeves, IME makes things warmer not cooler especially around the under armpit areas where I, and others I suspect, need all the help I can get in warmer climes. Short sleeves shirts are undoubtedly the coolest upper body wear option.

As for zip off trousers/ pants, I do not find them comfortable and dislike then for much the same reasonsas I do wickable tee shirts.

Mlgb, It has also become clear to me exactly what sort of poster you are. Over the years i have found your comments,suggestion and observations to be invaluable and informative so do keep up the good work! Incidentally, I am writing this from Chachapoyas, a place su guested by your good self and am loving it here!

Happy to hear you have arrived intact and are enjoying it. Panaderia San Jose for real coffee?

Hi Crellston,

Really helpful list! Thanks so much. I'm just confirming that you recommend the Lowe Alpine Carry-on over the Roll-on. Also, do you have any recommendations for low-budget, high-quality accommodations (hostels or guest houses) in Cusco and/or Buenos Aires?

Thanks again.

Janine Gross
Seattle, WA

Hi Janine,

Yes I would recommend the Lowe alpine Carryon over the Roll-on - personally I think those rolling cases are a menace. I have sustained more bruises from those things in and around airports than due to careless passengers than I care to remember. If had my way they would be banned! Ok, the last bit is a tad extreme maybe!

You would be better off asking about accomodation in the South America forum as you will hopefully get a lot more info than here. Budget accomodation and high quality rarely go together in. Cusco which is very popular these days and quite expensive for Peru. We stayed in a place called Qoricancha which was quite cheap and in a reasonable location. Other than that we stayed in a room at the South American explorers Club in San Blas for a week or two but the room was cheap but could not be described as high quality though.

In BA we rented an apartment for a month so can't really comment on Accomodation there, again, ask on the SA forum.

That is one awesome tip, youre awesome! I always have a BIG baggage and a carry on even when im on a 2-3 weeks trip. I am planning to do backpacking soon so this will be helpful

Dear Crellston,

I'm actually trying to track you down. Fodor's indicates that you commented on my thread and I cannot find yours or sartoric's comments from 6/4 (today). Maybe I pushed a button or something? You know how this site works better than I do. I hope you get this and that you can find a way to ping me back. Thanks ever so much.

Warmly,

Julia

If you mean this thread http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-surrounds.cfm

Crellston only commented on May 24, not today . . .