Randy's Travel Tips: What to Take p. 5

Outer Wear -- Dressing for the Weather

Even if you head for the tropics, you will have plenty of opportunities to get cold, not to mention wet. There may be weeks when you sweat all night, but also places (even on the beach) where the nights turn cool or cold, especially by 4 am. If you have a sleeping bag it will help you sleep warm, but you still need clothing to keep you warm in the mornings and evenings. Unless you visit very cold countries, there will never be any heating of any kind, anywhere, even in cooler mountain regions, and often a shortage of blankets. The Middle East can be freezing cold, and even snow in the winter.

For moderate climates, the best system is a number of layers of relatively light clothing. Thermal underwear, a long-sleeve shirt, a jumper or wool shirt, and a wind jacket and wool cap can keep you warm without adding much bulk to your pack. If you head into colder mountain or northern regions, you will need heavier gear, but with the right layers of lightweight clothing you can get through the cooler areas of the Temperate Zones in reasonable comfort. In a pinch, just put on everything you've got in your pack.

Sweater (Jumper) -- This is standard equipment for many travelers. There are few places you can travel where you won't occasionally need a warm garment. A good fine-woven wool jumper is easier to pack than a bulky-knit one, is easier to wash and dry, holds its shape, wears longer, and can be about as warm.

Heavy shirt -- A heavy wool or lined flannel outer shirt is a good alternative to a sweater. It may take up less space, and you can regulate the warmth by unbuttoning the front and cuffs. Wool wears better and is more useful in wet weather, but is more difficult to clean. Use dark, patterned colors that don't show the dirt.

Hats -- Many people get along fine without a hat in most situations, but in the harshest sun, a good head covering is just good for your health, and will also keep your hair from getting very grotty on dusty bus rides. The best hats have a good brim that protects your face, ears, and the back of your neck (depending on the time of day), as well as your head. Consider this seriously if you will be out in the hot tropical sun for long hours at a time.

The problem with a good blocked hat is that you won't want to crush the crown down into your pack. I do it anyway with a good canvas bush hat. A hat with a crushable crown, but a fairly rigid brim is a good alternative. A brim of heavier material with many rows of stitching around it should hold up without flopping down in your face, the common drawback of flimsier 'folding' hats. If your hat doesn't have a chin strap, you will eventually lose it to the wind; you can make one out of a heavy shoelace, the longer the better. If the hat has convenient air holes on the sides, use these to attach the strap instead of poking holes in the brim. The cap of a BIC pen can be made into a good slide for the strap, but a stuff-sack toggle works as well. Wear the strap in the back when you don't need it.

A cheap sailor's hat is one of the many light alternatives, and can be bought in many places. Another interesting alternative is a collapsible sun hat with a very broad brim made from thin cotton material and held taut with a circle of wire around the edge. The metal ring can be "folded" to half its size for easy packing. It weighs very little and looks touristy, but makes a good beach hat.

Although I am painfully aware of the ridicule that Americans suffer for wearing their ludicrous baseball caps, I always take one with me because it is imminently useful. It folds easily into a back pocket, stays on in a high wind, weighs very little and can be produced at any time to protect your head and face from sun, wind, rain, heat, and cold, not to mention keeping you hair moderately clean of dust and soot. I just never wear one in Europe where I cannot stand the embarrassment.

Baseball caps have caught on! You can buy cheap ones and see people wearing them in most parts of the world. Tacky, unsophisticated, and very American, the baseball cap can also be a useful piece of travel equipment. Just don't have your photo taken wearing one!

Rain Jacket -- A good lightweight, unlined rain jacket is not absolutely necessary, but quite useful. Since it is also a good wind breaker, it serves as a fine light jacket for cooler weather, as well, especially if you can close up the cuffs and waist. It should open down the front for warmer weather, but otherwise, the fewer zippers the better. Pull-over anoraks are generally too hot in many climates. If it has a hood, all the better.

The best rain jackets are best purchased at home. In hot climates, wearing any jacket can be too warm, and an umbrella is more useful for walking around in the rain. If you don't take a rain jacket, you should probably have a poncho, or something to protect you from heavy rains in variable conditions. Use your rain jacket as a ground cloth for sitting on wet ground (inside up), and as an emergency barrier against bedbugs.

