Hullo dear friend!
I know we have not met as of yet, but if you’re soon to leave on the race, we’re family, and I’m sure we’d make amazing friends.
So, not so long ago, I was in the exact same spot as you. I’d just finished training camp in the unseasonably glacial Georgia mountains, and I was wondering if everything I had packed for that one week would be enough for eleven months. Then I got online and scavenged through World Race blogs to see if anyone could give me hidden gems of wisdom beyond the suggested packing list AIM offers.
I am currently heading into month 6 and have used absolutely everything I have packed… and not needed to get rid of anything as of yet.
So, here are some pearls of wisdom of things I’m happy I brought along on my race. Remember, this will vary depending upon which route you’re on, and the seasons in which you hit certain countries. Check last year’s temperature averages on Weather Underground to get an idea of that, but know that last year, Pitesti, Romania was covered in snow in May, and this year, I was switching between thermals and tank tops. Sometimes it’s just best to be prepared.
CLOTHING:
Some of THE BEST advice I gleaned from a blog about what to pack is…
…don’t sweat it! And don’t go purchase a brand new wardrobe for the race. Wear what you’re comfortable in. Also, don’t bring just rags to wear. Yes, you’ll need work clothes, but there will be plenty of occasions you’ll want to wear casual but nice attire (i.e. church, team dinners, just when you’re tired of being a ragamuffin). I brought one dress and one skirt with me. I honestly wish I’d taken one more skirt or dress, but I will probably purchase one when I hit Africa next week. I would definitely suggest bringing your favourite shirt or cozy slippers to wear in downtime.
JEWELRY:
I decided early on that I was only going to bring one pair of earrings and one necklace. I brought my favourites from RedEarthTradingCo., with the hope that I may run into their creators in Kenya or Uganda, but I haven’t missed having more of a selection. Jewelry tends to be heavy and weigh down your pack, and if you miss it, you can always purchase it in the countries on your route.
FOOTWEAR:
I bought a pair of Teva trainers for $36 bucks at Ross. I didn’t have any trainers, so that was a needed purchase. Any regular pair of close toed shoe is good.
I also recommend a COMFORTABLE pair of flip flops over Chacos or utili-sandals.
I am SO THANKFUL I brought my TOMS. There is one thing about TOMS though… they don’t last the year. If you REALLY LOVE TOMS, you may wish to bring two pair with you. They’re compact, and very versatile with various clothes.
ELECTRONICS:
Before I left on the race, I was struggling with whether or not to buy a Mac or a cheaper netbook. I am SO thankful I did not buy a Mac because one of my squadmates accidently stepped on my computer and broke the screen while we were traveling. My Toshiba netbook worked well for everything for which I need it. Whatever you decide to bring, you have to be ok if it gets broken or stolen. On the other hand, if you’re a Mac person, and you love having your Mac to edit photos, you’ll probably want to take the risk. Everyone on my squad who brought theirs is grateful.
One of the best pieces of advice I got before leaving is to purchase a portable hard drive (thanks Vinny)! Make sure you transfer your info frequently in the case of your computer getting broken or stolen. If I didn’t have a PHD, I wouldn’t be able to transfer and keep the information that was on my computer after it broke (movies, music, photos, documents), and now I can work on my teammates computers through my PHD. Don’t forget flashdrives!!! They are a must!
IPOD- Before I launched, my amazing small group family gave me the most amazing and most used item on the race… my IPOD Touch. It’s been incredible in conversions, calculations, translations, directions, skyping, facetiming, reading books, and calling home, listening to sermons, listening to music while I have hours of work… I could keep going. It’s also an added blessing that I can still communicate with people even though I don’t have a computer. Even if you have a computer, you’re not always going to want to haul it to a place to use internet, and sometimes an ipod is more portable and concealable to take pictures. They gave me a 32G touch, and I could not be more thankful. It’s truly been used on a daily basis. By the way… thanks again incredible spiritual family!
Definitely get a headphone splitter, and make sure someone on your team is bringing speakers. They’re SO helpful to have for dramas and listening to music as a team. I didn’t think I would need any, but we have used speakers more times than I can count.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT:
I know every route is different, but I have already slept in my tent for two months. I bought a Marmot Limelite 2P. I got it a heck of a lot cheaper online. I know a lot of people on my squad are happy they brought their Eno hammocks. They’re small, and if you already have one, you may as well bring it. Some people brought a little brush and dust pan for the dirt in their tent. If you have one, bring it if you don’t like dirt in your tent.
