Packing for the World Race

It hardly seems real that my Race has come to an end! It seems like just the other day I was trying to figure out what I should pack for Training Camp (and of course I packed way more than I needed). So, in memory of the confusion in packing for my Race, I wanted to share my thoughts on packing for the World Race.

First, every route is different. You’ll go different places during different seasons. Even on the same squad, you’ll experience different parts of the countries, and thus different weather. We were on the coast in Ecuador, where it was HOT – another team was up in the mountains, where it was chilly. So keep that in mind when reading other folks’ packing recommendations. At the bottom of this post, I broke things down by region, including the month that I was in those places. 

Also, you can find anything essential to life anywhere that you go (at least anywhere that I went), so don’t stress out about not being able to find your favorite deodorant. (Ladies, I’m afraid I don’t have any insight on feminine products.) If you can’t find the comforts you are used to – embrace it, this is the reality in which your hosts, contacts, and new friends spend their entire lives.

Finally, if you’re not sure, don’t bring it. I generally have the mentality “better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it” – that is not a good mentality to have when packing for the Race. And at that point, I did not have a good grasp on the word “need” – you’ll learn along the way what you actually need, and what things simply make your life more comfortable. By your third travel day you’ll be trying to figure out what things you can live without, so you don’t have to carry them anymore.

So pack light, embrace discomfort, and remember that you’re only living in this discomfort for a month at a time (11 months total), the people that you meet live like this for their entire lives. You’ll survive.

Happy Packing!

Drew

 

General List

Clothing

• Synthetics that are lightweight and quick drying.
• I brought one pair of khaki colored shorts, two pairs of khaki pants that zip off into shorts, two pairs of synthetic athletic shorts (with pockets), one pair of denim pants, and one pair of khaki slacks.
  • The khaki shorts were redundant since my pants zipped into shorts.
  • I wore the denim pants one time, when it was very cold.
  • The khaki slacks never came out of my pack.

• I brought three synthetic t-shirts, two cotton blend t-shirts, one long-sleeved synthetic t-shirt, three synthetic collared shirts, and one button down with tie.
  • I wore the synthetic t-shirts most of the time.
  • I wore the cotton blend t-shirts quite a bit.
  • I wore the synthetic collared shirts for church.
  • The button down and tie never came out of my pack.

• Rain jacket. Non-negotiable. Get a good quality one. You don’t want to wish you had spent the extra money when you’re caught in a downpour. It also doubles as a light windbreaker or just a light outer layer if it is chilly.
  • Mine was a Marmot Membrain. It worked perfectly.

• Fleece jacket.
  • I recommend taking some sort of base layer for insulation under your rain jacket if it does get cold, but get something compact – mine took up a lot of space.

• Underwear.
  • If you do your laundry, four pairs are all you need.

• Socks.
  • I think I wore two pairs, but probably could have survived with one pair. Athletic socks, not thick hiking or winter socks.

• Hat
  • I took a hat more for school spirit than anything else.

• Bathing suit.
  • I never wore mine. This was due to personal preference – I’m not a big fan of getting in the water
  • Stick to the AIM dress code, and you’ll be fine anywhere.

Shoes

• I wore my Chacos 99% of the time.
  • Mine were several years old by the time my Race started. I recommend buying a new pair far enough in advance to break them in before the Race, but close enough to the Race that they don’t start coming apart during month 1 (but super glue works nicely if they do).
  • Also, Chacos will start to smell. If you wear them as much as I did, they will start to reek. Wash them when you do laundry.

• I took a pair of running shoes.
  • I am a runner, so these were a must. Also, you will play football (soccer). A lot. They doubled as my close-toed shoes any time we needed them (gardening, mixing/pouring concrete, etc.).
  • Also worked as warm shoes in the few moments when it was cold.

• I packed a pair of 99¢ flip-flops from Walmart for shower shoes.
  • They never came out of my pack.

Toiletries

• Bring travel sizes of everything. These items are available everywhere:
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrush
    • But not toothbrush covers
  • Deodorant
  • Shampoo
  • Soap/body wash
  • Ladies, sorry but I don’t have any insight regarding feminine products

• Contacts – I packed 11 months’ worth of 30-day contacts.
• BRING GLASSES TOO! I preferred my glasses on travel days because I hate sleeping in my contacts.
  • When I lost my glasses in month 9, I went blind on travel days, rather than wear my contacts – it really wasn’t that bad.

