How to: Go backpacking with style - the gear edition

So you've done it, you've chosen a small, versatile capsule wardrobe well suited to your climate and activities (and if you haven't, get over here and fix that), but clothing yourself is only half the travelling light battle.  It's all the little extras that seem to take my bag from fine to crippling in a deeply insidious way, like the wafer thin mints of packing.

Again, what you need will depend on where you are going and what you will be doing.  This is, for example, heavily skewed towards sightseeing and writing with little in the way of heavy duty off roading.

Because I'm super anally retentive, I like to make a list of all the products I use as I get ready to go out one day, then keep it around for the week and add any non-daily extras (e.g. tweezers, nail scissors).  You can then add any travel specifics, like insect repellent, and lastly figure out how to make everything smaller.  I'm aiming to avoid checking in my luggage, which means really small and less than 100ml per bottle.

So this is my list of everything that isn't clothing.  All packed and ready to go it weighed in at 11kg.  I expect this to be the heaviest it will get as I have some extra papers with me for an article I'm writing and every bottle of gel etc is full.  Still, it's pretty manageable even for a short-arse girl such as myself and it can (providing no airport nazi weighs it) be taken on board as hand luggage. Mission accomplished!

Google Nexus 7 

Upon which I am currently writing.  I am not in the anti-tech camp.  I wanted to be able to update this blog, watch shows on flights and surf for hostels without having to find an internet cafe or bug my hosts.  This is perfect, because it's half the price of an ipad and virtually half the size, but does everything I need it to do while being significantly less attractive to thieves.

Mini watercolour palette, ink pens and moleskines

I am determined to get better at sketching and painting on this trip.  I know I'll go crazy if I don't have a challenge of sorts to give me a sense of accomplishment for a whole 6 months.  Obviously this is totally optional, but you could replace this idea with anything - language podcasts, writing notebook, a travel guitar.

Nike+ band, resistance band and iphone armband

I like to track my runs on the band.  Not much to say.  Each bit is very small and light, but mean I can get a basic, yet good workout in no matter where I am.

Silk sleep sack

To guard against any minging hostel sheets.  I eschewed the super expensive ones in Blacks for a thai company on ebay on the basis I'm not climbing Kilamajaro, I just need to stay clean.

Travel towel

Yes they suck, but they do eventually get you dry and fold up to the size of a flannel.

Kindle

Like Facebook before this, I swore I would never get one, but unlike Facebook, I now love it.  Four hundred books, including all my guidebooks, and it's not even full.  Given that novels made half the weight of all my bags before I got one, it's impossible to argue with how excellent this is for travelling.

(I'm also more chuffed than anything that I have matching red leather cases for my Nexus, Kindle and iPhone.  Swank.)

Toiletries

This is a more personal affair since everyone has different needs and  loves.  As far as taking my bag as carry on, mine was to get as many things as possible in solid form.  This meant a trip to Lush for solid shampoo, conditioner, soap and perfume.  Otherwise hit up Boots for their minis - they often have 3 for 2 deals running.

Travel hair straighteners

A complete luxury item.  If I were better at planning I'd have grown out my fringe and thus not needed these, but I did not and therefore do.  They are only 20cm long, however, so I'm not going to feel too bad about them.

Make Up

Again, it depends.  I know some girls will go au naturel, but I like a little help!  Benefit do a great 'Big 10' selection of tiny versions of their best products.  With a concealer, blush and lip tint, plus a bit of shine to combat jetlag face, it's perfect.  I added black eyeliner, a travel face powder and mascara for a city-suitable kit.  I use Maybelline's classic mascara, because it's cheap, brilliant and a fairly small tube.

iPhone

What can I say that hasn't been said?  The camera's more than adequate for my amateur photography, plenty of space for podcasts, audiobooks and music and a million apps that make life easier.  No idea how I managed without it for so long.

And that's it, everything I have in my bag.  Seems like even less written down!

How about you?  What are your tips for a tiny bag?    

