Packing Blog: For Future Racers

Hey future Racers! Here is a packing blog put together by Stephanie Bauer and Christina Simke, with input from our F-SQUAD! Our packing blog is unique, because it gives you a variety of options for one item. These options were preferences by different Racers on our squad. For example, if you a big pack may have 3-4 different brands/sizes listed. The purpose is to show diversity in preference and let you know that you have choices! For now at least. 

When we arrived to our first country, India, we realized that the packing blogs we read would have been more helpful if the route of the writer was mentioned. This is important to keep in mind, because what might fly for dress code in one country, won’t in another. Our route was: India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania.

Country specific dress codes: (these can all vary depending on your contact, it is just a general list!)

India: full length skirt and t-shirts covering shoulders. No tank tops and no knees showing!

Nepal, Malaysia, Cambodia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania (and most countries in Africa): Girls don’t show your knees (full length or past knee skirts, capri pants, leggings under a dress, etc) t-shirts. Guys: t-shirts, shorts, or pants. However, guys typically need something nice to wear to worship like a collared shirt and pants. The men in Africa will show you up on Sunday worship, wearing a button down shirt and slacks. A polo shirt and pants is highly suggested to bring along!

Thailand and Vietnam: We were able to wear tank tops and shorts (in most places).

Latvia/Estonia/Lithuania: The first 9 months of our Race were summer season. When we began month 10 in Latvia, it was snowing as we got off the plane. We didn’t believe other packing blogs we read before the Race, so you probably won’t believe us…but you CAN BUY CLOTHES IN OTHER COUNTRIES! Unbelievable, I know! 

Here’s the stuff you will use on a daily basis:

Note: So many people on your squad will have the same exact items as you. We recommend using a sharpie and marking your stuff even before training camp. This includes chargers, sleeping pads, pillows, etc. Mark it ALL!

~Big Pack

Notes: Get a Big Pack that fits you properly. Don't get one that's too big, the bigger it is, the more stuff you will put in it, the heavier it will be! Consider getting a pack that unzips in the front-center of the pack. this way, you don't have to take everything out of yoru bag to get to something at the bottom.

Recommended Big Packs: Ospray, REI Venus 70 L, Greggory Deva Pack 70 L, Dueter, Northface

~Journal

~Pens/Markers

~Sharpie

~Bible

~Quick Dry Towel

Sea to Summit DryLite Towel

~Fold up Pillow

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow

 

~Clothes Pins

~Laundry Line

 

~Head Lamp (A MUST!!!!)

~Sleeping Liner (If you don't get a sleeping bag, you definitely need this!)

Sea to Summit Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner

 

~Sleeping Pad

Sleeping Pad Recommendations: Non-air pad, Exped, Big Agnes Q-Core, Big Agnes Air-core, Therma Rest (Therma Rest seems great because of the foot pump, but several of us had difficulties with it "bubbling up.")

 

 

~Tent (plus one person to have room for your big pack) with Foot print (helps protect the bottom of your tent from water, etc) And Rain Cover 

 

~Tent footprint

Tent Recommendations: Eureka Tent, Marmot, Marmot Twilight, REI half dome, MSR tent, Big Agnes Fly Creek, Big Agnes

      

 

 

~Good quality airporter, NOT OSPREY (Be sure to identify your airporter with spraypaint or something that will make it stand out. Everyone on your squad will have an airporter that looks like yours!)

~Day Pack with a rain cover

Day Pack Recommendations: Targus with laptop spot, 20 L Osprey Daypack, Lowepro Backpack (displayed below)

Note: Get a new daypack! Don't skimp out and use a backpack from high school! Consider one with waist straps, as well!

             

 

 

~Rain jacket

~Purse (for girls)

~Bowl

 

Sea to Summit X Bowl (Collapsible)

 

~Silverware (plastic or bamboo)

 

~Pocket knife

~Packing cubes or stuff sacs (Most people on our squad preferred packing cubes, displayed below. Packing cubes are great for keeping things organized.)

