(This is a blog Joe Barnes and I collaborated on back in December. I am simply copying the blog he posted to repost now for those launching in the coming months. Enjoy!!)
To all you future World Racers out there, this blog is for you. You are about to leave on the most incredible journey and there are rarely words that adequately describe what you should expect, so this blog is not meant to prepare you for what God has planned. This blog is, however, designed to prepare you for what you might need to pack to help keep you comfortable (kind of) along the way. Before I go any further, let me preface this by saying that before my Race, I saw exactly ZERO male-specific packing list blogs. It seemed like only women cared to let future racers know what they should bring. That being said, men, you’re in luck. My squamate Ben Baecker and I have collaborated on an exhaustive list of items you should anticipate bringing and needing along the way. Women, this blog isn’t for you, though after looking at Ben’s list, I feel like many of you ladies might find my list valuable…
Rather than just giving you a list of items to bring, Ben and I have set out to provide you two different options for packing for the race. If you’ve ever seen the TV show “Dual Survival,” then you’ll be able to understand our lists a bit better. On that show, there are two men tasked with surviving in the wilderness together. However, they have different styles of living as a result of different backgrounds. One is a former Marine with a motto along the lines of “always be prepared and have the right gear.” The other is from a minimalist background. As such, Ben and I have designed this list around that idea. I (Joe) represent the “always be prepared and have the right gear” perspective, while Ben falls more under the minimalist approach to packing. Neither is better than the other, which is why we are providing both options for you future racers. It’s up to you to choose which style suits you better. Most likely you will choose some combination of both.
Final word: To give you an idea of where you can compromise, we have ranked each item 1-3 based on how essential each piece is. These rankings are listed in parentheses next to the item name throughout the list. Our comments that follow each item are just our opinions after doing the race for 4 months. They are simply meant to help ease the process of packing for your race. Feel free to add, subtract, and change whatever you want. This is YOUR race! Enjoy!
Gear:
Large Pack – 60L+
Joe (3): I bought the Osprey Aether 70L and I think it’s a great fit for the Race. You definitely don’t NEED any more space than that and the pack itself is great. You can get by with less and still be able to fit all of the things you’d want on the field, but this pack is super easy to pack and really comfortable to carry.
Ben (2): Follow what I say and not what I do. I betrayed my minimalist and Good Will shopping self the second I realized the race could be an excuse for buying all new gear. The second I’m back in the states my 75L Baltoro bag is being returned or given away because it’s pointless during the race and afterwards with how I travel. Knowing what the race is now I would much rather carry around a thick laundry sack than a fancy bag. Multiple squamates have already (month3&4) are already dropping their Large pack and going to just two day packs. With that said, YOU DON”T NEED AS MUCH BAG SPACE AS YOU THINK! If anything you will regret your small bag decision the first, maybe second month then be happy every month after that. Happy Hippy opinion, no more than 65L, and that’s being gracious.
Day Pack – 30-40L
Joe (3): I bought the Osprey Stratos 24L and wish I had an additional 8-10 liters of space. I can fit pretty much everything in my day pack that needs to be in there, but I don’t really have much flexibility to bring my pillow/sleeping pad for travel days or long layovers.
Ben (3): I have a 30L Trail REI open zip style day pack. Love it. It’s like a mini large pack with a solid waist strap (very handy) and lots of little pockets. It came with a rain fly (Which you want be it used for rain or anti-pick-pocketers) so no worries there. BUT I will say this, if you are planning on doing a very small Large pack or even two day packs, (Totally possible) trend on the bigger end here. The Trail style is grand, the only thing is it prevents me from downsizing to using just it because it doesn’t expand out and hold very much.
Tent – Optional/route specific, 2-person is necessary
Joe (2): I bought the MSR Elixir 2. I just finished month 4 of the race and have yet to use my tent. Others on the squad have used theirs, but it hasn’t been a vital piece yet. If you go to Africa on your route, you will want a tent. Some could get by with a hammock, fly, and mosquito net, but I would prefer the tent when needed. I like to be prepared, so I’m not sending mine home, even though I won’t set foot in Africa until month nine.