Poncho -- A rain poncho serves as a rain coat, and large ones can also cover your rucksack on the trail. It is not so useful as clothing since it is not a good general-purpose jacket, and you aren't likely to wear it when it isn't raining. But the poncho has other advantages. Since it lays out flat, it can be used as a ground sheet, emergency shelter, beach or picnic blanket. You can also spread it over your mattress to protect against bedbugs. If you had room, you could carry both a poncho and rain jacket, but it seems too redundant to me. You can often buy cheap plastic ponchos in cities in the Third World.

Rain Pants -- I have a good pair of unlined Gore-Tex rain pants for backpacking and have occasionally taken them traveling when I planned to do some trekking in questionable weather. Keeping your trousers dry in a cold downpour can make a big difference. In cold weather, they can provide lots of warmth for your legs; close the bottoms with elastic bands to keep cold winds out. I cannot recommend rain pants as regular travel gear, since you probably just won't use them often enough, and good ones are relatively expensive. But I have even found them useful in warmer regions when I had them with me. I wore them alone as trousers in the monsoon in conservative countries where shorts were not an option, and found them useful on a long rafting trip to protect my legs from sunburn and chills. Mine are pretty light, a conservative tan color, have two pockets and no zippers, just an elastic top.

Gaiters -- This is rainproof hiking gear that covers your legs from your shoetops to your knees. Good for hiking trips in wet country, but not useful enough for general travel. On treks, you can fix plastic bags around your ankles with elastic bands, to keep some of the rain and dew out of your shoes.

Thermal Underwear (long johns) -- I personally recommend taking a pair of long underpants. The modern synthetic fabrics (particularly polypropylene) are thin, very lightweight, easy to pack, quite tough and warm. They will keep you warm on cold days in mountain regions, and help you sleep warm on cool nights anywhere you lack adequate bedding. Together with a long-sleeve polypropylene top, they can replace an extra layer of much bulkier outer clothing, and weigh only a few ounces. My thermal top (10 oz.) has a warm turtle-neck that zips down out of sight under my shirt.

Not many travelers wear this unstylish clothing, but ounce for ounce, it's as useful as an extra jumper or down vest. Find them in camping and ski shops at home. You may be able to find several different weights, or at least different brands of different thickness; the lightest ones will be warm, and medium weight a good deal warmer for the small extra bulk (6 to 8 oz, 170 to 225 g. for the pants). An alternative is a pair or two of panty-hose; they are much lighter and provide a reasonable amount of warmth, but they don't stand up to much rugged wear. Dance tights are reasonably rugged, warm, and can be lighter that light thermal underwear; and yes, men can wear them, too.

Silk Shirt -- In and near China, you can buy long-sleeve silk undershirts quite cheaply, with or without a turtleneck. At home they are more expensive. They look good enough to wear as a shirt and, worn alone, can be reasonably cool. As an undershirt, they are quite warm, very lightweight, and hold up pretty well. Get a darker color, as they tend to fade and stain easily. Wash them out by hand with soap.

Wool watch cap (stocking cap) -- If I had to choose just one winter accessory to carry (besides long underpants), this would be it, and I usually do. Keeping your head warm and dry is very important to keeping the rest of you feeling warm, no matter where you are, including in bed! A good (navy-style) watch cap is just about waterproof, and rolls down to keep your ears warm. Wear it to bed if you're feeling cold. The best ones are double-layered military surplus, and are usually an acceptable black or dark blue (not green). Nowdays, they contain less wool and more synthetic, but are still thick and warm. You can also get synthetic polypropylene ski caps for more money.

Down vest (waistcoat) -- For cooler climates and forays into the mountains, you may want something warmer. Down is the warmest, lightest material, and may be a good choice if you can keep it from getting wet. A vest takes about half the space of a full down jacket, and does the main job of keeping your torso warm. It is also easier to wear under a jumper or heavy shirt. A simple one should weigh only 10 to 12 oz. (280 to 335 g) and be very compact when stuffed in a small stuff-sack; zippers are not really necessary; snaps are fine. The main drawback is that down is useless when wet, so you need a good rain jacket to keep it dry. I have sometimes carried a down vest, and occasionally gotten it wet in a heavy rain, even under a rain jacket. An extra layer of wool or a thermal undershirt are good alternatives, but for colder country, a down vest is better than a bulky jacket.

Jackets, Coats -- In general, bulky coats and lined jackets should be avoided because of their size and weight. Try to get by with multiple layers, or opt for down clothing for really cold country. A good unlined wind-breaker (wind-cheater) provides good warmth for light weight, but consider spending more on one that is water-proof if it can also replace another rain coat.