• Contact solution is hard to find in Africa. Some pharmacies carry it, but they keep it in the back for temperature reasons.
• It seemed like a good idea for girls to pack some toilet paper, especially on travel days.
• Finger- & toenail clippers
• Brush – in Africa, I bought a brush that folds in half and has a mirror in the handle. Excellent investment.
• Scissors – I brought these to trim my beard & mustache since I decided that I would not shave during the Race.
• Q-tips – I brought a travel-sized container, and that was about the right amount.
• Floss
• Sun screen – it never came out of my pack.
• Bug spray – never came out of my pack.
• Wet wipes – never came out of my pack.

Accessories

• Watch – definitely pack a watch. Knowing the time is valuable. Having an alarm clock is valuable. Having a second alarm is valuable. I also used mine to time my runs.
• Pocket knife – I always carry a pocket knife, so I brought one on the Race. It was extremely useful. There will be lots of fruit to peel. I brought a CRKT Squid – a simple and sturdy knife.
  • Make sure you put it in your checked baggage – don’t try to carry it on the plane.
• Sunglasses – definitely bring a pair, and I recommend getting a hard case for them.
• Water bottle – I recommend bringing one; dehydration was a common problem. There were some folks who simply got a disposable water bottle in each country, but I liked having my own bottle. Be sure to wash it regularly.
  • I got a Camelbak Chute because I liked the mouthpiece. You can drink without spilling all over yourself. I got the 750mL version, and it seemed to be just right.
  • Mine finally got too nasty to use during month 10, so I survived the rest of the time with plastic water bottles.

Electronics

• Phone – this is a hot topic with the Race. I brought mine. I’m glad I did. The whole issue is about self-control. If you have self-control, then you will understand using your devices when it is appropriate, but if you lack self-control, then you’re going to struggle with any device.
  • I used mine as a camera – especially the panoramic function – I used it for internet, FaceTime, iMessage, iPod, Notes, Calendar, email, Reminders, iBooks, and podcasts. I had a teammate who downloaded Google Translate for each country, and used his phone to communicate.
  • I got an Otterbox for my phone, and that protected it from everything I ran into.

• Camera – if you are a photographer or videographer, bring it. You WILL want it. Bring equipment that you are ok with losing, getting stolen, or getting damaged.
  • I carried my Nikon D40x with an 18-200 Nikor lens. I’m glad I brought it. I do wish I had a newer model that would shoot video.
  • I also brought my GoPro. I used it some, but I’m not big on videography, so I could have survived without it. I knew people who filmed extensively with theirs and made some awesome videos.
  • If you’re not big on photography/videography, your phone will do just fine.
  • If you’re not bringing your phone, a simple point-and-shoot will do fine too.

• Computer – I recommend bringing one.
  • I brought a MacBook Air. I’m glad I did. It was light and very compact, but still powerful and versatile. I did not see any other machines that paired power and versatility with compact size. I had squadmates who used chromebooks, but the harddrives were so small, that in the months where internet was scarce, their computer was sub-optimal.
  • Also, I brought an external harddrive and a flash drive. My harddrive held my music, movies, photos, etc, since the computer harddrive was not very big. The flash drive was very useful in sharing things with others.

• Power converter – definitely bring one.
  • My computer and phone both were Apple products, so I bought the Apple World Traveler Kit – it worked perfectly. (For that, you need a specific iPhone charger, so check on that too.) I also purchased a USB charger for my camera batteries, so it could use my USB charger for my phone.
    • I also found out (during month 11) that the USB cable for the charger for my camera batteries would charge my team phone.
  • A few folks brought power strips. There were times when this came in handy, especially All Squad Month.

• I also got a couple of watertight bags for electronics. Fortunately never needed them.
• A headphone splitter could be helpful. There are some that are star-shaped and have 5 connections.