Ben (1): Sent mine home after month three and it was never opened. Loved the tent, it was a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 Tent. Which I would advise because it is basically a mosquito net with a tarp sowed on for the bottom. Very breathable and no blockage from you viewing the stars at night before you knock out. Why a (1), because if you have a hammock and teammates who are bringing one you’re golden. Either you will be in your hammock, on a bed provided or you can pop in a teammates the random rainy nights you can’t hammock.
Sleeping Pad –
Joe (3): I bought the Big Agnes Q-Core XL and haven’t regretted it once. It packs down small and isn’t too heavy. Super comfortable if you’re a side sleeper. I got the extra long and extra wide version because, well, I’m extra long and extra wide and I like to move in my sleep. But you don’t need a reason to have a bigger mattress. Treat yo’self! This is a pretty vital piece of the race for me, so if you’re like me, you’ll want a good sleeping pad. You will likely have a lot of ministry hosts that provide beds so you may not use it all the time.
Ben (1): A Thermarest Z-pad is what is strapped to my bag. Basically a glorified yoga mat. It’s big and bulky but light as a feather. Why do I still have it? Haven’t found the right place to drop it off but I have only used it three times I think.
Sleeping Bag – 45 degree+, Optional/route specific
Joe (2): I bought the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 45. This bag is absolutely perfect for the race. That being said, if it’s 60 degrees outside, you will start to get a bit chilly without a sleeping bag liner. It packs down small inside a stuff sack along with my sleeping pad. I haven’t used it a ton (2 out of 4 months), but those two months were in Costa Rica and Honduras, where I wouldn’t have expected to need a sleeping bag. Better to have it than to not, especially when it’s such a light bag.
Ben (1): For our route, look at your locations and judge for yourself. I can get by with two liners so that’s what I am doing. One is mentioned below and the other is a SOL Emergency Bivvy.
Sleeping Bag Liner –
Joe (3): I bought a Sea To Summit Thermolite Reactor 14 degree liner. With the 45 degree sleeping bag, this liner makes colder climates on the race much more comfortable. It also makes for the hot nights to be a lot more manageable if you’re like me and you like having some sort of cover while you sleep. Super light, super small, and super easy to clean (just throw it in with the rest of your laundry. This is a necessity for the Race.
Ben (3): There are just as many types of liners on the rack as there are types of cheese in the dairy section at Wal-Mart. Just chill, take a deep breath and remember, you don’t need anything fancier than you need at home. Just grab the cheapest one (cotton Cocoon liner) or if you can sew, spend like 5 bucks on a couple yards of fabric at your local craft store and just so one yourself. Have fun with your liner, I went cotton route to stay simple but mainly so I could tie-dye mine 🙂
Pillow –
Joe (3): I bought a Nemo Fillo pillow. It’s inflatable but has a pad on the top so you don’t feel like your sleeping on air. It has a stuff sack attached to it, which is nice, but if I’m being honest, I wish I had a bigger pillow. This is great for travel days, but I wish I had gone with a bigger pillow. A lot of people on our squad went with a Thermarest pillow, which is a great option. Go for the extra large if you’re feeling dangerous…or if you just want to sleep well on the race. You will need a pillow, though. This isn’t an area you can use to cut weight/space.
Ben (2): I have a Thermarest pillow, nice and handy but honestly haven’t used it much, to be honest I just traded Joe pillows because I want less, he wants more. Don’t get the biggest one they have, get a smaller one. It gets annoying swinging around clipped onto your day pack in the airport. Honestly you can do without one if you are cool with using clothes or airline blankets or squamates for pillows. **Hint! Make a pillow case for it. You drag and throw your bag down a lot; pillow case=washable, pillow=not=dank
Additional –
Joe:
Carabiners (3) – I would suggest bringing 2 heavy duty, climbing rated carabiners and 3-4 smaller ones just to use to attach items onto bags. They come in handy so often.
Airporter (3) – This is something most gear retailers like REI will automatically suggest you get if you plan on flying with your large pack. It’s just a large duffle bag that fits over your pack to protect it from ripping amongst other things. I got an Osprey one with rip-stop fabric, which basically means if it tears, it won’t continue to tear in that same spot.