Gloves -- If you get to cold country, you will be able to buy cheap wool, cotton, or synthetic gloves to last you for a short time. Take a good pair of lightweight synthetic gloves if you're heading straight for cold country, but not serious ski gloves unless you're on expedition; they are just too bulky.

Scarf -- A warm scarf is too bulky to bring along and you can usually buy one in cold areas. But there will be many times in the bus or in a cold wind when you will benefit from a wrap around your neck. You must have something in your pack! Try a sarong, bandanna, towel, T-shirt, or just buy a thin local scarf -- they are everywhere.

Balaklava -- This is a ski mask that covers most of your face, and is only useful in very cold mountain situations, so hardly worth taking traveling. But the little silk ones weigh "only" 1 ounce. You would never use it except skiing or on high mountain hikes.

Toiletries

Toothbrush -- Bring at least one good strong new toothbrush and a spare for when you lose it. I recommend taking a little folding travel toothbrush as well, which you can keep in your valuables bag so you always have one when you want it, on overnight journeys or out in the bush. You don't need toothpaste (or water!) just to get your teeth feeling clean on these occasions. In Africa and the Middle-East, the common person's toothbrush is a special little stick that you can buy in any market. In a pinch, just scrub your teeth with a clean bandanna to get the film off. Replace your toothbrush when it gets too soft and the bristles start splaying out . You can get something reasonable in any city pharmacy.

If you are tight on space (who isn't) or have a small toiletries bag, cut down the end of your toothbrush. To protect your toothbrush, look for little plastic cases (Cap-A-Brush) that fit only over the bristles; they are cheap, light, and do the job.

Toothpaste -- You can buy this everywhere in reasonably small tubes, so only bring a small tube with you. You can substitute baking soda, or salt (which you may already be carrying). I used salt for an entire six-month trip once, but now allow myself the luxury of toothpaste.

Dental Floss -- If this is a necessary part of your daily rituals, you will take some along; if not, you won't. It can be purchased in most cities and doubles as a good supply of strong sewing thread (cotton) or light string.

Shampoo -- Shampoo is available in cities and towns everywhere. Imported varieties are harder to find and expensive, but you will easily be able to resupply your small shampoo bottle regularly. Get yourself one sturdy, leakproof, unbreakable shampoo bottle and keep it with you; 6 ounces (175 ml.) is plenty. A pop-up "squirt" spout avoids the problem of losing the cap.

Most commercial shampoo is much too thick, requiring you to use twice as much as necessary. I dilute my shampoo up to 1/3 with water so it spreads out much easier; or just start adding a little water after each use of a new bottle to make it go much farther. The same goes for hair conditioner, if that is part of your kit.

In Latin America you can commonly buy little plastic packets with just enough for one shampoo; they would be very convenient except that you have to take a knife or scissors to the shower with you to get the damn things open. Some people with short hair save the hassle and do without shampoo altogether. Ordinary soap will do the job, although not as nicely. It's still good to have a real shampoo from time to time.

Towel -- Ah, yes, the Towel. You do not need a big absorbent towel to get the water off of your body. Big towels are a waste of space and take forever to dry. You may need to adopt a new way of thinking about towels: they don't have to be completely dry in order to get you dry.

In Japan, the normal cotton bath towel is the size of a hand towel and is so thin you can see through it. The secret is in the thinness, not the bulk! You can easily wring 90% of the moisture out of such a towel, then do some more drying. The Japanese usually wash with this towel before using it to dry off. You may have to wring it out three or four times, but it will get you almost completely dry. Use a dry bandanna to touch up if you want to. The towel itself will dry indoors in fifteen minutes, and takes up almost no space. I carry two or three of these, and often drape one around my neck in hot climates to mop off the sweat and keep my shirt collar cleaner.

Thin hand towels are easier to find in the Third World than at home, where everything is thick and bulky; you might use a dish towel if it is sufficiently absorbent. Many local people don't use a towel at all; they just strip most of the water off with their hands. If you think I'm crazy, and you really need a good towel to dry your long hair, take just one fluffy hand towel for this purpose.

