Packing List for a Future Racer

What I packed in my big pack:
– down sleeping bag (super light, but so warm)
– sleeping bag liner (I made my own by sewing a twin size flat sheet in half lengthwise.)
– sleeping pad
– tent (I dropped it after 5 months…it ended up leaking…so. There’s that.)
– travel size pillow
– Chacos
– Chucks
– nice pair of sandals
– 12 pairs of underwear
– 4 sports bras
– 3 regular bras
– 1 maxi skirt
– 1 maxi dress
– 1 pair jeans
– 1 pair printed pants
– 1 pair leggings
– 2 pairs socks
– 2 sarongs
– 2 pairs basketball shorts
– 1 pair linen shorts
– 1 nice blouse
– 2 tank tops
– 6 T-shirts
– 1 denim shirt
– 1 fleece jacket
– 1 scarf
– Diva cup
– panty liners
– travel size shampoo
– toothpaste
– toothbrush
– comb
– dry shampoo
– mousse
– pony tail holders, hair bands, 2 hair clips
– q-tips
– 1 bottle nail polish
– 1 small bottle perfume
– 3 sticks deodorant
– 3 boxes floss
– 7 razors
– hair sheers
– probiotics for all 11 months
– vitamins for all 11 months
– calcium pills for all 11 months
– sunscreen
– bug spray
– packing cubes
– toiletry case
– rain cover for my pack
– travel cover for my pack (suggestion: DO NOT GET THE OSPREY COVER. It’s not useful at all.)
– swimsuit (2 piece tankini! It’s beautiful, tasteful and can pass as a 1 piece.)
– 2lb jar of Jif peanut butter
– alarm clock
– laundry line w/clothes clips

What I packed in my daypack:
– chrome book and charger (yes, you can make it all the way around the world just using a chrome book. And it works pretty well. Actually, I don’t really know because I haven’t really had it 9/11 months…so ask Nick Thomas–he’s on my squad and has been using it most of the Race.)
– pens
– notecards/paper
– 4 journals–one for each continent I was on
– snacks for traveling
– iPod touch and charger
– 2 decks of cards
– Phase 10 deck of cards
– Wizard deck of cards
– Kindle and charger
– Bible
– toilet paper
– hand sanitizer
– daily journal/notebooks to write down what happened each day
– spork
– nail clippers/tweezers
– small first aid kit
– headlamp and extra batteries
– Nalgene water bottle
– passport and holder
– wallet
– chewing gum
– ear plugs
– 2 pairs of sunglasses (in case one broke)
– Kavu bag
– ukulele and music
– 3 pairs headphones
– colorful pens for notes

What I should have packed:
– Sharpies (there were times it would have been wonderful to be able to label things–or even just decorate things)
– tank tops (you can actually wear tank tops in pretty much every country. So bring them!)
– men’s deodorant (female deodorant doesn’t work very well when you sweat ALL THE TIME. So grab a good smelling Old Spice or whatever, and use it.)
– more peanut butter (and by more I mean I would have brought another 2lb jar of Jif with me)
– a combination/travel lock (at some hostels you can lock up valuables in a safe. It would have been nice to be able to do that–you know, for peace of mind)
– more cards/notes for teams and hosts (I write notes. A lot of notes. I didn’t realize that it would be as big a part of my ministry as it has been on the Race. So if you write notes, plan on bringing a little extra stationary.)
– pens (Good quality pens, at that. Don’t go cheap here. Good pens around the world are harder to find. So invest before you leave.)
– pajamas (I read on someone’s packing list that you could just wear the clothes you wore that day to bed. And it’s true, you can. But there’s something awesome about changing into some pajamas before sleeping. If that means it’s just a tank that you specifically sleep in, then that’s great. But I ended up finding a tank to sleep in, just because I missed pajamas.)
– ibuprofen (I accidentally forgot to bring a bottle with me. I didn’t really need it for the first 5 months. But it would have been nice to have it.)
– a floofa (you know, like what you use in the shower with body wash? It would have been so great to have. Because you’re actually able to scrub your body well instead of just smearing the dirt around.)
– duct tape (it will always come in handy–for VBS’s, to fixing water leaks. It’s super helpful.)
– work gloves (there will probably be a lot of months where you are doing hard labor. Help your hands–bring gloves.)
– a board game (Maybe travel size, maybe not. But I wish I had a game other than cards to play sometimes. I am a true lover of board games.)
– a good adapter and power bar (I got this set of adapters, and they worked…but not for 3 pronged things. So I would have to borrow one. As you’re looking for an adapter, make sure the one you end up with can accept three prongs. Also, make sure the power bar doesn’t have a light–because they can get zapped.)
– a NORMAL towel (Yes, an REI microfiber towel can save you some space and some weight. BUT. I’m telling you that it’s not worth it. After several months of constant use and drying in humid climates, they smell SO BAD. And they don’t really get you dry. So. I would recommend that you go to Wal-Mart or Target and buy a cheaper towel that feels good, and bring it with you. You won’t regret it.)
– 6 month package with 2 new decks of cards, water flavoring packets, 2 oz containers of peanut butter, 2 new tank tops, pens. (You know how Christmas feels? Well–I’m thinking it would have felt the same to pull this puppy out. Just a small little treat.)
– Face Paint Crayons (I had some and I was debating on bringing them with me. And then I decided against it. There would have been SO MANY TIMES I could have and would have used those suckers. They would have brought so much joy to the kids I saw every day.)
– A METAL SPOON/FORK (I’m not even kidding. Don’t waste your money on the cute plastic sporks from REI. They will break at some point. For me, it was a travel day..and I heard a crunch. And then I was using my broken spoon in my peanut butter, and it broke again. So. Learn from my mistake. Just go for the metal one.)
– 1 flannel shirt (it’ll keep you warm and cozy)

What I picked up along the way:
– a couple more T-shirts
– a couple more tanks
– a pair of tennis shoes (I became a runner on the Race! Read about it in “Get up and Run.”)
– a pair of running shorts

Stuff I dropped along the way:
– Chucks
– pair of jeans
– kindle (I sent it home with my mom at PVT.)
– alarm clock
– fleece jacket (I sent it home with my mom at PVT.)
– a few T-shirts
– a tank top
– socks

Well friends. I think that’s it.
Just an FYI for all you peanut butter lovers out there–you can pretty much find it in every country. You just have to look hard enough. The only country it was MIA in was Montenegro. I was never able to find it.
One trick of the trade, if you love t as much as I do, buy a jar of it from the country you’re leaving to take it with you to the next month. Then you’ll at least have a little in the next country to start out with.

I hope if you’re getting ready for your Race this helped a little!