Rain Covers (3) – For both your large pack and day pack, these are pretty essential. My day pack has one built in, so I didn’t have to buy an additional one, but my large pack did not, so I bought an Osprey brand cover that fits that specific bag. You never know when you’ll need one, so better safe than soaked.
Ben:
(3) Carabiners/Airporter: A must, spend a little extra on this to get a good thick one that if possible is water proof and to make your life and back usable in the future get one that unzips to let your backpack straps out. Carrying your large pack with a single shoulder strap list most have is hard.
(2) Eno Hammock Lights: Fun and Cozy but not needed
Clothing:
Tops –
Joe:
T-Shirts (3) – 7-10 shirts. I brought 7 t-shirts and a tank. I prefer t-shirts to tanks, but if you’re the opposite, bring more tanks. That being said, there will be ministry sites and even whole countries where tanks aren’t acceptable outside of your bedroom space, so be prepared. You could get by with less, but I’m particular about not wearing dirty clothes longer than I have to, so I could even make a case for bringing 10 shirts.
Long Sleeve T-Shirt/Dress Shirt (2).You should also bring a long sleeve shirt of some kind and a button down dress shirt for church days (though be prepared not to wear it for months at a time, so maybe just pick one up along the way as needed at a thrift store).
Ben: I guess you have to bring clothes huh…
T-Shirts (3): I brought two of my favorite Tie-Die T’s, two tanks, one nice collard button up and one thin denim button up. Again, this is coming from the guy who has no shame with wearing the same outfit every Sunday for church. Yet to touch my dry fit long sleeve but saving it for that one time I’ll need it at night. With this little cloths you just have to be ready to wash more frequently but you will never have to do a huge load like most.
Bottoms –
Joe:
Athletic Shorts (3) – 3-4 pairs. I brought 3 athletic shorts. I ended up having an extra pair of athletic shorts sent to me in LA while on a layover because they’re pretty much the only thing I wear on the race.
Normal Shorts (2) – 1 pair. Normal khaki/other style shorts are nice and you should bring a pair, but don’t be shocked if you only wear them a couple times every month.
Jeans/Kahki Pants (2) – Pants are NOT essential, but I would suggest bringing them. You will need to wear nicer pants to church, especially if you are going to Africa and especially if you are preaching.
Bathing Suit (2) – A bathing suit is is pretty vital, but I actually dumped mine and just use athletic shorts.
Ben:
Pants/shorts: (3) To clarify Joe left his shorts at a ministry site, he didn’t take an accidental dump in them, though it happens on the race…I brought two pairs of zip off REI/PFG pants and one pair of Board/Walk shorts (the new style that look like nice shorts yet made with quick dry material). Picked up one pair of athletic shorts off the free table month two which has saved me on multiple occasions.
Underwear –
Joe:
Ex-Officio (3) – 7 pairs. If you are going to go over budget on any one item on the race, make it Ex-Officio underwear. They’re expensive, so maybe see if you can have some gifted to you, but they’re incredible. They’re anti-microbial, fast-drying, and really durable. Not to mention really comfortable. I’m hesitant to include this, but you can get away with wearing them multiple days in a row in a pinch.
Ben:
(3) Same style of undies but I only have 4 pair.
I’m not hesitant to mention it, shoot I’ve gone 5 days with the same pair. This month, literally have gone back and forth with just two. Wash one, wear the other for a couple of days, switch repeat, switch repeat. I’m not a fan of dirty laundry piles…
Socks –
Joe (3): Smart Wool (3 pairs), cotton socks (1-2 pairs). I brought 1 pair of long smart wool hiking socks and 2 pairs of smart wool running socks. I also brought 1 pair of Nike Dri-Fit socks. I wish I had brought an extra pair of the Nike socks. You don’t wear them a ton, so you could actually get away with only a couple pair. This is an area to cut weight/save space.