Books

• Bible – My fiancé got me a small gift Bible for the Race – it worked great for me. Many of my squadmates brought new Bibles and wished that they had brought their old Bibles that had all of their notes.
• Journal – I brought one with me (Moleskine) and filled it up one week into month 2. I bought more journals along the way.
  • Also, I recommend having a prayer journal. Some folks included their prayers in their journal – I preferred to have a separate prayer journal.
  • If you have a favorite type of pen, bring several and at least two different colors. And bring a highlighter or two. You can buy both pens and highlighters almost anywhere, but they usually will be cheap and low quality.

• Devotional – my fiancé gave me My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, and it was a great daily devotional for me. I found that somehow his devotions frequently were relevant to something that I was experiencing at the time.
• Notebook – you’ll want some sort of place to take notes. Some folks didn’t mind taking notes directly in their journals. I preferred a separate notebook.
• Reading material – I recommend loading up your devices with eBooks. They are much lighter and occupy much less space that way. I brought one hardcopy book with me and I ended up shipping it home at the end of month 2 without reading it. I did read quite a few books I had in iBooks (including Kingdom Journeys and The Art of Listening Prayer).

Medications

• Malaria meds – definitely get some if you’re going to affected areas.
  • I got mefloquine. It’s once a week, and it is relatively inexpensive.

• Check the CDC for recommended vaccinations, then consult a travel physician.
• When I visited my travel physician, they gave me small quantities of several things like antibiotics, anti-diarrheals, ibuprofen, Band-Aids, alcohol swabs, etc. I used a few Band-Aids and alcohol swabs, but I don’t like to take medicine, so I didn’t use any of the other items. Odds are that you’ll have a few nurses on the squad who will know what you need for minor illnesses.
• Probiotics are a good idea. Or eat lots of yogurt.

Gear

• Pack – 75 liters is plenty of space. Probably too big. Make sure to have it fitted to you. Practice packing it at least once before the night before training camp.
  • Mine was an old Jansport that I’ve had for years. It was 78 liters. I filled it for Training Camp, and it was way too much stuff. I slimmed down for the Race.
  • Airporter – I recommend getting one. I got an Osprey bag and it worked great, and packed down pretty small to be out of the way when not needed.
  • Pack cover – better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Mine packed down to the size of a tennis ball, so it was a non-issue. Fortunately, I never needed it.

• Day pack – get one that is durable and comfortable. This will be extremely useful. It probably will be your carry on for flights, your overnight bag for short trips, your shopping bag in the market, and your pillow in the airport/bus station for an overnight layover.
  • Also, get key rings to secure the zippers. That is enough to deter pickpockets – locks are unnecessary.

• Tent – get one that is lightweight and compact. For many months, we had accommodations, so I slept indoors. There were a couple of months that I set up my tent inside as protection from mosquitos.
  • I used my dad’s old Sierra Designs Meteorlight CD. It’s a little on the large side as a two-man tent. The tent itself was great, but the rainfly was old, and not really waterproof anymore.

• Sleeping bag – I already had a Mountain Hardware backpacking sleeping bag that was rated to 30 degrees F, so I took that. You’re going to want one that packs down to a reasonable size.
• Sleeping bag liner – I used this quite a bit. Most nights it was too warm for the sleeping bag, so I only used the liner.
• Sleeping pad – I had a self-inflating Thermarest sleeping pad, and I loved it. Many of my squadmates also had the kind that you had to inflate yourself. Those pack down smaller, and blow up bigger, but my pad did everything that I needed it to, so no regrets.
• Towel – I got a large Packtowl. This will be your bath towel and swimming towel.
  • I also brought a small towel for other incidental uses. It came in handy when I needed to wipe down my tent to pack it up.

• I packed in 2 gallon Ziploc bags. These worked great, although they did wear out.
• Headlamp – definitely useful, but not critical. If you do get one, don’t spend a bunch of money. I used the flashlight on my phone.
• Spork – keep it in your day pack, except on flights. I got the metal Light My Fire spork, glad I did, I saw many plastic ones break.
• Plate/bowl/mug – rarely came out of my pack.

