Okay, so I just want to first say that I launch in one day!! I have not done the race yet, and this packing list is purely what I THINK I will need, but overtime I know things will change. I will get rid of stuff, buy new things, etc. After training camp I sorta knew what I needed after trial and error, and this is what I’ve decided I will be packing. I’m trying to be as minimalistic as possible.
Gear:
My big pack is a Gregory Deva, 60L. Specifically fit for women and my hip size/torso. A lot of things will be packed in here and it weighs about 40lbs total, but with the correct fit, all the weight is on my hips and not my back. So it feels about 20lbs!
BUT, this is something you really need to buy in person because the fit is EVERYTHING. If it doesn’t fit you correctly, it will be very painful. And remember, you have to wear it on that 2.2 mile hike in 38 minutes at Training Camp! (prepare to run most of it)
My day pack is a 28L Northface backpack, just the one I used for school over the years.
Inside my big pack:
***My first recommendations for future racers: buy compression sacks. And make sure they are a little bit larger than what you are putting in it. At Training Camp, you will unload and load back up your big pack more times than you can count. Make sure you can put your tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad back into their proper places VERY EASILY and QUICKLY. Trust me.
In the green compression sack, I have my tent, rainfly and footprint. The tent is a REI Camp Dome 2 and the tent poles are placed on the outside of my pack.
In the red compression sack to the right I have my sleeping pad which is a Sea To Summit Comfort Plus, size Regular and a Sea To Summit Airstream Pump/Dry Sack for inflating my sleeping pad. DO NOT go cheap with your sleeping pad. This WILL be your bed every single night at training camp and several months on the race. If you spend a lot of money on anything, let it be for this. There are a lot of good brands out there, do your research.
In the bottom left red compression sack I have my Marmot Nanowave 40 Degree sleeping bag and a sleeping bag liner, which is basically like a sheet you get into to keep your sleeping bag clean. Most of my countries are going to be hot, so I will most likely just sleep on top of the sleeping bag and use only my sleeping bag liner.
I’m also bringing a mosquito net, which I will give away if I end up not needing. I know some months I will probably use this, so I’m bringing it just in case.
And the Sea to Summit Airporter, which goes over my big pack when I check it in at the airport. Basically just a cover to protect your pack.
I will also be bringing my pillow from home. At TC, I used a Therm-a-Rest compressible pillow and it was great, I just don’t think I can go an entire year using just that.
** Tip: Packing cubes are a MUST for organization, but you do not need to get a certain brand. Any brand works, seriously.
All my clothes ended up fitting in one Large Eagle Creek packing cube. (wow!)
I brought 2 T-shirts, 4 casual shirts, 2 flannels (I wear them everyday at home), 1 long skirt, 2 pants for travel days, 1 dress, 1 jean shorts and 2 adidas shorts.
*Also keep in mind you are bringing the outfit you wore to launch as well! (obviously). So that’s one less outfit to pack.
When you are packing, be sure to keep a few things in mind: weight it will add to your pack, is it dress code (rule of thumb: if you question it, don’t bring it), and will you actual wear this?
I wish so badly I brought more clothes that made me feel GOOD while at training camp. I can only imagine how that is going to be for 11 months on the race. So, I packed stuff that is cute and that I will feel good in, but also clothes I can work and get dirty in.
This packing cube is a size Small which contains 10 pairs of underwear, 3 socks, 5 sports bras and 1 regular bra. Also my one piece swimsuit!
I also have a bag of 5 extra pairs of underwear to open month 6 (it will be like Christmas!!).
My toiletry bag is FILLED. Of course it’s all personal preference. You can get anything anywhere. (People wash themselves in other countries haha). In this bag I have travel sized shampoo/conditioner/body wash. That’s all I will need for now, I can pick up more along the way.
Face wash, face moisturizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, brush, Q-Tips, loofa, razor, Deodorant and little things like fingernail clippers and tweezers. Again, I will pick up more along the way.
Girls: I recommend using the Diva Cup instead of bringing a year’s supply of tampons and pads. LIFESAVER. Start using it now. You can of course find period supplies everywhere, but (apparently) tampons in other countries have no applicator. So definitely keep that in mind.
This bag contains some extras. I’m bringing a years supply of face wash and face moisturizer because I use a specific kind. I also have extra deodorant because in other countries it’s hard to find anything other than the liquid roll on kind.
Others: extra headphones, earplugs, phone charger, hair ties, and other little things.
You can find medicine everywhere, but I chose to bring my own.
I have 2 months worth of malaria pills (I will buy more for cheap in other countries), Emergen-C, Midol, Ibuprofen, essential oils, bandaids, anti-diarrhea meds and cough drops.
I got my whole team taken care of if anything goes wrong LOL.
Also bringing some sutures because YA NEVER KNOW. I’ll suture anyone, anywhere.
All of this fits perfectly in the bag my tent footprint came in!
Coffee pour over, spork, Dr. Bronners soap for washing clothes, rope which can be used for a clothes line, patches for my sleeping pad just in case it rips, pocket knife, Crystal Light packets and a Sea To Summit collapsable plate/bowl.
You can get coffee in any country, so I will pick some up along the way.
I’m only taking 3 shoes and I still feel like that is a bit much. We’ll see!
In my day pack:
The blue bag is a waterproof bag which contains all my chargers, hard drive, and portable charger.
Baby wipes are GOLD. This was my shower for 11 days at training camp.
Eye mask and earplugs for plane and bus rides.
Bug Spray with deet.
Febreze (also GOLD).
Headphones, journal, bible, little toiletry bag, 5 way headphone splitter (so a few of my squadmates and I can watch a movie or listen to music on one phone or laptop), highlighters/pens, water bottle (Hydro Flask) , medical kit (your team leader will have this, you don’t need it, I just really like medical stuff), advil and nausea medicine, metal coffee mug (I bought mine at training camp) , headlamp, extra carabiners to hang stuff off my big pack or daypack, mini REI face towel, chapstick, extra clothes just in case my big pack gets lost, and headbands.
This will also be going in my daypack.
Macbook Air Laptop, kindle paper white, portable charger, camera (Nikon D5500), Beats headphones (because I am very serious about my music and will go crazy if I don’t have good headphones) and my iPhone.
All of this will be placed in multiple waterproof bags.
These waterproof bags are highly recommended! You never know when you’ll have your daypack on you and it starts to storm. $9 for a 3 pack at Walmart! The biggest one fits my Macbook and my Kindle will be inside of it as well. The other two will be for little electronics and chargers.
That is pretty much what I am taking with me for 11 months!
Other things not pictured is a Large REI Multi Towel, make-up (I don’t wear a lot normally, so I’m not bringing much), Melatonin, Powerstrip, Passport/Yellow Fever Card/ID, Jewelry (again, not bringing much) and Charles Schwab Card to use at ATMs (they reimburse you for all ATM fees at the end of each month).
I will do a second Packing blog towards the end of my race to update you guys on how my packing situation has gone haha.
I hope this can help out any future racers! Packing is a journey completely on it’s own, but you just have to realize that you signed up for this. You know you must give up a lot of things and trust God with what you don’t have. Your squad and team will be there with you every step of the way, you aren’t on your own!
