Backpacks

Also always make sure you have someone you can post stuff back to when it gets too heavy - like Ali does(Ali's mum here) ! Reply to this

The trick is to stay in the same temperature. If it is hot then you dnt need any clothes and if it is cold then you wear all of your clothes Reply to this

My pack is 40 litres & 13kg (lifeventure kibo pack), small I know and everyone I meet tends to be amazed at the size. I'm travelling for a year, mainly in sunshine & wanted to be able to lift my pack with one arm if I needed & go. I took some advice from travellers at home & got myself a 'pack mate' compression bag, this means my substantial amount of clothes fits into one bag that is then compressed down in size. It all still weighs the same but there is no air!! Rocket science eh?!!!!! It really is a great space saver. I also have a VERY small mossie net, & accessories, like a 1 inch ipod speaker, tiny pretzel head light, travel towel etc etc.
Best advice I had was to pack everything I wanted then lay it out & remove about 1/3. On my travels, I am not going anywhere I can't get toiletries, medicines & books. I haven't brought anything I'm not willing to throw away, so this means I can exchange clothes when I get sick of them for new ones.......$2 shorts & t-shirts in asia are fab.....I wonder if I will think the same in US or Australia!
The size of your pack is a very personal thing & I just wanted to make sure that I didn't have to struggle to carry it, nothing worse than looking for a room in 35c heat with a rucksack that's too heavy right?
Sarah

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Once you're a month or two into your trip, empty out your backpack and look at the contents. Ask yourself "is there anything that I haven't used for two months?". If yes, then maybe it's time to shed these items (although stuff like medical kits are obviously exempt from this!)

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Hi all

I'm new to this forum.

I am 5ft 2ins and I carry a 65L and a 15L. My jacket and sleeping bag alone weighs quite a bit as I do a lot of trekking. I find that having a decent trekking boots and goods socks are a worthwhile investment for long hikes and trekks. Afterall, we are paying quite a lot for these holidays so if you can just stretch that bit more, it will pay dividends!! I had mine specially fitted but you really don't need to - the main thing is to make sure you have it broken in.

As for my backpacks, I generally store th elarger one at hostels and guesthouses where I've styed and take my small pack on my treks. I like to take a bit of foodstuff since I like camping and generally save some money by buying fresh bread and cheese to take along for breakfasts or cereals. I am heading to CHile/Patagonia/Atacama/Ushuaia and maybe, Antartica, so I do have a very mixed bag here. But I will store my warm gear in Vina Del Mar and just take my ration and warm clothes to the south. Hope this helps

Vincess Reply to this

Hi guys, I have been reading this thread and I have got some good pointers as to what backpack I should get for when I go travelling in april. I have been looking around on the internet and I have found THIS backpack.

I was wondering if anyone has used this pack and can give me a thumbs up or thumbs down to it.

Or can anybody reccomend a 60-70L rucksack with a detatchable daypack? Reply to this