Dear Friends, Family, and All Future Racers,

I am leaving in 3 days. As I am getting ready to leave for launch, I think the most asked question I received is what the heck I am putting in my 50 Liter pack. Well, here is the answer to your question.

For my future racers reading this blog, don’t fret, I am freaking out about packing just as much as you are. It took me packing and repacking for 5 days to finalize this list (that is if I don’t decide to take my pack apart again to just make sure I really do have everything I need).

Alright, here we go. My pack is 32lbs and I am attempting to pack the bare essentials.  

GEAR

 

Toiletries

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste

  • Mouthwash

  • 2 Shampoo Bars

  • 2 Conditioner Bars

  • 3 Deodorant Sticks (1 travel, 2 regular)

  • Travel Razor with 5 extra heads 

  • Scrunchies…..a million scrunchies

  • 1 pack of Wipes

  • 1 bottle of Hand Sanitizer

  • 1 bottle of Downy Wrinkle releaser plus

  • Loofa

  • Bar of Soap

  • 2 bottles of Face Soap (I have sensitive skin so I can only really use a certain brand. If your face isn’t sensitive I would just bring one bottle)

  • 1 bottle of toner
  • 1 bottle of face lotion
  • 1 Hairbrush

  • Q-Tips (travel pack size)
  • Dr. Bronner’s Castille soap (this is for laundry) 

Clothes

  • 5 t-shirts (3 dry-fit, 1 regular t-shirt, 1 tanktop)

  • 2 pair of convertible pant

  • 1 pair of jeans 

  • 10 pair of underwear

  • 4 bras (2 Regular 2 Sport)

  • 2 shorts

  • 2 pair of socks

  • 1 pair of tennis shoes 

  • 1 pair of chacos

  • 1 pair of old navy sandals (shower shoes)

  • 2 t-shirt dresses

  • 1 north face venture rain jacket 

  • 2 sarongs

  • 1 to the floor black skirt

  • 1 to the knee black shirt
  • 1 bathing suit (tankini with swimming skirt) 

  • 1 Baja beach hoodie 

  • 1 long sleeve jean shirt 

Miscellaneous

  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Laptop
  • Phone
  • 2 bottle of lotion bug repellant
  • 15 wipes of bug repellant 
  • 1 spray bottle of bug repellant (if you haven’t noticed I HATE MOSQUITOS)
  • 2 bottles of sunscreen (1 travel, 1 regular)
  • Cords for electronics 
  • Thermarest compressible pillow
  • Bible 
  • Journal 
  • Pens 
  • Colored pencils
  • Sharpies
  • 3 Headphones
  • Headlamp
  • Mess Kit 
  • Various pills (Dayquil, Nyquil, Sudafed, Ibuprofen, Emergen-c, Charcoal Pills, melatonin)
  • 2 months worth of Doxycycline
  • Compression Packing Cubes
  • 1 Ziploc gallon bag full of letters from home (I highly recommend having people write you letters before you leave.)
  • 1 Ziploc Gallon bag with 3-gallon size and 3-quart size.
  • 1 roll of duct tape
  • Paracord
  • Knife
  • extra batteries for headlamp
  • 9 carabiners
  • 1 Nalgene 
  • 1 Cafflano (my coffee brewing system)
  • 1 bag of coffee beans 
  • Copies of passport and Government ID
  • 5 passport photos 
  • yellow fever card 
  • ear plugs 
  • eye mask 
  • 1 TB flash drive
  • Emergency Kit (bandages, neosporin, cpr mask, and bandage wrap)
  • Tent repair kit
  • Sleeping pad repair kit
  • 2 pair of polarized sunglasses 

Important Tip

I feel like this is an important tip to include. I learned this the hard way during training camp, so I want to pass this knowledge onto those who did not have my experience.

ALWAYS HAVE AN EMERGENCY SET OF CLOTHES AND TOILETRIES IN YOUR DAYPACK.

In my daypack, I have an extra small compression packing cube that has 2 days worth of clothes in it. I also have a toiletry bag for my daypack that has enough toiletries in it to get through a week just in case anything happens to my big back. 

In my toiletry bag:

1 travel sized bottle of shampoo (liquid) 

1 travel sized bottle of travel conditioner (liquid)

1 travel sized bottle of dry shampoo

1 travel sized bottle of lotion bug repellant

1 travel sized bottle of face wash, toner, and face lotion

disposable razor

1 travel toothbrush

1 travel sized bottle of toothpaste

5 scrunchies

In my extra small compression cube: 

2 pair of underwear 

1 sport bra

1 t-shirt dress

1 dry fit t-shirt

 

And, that’s all I’m bringing. I really want to say thank you to all my donors. Without you guys, this missions trip would not be possible. I cannot wait to see all the different lessons and experiences that I will learn and see. I WILL MISS YOU ALL! 

‘Til next time,

Lillian Son