Washcloth (face cloth) -- This is not really necessary, tends to get packed wet and may become moldy. If you brought a thin hand towel, you can use it for scrubbing your face and body, rinse and wring it out, and use it for drying. Another good alternative is a little synthetic "puff" face sponge the size of your palm. It scrubs well, dries fast, and weighs nothing. Bigger varieties (a "scrub pouch") have a pocket to put the soap inside, and a wrist strap. This can be a good alternative to a soap dish; you just need a plastic bag to carry it in when wet, but since you can hang it up, it will dry much faster than soap in a dish.

Soap -- Of course you can buy soap everywhere, and usually "western" brands, so don't pack very much.

Soap Dish (soap box) -- This keeps your soap clean and away from everything else. The biggest ones are really much too big and waste a lot of space. Try for something smaller and cut your new soap down if you have to; it's very cheap. I've got a little soap box that is no more than 3 inches long and barely holds half a bar of soap. An alternative is a small zip-lock bag; it's not as convenient but takes up no extra space. See also washcloth, above.

Deodorant -- This is an item of some controversy among travelers; some people use it, some don't. If you cannot possibly imagine living your life without deodorant under your arms, then you will take some along. Take a small one that has the most deodorant and the least packaging, probably a solid stick. You will be able to buy something along the way in larger cities, but probably not the kind you would like; don't be tempted to bring huge quantities with you.

Alternatives to commercial deodorants include soap and water used regularly, and "body powder", all of which are easily purchased. If you were days from the nearest shower, it might be unreasonable to expect you to be carrying a little vial of perfume, but that would certainly be of social benefit. This is one situation where the smell of Tiger Balm would be a welcome addition; dab a bit (but not the red stuff) on your smelly clothing and socks (not in your armpits!) until you can run yourself through a car wash.

"Body Powder" -- Common baby or body powder can be used to keep your feet and body feeling a bit drier and fresher. It may help prevent "prickly heat" (heat rash) and the growth of fungus on your feet or crotch (crutch). It can also be used as a deodorant, especially if it has a fragrance. It could be a luxury, or a daily routine. You can usually buy small tins of baby powder or body powder in most pharmacies, so you need to bring very little if any. Powder with an anti-fungal ingredient (tolnaftate, miconazole, undecylenate) may be especially good at preventing fungal growth in humid tropical areas (like your boots and underwear). If I had ever had a serious fungus problem, I would get into the habit of using an anti-fungal powder; but I do indulge when I get to feeling terribly sticky in humid areas, and I use talc on my feet on long treks.

Toilet Paper -- Toiletries are really exciting conversation! Take some toilet paper along, but more than one full roll is just too bulky. Of course, different people use different quantities of the stuff. It is more convenient to have it in smaller rolls so you can easily carry a small amount with you whenever you go out; keep a small roll tidy in a plastic bag in your day pack. Crush the roll down flat.

Don't count on finding toilet paper in any toilet; always carry your own little roll. If there is none, use your own. If there is toilet paper (lucky you!), add a bit to your own roll. In much of the world, you can go indefinitely without buying toilet paper by using this system. Don't get greedy and steal the entire roll! This only has to happen a few times before the management stops putting paper out at all. The best score I ever made was at the [censored] Embassy in Singapore. They had the biggest, fluffiest, four-ply, yellow paper with embossed flowers -- straight from home! I was in heaven for days.

You can buy toilet paper in almost all countries, but in many areas of Africa and Western Asia, it is scarce, so keep a reasonable supply. You can now buy toilet paper in some places in China and India, where it used to be only a fond memory. The quality is usually pretty poor, but you will get used to it. Alternatives are tissues (little packets are sold most everywhere), newspaper (supplied in some Third World toilets), notebook paper, and the self-washing method.

Comb, Brush -- Take a couple of combs and a brush, if you use one. It can be very difficult to find good combs in the Third World, and they tend to get lost.

Nail clippers, file, emery board -- Nail care is of varying priority to different people, but you will have many opportunities to break and chip nails, and it's useful to have at least a good nail file or emery board handy. If you wear shoes you definitely need to keep your toe nails trimmed properly to avoid painful blisters and nail cuts. I used to just use my pocket knife until one long backpacking trip when I cut into my big toe while trimming it, days from nowhere. Now I carry a stainless steel nail clipper and do it right.

Razor -- If you choose to shave, you will bring a razor and blades. For men who wear a beard, you may still use one for trimming around your neck. Imported ones can now be purchased in large cities, even in Asia where shaving is not common, so you don't have to bring a year's supply of blades. Since you will be shaving mostly with cold water and often with no water pressure (out of a cup), the blades that have self- cleaning "push buttons" are a preferable luxury. No disposables, please.

