Hello friends, this is my packing list for The World Race!
As I was preparing for the race I looked at many packing blogs for advice on what to bring, so if you are a future racer, this is for you!!
OR if you are a follower of my blog and wondering how in the world I am fitting my entire life into 2 bags then this is for you!
**Some quick tips and tricks
*Go to Scheels or REI or some sort of outdoor store to try out different equipment. They will fit you for your big pack and show you the ins and outs of your pack. They will allow you to try out some different sleeping pads, sleeping bags etc. Make sure you do your research on world race blogs, this trip is a lot different than most. Also FYI Scheels price matches Amazon. 🙂
*Find what you like and what you will need. You may feel like you want different meds, vaccinations, gear than I am bringing.
*Once you find the piece of gear you want, look on different websites-Amazon, eBay, etc. don’t just settle for the REI store price. Also Facebook marketplace is great for buying a computer, bags, etc. you never know what someone could be selling in your community!
THE LIST:
The Necessities
Big pack: Osprey Aura 65L This has top loading and bottom loading openings, and lots of different compartments, is a sturdy pack and a trusted/recommended brand. I kept my eye out for this when the price would drop on amazon and bought it for around $160.
Day pack: Kelty Redwing 2000 this is a bit of an older model but it a great brand, with lots of space and different compartments. And got a raincover for this pack for super cheap on Amazon. I got it on my Facebook marketplace for $25.
Sleeping pad: Nemo you will want to have a nice sleeping pad, keep in mind this will be your bed for a year! This pad is great because it has a foot pump instead of blowing it up yourself. An alumni racer recommended this pad to me, because a lot of her friends pads popped on the race and hers held up, and even if it does pop in one part it doesn’t ruin the entire pad. Also comes with a little repair kit. It doesn’t fold down to miniscule size but I love that I can just easily pump it up with my foot. I got it on eBay with a coupon for around $120.
Personal Item bag: I got a Kavu (from Facebook Marketplace) good cross body bag and big enough to hold my bible and journal and some other items.
Bible: I got a small bible, to make it easy to carry to ministry every day. I considered bringing a study bible but it is so heavy.
Journal: I am bringing 1 journal and then planning to buy another in country. Also once I am done with a journal I’ll send it home with my parents or just keep it (I heard if you mail it, sometimes it doesn’t make it home and those are journals I won’t want to lose)
Tent: Kelty Salida 2 Super easy and quick set up, but I would have liked one that maybe had more ventilation. I might not always need my tent, mostly for ‘just in case’ situations. This is a tent on the smaller end, I got a compression sack to put it into. **But you definitely need a tent for training camp, so if you are thinking about not bringing a tent on the race see if you can borrow one or something just for the 10 days of training camp. I got mine for $100 on the world race buy sell page. Included with a footprint-tent footprint is a groundsheet to put under your tent. It’s made out of waterproof material to reduce the chances of your tent from getting wet or getting damaged by rough terrains. I’m also bring a mosquito net.
Sea to Summit Airporter: Covers your big pack so that nothing gets out when on the airplane/getting to your ministry site. Also doubles as a rain cover. Also I would make your pack stand out because almost everyone will have the same one, so maybe sew a patch on it or something.
Sleeping liner: I got mine on eBay, but it’s basically just a sheet sewn together, like a sleeping bag. My route is all warm countries so I am not taking a sleeping bag. If we are in the mountains or something where it is cold at night I’ll put on a jacket, sweatpants, socks, airplane blanket so don’t worry mom!!
CLOTHES!!
**I went to Goodwill for all of my clothes, because when I want to buy something else in country I can just ditch one of these items because I bought it for $1 at Goodwill! You can also find good brands like Colombia, Nike, Eddie Bauer, etc.
**ALSO bring clothes you feel comfortable in and might actually wear at home, so if you actually wear those pants that zip off into shorts bring em, otherwise don’t waste your money.
As far as packing cubes go I like eagle creek, they are big and hold up well.
These are the shirts I got + 1 light jean long sleeve and a flannel. You will want nice clothes to wear to ministry and the people will want you to look nice as well.
These are shorts/pants/skirts. All shorts must be no shorter than 5” above the knee and any skirt/dress must be past the knee. These guidelines are to respect the culture and ministry that we are serving in.
And this is what it looks like all packed up! Hydroflask for size reference.
Also I would keep an extra set of clothes in your daypack.
*Also sweatshirt and sweatpants, nice for travel days.
Undergarments: in a stuff sack
20 pairs of underwear
5 sports bra
4 pairs of socks
*Shoes
Tennis shoes
Chacos- don’t just buy Chacos for the race and think you will love them. Some people love em, others love tevas. I personally love Chacos (no toe strap). Literally wear them everyday.
Shower shoes (aka Old Navy flip flops)
Nice sandals for church-many times you will be preaching at church and people might not want to see you up front in your Chacos. Also I’m a size 11/12 so it will be hard to find shoes in other countries, I would rather take these and then drop them rather than not take them and then want them later
Toiletries
Towel: I got a Turkish towel, it dries quickly and doesn’t get smelly quickly like a microfiber towel.
*I got a separate small towel for my hair
Shampoo- I got a shampoo bar at Lush. It lasts for about 80 washes. Easy to not have to worry about getting new shampoo in each country.
Soap-also got a soap bar that I cut and put into a little lunch box container I got at TJ MAXX. I also got mini LOOFAs at the dollar store that I am taking.
Conditioner: Taking some in a travel size bottle from home, but just planning on buying more when I need it. I know that conditioner will be available most everywhere and taking a year’s supply is not smart.