Ben: (3)
Just say a thank you prayer to the sheep up in the mountains cuz as you can tell from Joe’s entry, wool is the way to go and I agree. I have four pair, each a different style and brand. Smart Wool, Tough Wool (or something like that, they say they last forever) and another pair I got that are said to be made out of Bambu and Charcoal. I wear and use them like undies so haven’t even touched two pair yet.
Jackets –
Joe:
Rain Jacket (3) – I bought an Arc-teryx Beta LT, which was way more jacket than I needed. Not to mention, it started de-lamming in month 1. That being said, you should bring a nice, sturdy rain jacket. I suggest checking out Marmot and Mountain Hardwear.
Light Jacket (1) – I did not bring one, so this is route specific (eastern Europe folks should consider this depending on time of year). That being said, there have been times I wished I had a light sweatshirt. There will be cold nights on the race, regardless of country. You can definitely get away without one.
Ben:
(2) Man no other local wears a rain jacket haha, yet I still have mine. Again, don’t use the race as an excuse to get some big fancy one, just snag something that will keep you from getting completely soaked. You will get wet either way. Mine is an REI E1 Element, great but dang does not pack up small; keep it in mind when buying one.
Shoes –
Joe:
Chacos/Tevas (3) – The most important shoe on the race. You will wear them every day. I prefer Chacos, but Tevas are a solid option as well.
Sandals (2) – I brought a pair of Rainbows just because they’re more comfortable/easier to wear when just lounging around. Also, all of Asia wears flip flops, so you’ll fit right in.
Tennis Shoes (2) – I have worn my closed-toed Vasque shoes only a handful of times, but they were essential each time. Bring them…they’re obnoxious, but they’ll make the moments you need them much more enjoyable. A light and flexible tennis shoe is the best option.
Ben:
(3) God gave you feet and feet stink no matter what shoe you wear. I Said I would never become one of those Chaco wearing Christians… Congratulations WR you converted me.
Tennies (3) Come in handy when you want to run or just get tired of sandals. Get a durable pair though, my barefoot running style shoe fell apart the instant I grabbed a skateboard and shredded up some streets in Nicaragua.
Additional –
Joe:
Belt (3) – Men, you will lose weight on the race. I’m in month 4 and I’m down 15 pounds already. Bring a belt (and a knife to make more holes in it as needed).
Hat (2) – I like wearing hats.
Ben:
(3) Belt, bandanas
(2) Hat- Though I love my straw fedora and won’t drop it for anything, it’s not a must. Some people stowed away drier sheets for bag/clothes smell. Work great but just wash your clothes frequently.
Shoe Glue: Don’t have any but would definitely use it.
Accessories:
Headlamp –
Joe (3): This is one of the only items you will need every month of the race. Adventures suggests you bring two (I think), and that’s a pretty good suggestion. I only brought one (Black Diamond brand) to save space/weight, but this is an essential piece of your pack. There are USB chargeable options, but I brought a battery powered one, which works great.
Ben: (3) Joe speaks truth, buy one and spend the money on it. Make sure it has #1 a dimmer and #2 a lock button option, otherwise after every travel day you will have to reload them full of new batteries
Hammock –
Joe (2): I brought an Eno Double Nest and I love it. I slept in it all of month 1, but I have only used it sparingly since then. It’s super nice to have to lounge around in, but it’s not a vital piece of your pack. Many on my squad have slept in theirs a lot throughout the race, but I prefer a bed. If you bring one, get an Eno or Kammock. By Atlas straps and if you plan on sleeping in yours a lot, bring a mosquito net with it.
Ben (3): Hammocks are my love language so I will never be without mine. You will love it for a mid-day escape and restful night under the stars. I bought a Sierra Madre Paris model and joined it with a Kammok mosquito net (ENO nets are to small to fit my hammock) It’s great because the hammock along with the straps fit all in one bag and may be a touch heavier but takes up less space than the ENO/straps bagged up.
Packing Cubes –
Joe (3): I strongly suggest Eagle Creek packing cubes. You can get them fairly cheap and they’re incredibly light weight. Get 2 sets of 2 cubes (1 large, 1 small) and I suggest getting the compressible cubes. I can fit all of my clothing in 2 large and 2 small cubes. Ben likes dry bags, which are also a good option, but less organized.
