Travelin Dreams

I've never been backpacking before and am contemplating a trip this summer to Europe. The packing lists mentioned are definitely going in my "email to self" notes.

Thanks for the great tips.

reckless31abandon

Pack shampoo/lotion, etc. in ziploc- had mine leak all over my clothes. Good thing it was on my return trip home (to be fair, it was my first flight ever!)

About the padlocks- the last few times I've traveled, the TSA has broken the padlocks on my bags to search them, a waste of my money... anyone else had this happen?
so maybe not padlock them until you get off the plane at your destination?

I always take a mini sewing kit and a couple buttons. A tube of superglue is handy, and ditto with the duct tape.

Also- I try to coordinate all my clothes so they all are wearable with each other to make the most outfits possible (obviously a female trait!), so I pack less. However, in places like France, where people wear the same outfit 3 times in a row, without washing it, this isn't really a big deal (they think YOU're wierd)...

If you will be walking alot with your bags, to/from train stations, hotels,etc, fill 'em with 30 lbs of books and hike up and down some stairs to see what it is like, so you don't overpack.

EmailKid

Well, they are entitled to do that, because they tell you up front that they have the right to search your luggage. Something to do with Homeland Insecurity

I think the padlock idea was to lock a locker in a hostel that provides same, such as HI Seattle (a pretty decent place BTW).

And of course they can't break the locks on my luggage, because 95% of the time I don't check luggage. Just LOVE being the first one to reach Customs. Well in smaller places like Central America anyways .... seems like larger places like NRT or BKK have BIG planes landing all the time, so the line never stops

Oh, and welcome to FT reckless31abandon. I see you submitted both of your maiden posts here ^ A great place to hang your hat. My second favorite forum is MR (Mileage Run).

EmailKid

msfi

Lighters are prohibited in checked luggage everywhere. I'm surprised you've never had them pulled from your bags.

The OneBag site has some great tips - http://www.onebag.com/ and lists of what to take.

My pack is pretty much the same wherever I go. Safety pins, sewing needle and thread, blister tape, small medical kit (even in USA etc), ziploc, mini towel, fold up cup, mini cutlery set (with mini cheese board), bottle opener, compass, flashlight, all my clothes are cotton or made of quick dry non-crumple travel fabric, layers layers layers, hat for sunny days, kleenex for nose and toilet and saving hawker seats, umbrella, moisturiser, nasal saline spray, etc

Also, I prefer the mini pocket street directory for places like paris where the tourist books miss all the little streets. Cities with grids this is not such an issue.

lavedder

I always bring a few clothes pins. They come in handy to shut the curtains in hotel rooms and also to close the packets of snack food I have with me so I don't have to purchase food at airports or train stations at exhorbitant prices.

RTR

5 or 6 ziploc bags in a few sizes plus a couple of kitchen size white garbage bags.

A big bag of trail mix

A fold up carry on or back pack to throw my laundry in. Keeps the remaining clean clothes fresher

A microfibre quick dry towel

NWA_5479

I second the lighter. Does anyone remember the movie Spy Game, "Always carry a lighter and cigarettes..." It can be a great ice breaker, and I know a few people who have gotten out of a sticky situation by having an extra pack of cigarettes.

Definitely a journal. It is great to help keep track of everything.

Great list!

SPort

Our family likes to stay in condos when we go to Hawaii. We always pack a soft-sided cooler (6-can size) plus a blue ice pouch. The cooler can be flattened in the suitcase so it takes up very little space, and when we arrive we put the blue ice in the freezer of our condo. Every time we go to a beach/pool, we have cool drinks and snacks to take with us. No need to leave the beach or buy overpriced snack bar items.

chuckd

LED shake flashlight, couple packs of wetones and face wipes, gum, chapstick, ziplock bags, small drawing pad, toiletries of course, camera in a pelican case and HDD photo vault in another one, granola bars and a handful of those little liquor bottles. Sewing kit, small first aid kit, small mirror, and rubber bands. Also a pair of boxers and some sox, a magazine, flip flops, some pens and a light cycling jacket. That's pretty much my standard backpack as a carryon set up these days. Alot of stuff, nothing unique, but they are small things that don't weigh much, and it pretty much covers my necessities should my luggage get lost. Something else that never fails to come in handy is a wide roll of 3m durapore. The best tape ever.

Travelin Dreams

What a great tip. I'm totally going to do this from now on. I never reread paperbacks so this is an effective way to prevent the clutter of books I keep accumulating.

Rampo

Just ignore the $225 carryon that he recommends.

EmailKid

Well, this is the Budget Travel Forum, so I doubt too many BT travelers will be buying that one

Of course you never know, and sometimes what may seem expensive to one person another one may perceive as good value for the money.

I'm still using a backpack / carryon that I purchased at a garage sale 15 years ago

EmailKid

party_boy

with "sample size liquid detergent". Saves me from vacuming the inside of my luggage for the powedered kind....don't ask.

sylvia hennesy

A great item to have is sticky velcro on a strip. You can get precut patches or cut your own to fit. It doesn't replace needle and thread, but makes terrific heavy-duty closures, etc.

dimsumfan

Large square of dark fabric. Can use as a place setting, blindfold for sleeping, a way to fold clothes tightly, etc.