How To: Shibori Tie Dye

I had a big wardrobe clear out and have been selling a ton of old clothes on Ebay.  It's made me realise I need to buy less stuff, as most of them are hardly worn.  So in the interests of making a few more bob for the trip and breathing some new life into some less-than-white whites, I came over all Honestly wtf, purchased an Indigo Kit and waited for a sunny day.  Now if you're going to follow suit, then there are comprehensive instructions, complete with cartoons, in the kit, but to have an idea of the process checkout the snaps below. Took about 4 hours beginning to end.  I will say this is definitely an outdoor activity and you should be prepared to end up a little Violet Beauregarde.  

The only problem, besides my blue nails, is that they look so nice I want to keep them ALL. Damn...

How To Go Backpacking With Style: The Ultimate RTW Packing List

I have actual, honest-to-goodness nightmares about packing.  I'll be wandering around my dream life happily enough, then suddenly, out of nowhere, I'm supposed to be at the airport, the taxi's outside and I'm desperately flinging things into my suitcase and hyperventilating until I panic myself awake.  So packing for me is up there with unplanned public nudity and revising for the wrong exam in terms of nightmare fare.  The Rough Guide to RTW trips was no help, as clearly written by a man who suggests just popping to the nearest charity shop for a jumper if you need one.  Oh.  Dear. God. Stress.

Still, this is about strategies for the freak outs, not the freak outs themselves, so how did I do it?

Step 1 - Research:

Initially I was all, 'I'm going to Canada, must have snow boots!' I quickly realised that Vancouver in September is much more likely to require wellies and I am in fact chasing the Summer for the whole trip. (Go team!)  So the first step is to look hard at where you're going, what you're likely to do there and what the climate is like when you're due to arrive.  All the Rough Guides and Lonely Planets have year climate tables, as does Google.  For me this narrowed my focus to Spring/Summer clothes, with an emphasis on staying dry.

Most backpacking lists are all about the middle-of-nowhere travellers, where they don't have mirrors and you never need to see your thighs in hiking trousers, but over half my time will be in major metropolitan areas in which I do not want to look like a cross dressing Bear Grylls.  This is where I think it's best to pay attention for a week or so to what you wear on a daily basis.  One of the best pieces of advice I read was, if you don't wear it at home, you won't wear it abroad.  I never wear cargo pants at home, so regardless of how many packing lists they turned up on they aren't happening.

This is also where I turned to my favourite fashion blogs, Fashion Grunge and the Sartorialist, for ideas about a capsule wardrobe with personality.  Nina Garcia's The One Hundred, also really helped me think about the classic items that will look good no matter where you are - bateau tops, ballet flats, dark denim.  Lots of black, because according to American travel sites, us Europeans wear a lot of it and everyone wants to look European. Done.

Make up a Pinterest mood board so you can see how everything fits together.  I chose my signature colours, black, white, denim and red, and worked everything around them.  Made it so much easier to whittle when the criterion was that everything had to layer and match everything else.  Look at people's Six Items Or Less challenge wardrobes for ideas on how to accessorise a small number of clothes to feel like a whole wardrobe.  I must also give special mention to Sarah over at YesandYes for her Definitive What To Pack Post.  She's clearly more hardcore than me, but it was a great place to start!

Step 2 - Planning:

So here is my list of items and justifications.  You can see them all in glorious technicolour over on my aforementioned Backpacking Packing Pinterest board.

Bamboo leggings, yoga pants, long sleeve tee, zip sweat, vest top, socks, thongs x 7.  All black for obvious style and dirt disguising properties.  Bamboo because it is either warm or cool depending on what you need it to be, dries quickly and doesn't smell as fast as cotton.  It also feels like being silkily hugged by your clothes; none of the faint itch of merino.  The leggings are for running or sleeping in.  The yoga pants are smart enough with ballet flats for long flights.  Everyone needs a black vest top in their life and the zip top is warm but not bulky.  Thongs to avoid VPL with all the stretchy trousers going on.