Ben: (3) Yes I like dry bags more, but Joe’s a smart man so I took his advice too and did both. I put pants, shorts, socks and undies in the cubes then shoved that in a compression sack and shirts +etc in a dry bag. You an fold up your shirts and compress them this way and they don’t get super crumpled plus it’s flat and can lay along the backside of your bag super well. I used one left over cube to be my toiletries bag also.
Utility Knife/Multi Tool –
Joe (3): I brought a couple things here. I brought a 3.5” SOG EDC knife, which is just nice to have anywhere you go. I carry it with me any time I go out and just around the ministry host site. It comes in handy a lot. I also brought a small keychain sized multi-tool that has come in handy as well. Others brought larger versions of this, which is an option also, though not essential…I say save the weight.
Ben: (3) Daddy grew me up with Leatherman’s and haven’t turned away from them sense. Wingman style is what sits in my pocket, big but grand especially when your host doesn’t have a can opener.
(1): Flint&mag rod, sharpening rock for knife (though I brought and will keep mine)
Water Bottle –
Joe (2): My Nalgene broke during month 1 debrief and I got by for the next 2 months using an empty coke bottle until I had people tell me it wasn’t good to keep reusing that bottle, so I bought a new Nalgene on a layover in LA. You can get by with just changing out coke bottles regularly if you want.
Ben: (2) You can do without it, your teammates will just hate you when you spill half the water trying to fill your coke bottle with a 5 gallon jug and spill it every time.
Batteries –
Joe (1): You can buy these along the way, but they are more expensive. If you want to, you can bring 4-6 of each of AA and AAA batteries and have all your bases covered. You will need them for your headlamp and other items along the way.
Ben: (1) Just load everything up, even your watch, with new juice before you launch.
Toiletries:
Dental –
Joe:
Toothbrush (3) – Bring a good toothbrush, but know that you can buy more along the way.
Toothpaste (3) – Same as toothbrush. I did, however, bring prescription toothpaste because I would be away from the dentist for a year. Just a thought. Prevident is dope.
Floss Picks (3) – I like the Reach brand that looks and operates like a toothbrush. You’re welcome, Dr. Gardner.
Ben:
(3) Toothbrush and holder, paste,
(2) Floss: I brought some hoping I would finally start to do it, yep have only accomplished that hope once.
(1) Extra tooth brushes. They have them everywhere you go. I advise getting a new one every month just to be safe and it comes out to a buck a month.
Hair Care –
Joe (1): You will either buy shampoo/conditioner as a team or you can buy it the first day in-country. Don’t weigh down your bag with shampoo unless it’s a brand you feel like you have to have with you. You should, however, bring a travel bottle of shampoo for travel days.
Ben: (1) haha, hair care. Just get dreads or buzz your head, I’ve done both.
Soap/Bodywash –
Joe (1): Same as shampoo for me. Save the weight.
Ben: (2) During launch snag a couple small bars of soap and thing of shampoo if you want to keep in your day pack for travel days. Never know.
(3) get a bar of soap box, zip lock bags + wet bar of soap is never fun to deal with
(1) baby wipes; girls are crazy about them, I’ve yet to ever think about wanting one.
Deoderant –
Joe (2): You can definitely buy this overseas, but if you’re attached to a specific brand or scent, bring a couple sticks with you. I brought 2 of my favorite ones and they should get me through 6 months or so.
Ben: (3) I don’t buy deodorant, I make my own even on the race. Baking Soda, coconut oil and some drops of essential oils. Makes a paste, light, refreshing and will fend off evil smells for more than a couple of days at a time.
Towel –
Joe (3): I got suckered into buying one of the REI Quick-Dry towels. They don’t really get you that dry and they also take longer than you’d think to actually dry themselves. Mine hasn’t really started to smell bad, but I wash it a lot. There aren’t a lot of great options for this category, so you might just have to suck it up. It’s just a towel anyway.
Ben (2): I heard the quick dry towels can get quite rank on the race so I steered away from them and use a Sarong that was gifted to me. Super light, dries quick and looks fancy. Past two month I didn’t even use it and used those tiny microfiber towels you use to dry dishes with (team budget supply is great) have two in my bag and will use a couple a month and just toss one when it gets a bit of World Racer stank.