                  

                  Packing Cubes                                                         Stuff Sacks (They Roll up)

~Small Sewing Kit

~Case for your passport

~Copies of your passport

~8-11 Passport photos for Visas when you enter a country

Toiletries:

~Tooth Brush and TB covers

~Toothpaste

~Floss

~Tampons to last a few months or Diva Cup (if you order it, try several times before the race! It is VERY hard to get used to, but after I used it for about 5 cycles I finally started LOVING IT! And it saves so much money)

~Case for your toiletries

~Bobby Pins (if you already use these)

~Hair bands

~Nalgene

~Brush

~Razor (extra razors)

~Hand Sanitizer

~Stick Deodorant

~Extra contacts

~2 bottles of Contact Solution can last you the whole race

~Travel Size shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash bottles (for travel days also so you can refill your bottles)

~Tea Tree Oil (good for using on bites, cuts, or for cleaning excess dirt off of our face)

~Perfume

~Tweezers

Note: You will be able to find toiletries in every big city. It might not be your name brand preference, but you’ll adapt! We do recommend packing some shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash for the first few days (travel size bottles). Your team budget includes money for supplies every month, so the money you fundraised will cover basic toiletries for your team to share. We do, however, recommend bringing a little extra personal money if you are picky or need extra. I (Christina) have curly hair and need gel to make it look somewhat presentable. I was able to find gel in almost every city/country (India was difficult), and that came from my personal money. Tampons usually also come from personal funds.

 

Electronics:

~External Hard Drive (with a case): Some may be confused on why, let me explain. You can use your hard drive to back up the TONS of pictures you will be taking and you can share movies and tv shows with others….trust me you want to bring one!

~Jump Drive: easier to transfer things between teammates

~Universal chargers/adapoters

~Chargers

~Alarm clock

~Laptop WITH CASE! PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES!

~Nook/Kindle/Ibooks

~Camera

~Iphone (If you already have one, bring it! This is easy to access internet, pull out for a quick photo, and takes great video!)

~2 pairs of head phones

 

Miscellaneous:

~Glasses

~Retainer

~Dirty Laundry Bag

~Small Mirror (for the ladies)

~Musical Instruments (Christina’s husband Derek carried his hand drum and guitar on the World Race. There was not a month that these instruments didn’t get used! Great for ministry and team/squad worship.)

~Zip Lock Bags

~Carabineers

~Wash Cloth

~Dryer sheets

~Makeup

~Straighter/Blow Dryer (If you use this at home.)

~Earrings

~Necklaces

~Eye mask, ear plugs (If you have trouble falling asleep with noise and lights, these are recommended! Steph and I can fall asleep anywhere, and didn’t need these. For some squad mates, these were sleep savers!)

~Headbands (buffs) Some girls on our squad cut their buff in half and made 2 headbands out of it. Then we swapped with our friends!

 

Health Wise:

~Mutli Vitamin

~Veggie powder (this acts as another multi vitamin supplement for lack of nutrition)

~Iron supplement pills (you might not get much nutrition in Africa/Asia and could use more iron)

~Cliff bars

~Granola Bars (*We easily found granola bars in Nairobi, Kenya, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Phonm Pehn, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

 

Medication:

~Malaria meds

~Birth Control

~Ibuprofen

~Pepto

~Cipro – meds used when you have a really upset stomach

~Heart Burn Medication (if you need it occasionally)

Clothes:

~20 pair underwear (it is nice to save some undies for half way through the race to start fresh!)

~2 skirts (1 below knee, 1 to ankle)

~5 short sleeve shirts

~1 pair jeans

~light sweat shirt (depending on your route)

~rain jacket (doesn’t have to be expensive)

~2-3 regular bras

~leggings

~3-4 tank tops

~cute outfit for off days

 

Workout:

~Durable Capris

~2-3 sports bras

~short sleeve shirt (underarmor)

~running shorts

~workout tank

 

Recommended Shoes:

~Day shoes (Choose one of the following):

Rainbows

Chacos

Crocs

?~Work out shoes (Choose one of the following):

Vibrams

Keens

Tennis Shoes

~Closed toe Shoes (not needed, but brought by some):

Toms

In addition to above, bring:

Shower Shoes or flip flops

 

Optional:

~Mosquito Net (Most countries in Africa, they were provided for us. If not, they are really a cheap purchase when you enter the country.)

~Sleeping Bag (Check your route and climates. Most of our squad sent their bags home or ditched them. However, it did get cold the last two months.) 

Recommended Sleeping Bags: Eagle Creek, Northface, Mountain Hardwear Plus 32 Degrees, REI 45 degree bag, REI 750, Lafuma

~Shower Bag

~Eno Hammock

~Games: Cards, travel Pictionary, Catch Phrase

~Nail Polish

~Nail Polish Remover

~Duct Tape

 

Things worth getting before the race:

1.     Schwab account and card (Reimburses atm fees).

2.     Signing up for air mileage (Sky miles, Mileage plus, AA advantage, Skywards).                                               

3.     Over fundraising for personal money (there is a good possibility you will need more than $100 a month, whether that is for food, snacks, or fun activities).