There are hundreds of packing lists out there, but here is the thing to remember: Don’t take these lists as gospel. You know you, and you are going to have to go with your gut on some items. Some lists are going to give different advice, but, when it comes down to it, you need to feel confident with what you take. The biggest thing is to KNOW YOUR ROUTE.
Know the estimate climate you’ll face and gear you’ll need for specific regions. Yes, things are always subject to change, so bring things that are versatile.
For example, our squad spent our last four months in Africa, but the majority of our race was going to be really hot. I brought a couple more long skirts for Africa (or if it got cold and I needed to layer) and didn’t get a super thick sleeping bag, but brought a sleeping bag liner for when it was super hot and that was all I needed (and if it got super cold I could double up).
Look at blogs that have similar routes to yours, ask people that went to the same countries you’ll be in.
Here are some tips:
1. Make sure to label your things. Everyone practically has the same gear — the same cords, the same chargers. When there are 50-plus of you guys together, things can get mixed up real quick. Write your name on a colored type of tape, it stays on longer. Bring a sharpie and put your name on your gear.
2. Don’t forget to label your airporter. Here is another thing that I completely forgot about till the last minute. There will be a sea of the same black bags when you load the bus or get off the plane, find a way to make yours stand out.
3. Bring travel-size bottles to refill. Our team would buy shampoo and conditioner together and divvy it up each month. It saves weight each month when you are moving. Most things you will buy, you can split with someone so you can save on space.
4. Bring more than enough underwear. When everything else is worn, re-worn, and re-worn again, it will be nice to put on clean undies. Bring enough for two weeks at least.
5. Bring some type of laundry bag. Surprisingly, you’ll use this a lot when you have the luxury of dropping your clothes off to get washed. I brought a mesh one that let my clothes breathe to prevent them from getting stinky or moldy. Yes, one of my teammates had mold growing on hers after being stuffed in bag all month. My mesh bag also doubled as something to scrub my clothes with when we had to hand wash, which was all of Africa.
6. Make sure you get a great pair of noise reduction headphones. They make a huge difference when you need to get away. This is your only form of “alone time.” I also recommend putting them in a tiny holder of some kind (mine came with a tiny black cloth bag). I broke about three pairs of headphones before I really started to take care of mine, putting them in the case and making sure the wires weren’t getting pulled in my bag.
7. Pack up EVERYTHING you plan on bringing at least a couple of days before you fly out. I waited till the last minute and added a couple of “little” items and ended up adding 5lbs to my bag just like that. Pack everything, every last little thing, (you’ll be surprised how a couple of things can make a difference) and weigh it to make sure you are good.
8. Bring normal clothes! So many people would have repacked normal clothes if they could have. I would also recommend brining more dressy clothes than you think. All of Africa we were preaching, which in this culture means you dress your best and girls have to wear long skirts. In Asia we did a lot of teaching, which also meant we needed to look presentable, especially when we were teaching at a university. When we did do manual labor, we ended up wearing the same two or three pairs of clothes over and over again.
9. This is a random one, but make sure you see the dentist before you leave. A lot of my teammates had to go to the dentist to take care of old cavities. Thank the Lord we found good dentists in Asia, but that wasn’t the case in Africa.
10. You need to bring as little as possible. It is going to feel almost unnatural. At the end of the day, if you are looking at your pack and thinking, “There is no way I’m going to be able to survive off of that for 11 months,” that means you are doing well. I would even challenge you to pack less. At the end of launch, not even a week on the field, our squad had a huge free pile where so many people got rid of the stuff they didn’t need.
The reality is that you can find so many things overseas. You will find crazy cheap clothes at markets when you need something. God will provide when you need something. Really. This is a part of the journey of trusting and relying on God in new ways. Seriously, from q-tips to thermarests, God always provides.
Gear I recommend:
1. iPhone/ iPod touch.
I cannot say enough how amazing it was to have an iPhone. It was a lifesaver. I highly recommend bringing one on the Race. I was able to load emails and photos on the fly. I was able to use apps like the flashlight app, relax melodies app (an app with tons of calming background noises that is all customizable, which comes in handy when there are dogs barking all night) and tons of other useful apps.
2. North Face Hot Shot back pack.
I loved my daypack. The waterproof material was a lifesaver, and it was the perfect size.
3. Sea to Summit silk and cotton blend liner.
Light like silk but soft like cotton, best of both worlds.
4. Butterfly chair.
I used this in Central America and Africa a lot, but it isn’t a necessity.
5. Kindle.
Make sure you get a sturdy, sturdy case – three from our Squad broke in the first month because they were crushed. I have the black leather case that comes with a light, and it kept mine safe.
6. Your laptop of choice.
A lot of people that just brought their iPad or netbooks ended up regretting not brining their full computer. Think about it. You are going to be using this for an entire year.
7. Mountain Hardware sleeping bag.
I remember trying out several at REI. I would go there after work and lay on the floor trying different ones. Make sure you get one you feel comfortable in. This is your bed for the next 11 months.
8. Belkin travel size power strip with USB charger.
Your teammates will thank you. I definitely recommend this, especially when there are a total of five outlets in a place your whole squad is staying like us in Honduras.
9. Lightweight, lime green thermarest.
Sorry, I can’t remember the specific name. Some people don’t recommend it because they say that it pops. It’s the lightest one they have, and I took the risk and mine was fine the entire race. I’d say just make sure you are super careful, lay your footprint down anytime you use it indoors too.
10. Osprey airporter.
You are going to want an airporter that has plenty of room for random things you pick up along the way, like the pillow pet my team got me 🙂
Bottom line.
Bring things you are super brand-loyal to and would be devastated if you couldn’t find again.
For example, I love to journal and love to write with sharpie pens, and you can’t find those anywhere (not the sharpie markers but the tiny fine point pens).
Although you need to pack light, bring things that are unique to you and will make you feel like you are living your normal life. The race isn’t a trip; it is your life for a year. For example, I wouldn’t recommend someone buying a sonicare toothbrush but I brought mine because clean teeth are important to me. I also brought a hard drive full of my favorite movies to watch when I needed to get my mind off things. Those were a couple of items that made life feel normal.
Lastly, remember that some of the gear won’t make it back home with you. You need to be okay with the possibility of things being ruined, stolen, lost, or broken. Also keep in mind there are things you just might want to donate to people who are in need. I know a lot of people who just left their tent, clothes, shoes or random gear behind for others who need it way more. Keep those things in mind as you pack.
Have fun!!
Love,
ASH