Money

• I recommend getting a Charles Schwab card – they don’t charge withdrawal fees at the ATM.
• If you want to supplement your Race food budget, you can spend a whole lot of money on food.
• I bought souvenirs in every country, as well as some gifts for my loved ones.
• Occasionally there were supplies (super glue, soap/shampoo, pens, etc.) that I bought

 

Wishes/Regrets:

Things I did bring, but wish I hadn’t:

• Frisbee – I never used it.
• Hammock – never used it. Although this was as much due to lack of desire as it was lack of opportunity. I had squadmates who used theirs often.
• Various other items like sunscreen, bug spray, etc.

Things I didn’t bring, but wish I had:

• Nothing. If you truly need it, you’ll think to pack it. If you lose something essential, you can find it overseas. If you can’t find it overseas, you don’t need it.

Things I brought, but never used:

• Various OTC meds, camping TP, camping plate/bowl/mug, wet wipes, rope (paracord), matches, headlamp,

 

By Region:

Eastern Europe– I traveled to Albania and Romania for July and August, respectively.

• The dress was pretty casual. I wore shorts and t-shirts the entire time in both countries, except for worship services. I wore collared shirts and slacks for church.
• Chacos 100% of the time (except when I went running).
• Weather
  • In Albania, it was 100+ degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and in the 80s at night. It sprinkled for about 3 minutes, one time, other than that there was no rain.
  • In Romania it was in the 80s and 90s until it rained for about 3 days, then it got chilly for a few days.
  • It was too warm for a sleeping bag; I slept in my sleeping bag liner.

• Sleeping arrangements
  • I had a bed in Albania and in Romania I slept on my sleeping pad indoors.

Africa– I traveled to Malawi and Zambia for September and October, respectively.

• T-shirts and long pants the whole time.
• Collared shirts and pants for worship services.
• Chacos, except when running.
• Raincoat made a nice light layer for chilly nights/mornings, as well as protection from mosquitos in the evenings (Malawi).
• Weather
  • In Malawi, it was in the 70s and 80s during the day and the 50s at night. It rained lightly for a few hours one day, and was chilly for a few days after that, but nothing excessive.
  • Zambia was hot 24/7. No rain.

• Sleeping arrangements
  • In Malawi I was tenting indoors. I used my sleeping bag and liner, and sleeping pad.
  • In Zambia I had a bed.

Southeast Asia– I traveled to Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia for November, December, and January.

• In Asian cities, you can find many of the things that you would back home (clothes, toiletries, electronics, etc.).
• I spent the vast majority of my time in t-shirts and shorts.
  • Long pants usually are required for temples and mosques. Also, men should not wear tank tops or sleeveless shirts.

• Chacos, except when running.
  • We had Manistry in Thailand, so I wore close-toed shoes for some of the manual labor.
  • In Asian cultures you remove your shoes before entering a home or temple.

• Weather
  • Hot. 90 degrees.
  • Humid.
  • In Cambodia, it rained at least a little bit almost every day, but rarely were we outside in it. The rain becomes a welcome sight because it will cool things down.
  • In Thailand it would be cool in the mornings, and hot in the afternoons. No rain.
  • In Malaysia, it rained hard every couple of days – apparently we were headed into their rainy season.

• Sleeping arrangements
  • In Cambodia, I had a bed in one location, in another I was tenting indoors.
  • In Thailand we had a house.
  • In Malaysia we were in an apartment.

South America– I traveled to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile for February, March, April, and May.

• Weather
  • In the mountains, it was cool and as we got further south of the equator and the seasons progressed it got colder.
  • In the coastal areas (Guayaquil) it was hot and humid.
    • In Guayaquil, it rained a little bit almost every day.

• Clothes
  • Chacos, except to run.
  • It was hot, so I wore shorts and t-shirts until the last month when we were farthest from the equator, and it was winter.
  • In Chile, it was chilly. I wore long pants and a light jacket. There were a couple of days where it was cold enough to wear a sweatshirt underneath.
  • In a couple of places, it rained quite a bit. Fortunately that usually was at night.

• Bugs. In the mountain areas, I had chigger bites something awful.
• Sleeping Arrangements
  • My arrangements varied from tenting indoors to a bed with a mosquito net to a bed in a nice house. Nights would get chilly enough for a light blanket.