Sleeping bag- My dear friend Cassi gave me a warm weather sleeping bag, and when I’ve had to use it, it’s been sufficient with a liner. I had the mentality that I would just purchase a blanket in country if it got too cold, and then leave it to someone when I left. My route is mainly in warmer countries though, so the lighter bag has been perfect.
I have not needed a mess kit yet. I have, however, had to use my bowl, cup, and utensils often. I brought the Sea to Summit X-mug and bowl and they save so much space in my pack. If you’re as in love with coffee as I am, you may want to pack some instant coffee just in case.
SUNSCREEN/BUG REPELLANT:
TRUST ME on this, you will want to pack a healthy sized bottle of sunscreen! I went to a beautiful beach in Guatemala, forgetting that I was taking Doxycycline (which makes you prone to sunburn), and I was nearer to the equator than I have ever been in my life, and I finished the day sporting something resembling sun poisoning.
Sunscreen is very, very expensive in most countries. It was so pricey in Guatemala that I refused to buy it, and boy, did I pay the price (no pun intended). I’m also very particular about what kind of bug spray works. I swear by Deep Woods Off to keep mosquitos away. So far they have been worst for me in El Salvador and Ukraine, but again, this depends upon time of year, location, and weather conditions. It’s my opinion that a good mosquito netting and spray come in quite handy on the race. It'll keep your legs from looking like my teammate's.
HEALTH/HYGIENE:
I’m not particular about many products, but I packed three sticks of my deodorant because I knew it would be difficult to find anything other than a spray abroad. I have found that to be true. You may have a chance in major European cities or some airports to find it, but you will have to pay a pretty penny for it when you do. It may just be best to pack ahead.
I first brought a pack towel with me and it didn’t last the first month. They stink after just a few uses. I have found that the best towel is either a small hand towel or a sarong. They dry quickly, dry more body mass than a pack towel, and stink less. Speaking of stinking, BRING BABY WIPES for when water is really cold or really scarce. A light scented body spray is also handy at times, just FYI.
I brought some probiotics, vitamins, malaria meds, and garlic pills. So far, I haven’t used the garlic, but had very few stomach problems because of the Lord’s mercy and probiotics. I only wish I’d brought more Burt’s Bees Res-Q ointment. I put it on scrapes, cuts, bruises, stings, burns, and it is like a miracle salve. Bring two if you’d like to be covered for the whole race.
It’s also useful to have all of your bathroom stuff in a clear, hanging container. I got mine in the travel section at Wal-Mart.
Annnnnd just for my sisters who are racing… (brothers, get used to bodily functions being discussed regularly)…
FEMININE HYGIENE:
I wish this had been addressed more before I left. I purchased a Diva Cup prior to leaving, but didn’t give myself to 2-3 months to get used to it. Apparently it takes a while, but the women who brought them are thankful they did. I chose not to go on birth control because I don’t like to put any unnecessary chemicals in my body. I think I brought enough tampons to last me for the race… or at least I hope I did. I’m particular about what kind of tampon I use, and last month, the store only sold one kind of tampon without an applicator. I got the extendable tampax pearl, and I found they all fit nicely in the top roll of my pack. I put them all in small plastic bags, and it frees a bag for another need when I empty them.
What else is there… em… remember chapstick, Q-tips, and a good set of workout videos loaded onto your PHD. Oh! I also found a really durable purse in the travel section at Target. It doubles as my camera case on travel days. Also… PENS and GUM are precious on the race!!! Two dear friends gifted them to me before I left and it was the best gift! Also, don’t skimp on a pillow or sleeping pad. Be as kind to your body as possible! Also, get a water bottle you love and hold onto it for dear life. I forgot mine on a plane, and it's difficult to find one on the field. Thankfully, my new friend Andy just gave his to me in Ukraine before he headed back to Texas. He's a lifesaver!
And don’t freak out, somehow, the night before you head off to launch, it all magically fits into your pack.
Love and Baklava,
Kate