T-shirts - petit bateau, white, grey, lace stripe, peace vest. A classic stripe tee is instantly stylish no matter where you are, ditto white and grey plain tees.  The black and cream lace and peace ones are my wildcards.  I love these shirts, bought them in Lille, they squish to about the size of a 50p piece and make me feel sexy.  I can't do too classic, too much or I won't feel like myself.

Denim - dark skinnies, levi cut-offs, shirt. Skinnies to wear tucked in boots or rolled up with flats.  Dark as it's smarter.  Cut-offs - 'nuff said really. Classic.  Denim shirt to bring a bit of the East London hipster with me. Can't wear it here anymore without being a try-hard, plus good layering piece.

Jumpsuit, multiway dress. I love jumpsuits.  I hate my legs so dresses really aren't my thing, but jumpsuits I heart greatly.  That said, this multiway dress from American Apparel is a traveller's dream, as it can be worn so many different ways I lost count, even as a skirt or a halter top. Amazing! It's actually flattering, too.  Both are a whole outfit in one and both can be dressed down for the beach or up for partaying the night away.

Pac-a-parka. Small, light, but my ex-Girl Guide self can't leave without a waterproof.  I've tried to make sure it's not completely ugly.  Red to bring an easy flash of colour.

Salomon Crossmax. I'm a runner and I don't want to lose it over 6 months, but regular running shoes aren't helpful for other things. Cue the Salomon Crossmax which is designed to be half road, half trail equipped, so no need for hiking boots either! Whoop!

Ballet flats, Vans, Havaianas, D&G's. Ballet shoes are timeless classics, but I got these with punk studs for a bit of personality.  Vans, because they have slightly thicker, read more comfortable, soles than Converse.  Havaianas as the most comfortable flip flops around.  Do not even think about packing 'walking sandals', even the supposedly cute ones are hideous. Do not go there.  And you should have one pair of heels, shiny heels.  Yes I know most purists will roll their eyes, but I'm going to New York! I'd be letting Carrie and Co. down hugely if I didn't have just one pair of expensive heels to strut around in. 

Biker jacket, All Saints cardi and biker boots. Because I'm a little rock chick at heart and these are my staple, don't-go-anywhere-without's.  Also warm and comfy.  I'll wear the boots to travel in.

Scarves - red leopard, floral.  Big enough to double as sarongs or towels.  They instantly make you look pulled together even if you're only wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

Ray Ban Wayfarers

Arm Party

Bikini

Black cross body bag in which I can fit my Kindle.  I don't go anywhere without a book, but I want my normal bag to be no bigger than necessary and I'm not wandering around Seattle with a daypack. Gah.  Cross body to keep hands free and zip up to deter pesky thieves.

Lastly and irresponsibly, gold sequin waistcoat.  I know, I know, but I like sparkle and sparkly things and it's very small but adds a ton of glam. And I'm a muppet. But a shiny muppet. Yes.


Step 3 - Purchasing:

Once you've got a list of things to look out for, the fun begins! But if you're like me and have a very limited budget, this stuff can really add up.  So be canny about it.  Take what you already have and love to wear.  I hid some of my favourite t-shirts so I could get excited to wear them again. Also, I started planning early enough that I caught the end of last year's Summer sales for the bamboo base layers and saved about £60.  Finally, I can't say it enough - Ebay, Ebay, Ebay.  Gap Always Skinny jeans? 99p RRP £39.  Those shiny designer shoes? £30, RRP £350.  Seriously, get in there!

Now I was going to take my trusty Karrimor 65l friend who has been up hill and down dale with me, but it is far, far bigger than all my stuff, so I've invested in a new Osprey Farpoint 40 (the s/m is actually smaller than 40l). Pics of it all packed up to follow, mostly as otherwise no-one who has ever travelled with me and my mega-bag(s) will believe it happened...

So, friends, that's it for the style part, stay tuned for electronics, toiletries and miscellaneous.  Oh my.

Read part 2 here:

http://katysordinarydays.blogspot.com/2012/08/how-to-go-backpacking-with-style-gear.html