Backpacks

I'm a huge fan of "travel backpacks" which differ than hiking backpacks in that they are front loading, have zippers that go most of the way around, have lockable zippers and have a detachable day pack. Hiking backpacks on the other hand, may provide a better weight suspension but they are mostly toploading which is annoying if you have to rummage to the bottom of your bag to find something and then re-pack it all (especially somewhere in public where you don't want to display all the contents of your bag).

I've travelled with a 77 L backpack which is entirely too large (I'm about 5'4'' in height). If you have larger, you pack more = way to freakin heavy!
Cons of a large backpack: its heavy. Having the pack on your back is one thing, but constantly lifting it up at least 50-100 centimetres in the air (to put it on your back) is another.
More cons: the bigger it is, the more likely that your pack will have to go at the bottom of the bus or on top. If you're in an area where there is a lot of theft, you want to keep your backpack with you at all times (being able to put your leg over the back, or stick your foot through a shoulder strap).

However, just to be fair: cons of a smaller backpack = can't carry as much, can't buy as many souvenirs along your travels (unless you decide to mail it all back home), what you bring has to be very efficient, practical and useful.

Questions to ask yourself:
Are you a packrat? Are there many things you absolutely cannot live without? Are you going to want to purchase many things along the way of your travels?

If you do decide to go with a smaller pack, but realize you are a packrat (as I am)... things you can do to cut down on weight:
for sleepsheets... try to find a silk one instead of cotton (its lighter and compresses smaller).
find a sleeping bag (if you need one) that compresses to the size of maybe 2 loafs of bread instead of 10 loaves of bread (sorry.. not sure what else would work as an analogy).
Bring clothing/footwear that serves multiple purposes. ie. sarong (towel, blanket, fashion attire), chaco/teva sandals (great for shower, water sports, all around walking),
select clothing that is quickdry - will dry quickly in a few hours (usually synthetically made v. something made out of cotton).
Try to pack clothing that is layerable and thinner v. bulky sweaters that will take up lots of room (same goes with sweatpants).
Try to figure out what can be bought locally in the country you're in (not too expensive) v. what cannot be easily found in that country (certain drugs from home, tampons, condoms, etc). If its found locally, don't bother packing it along.

Hope this helps. Feel free to e-mail me if you have further unanswered questions.

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"He who would travel happily must travel light."
-- ?

It depends on what you're hoping to do... The smaller/lighter, the better! But, if you are hoping to go on a "small trekking trip," you might need something bigger to carry camping gear. If you are visiting a popular trekking area (like parts of the Andes or Himalayas), you might be able to get by with a small pack and just hire mules or porters to carry rented camping equipment.

While walking through the jungles of Sumatra and Borneo, I only had a small "dry" daypack. I thought this was great! On the other hand, while trekking throughout South America, I carried a heavy pack with a tent, sleeping bag, etc. This was necessary, but annoying when not camping. And if you carry a sleeping bag, buy a compression sack to decrease its size!

In my opinion, one problem with getting "a large pack so that you have the option to fill it up and send things home" is that it often gets filled up for most of the trip with non-essential items. I think bringing the smallest possible pack with essentials is the best way to go as it forces you to travel light.

Have fun!

poz
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I am using a 65L pack and it is perfect for me. I wanted to go smaller, but I also wanted a good suspension system (I have had back problems in the past), which wasn't available in the smaller sizes. Though I rarely had the pack full, having the extra room comes in handy when I buy souvenirs or pack along camping gear, so I am glad I went a little larger - I even had enough room to carry a giant slab of limestone that I purchased at Palenque, but I don't recommend it! With the exception of when I had the rock on my back I always felt like I was traveling light, but I suppose 'how light is light' is up to the person carrying the weight.

Keith Reply to this

My advice would be always to go with the smallest backpack that you can. This depends on how little you are prepared to travel with. Certainly don't consider anything bigger than 65L. It should be possible to make do with 50 L. My backpack is 65l and to be honest is half empty at the moment. I carefully throw things out of my pack at regular intervals. As others have said you can always rent or buy equipement along the way and then chuck it (or if you must mail it home - not an option for me as I don't have a home!) The problem with a bigger backpack is that you will be tempted to fill it. Reply to this

Lauralee:

Packing minimally with hiking shoes, sandals and flipflops?

To each his/her own :-)

poz
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I challenge that packing 1 pair of boots + 1 pair of sandals + 1 pair of shower flipflops is a lot... on the basis of being a girl.

Situations where packing around only 1 pair of boots as your footwear is inconvenient:
When your wet boots that havn't dried as quickly as I would like yet you still have to wear them around because you have no other choice.
Going into a decent restaurant with boots freshly entrenched with mud after coming back from a hike
Realizing that the hostel's showers are downright sketchy and you'll get athlete's foot or other fungus... because you have to shower barefoot.
Walking around on the beach getting sand stuck in your socks and shoes.

Plus its nice after hiking for a day to kick them off (your feet will be hot, sweaty and swollen) and switch into something different. When I think sandals I'm thinking tevas or chacos (the kind that double as approach shoes). There are occasions where you're going out for the evening to a club or strolling around where something other than dirty hiking boots would be preferable.

But like Jeff says... to each his/her own...
If you are trying to go ultra minimal, then definitely 1 pair of shoes may be the way to go. Reply to this

But when you are travveling in a really hot climate, can you walk around in cross trainers without your feet getting soaked in sweat? On the other hand, in the amazon and mountains it might be good to have footwear that covers your feet? im not sure what to bring. Im going to buy one pair of new shoes. I am already bringing flipflops, but I am wondering if I should buy a pair of cross trainers or sandals?

I am a really small person, and I know a small pack will be the most confortable. But I still worry about bringing to much or to little. 50L might be okay.

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I'd like to back up Lauralee here - when I travel I carry exactly the same shoes she does. I only wear my cross trainers if I'm doing some serious walking/it's chilly etc. My sandals I wear most of the time otherwise. Flip flops are perfect if the sides of your feet need a break, and also if you want a night out where you're not wearing clodhoppers. And they're tiny and so light!

In terms of the other stuff, I religiously travel light - I travelled for months with 1 t-shirt, just washing it out every night, eventually buying a new one when the thinness was starting to get indecent! Trust me, if you travel light you'll be complaining a hell of a lot less than everyone else. In terms of a backpack, definitely get one with a zip-off daypack. That's my biggest regret and frustration - but I'm too cheap to shell out for another one!

In terms of buying all the fancy clothes...they're SO expensive. If you're going to hot places, then just wait til you get out there and buy the cheap stuff the locals do - like buying hemp in Asia (versus buying it at home, which costs so much it is laughable!) Definitely go with layering - thin fleeces etc are so much more useful than a big momma one. Reply to this

> Does anyone know if it is expensive to mail stuff home?

Yes - it's expensive! from South-America to Europe.... South-East-Asia to anywhere is cheap. Reply to this

My backpack is 65L, but when I'm just travelling normally, I normally have a fair bit of space left. I use the extra if I'm carrying my camping stuff too. I am thinking of going to buy a 50L travelpack with a zip-off because it does really annoy me, and my old one is getting quite ratty now anyway!

And Laura - totally agree! I carry one tiny little travellers hand towel to do some basic drying, and the rest of the time I use my sarong - which is a great towel, dress, skirt, top and pretty much anything else you want it to be! I'd say that was a better option than one of the bigger travel towels. Reply to this