How to Pick Travel Gear

For a short trip, it's fairly easy to pack. Just pick whatever you think you might use over several days, and throw it in a bag. For more extended trips, it is much more challenging to find the right balance between having everything you need and still keeping your luggage manageable. Choosing the right travel gear can go a long way toward solving this dilemma.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose your luggage. The most important consideration in luggage is probably being able to carry it all. For medium length trips, a standard luggage set can provide a lot of packing space, making it a convenient option. For even longer trips, you may want to concentrate on one decent sized bag, which is easier to carry around. Popular styles include internal frame backpacks and wheeled suitcases, both of which can even be used as airline carry-ons. Whatever you choose, make sure you have at least one small bag that you can use on short excursions while traveling.

2. If you need a sleeping bag, pick a backpacking version, which will be much smaller and lighter than the standard rectangular model. And if a sleeping bag is too large or expensive, consider a sheet sack, a portable lightweight bag for deploying in hostel beds.

3. Choose interchangeable clothing. Pick layered pieces in a few major colors, that you can use to construct several different outfits. Throw in a few accessories for fun and to increase the versatility of your clothes. Plan for a variety of weather conditions, and make sure the clothes you pick wash easily and stand up reasonably well to packing. Be especially careful about picking your main pair of shoes, and practice walking around in them ahead of time to ensure that they are well broken in and very comfortable.

4. Pick some entertainment for slow moments. At the very least you will probably want a book to read (and possibly a travel guide). Many people also like to bring cameras, travel games, sketchbooks, and other recreational items. All of these should be as compact and self-contained as possible.

5. Pick carefully among travel gadgets. A few that are actually pretty worthwhile include small luggage locks with cables to secure your gear, padlocks for hostel rooms or lockers, travel towels that fold very small while being able to absorb a surprising amount of water, small storage bags to organize your things, and water bottles (with or without a built-in filter). A multi-tool can also be very convenient, unless you plan to carry-on all your luggage while flying.

Tips & Warnings

• A popular adage suggests that you should pack what you think you need and then eliminate half of it, to make your luggage more manageable.
• Even if you don't go that far, you will probably want to make sure you have some empty space in your luggage to pick up extra items or souvenirs as you go.

[travelwithkids]

on 8/16/2009 Good info and tips. Thanks.