Other –
Joe:
-Travel Bottles (1): I threw mine away because I wasn’t using them. Others on my squad continue to use theirs. Take that for what you will.
-Lotion (2): I brought a few bottles of good lotion with me. That’s a personal preference, though.
-Nail Clippers (3): Bring several.
-Hand Sanitizer (1): The least necessary item. Every country sells it for cheap.
-Beard Trimmer/Razor (2): I use mine a lot, so unless you’re growing the beard out for the year, bring a trimmer. Make sure it is rated for up to 240 volts or battery powered. I did not bring a razor, but I never shave clean. If you do, bring one with changeable razors.
Ben:
(3) Small pair of scissors (used to shave rather than electric shaver) nail clippers, coconut oil (possible to find in other places but not reliable enough for me)
(2) Gold bond, chafing powder, SunScreen: Some guys brought some, I didn’t.
Medicine/Health:
Joe: This is where Ben and I will differ the most. My dad is a doctor and loaded me up.
-Personal prescriptions (3): You will hear all about what you need to know about these at training camp, so I won’t go into it here.
-Probiotics (2): I brought 4 months of probiotics, but I haven’t used them yet. Still, they’re nice for regulating good bacteria in your gut.
-Excedrin (3): You will get lots of headaches. Bring a bottle of Excedrin or your preferred brand.
-Zycam (3): If used correctly, this will shorten the length of your colds on the race, of which you will get plenty (germs are everywhere). I’ve used it twice already.
-NyQuil/DayQuil (2): You can get this overseas, but it’s definitely valuable. Get the pill form.
– Antibiotics (2): I have Ciprofloxacin, Cephalexin, Doxicycline, and Amoxicillin. I’ve already run through the amox, mostly because others have gotten sick and needed them. They’re very good to have as a security measure, but don’t fret if you can’t fit them…the clinics can get most that you’ll need.
-Malaria Meds (3): I’m going into month 5 having not taken a single pill. This is definitely country/location within that country specific. Still, bring 3 months of pills and then go get more at the malaria clinic when needed. No need to bring a full year’s worth.
Ben: I’m a nurse and just about everyone on our squad brought more drugs than me haha. With that said I’m a big natural, preventative and essential oil guy. I didn’t bring any antibiotics, malaria meds or prescriptions, just this.
(3) Garlic: I shoved two bottles worth of 1500mg softshell pills into one bottle. Personally I rather use actual garlic so this is back up, and yes I am known for having cloves of garlic from the market in my day pack for when we go out to eat to throw in my food. #bestnaturalantibiotic.
Turmeric and Chaga extract: Learn a bit on your own and look up what these are for 🙂
Senna leave’s/Smooth move tea: Cuz you will get stopped up!
Essential Oils: I’m not going to describe what they are for, that’s like a blogs worth sorry but just look them up, googles grand.
Peppermint (tummy), Lavender (everything), Digize (tummy), Thieves (everything), Purification (bugs), Lemon Eucalyptus (bugs) Frankincense, and Tea tree oil,
Tiger Balm, Vitamin C supplements, ~Motion Sickness Bands!~
(2) Oils that I brought but haven’t used much yet: Rosemary, Oregano, Lemon, RC, Wintergreen, Geranium, Eucalyptus Globulus,
Probiotics, Imodium, tylenol, Advil (I didn’t bring any of these but people have used them)
Electronics:
Camera –
Joe:
-GoPro (2): This is really just personal preference. I use mine all the time but I also am doing a lot of video work on the Race. If you are more of a picture taker or just don’t like photo/video at all, then this is not necessary. My accessories are as follows:
-Hand-held Camera (2): Again, personal preference. You can get by with using your phone, but I prefer my Canon because the video quality is nicer and it makes it so that my phone isn’t always in my hands (also less opportunity to lose it).
Ben: What camera you bring really all depends on what you want to capture.
GoPro: (2) Great all around camera. You won’t need many accessories, I brought a ton and am more so praying they get used (like surfboard mounts!)
