hey guys. i know its early to worry about packing, but since everyone is at the point of buying gear and trying to figure out what to bring, i thought i’d post this blog. back when i was leaving in june, Julie Lortz posted this blog on the team C site from some of the January girls who had emailed her about packing tips. its long but full of info. enjoy!
Advice from current WRacers. They asked me to share….
Stuff I Wouldn’t Leave Behind
- Top AND front loading pack … be sure you purchase a pack with at least 2 openings (or else plan to be a REALLY organized packer! Ha.) It ends up being too much of a hassle to dig through your stuff from only the top. Better access with 2.
- Some people really likes the “travel packs” with or without wheels. I prefer the traditional “back pack”.
- SUGGESTION – buy one NOW and live out of it at home for a few weeks. Get used to finding stuff, see how much stuff fits, carry it up and down the stairs etc.
- Big Duffle bag or pack cover to put your pack in for travel and airports.
- Stuff sacks or packing cubes!!! It will make your life SO much better. Come up with a packing system that works for you! I suggest the Eagle Creek Packing Cubes: 2-3 Large + 1-2 small.
- Chacos (sandles) … the WR’s best friend. You’ll be walking a lot! They are durable, easy to clean, and well worth the pretty penny you pay for them!
- I also had Reef’s and liked having both, but it takes up more space.
- Water Proof Tennis Shoes, buy these early and wear them for a week or more at home! Be sure you like them!
- Sleeping Bag Liner … useful for hot nights outside of your actual sleeping bag and as an extra blanket/warmth when you get cold on those long bus/plane rides. Keeps your bag clean, and stink free!
- DOWN sleeping bag … yes, probably more expensive, but worth it in the weight you save. Don’t let them talk you into a synthetic bag. You’ll have to be more careful with it and not get it wet – but this should be okay if you have a good tent. Otherwise you’ll be inside in churches and what not so it should be fine! -15 degree is good!
- Raincoat … go for quality here. Lightweight and breathable are the main two factors that need to be considered. You will be using it not only in the rain, but also as an extra layer when it gets cool in the mornings/evenings. Once again, they can get pricey, but consider it an investment … you’ll be wearing it all year long! I suggest rain pants as well – again, you decide if you have space.
- Hand Sanitizer … this will end up being priceless! One large bottle and one small bottle to refill. You can buy more in larger cities.
- Travel Pillow … takes up space, but it will be worth it!
- Travel Locks … One for your day pack zippers (school size backpack) and one for your pack or travel duffle.
- Flash Drive … 1Gig is plenty big … mainly used for dumping pictures and blogs up on the internet and swapping things between teammates
- Nalgene … don’t necessarily need the largest size, the 16 oz. will do just fine and it’s less heavy when full …. You’ll have to fill up more often, but it’s not that big of deal. Get a splash guard. And a key chain carabineer to clip it.
- Small Calculator …
especially if you end up being the finance person. It’s nice to have one on you though anyway because of all the conversion rates - 1 box freezer quart Ziplock bags … You’ll use them for just about everything. When you pack, take everything out of boxes and bottles, use ziplocks to save space.
- A good journal … you will pretty much take this wherever you go. Especially with training and teaching times, the best you can normally do is take as many notes as possible and then process it later as you have time. Your head will be spinning pretty much day in and day out … and in the end (whether it’s 2 weeks later or next year), you will be thankful that you recorded your thoughts/prayers/questions/lessons/etc.
- I used my PALM Pilot with a keyboard and loved it! If you take a Palm be sure to get SD w/ USB cards (kinda hard to find).
- Books … super important, but don’t bring
too many. With 50 people on the trip, you will share and swap … so find your favorites and leave the rest behind! I would recommend 2 or 3. (check with your team/squad to see what books are already packed so you don’t double up!) Take paperbacks, the weight adds up. Download e-books if you can. - One warm layer … be it a zip-up jacket or a hooded sweatshirt or a lightweight fleece, it will be useful in places where it gets colder in the mornings and evenings (and again, on the cold bus rides!!!)
- 10 pair of underwear. I like the REI “Patagonia” brand. 5 pair of good socks, I like “Smart Wool”
- ELECTRONICS: Argh, I am the wrong person for advice here. I am a computer addict. I have my macbook laptop and a back up hard drive. I love it. I also have a PALM PILOT and an ipod and digital camera. I would not have left without my ipod for sure, and IF I had room I would have brought small speakers. That said, this is a great chance to leave all that stuff behind. Seek the Lord here, talk to your team and decide as a team how much STUFF you need to take to be able to blog and store pictures etc.