Some travelers carry an electric razor because they are used to them. I feel that the extra weight and problems with availability of electricity are not worth it, but you can get battery powered models that weigh less than 8 oz (230 grams, plus batteries). Unless men have personal reasons for having a smooth face every night, you don't need to shave much more than two or three times a week, so shaving with a blade is not as irritating to your skin as if you did it every day.

Shaving Cream -- This is an unnecessary extravagance. Good old soap works just fine; rub it in with your hands, face scrubber, or shaving brush. If you think this is barbaric, then bring a tube of shaving gel or a cake of shaving soap and a brush, but don't even think about one of those big aerosol cans.

Shaving Brush -- This is also an extravagance, but if it keeps you from taking shaving cream, then use a brush. Its function is to work the soap into a lather, and open your pores for a cleaner, closer, longer- lasting shave. You can do the same thing by getting your hands all soapy. Available in some cities.

Styptic pencil -- It looks like a piece of white chalk and seals up shaving cuts, avoiding blood stains on your clothing. Not exactly necessary, but if you use one at home, it's very light to bring half a stick with you.

Mirror -- You don't absolutely need a mirror, but there will be times when you wished you had one, especially if you shave your face. Don't count on having one in every hotel room (and if you travel cheap, you will very seldom find one!). Many years ago, a California mountaineering shop manufactured and sold camping mirrors made of lightweight Plexiglas. They eventually went out of business and progress reverted back to glass and metal mirrors. Glass is heavy and dangerous, polished metal is a poor substitute but preferable to glass. I carried my Plexiglas mirror until I couldn't tell who I was looking at -- then I went looking.

An American company called Deflecto Corp., (Box 50057, Indianapolis, Indiana) makes Plexiglas mirrors for office and school use (called "locker" or "filing cabinet" mirrors) which you may find in supermarkets or office supply stores. I remove the magnets from the back, cut the mirrors in half, and cover the back with Moleskin tape to protect the mirror's "silver". With some care, I bore a hole and add a string to hang them by. You can hang it over the shower head to shave while you shower; tie a knot next to the mirror to keep it hanging straight. They weigh only 1 ounce, and while they can be broken, it's not easy. I carried five on my last trip and gave four of them away to other travelers. Magellan's catalog now carries a similar 'acrylic' mirror, made by Coghlan's of Winnipeg, Canada.

Make-up, nail polish, perfume, cologne, after shave, hair coloring -- These are luxury items and certainly not necessary; you can quickly learn to live without them for awhile. If it is a part of your necessary kit, take as little as you need to feel good about yourself; you will be able to buy cosmetics in many cities. Besides keeping longer nails tough, one "practical" use for nail polish is to suffocate ticks. I've never had any (nail polish, that is) to try it out, but it sounds like a good enough excuse.

ChapStick (lip salve) -- In very dry climates your lips can burn, crack, and even develop sores. A little lip salve or petroleum jelly will avoid the discomfort and it's easy to take a small tube. Very hard to find outside of modern cities.

Sunscreen -- Definitely take a small amount of sun-blocking lotion to protect your face, neck, and hands (only) from the scorching tropical or high altitude sun. Get a small tube or tiny "trial" size bottle with sun protection factor (SPF) of 12 or higher. I also carry a tiny little tin of sun block in my hip pouch so I always have some when I need it. It is very expensive and almost impossible to find in the Third World, so don't plan to use it for sunbathing. Get a reasonable tan slowly (or before you leave) and put on clothing -- including a light long-sleeve shirt -- when you've had enough sun.

Sun Tan Lotion -- You will find this (at whopping prices) in some cities and resorts. Don't take any along unless you are headed straight for the beach. It is a real luxury item and you are better off to learn to do without it; use body lotion at the end of the day, and regulate your time in the sun to avoid burning. Coconut oil is useful only if you already have a very good tan.

Lotion -- You can buy body lotion in small containers at moderate prices in many places, so just take a small amount, if any. It helps to keep tanned skin moist and is very useful in hot, dry climates where your skin may flake and crack.

Body Oil -- This is most useful at the beach to keep your skin moist. Splash it on after your last shower and drip dry. You can easily buy mineral oil cheaply, or local coconut oil in the tropics, so you don't need to take any. Mineral oil is thicker, so is best applied on wet skin; it doubles as a laxative (but only if taken internally). Baby oil is just mineral oil with perfume, at three times the price.

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