One of the great things about backpacking is the sense freedom that it offers travellers. The ying to the yang however, is the sense of absolute panic that ensues when it comes to packing and we’re not referring to what we’ll be wearing everyday. It’s not only, just where to start but where do you find kit that suits the style of travel that you’re embarking on. When we buy our kit, we do it with practicality for the type of trip, comfort and flexibility in mind and this often doesn’t mean the most expensive. We do our research and read endless reviews to ensure that we buy what’s right for us. So, here’s some of the kit that we take with us when we travel.
Luggage – Our preference is the iconic North Face Base Camp duffle. After 22 years of travelling the globe together, I’ve sadly replaced my original North Face duffle bag but without hesitation I bought a replacement, albeit the next size up. It is the most distinctive bag on baggage carousels around the world, easy to spot and capable of taking everying a baggage handler can throw at them. Tough, waterproof and always keep your kit dust free, they hint of far-flung, off the beaten track locations and I cannot rate them highly enough. The go to bag that has never let us down.
Sleeping Mats – We like to camp and a number of our overland trips have included a lot of camping so comfort when sleeping on the ground is essential. They also come in very handy when we encounter beds in lodges and hostels that are rock hard. These sleeping mats fit easily under the sheets so our mats are invaluable. I first used a Thermarest ProLite when I trekked the Annapurna Circuit in 1997 and have used one ever since when I go camping. Self inflating and pack down to a very neat size that is unobtrusive in most bags. A back injury, sees me upgrading to a Thermarest LuxuryMap which despite its bulk in my kit bag it provides me with a much greater degree of support and comfort. Brownie on the other hand is much more hard core and sticks with her trusty ProLite.
Pillow – Creature comforts are all important when you’re on the road and it’s often the little things that make the difference. Gone are the days of bunching up clothes in a stuff sack and resting our heads on that. The ThermaRest Compressable Pillow rolls up neatly when not in use and is surprisingly comfortable to sleep on. It’s a constant companion on planes, trains and cars as I’m particularly prone to falling asleep whilst in any moving vehicles.
Sleeping Bag Liners – Now these are the most invaluable pieces of kit, and we have 2 different types depending on the climate. Firstly a cotton liner from Decathlon which not only protect our sleeping bag, making it last longer, but for hot nights will make for a more comfortable sleep. We can protect ourselves from the bugs even if our sleeping bag is unzipped. For cooler nights a fleece sleeping bag liner keeps us toasty.
Water Bottles – In the UK we’re incredibly fortunate to be able to take clean, safe drinking water for granted. Sadly, that is not the case in many countries around the world. So after a lot of research we’ve plumped for Water to Go bottles. The bottle has a filter that use 3-in-1 technology to remove harmful contaminants from your drinking water. They filter in excess of 99.9% of chemicals, like chlorine and fluoride, heavy metals like lead, as well as bacteria and viruses, while removing any bad taste or smell from the water.