It's that time of year when new squads are getting together all the gear that they think they just might need for the race. The WR gives you a packing list once you get accepted. Most of the list is great, but, any racer on the field has their opinions and preferences based on their experiences. I relied heavily on packing lists posted by racers on the field and I don't regret it one bit. With that in mind, this blog is for all the future racers who would like a little advice and have been searching current racers' blog posts to get it. I won't give you an entire packing list, but I will tell you what I'm glad I brought, what I wish I brought, and what I shouldn't have brought at all.
I'M GLAD THAT I BROUGHT:
-A Schwab Card. Without a doubt, this is my number one smooth move for the race. Racers without Schwab cards are jealous of the rest of us. Why? No fees. You heard me, no fees. No ATM fees (any ATM, anywhere) and no conversion fees. Did you hear me? NO FEES. What else? No minimum balance and awesome customer service. If you get nothing else from this blog, know that a Schwab account is worth whatever minimal legwork you need to do in order to open it (and you should try to do that at least 3 weeks before you go on the race). You must trust me in this. And I will accept all your thanks upon your return.
-iHome Rechargable Speakers. I got mine at the Apple Store and they are awesome and not bulky at all. Since they are rechargeable, you can use them without worrying about batteries. You will be the hero of your team if you bring these compact sound machines on the race.
-Belkin 5-way splitter. Similar to the speakers, you will use this (or loan it) constantly.
-While we're talking electronics, if you need to purchase a laptop before the race (and you will want a laptop on the race, don't let anyone tell you that you can get by with an iPod Touch or iPad), and if you are an Apple person, and, if God has blessed you with the resources to get one, a MacBook Air is a great way to go. Just remember, you will also want a little connector to plug into one of the USB ports that will allow you to connect to an ethernet cable.
-If you have an iPod Touch, there are lots of great apps that will be in constant use. My two favorites are Postagram and Converter +. Postagram allows you to send a personalized postcard from anywhere in the world (that has wifi) for only $0.99. (Actually, I think that you buy credits now, but, it's about the same cost.) I bought credits before the race and have used the app to send all sorts of silly pics that I've taken to my fiance. As for Converter +, it's the app that I picked to help me convert money and measurements. I can't say that it's any better or worse than what's out there, but I can tell you that it hasn't let me down!
-Two Quick Dry Towels (not one). Quick dry towels smell funky after a while. Which means when you use them, you will also smell funky. You don't want to get clean just to dry yourself off with a smelly towel. Do yourself a favor and stash one of them in the bottom of your pack. Somewhere around month 6, you will be glad for your foresight.
-I am happy with my shoe choices. I always get compliments on my North Face Camp Slippers (which look like rugged ballet flats and have held up just fine as regular shoes) and my New Balance Minimus Sneakers (which, if they get real messy, can be rinsed out and dried overnight). Both are super lightweight and pack really flat (for shoes). Almost all the time in warmer climates, I've been wearing Teva Flip Flops. I will say, I still have 3 months to go in Central America and I'm not sure if they're going to make it… but so far, so good.
-Finally, if you're wondering what a sleeping bag liner is, and whether or not you should get one, do it. I wasn't sure if I would use mine, and for the first 2 months I didn't. Since then, I've used it in both warm and cold climates, and in Mozambique I used it to cover my sleeping pad so it wouldn't get so sweaty. (I know, it's gross. But it's true. Future racers gotta know!)
I WISH I HAD BROUGHT:
-Work Gloves. If I could go back, I would bring two pairs of these. Even if you only do manual labor for one day of the entire race, you will be SO happy that you have them. And if you bring two pairs, you can share with a friend who wasn't smart enough to take my advice to heart.
-Dish Gloves. They take up no room, and, some months you will probably have scheduled dish duty as you do life with your team and others. Things can get gross. It will be less gross if you have dish gloves to do it.
-Wool Socks. For all I know, a pair of wool socks was on the list and I just figured that I could buy them when I needed them. I could not. The socks that I could buy were not nearly as awesome and warm as wool socks that I could've brought from home.
-Plug Adaptors. My team divided up responsibility for who would bring items like this one. That was all well and good until team changes and now I have to ask to borrow an adaptor when I need to charge my stuff. It's never been a problem, but, if I could go back…
-Power strip. It's really helpful if one person on each team has one of these. When you're entire team needs to charge their computer and you only have one outlet, you'll appreciate it. Totally worth it.
-Kindle (with 3G). I like books. I like holding them. I like having them on my bookshelf. I do not like having them in my pack. I don't want a Kindle when I go home, but I toyed with the idea of getting one for the race. At the time, it seemed like one more electronic item that I'd have to worry about. I realize now that my concerns were unfounded, and, the added benefit of being able to access the internet to check emails by using the 3G would've been great. Instead, I've downloaded the free Kindle app on my laptop, but, it's just not the same.
THINGS NOT TO BRING:
-Water purifier. I don't know why this was on the list. When you can't drink from the tap (or hose in front of your hut) bottled water is available everywhere, and, in case of emergency, team leaders have water purifiers in their kits.
-Mess kit. Almost everyone on my squad returned theirs after training camp. What you might need is a collapsable bowl and plate and some utensils. I know squadmates who have used their dishes and utensils, but, for me at this point, they're just taking up room in my pack.
-Converter. Anyone who brought a converter on the race has gotten rid of it at this point. Most electronic chargers have converters and if you have a set of adaptors, you should be fine.
I hope this helps! If you're a future racer and you want to email me any questions about gear, I'll answer them as soon as I can. And, I promise, somehow, it all fits in your pack. You can do it!