Deodorant: Bringing 2 of the brand I like. I have heard stick deodorant is not available most places around the world so if that is what you like bring it!!
Razor
Leave in Conditioner
Dry Shampoo
brush/combs
Toothbrush and toothpaste (1 small travel set and 1 regular)
Floss
Contacts + solution
Diva cup (feminine product)
Hand sanitizer
Tweezers
Nail clippers
Bobby pins
Mini hair ties
Regular hair ties
Scrunchies/headbands
Chapstick
Mascara, liquid foundation, matte lip gloss.
**I’m not a huge makeup person but I know I will want to have it sometimes to look nice in the next 11 months. If you like makeup, take it! Just make a few sacrifices on what you really need and what you want
Kleenexes
Facewash + cotton rounds
Lotion
Q-tips
bug spray
Glasses+ glasses cleaner
SUNSCREEN!
nail polish
Baby wipes
This is everything packed up, but without the baby wipes + towels. Hydroflask for size reference.
Medications
*this is different for everyone, and I’m not prepared for every situation but this is what I feel will be good for me individually.
* When buying meds look at the active ingredient, most of the time the store brand and the expensive are the same. I just went with the general store brand for all of these.
Multivitamin
Probiotic-helps with your gut function
Ibuprofen
Tums
Midol
Hydrocortisone (anti itch cream)
Nasal spray (because allergies)
Pepto bismo-pill form
Anti-diarrheal
Dramamine
Dayquil-pill form
Band aids, Neosporin
Emergen-C packets
Essential oils!! From doTERRA
Lavender: good for sleep, headaches, soothe bug bites
Peppermint: stomach ache, sunburn,
Tea tree: bug bite prevention, anti-inflammatory, prevent lice
Vaccines: Research this-the vaccines and where you can get them. There were several places in the Denver area where I could get vaccines but I called around to get the cheapest one.
Yellow Fever-you NEED this to enter some countries. Make sure you call and make an appointment and don’t wait till the last minute!
Typhoid-getting the shot, it’s just easier.
Malaria pills: I am NOT getting malaria pills, because it masks the symptoms instead of preventing it, so you might not know you have it until it gets bad. Also the pills give you weird symptoms. If I do get it (knock on wood that I don’t) then I can go to a clinic and take care of it.
Technology
Microsoft Surface 2 RT. Works as a computer/tablet. Mostly using this for blogging and watching movies. I originally bought an iPad to take on my race but it doesn’t allow you to play movies that are not from iTunes or downloaded from Netflix (which expire after certain amount of days), the Microsoft does. I got this on Facebook marketplace for $125, so even though I love it, I won’t be devastated if it gets lost/stolen/broken (but knocking on wood it doesn’t).
External Hard Drive Will be used to store movies and pictures. Not a necessity item but fun to swap movies with teammates! Also taking a flash drive just in case. I’ll store my photos on google photos as well but just in case. This year will be full of moments I’ll want to remember!
3 pairs of headphones: I heard these get lost/broken easily.
Portable speaker courtesy of WAC swimming conference meet (go bears)
Charging bank for those 36 hour bus rides 🙂
IPhone
2 iPhone chargers
Surge protector
Travel plug adapter-make sure you research which plugs you need
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS!! Keep these in a safe bag or case. Also I got a neck wallet so my stuff can be hidden when traveling or at a busy market.
Passport
Passport photos-for when you need a visa. If you have AAA go there for these!! They do them for cheap or free (depending on membership)
Yellow fever card
Driver’s license
You don’t need to take this with you but make a Power of Attorney so your parents/someone you trust can do things for you when you are gone
Living will
Make extra copies of your license and passport jusssttt in case.
BANKING
Get Charles Schwab! They refund your ATM fees. Also make sure you tell them all the countries you are going to so they don’t red flag your card
Miscellaneous
Sleep mask
Ear plugs
Paracord (for a clothes line)
Lifewater straw
Cards
Markers/pens
Coloring book
Mad libs
Sea to summit dry sack-keeps your stuff dry!!
Calculator and extra bag with compartments if you are the treasurer for your team (I am for mine)
Laundry bag
Travel luggage scale-heard it’s very helpful for travel days!!
Crystallite
Extra plastic baggies of different sizes
Febreeze spray
Drying sheets-put it in your packing cubes to keep clothes smelling fresh!
Travel bowl (compresses down)
Spork- I got a spoon, knife and fork all in one
Travel mug
Swim suit
Carabiner-the locking kind
RAINJACKET (necessity!) I’m going to a lot of rainy countries, so if that is the same for you don’t go to Walmart and get a cheap one. Make sure you get one to keep you dry in a monsoon.
Umbrella
Command strips and hooks-heard it’s nice to take in case you don’t have hooks at the home for your towel, or other stuff you might want to hang.
Rubber bands
Hydroflask-got mine on eBay!
Sign up for air miles! On United, Delta and American.
Jewelry: My goring and 1 pair of earrings.
Sunglasses
Watch
Photos from home
Full sized pillow-Might be a bit of a pain on travel days but YOLO. Also taking 3 pillow cases: 2 for sleeping and 1 for travel.
Headlamp+ batteries
1 book
multitool
gum, mints
Helpful phone Apps:
XE Currency-download your countries before you go!
Kindle: I like reading but don’t want to bring a kindle or lots of books.
God Tools-helps with ministry in different languages
Jesus Film-helps with ministry in different languages
1 second a day
Spotify-download music, a lot teams sign up for a family plan
Translator app (I have triplingo right now we’ll see how that works out)
THAT’S IT!! Less than 2 weeks ‘till launch, let’s do this.
