|
Long Duration Packing Questions
Hi Guys,
Am planning a long trip and have been scanning the threads and haven't found the answers I'm looking for, so any advice would be appreciated: :thumbup1: How do you pack sufficient amount of toiletries? Like shampoo, tooth paste, contact lens solution. The longest trips I've done so far have been about 3 weeks and I take enough solutions to last the trip and dont worry, I use them meagerly (just enough to get the job done). I have lots of those travel size liquid bottles (2-3 oz, 50 cc) but what do you when you're traveling for a year or more? Of course I know you can buy everything on the road, but do travelers really buy a bottle of shampoo and other solutions as needed. The sizes in general stores aren't very small and compact for traveling, right? :confused2: I can get by with little of everything else, but I need my contact lens solution daily and you know how big those bottles are - what's the best idea for that? I have the small travel size bottles, but should I just buy the big ones on the road, fill my small bottle and throw away the rest - seems wasteful. Am trying to reduce weight as well as gain space. What kind of footwear is needed? My trip is going to head through the Americas into Europe, Africa and onwards to India. I like to do some hiking, trekking and who knows, join in for some sports once in a while (football with the foot). So, I know those adventure sandals that secure on the foot nicely with a good grip, waterproof and airation for hot climes seem to be the best solution. But is that the only piece of footwear needed? Would there come times when you need a closed-toe shoe? I guess I dont want to seem like a bum everywhere I go, all though I prefer this mode. :cool3: I mean I'd like to look respectful at some times, I think, like applying for visas or getting the chance to meet some officials or is it excused because they know you're a traveler... Previously, my motorcycle boots (Sidi Trepor) were inconspicuous enough that over jeans, they looked fine for getting visas, but now I'm traveling with a more rigid, bulky motocross boot (Oxtar TCX) and those wont suffice for comfy walking around. I know other travelers prefer comfort in riding boots over protection, but I value ankle protection and am willing to live with the downsides, which isn't that bad. Water purification: what's the current best way to go about this? I'm from the third world and know from recent experiences that I have a strong stomach (immune system), thankfully, but still know that water safety is important. Is carrying a filter the most economical method? To me, sounds like chemical purification isn't the best for long term health (that too if I'd be using it continuously for multiple years). That's it for now. |
Quote:
The rest I buy on the road. “The rest” is a piece of soap, a toothbrush, shaving stuff, toilet paper and toothpaste. If I stay somewhere for a while I buy a shampoo and maybe a deodorant… In South Africa I shaved my head, it was pretty nice and for a strange reason a lot of girls found it attractive. :clap: In Europe you can get small samples of shampoo and soap in a lot of shops, nice for a night on the town. |
A piece of hard soap can be used as soap (obviously), shampoo (every now and then, just lather some up in your hands), for washing clothes (OK it's not great but it does work) and for shaving. Actually, hard soap is really good for shaving, just rub a wet bar on your bristles and massage in for a good lather.
Shoes: I'd go with 'off-road' style trainers personally. I have some very nice North Face trainers that are designed for canoeing etc. without being excessively 'water-sports' orientated. They make for a nice grippy trainer but are cool because the mesh of the shoe is designed to let the water out quickly, which also improves airflow. On a long trip I'd take a filter. Two reasons for this: one is economy, the other is that buying mineral water uses a lot of plastic bottles that, after you have carefully placed them in the bin, the locals just turf in the local river or behind the house etc. So a filter is much 'greener'. Don't like chemical purifiers myself. Matt :) |
hey mate,
as for water purifiers check out this thread http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-filters-40729 Shoes: I have purchased a pair or Alt-berg boots (like combat boots) http://www.altberg.co.uk/motorcycle_boots.htm and use them for both hiking and riding .. They are the overlanders best friend if you ask me.. then i have not found a perfect camp shoe yet...see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...footwear-40647 As for your toiletries, bring what you need buy more when you need it..... I ride two-up with a woman... nuf said... :innocent::rofl: (run way!!!.. i am gunna get killed:helpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmi lie:)...... |
Quote:
https://www.lush.co.uk/index.php?pag...mart&Itemid=80 It is small and last for ages and cleanes your hair very well. I have very short hair and my wife have long hair and it works REALLY well on both. Just need to rub it over your head once (maybe twice if long hair) Not sure re footwear, we travel in a 4x4. re water, we use a Steripen (the 'Classic' model). We've NEVER had to buy water anywear. Really good piece of kit. Cheers |
Quote:
As far as soap for clothes goes, when I'm in Africa I buy the little packets of Omo; you'll find similar brands all over the world; which are cheap & do the job ... Have fun! Kira |
Omo
We had a joke that Omo has hidden 'dirt crystals' that dissolve on contact with water and turn the water brown. I just can't believe that much crud comes out of my clothes! :eek3:
|
Quote:
|
Excellent, thanx for the great replies.
I need to look into daily disposal contact lenses - would eliminate the need to carry lens solution. Ok, sounds like a single soap bar for body, hair and clothes is the way to go. |
Footwear choice
Hi
Already mentioned here, Altberg Boots the way to go, basically a hi spec walking boot addapted for motorcycle riding, you can ride all day and if needed you can walk all day super comfy. For the more leasure aspect in hot climates check out Keen footwear US brand , avalable in UK at Cotswold camping. Richard |
Contact lenses
Isn't it simply easier to wear glasses? You'll need to carry glasses for days when your eyes get full of dirt and so on, so why not just go with them from the start?
Plan B to me would be to look into getting your eyes lasered and ditch the lenses that way. I could swing for the idiots we had on some training courses I used to run. Do day 1, go out and get ****ed, be unable to get the lenses in the next day due to being bloodshot and sore, spend day 2 unable to drive or see any component smaller than a truck wheel! Andy |
Glasses are a right pain with helmets, all that sliding them in and out, stick with your contacts.
BUT: what type do you wear? I wear rigid gas-permeables, and they shed grit easily and the bottle is tiny and lasts me about three months, and (opthamologists look away now) you can always "lick & spit" in an emergency. I'd try and do a bit of a check online to see about availability in the countries you're going to - join CouchSurfing and you can ask people on there, it's a great way to check things like this. If not available why not send it ahead poste restante? |
Quote:
Andy |
OK, I'll revise that for Andy:
Glasses can be a pain depending on your head shape, helmet type and glasses style. Personally I can never get any glasses in through my helmet without snagging them on my ears, scratching my temples and bending the frames. But others may differ. |
Quote:
But I usually carry glasses for emergency-stuff that can happen in the middle of the night. Quote:
|
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 :) |
Quote:
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). Quote:
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: |
Quote:
yeah, the Keen footwear looks like a great choice and toes can even be covered for a little extra protection. |
Quote:
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 |
Quote:
There are two on the top of this picture and one beside the water-canister. http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/alt.jpg |
Quote:
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!
|
Quote:
Quote:
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 |
Quote:
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 :) |
Quote:
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
|
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:22. |