I've followed a blogger named
Tynan for a number of years now, and despite him being a lot younger than me, he's living a very interesting life - pieces of which I aspire to.
One of the things Tynan does every year is a
gear list - the things he travels with that he's refined over the years. I've done much the same.
After a few decades of travel, I've got the whole thing down to a very small set of "necessities". With a few minor changes, I can turn this "casual travel" set into a "business travel" set. If there's a dress code anywhere - I wear the fancier clothes while I travel.
Computer - HP Envy 14 Beats Edition
Because I do some work while I travel, I need the horsepower of a real laptop. I've tried this with a Tablet, a Smartphone and a Netbook, but I've decided to sacrifice the weight and bring the workhorse. For me today it's a HP Envy 14 Beats Edition. It weighs too much, and I want to replace it with something much lighter, but haven't done that yet. One advantage of this big laptop is a "travel charger", which is a small brick of a power adapter with a built-in USB charger. I've got a couple of AC plugs for this charger - one for N.America and one for Australia. All I carry in addition to the laptop is a micro-USB cable to charge the Smartphone (so I don't need a Universal Adapter).
As I wonder around Australia, I get asked more questions about my phone than I do about my accent. It's the perfect high performance, unlocked, Android Smartphone - and it happens to be very rare in Oz. It's replaced my camera, flashlight, calendar, social media manager, Kindle reader, iPod - everything. If I didn't have work to get done while travelling, this would be the only device I'd carry. It's about half the price of an iPhone. I'm an anti-Appleite.
This is an inexpensive, well made, medium-weight, pullover fleece from MEC. This, in combination with a good rain shell, is all you need. With layering, you're ready for any weather you might find. If I know it won't be cold, this stays at home.
Rain Shell - GoLite
This is a lightweight, compressible (especially with Ziploc bags) rain shell that I keep in my suitcase. Very waterproof, with a hood that rolls into the collar.
I've got both the Revision 1.0 and 2.0 of these - and I tend to take the Travel Boxer 1.0's with me because they fit better. Three pair can take me anywhere - and I could probably get by with two.
When I need to wear shoes, I take a pair of these along. I've had them for years, and they look exactly like the day I bought them - they wear like iron. Not even that expensive when you consider you might have them forever.
These are just lightweight, not gorky looking, travel pants. They have a zip pocket on the leg that I find useful for the Smartphone. They wash up in the sink and dry overnight. I imagine there are dozens of manufacturers out there that make the same thing.
I used to wear these every day for work. Now I wear them when I travel. They have a hidden, inside, secure pocket to keep your cash (impossible for a pickpocket), and the rear pockets are velcro closed. They wash in the sink, and are dry overnight. I wore out the previous pair after about five years.
I got tuned into wool shirts from Tynan. I've been wearing them for a couple of years now, and I'm hooked - they're pretty much all I have now. The problem is I never know when to launder them - you can't tell. They look fresh all the time, and they never smell. Warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Expensive, but worth it.
This is now my "dress shirt". It's goes well with the Royal Robbins and the Tilley pants, as well as anything else I happen to be wearing. Toss a light wool sweater over top, and it's very dressy. Again, washes in the sink, dries overnight, and is wrinkle free right out of the suitcase.
Shorts - North Face Zip Offs
These were once a pair of those "I'm a tourist" zip-off pants. I threw the legs out, and now just wear the shorts. I like them because they have a zippered pocket for money, and a separate, deep pocket for my Smartphone. I'm slowly moving over to wearing only pants, though, so don't know how much longer I'll be taking these.
If you don't need a shoe during your travels (ie: snow, business), then these are all you really need to wear. They're new to me (as my Tevo's finally kicked the bucket), but so far, so good. From all reports, they should last me for years. Guys like
Gary Arndt travel the world in sandals.
Way back when, after the complete collapse of the tech market in 2000, I bought myself an Omega watch after my first reasonable commission cheque in several years. I now consider it my little bit of extravagance. It's easy to change time zones, and it's really accurate. Other than that, it's just a watch. No alarms, no multiple time zones, no chronograph. Nothing special, but it looks good.
Since the bag I actually use was bought in 1999, the link above is the closest I could find in a current product. The photo on the left is my actual bag. It forces me to pack light - especially if a laptop is part of the luggage. I've tried them all - backpacks, rolled luggage, oyster cases - but I keep coming back to this one. It's very well made, and has been all over the world with me. It's the only bag I carry, and
I try never to check luggage.
Ziploc Bags
The best packing tip I ever learned was this. Take all your clothing, place it in large Ziploc bags, and sit on the bags to get all the air out. You compress your stuff by more than 50%. You can take more, and all your clothing is separate and easy to organize.
Shaving/Toiletry Kit
There's a few things in my shaving kit worth mentioning.
The first is earplugs. I tried different ones several times, but they always fell out during the night or were really uncomfortable - usually both. I now use the
Howard Leight LL1 Laser Lite Earplugs, and I cannot sleep without them. The secret to their use is to get the inside of your ear slightly wet before inserting them - then they slide in and stay in. One case should last you two to three years.
The second is an eyemask - I use the ones given to me free from airlines, but you could buy a cheap one as well. The combination of the two of them make sleep possible anytime, anywhere.
I use shaving oil instead of shaving cream, and a little bit goes a very long way. You could also just use soap and water - a bit caveman, but it works. I use a disposable razor, which lasts for a very long time (months) if you clean and dry it after every use. I'm pretty convinced shaving creme is a conspiracy.
I take a regular toothbrush and a travel-sized toothpaste in my kit. If I'm on the road for more than a few days, I'll buy a larger tube of toothpaste (or use on wherever I'm staying) - whatever's on sale.
Note that things like toothbrushes, razors, shaving creme - are normally available as a courtesy at the front desk of a hotel.
I get my hair cut short just before I leave on a trip, and don't have to take a brush or comb with me unless I'm away for more than 5-6 weeks. If I was, I'd either get it cut again enroute, or bring a comb.
That's It
There you have it - the majority of what I take. It all fits nicely in the carry on bag, and I don't have to wait for luggage - unless I'm travelling with Laura.
My friends that know me well will consider this post really eccentric. And I'm OK with that.
When she approached the Australians about a local drivers license, their response was "we don't know what this "N" is supposed to mean, but just in case we will give you a "P" or provisional license for six months. If you've had no incidents in those six months, we will remove the "P" and issue you a full, unrestricted Australian license."