GoPro accessories you could get by with: Waterproof case, floaty back, extra battery, selfie stick, and a charger.
I-Pod Touch: Bought this brand new before I left to combine everything into one; camera, iPod, tablet and anything else. Does good enough pictures for me and keeps the pack small.
Computer –
Joe (3): Bring a laptop. I don’t care what kind (though it should be pretty small and compact). Several people on my squad have already regretted only bringing an iPad, so just bring a laptop. I brought a 13” MacBook Air and I absolutely love it.
Ben: (3) Though I would like to say it’s not necessary, I sure as heck use mine a lot. It makes emailing, blogging, photo/vid editing and business/life issues (yes you still have to do this on the race) much easier Macbook Airs are great because their light, you just need an external hard drive to go with them because they don’t store much. I have a Macbook Pro with 1 terabyte of space on it. Weighs a bit more and is bigger but works for me.
Other –
Joe:
-Phone (3): This one is a bit more controversial because AIM is still in the process of considering banning phones for the race, but I’ve enjoyed having mine. I use it for photos and video and for remaining in contact with friends and family back home. Sometimes FaceTime is just better than Skype. If you bring a phone (I brought an iPhone 6), buy a Lifeproof case. It’s worth it. Also, multiple chargers.
-Kindle and charger (2): If you read a lot, bring a Kindle. I brought mine. It’s great.
-External Hard Drive(s) (3): I brought 2 2TB hard drives and it’s perfect. I have one with my computer backups on it along with 1.6 TBs of movies and music. I have a second with all of my photos and videos on it. Load those bad boys up with movies and TV shows. You will want to escape with a piece of home every now and then.
-Computer Charger (3): Obviously.
-Computer Case (3): I got the Aqua Quest Dry Bag Systems and I love it. It fits my computer, Kindle, 2 hard drives, and charger and keeps it waterproof.
-Power Bank (3): I bought a Kodiak Outdoor Tech bank and it’s been great so far. Kind of bulky, so maybe check on some other options. I use it to charge my phone and GoPro when outlets aren’t readily available.
-Outlet Adapter (3): I bought an Eagle Creek adapter. It covers pretty much everything and has 2 USB ports as well. It DOES NOT convert voltage, but most of your stuff won’t need a voltage converter because your electronics (for the most part) will convert automatically, so this option is perfect. I found it at REI.
-Headphones (3): You will use them A LOT. Bring 2 pair of ear buds. You won’t want to lug around big heavy-duty headphones like Beats.
Ben:
(3) Chargers, adapter, headphones, bluetooth speaker
(2) Large flash drive, fancy computer case (just use a dry bag) Power strip (again pends on your route, if you are solid backcountry may need it cuz you will have one outlet in an entire house but for the most part, their always available)
(1) External hard drives (again my situation didn’t need one), Kindle (can have it all on your computer or use someone else’s) other fancy junk like solar power chargers/power banks. headphone splitter (plenty of others will have one) If your stuff dies calm down, take a deep breath, have a mourning session with a teammate and walk in freedom! Don’t bring actual dvd’s, or VHS tapes though the orange Good Burger is a classic.
Miscellaneous:
Joe:
-Bible (3): I started out with a pocket Bible but quickly missed my study Bible from back home and had one shipped to me at a long layover in LA. It’s bulky, but it’s so worth it. My team and I use mine and another teammates study Bible all the time for team studies. It’s just nice to have commentary throughout the year.
-Journals (3): I HATE journaling, but I felt compelled to make it a habit. I want to remember this year, so I bought a day planner in month 2. I use the space under each day to write out all of the major highlights from that day. It’s really organized and keeps you accountable. Thanks to Kelly Thompson and Elizabeth Patten for that idea! I also have a spiritual development journal that I use for listening prayer and for writing out things I’m learning. I have a third journal that a good friend from home gave me with letters from home that I use for jotting down info and taking notes when necessary. Bring journals, get in the habit. You won’t regret it.
-Pens (3): Pens are like gold on the race. You will start month 1 with 10 pens and leave having owed a teammate a pen because you will lose them a lot. Bring lots.
