Travelling Light

Recently a friend asked how we travel for 6 weeks with backpacks weighing just 10 kilos. I decided to use my response as a blog post. 

After backpacking throughout South America for 15 months with large conventional backpacks, Josh and Laura knew exactly what to look for in the choice of gear for their Asian expedition. They were determined to travel with less bulk and weight. Josh discovered the Mountain Equipment Co-op SUPERCONTINENT 45 L  met all his specs: ideal capacity; expandable if needed (we don't); padded shoulder and waist straps can be tucked away behind a zipped flap when travelling by plane, train etc; well constructed padded handles on the top and side for ease of handling; and unzipped the backpack opens completely down the centre line, thus avoiding digging to the bottom of a pile to try to find the thing you need! 

Our retirement gift from our friends the Cochran’s was two sets of Eagle Creek Pack-It System™. I sure could have used this marvellous system over the past decade of business travel! The set consists of 4 bags of different sizes and configuration to keep all your stuff orderly and easy to find. 

The picture illustrates my packing system. On the left is the Eagle Creek pack containing shirts, pants and ubiquitous FV vest. On the right lying beside the backpack is the bag containing socks, underwear and swimming trunks. (The see-thru mesh panel lets you see the contents). In the right side of the backpack, clockwise from top left, I use the Eagle Creek shoe bag for stuff like batteries, medication, extension cord (for multiple device charging) spare glasses and even my Logitech Boom Box mini speakers. In the top right is my wash kit. The blue bag contains a small quick-dry towel. Bottom right is a little hi-tech Katmandu daypack that stuffs into its own pocket and a silk sleeping bag liner in a fist-sized stuff sack. Next to that is a rain proof jacket that also stuffs into its own pocket. Finally the last of the blue Eagle Creek packs contains all my chargers and cables for the technical equipment required by a retired geek!

Packing System

The real secret to the overall light weight of the backpack is the limited wardrobe:

- 2 pair lightweight quick dry pants, one with zip-off legs

- 2 lightweight quick dry traveller's shirts with secret pockets, cooling venting etc

- 4 pair lightweight quick dry underwear

- 1 T shirt

- 1 pair swimming trunks

- 4 pair socks

- 1 pair elasticized socks for long-haul flying

That's it! Of course with such a limited wardrobe you're obliged to wash clothes every few days. In warmer climes the laundry usually dries overnight. Making do with a limited amount of stuff is very freeing, and really pays off when hiking or hoisting your bag aboard all manner of planes, boats and vehicles – especially if limited space requires travelling with your backpack on your knees.

Because our S.E. Asia trip is mostly in the tropics,  we left our fleece and toque behind to save on weight and bulk. Who knows - maybe we'll return from Bhutan the proud owners of new Bhutanese sweaters and toques!

PS: If the Eagle Creek Pack-It System appeals to you, drop in on Dan Cochran at Adventure Clothing, 1015 Broad Street Victoria. Tell him I sent ya! :-)