- IF you take supplements at home, bring them IF you will take them. I suggest a good pro-biotic and garlic extract (natural anti-microbial) at the least – pack 3-4 months worth. You can buy more at major cities. I brought all homeopathic remedies, this is personal choice.
For the LADIES only:
- Earrings!!! Or something else that makes you feel pretty! After wearing the same clothes day after day, it is nice to “dress” things up a bit with jewelry. This is something you can buy along the way as well, but it’s nice to have a little something to start out with!
- Sarong … They are multi-functional and can be used as a towel, a swimsuit cover-up, or even a sheet
- Real bra’s are my preference. I brought 3 Victoria Secret and would not have changed it for sports bra’s for anything. Bring what you are comfortable in at home. Just cause you are traveling the world, don’t think you are suddenly going to become camp girl if you have been a valley girl for years and vica-versa.
- Cute hat or a couple of bandanas … your hair will get nasty! Plan for ways to hide/cover it up on days that you can’t get to a shower or water source!!!
- Some nice clothes … you will get really tired of the
same gross t-shirts day after day! You will have the opportunity though to dress up more than you might think … one or two cute shirts would be good. And skirts are worn all the time so make sure you have two or three to start the trip … then, like before, you can buy along the way! - On the same note … bring REAL clothes – stuff you won’t mind wearing day after day. Don’t worry about finding good “camping” clothes or stuff that needs to dry quickly. You are going to want to feel semi-normal instead of like a boy scout every day! The only quick drying thing that might be useful is a pair of swim shorts.
- 1 pair of jeans, heavy to pack so wear them on most travel days, but worth taking! Bring your favorite pair from home (but I DON’T suggest a pair with holes, they are not nice enough for some places, AND the holes tend to get bigger fast!)
- One piece swim suit (with breast padding) – try to bring one you kind of like. If you hate the typical Speedo, find something else. You will wear it more than you may think, lots of trips to waterfalls, beaches, etc.. God Willing!
- I suggest the “Diva Cup” it takes a bit of getting used to, but many of us this year have it and love it. If you bring tampons, non- applicator ones will take up less space. Or buy the compact ones. Pack enough for 3-4 months max… you can buy more!
- Makeup … IF you wear make up at home, bring it. A general 5-piece set will do you just fine … blush, mascara, eyeliner, cover-up and eye shadow. More is up to your discretion. Just remember, you will get pretty sticky/sweaty/nasty at times! J Side note – IF you feel led to let your true beauty shine this year without the makeup cover up, it’s a great chance to leave all that stuff behind as well.
- Face lotion and Face wash or Daily Facials (cut them into halves or quarters)
Stuff You Could EASILY Leave Behind
- You NEVER need more than one of ANYTHING! Buy along the way … don’t get sucked into thinking “this is the only chance I have so I will pack 50” … this is not good logic
- Every medicine known to man … you won’t use it. Pack a little IBProfen, some headache medicine, and that’s about it! If you need something more, you can easily usually find a place to buy it
- Full size bottles of
anything … go with the travel size for EVERYTHING! Saves space and weight in your pack … simply refill along the way - Heavy hiking boots – don’t bring them (tennis shoes, chacos, reefs MAX)
- Camp/All-Purpose Soap … They claim it can be used for everything from brushing your teeth to washing your dishes or clothes. First of all, it’s gross to use for your teeth, and we have just bought soap along the way so we don’t have to carry it. Plus, you can use just about anything from body wash to shampoo to wash your clothes when you actually do them by hand.
LOVE YOU ALL… we are hear to help you.
Kelly and Michelle WR 2007 – Team Agapetos
Feel free to email me [email protected]
LAST ADVICE, don’t panic… no matter what you forget, someone will have it, that is what community is all about. If you are meant to have it – God will provide, really!!! ALL that said, you are still going to panic. So my advice is this… get to AFRICA… just get to race launch… whatever you have to do. In my case I shoved all my stuff in my pack at 2 am, a few hours before my 6 am flight! I DO NOT SUGGEST THAT. But whatever happens, we will help you from Africa, your team will be there for you… just get there!