-Musical Instrument (2): Or other item that you enjoy from back home. Ben gave me this idea. You need to bring a hobby of some form from back home. You will miss the things from home, so having something to escape with occasionally will be invaluable. I brought my Ukulele and have loved playing when I get the chance.
-Sunglasses (2): Ben and I hugged so hard on the first day of launch that I broke my “unbreakable” Native sunglasses. I didn’t wear any for the first 3 months and had replacements sent to me in LA. I have only worn them a couple times since then. Not essential, but I guess they’re nice to have.
-Playing Cards (3): Bring several decks.
-Ziplock Bags, Duct Tape, Spork, Schwab Card, Personal French Press (3): All of these are things I brought that I have used along the way. Bring gallon zip lock bags, a small roll of duct tape, and a spork (but you don’t really need a collapsable bowl…at least I haven’t so far). The Schwab card is so easy to set up and no ATM fees. Just do it. I drink about 3-4 cups of coffee every day. Some ministry sites have it for you, most don’t. Bring your own travel press (I got one at REI (http://www.gsioutdoors.com/shop/beverages-partyware/coffee-espresso-makers/commuter-javapress.html?color=Blue) and I’ve used it over a hundred times in 4 months.
-Wet Wipes (1): I don’t know why I haven’t thrown these away yet…
-Personal First Aid Kit (1): So unnecessary. Dropped mine.
Ben:
(3) Bible…I’m ashamed to say I didn’t even bring one on my race, just where I was at personally but luckily have adopted one into the backpack now.
Writing utensils: What kinda writer are you? If you enjoy 20 colors do it, I however have two pens, 2 number two pencils, a mechanical pencil with lead refill and 3 highlighters. You will have and get more each place you go, I am constantly cutting my supply because you just end up with more.
Journal: Only need one, there are plenty of cooler ones you can buy anytime
Personal Hobby Item: You don’t have to leave behind your entire identity it’s ok. bring something for you to do that is fun and simple and when you do it can feel good about yourself (colors, music, etc) There will be times on the race you feel like you are good at nothing because everything around you is new, it’s nice to have something familiar. Mine is a wood whittling kit. And it’s great because you can use this to bless your hosts
Sunglasses: Available everywhere but start with one pair to at least get you there.
Roll of paracord/rope
Playing Cards: Personal and Ministry uses
Lighter
Ear Plugs
Spork: Nog always needed but small enough to carry and the times you will need it you will be super happy. (Tho eating a pie with Chop Sticks we had sent to us while we in a layover in China brought fun memories)
Zip Lock Bags
CHARLES SWAB CARD!!: Easy to set up and works great
(2)Positive Psychology text book from college: It’s big yeah but I love going through this on the race and taking a class in a small fashion! Really hits on what the race teaches you too!
Letters from friends: Nice to read, especially when they write some for important days 🙂
Compact roll of TP
Duct tape
Random Fun Object: I brought throwing knifes… don’t judge, they’ve brought more fun than I imagined.
Personal Coffee French press: I’m not a crazy coffee drinker but have come to enjoy them occasionally now on the race. Luckily plenty of people brought one so I mooch off of them. Best way to pack is to buddy up with someone, keeps things limited.
Watch: Time is irrelevant the further you get away from the states. I haven’t had one sense month 2 and life’s much better.
(1)20lbs of food/snacks. You can survive with just a couple small bags of granola/nuts during a travel day. Don’t pack for months to come, you can grab everything in other countries
First Aid bag: World Race gives you each team two at launch.
Alright folks, that’s what we’ve got for you. Hopefully this helps. Remember, this is just a guide from two racers currently on the field. We likely forgot some things and you likely have some things you’d like to add for personal preference. All of the stuff listed above (plus more that wasn’t listed) can fit into 2 bags for the entire year and be under weight limit. Have fun. Life is about to change for all of you.
Other packing Blogs
http://brittanycantrell.theworldrace.org/?filename=ultimate-race-packing-list-for-girls
http://sydneywoods.theworldrace.org/?filename=to-the-rescue-wr-packing-list-the-best-one-i-promise
