I wear specs and day -lenses. To be honest I hate wearing bins- they steam up, you can't wear sunnies with them (unless you have prescription sunnies), they get splattered with rain, fall off, get broken, sat on, and I totally agree with Alex on this one, definately uncomfortable under a helmet! Oh, and they interfere with my carefully created rugged adventurer look!

So most of the time I wear lenses. However, 3WB is right too, I always take my glasses with me because sometimes contacts are a pain, you can't be bothered putting them in, hurt your eyes after a long day etc. etc.

I have some excellent Oakley and Scott motocross goggles designed to go over specs. This way, I can wear lenses, but if I have to, I can wear my glasses under my goggles as well.

By the by, if you are heading through India/Nepal and have a relatively straightforward prescription, this is a great place to buy glasses. I got a great pair in Kathmandu for £5!

Matt :)

Hey Andy, yup, I do wear glasses as well, but for me, contacts provide a full unbroken focus vision and require less care while doing things (like taking a helmet on and off, etc.). And besides, having something sit on my nose gives me a bit of a headache after many hours, so it's not a long term solution.

But, you know, looking into getting laser done is a good option. I'm just myopic, and power is only -1.75 and -2.0, getting worse by about -0.25 each year. I'll look into laser (hoping my current insurance covers it).

I just wear soft lenses, monthly disposable. I've tired the rigid ones, but even over 2 weeks, I can't seem to get comfortable with them.

Good idea about asking about this on couch surfing and posting ahead. But, I think I'm not going to be on a rigid schedule, so I'm looking at a good long term solution. :thumbup1:

Hey Richard,
yeah, the Keen footwear looks like a great choice and toes can even be covered for a little extra protection.

+1 on the Lasik surgery. I rode South America 2004-05 with contact lenses (and spare glasses). I brought a large bottle or two, but needed another in Argentina. It was quite difficult to find, even in larger cities.

Then dealing with contacts especially while camping, the weight of contact solution, the potential for losing something, the whole hassle -- not good.

Before leaving to ride Africa in 2008 I decided to have Lasik surgery. One of the best things I ever did. My vision actually improved vs. contacts. And zero hassles with contacts and solution and glasses and finding contact solution, which would have been even more problematic and time-consuming in Africa. Sweet!

FWIW ...

Mark

Firstly, thanks for advice on "soap for all occasions". Will try it out (body, hair, shave, clothes) and see what happens.

Secondly, I have a couple of points below:

I recently discovered Daysoft disposable contact lenses and have found them to be very comfortable and ridiculously cheap! Have gander at their site here. I also take glases (and the prescription for both contacts and glasses - just in case). I find contacts give much better preriferal vision and you don't need to buy sunnies with prescription lenses.

For trekking I use hardy/trekking trainers (Merrel, North Face, Salomon, etc.). Have not found the need for walking books as these are generally up to the job. You can get them in sombre (smart-looking) colour schemes too so have a look around I guess.

Finally, can anyone suggest some good internal bags for my Alpos 38 ltr and 41 ltr hard luggage? I don't want bags that fill the whole boxes but ones I can use to segment my kit. (e.g. books/maps, electricals, toiletries + medical, paperwork, camp-cooking kit, etc.) I'll probably keep clothes, tent and bedding in 100ltr duffel on back of bike so trying to find smaller, dividing bags for boxes. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ollie

Greasy Sprocket

lenses
 

I always take disposable day and night week lenses (J&J acuview) while traveling and keep them in for 7 days. Even in dry desert climates no problems whatsoever. Need 52 sets for a whole year and in principle you don't need fluids but I take one 100 ml bottle of fluid just in case. All fits in a lunch box. The less you have to poke your fingers in your eyes, the less risk of infections etc. I am also considering laser correction for the next trip because it will hopefully be a trip for several years
:Beach:

Cheers,
Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

It might not be the best looking but I make them myself, then I can get them in the size I like and the cost is low.

There are two on the top of this picture and one beside the water-canister.
http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/alt.jpg

I've been looking for the same thing. Google "packing cube".

Just haven't found any the size I want at a price I'm willing to pay.

Thanks guys. I'll have a look around (much easier now I know the term "packing cube") and may even get the old sewing machine out!

Thanx for the tips on weekly lenses. Yeah, less poking the better :thumbup1:

Regarding packing cubes, I found these last year for my Alaska trip and I highly recommend them for arranging stuff in panniers:

ebags.com

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...133540_2_1.jpg http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...107842_7_1.jpg

They're really cheap and come in all sorts of sizes and colors. Pretty durable too. Not sure about UK/EU shipping, but look into it. They don't have rigid sides, but that sort of helps them fit and squish a bit in the panniers. I used one for clothes, tools, food, etc. :cool4:


Oh and can someone recommend an all purpose soap that can be found state-side?

ebags uk closed for business, but Eagle Creek stuff available here

Eaglecreekluggage - Products Eagle Creek Packing Systems

For seperating all your kit, could you not just scavenge any bags you have from around your house?

They are likely to be such an odd assortment that it is easy to tell at a glance, exactly what is in them.

I did this and as an example, I ended up with;

1st Aid kit in an Alpinestars glove bag,
Wash kit in a DPM ammo pouch,
Maps and baccy in an old black Ortlieb,
Writing equipment in a green plastic sack that 5.56 ammo comes in.

That is obviously just an example of what I found around my gaff to use, but it worked for me, I could just dive into my duffle and find exactly what I wanted through feel or sight. So it works in the dark too!

I also vote for Altbergs.

Joel

Great source of cheap but good kit try Alpkit:

Dry bags:

Airlok XT dry bags - Alpkit Shop

And ordinary stuff sacs. The set of four for £6.50 is a bargain:

Apollo II bags - Alpkit Shop

Matt :)

With my OCD?? No chance. Has to be a colour-matched set, perfect fit with all straight edges aligned........


Unfortunately, I'm serious.

exped
 

Brought some of these, £15 for 4, roll top and waterproof. http://www.theoutdoorshop.com/produc...um/PN31202.jpg