Suggested List of Things to Pack
Trip Start
Aug 22, 2006
1
94
Trip End
Ongoing
Cousdon, United Kingdom
Saturday, September 29, 2007
South Amercia
* Backpack which has been tried out in the shop to ensure that it fits you correctly with metal shafts included in the bag to protect your back. It could save you years of discomfort and bills paid to chiropractors - not a good idea to skimp on this one.
* A sealed blood-transfusion and needle set (I bought mine in Boots chemist in the UK). Its good to have even if you don't know how to use it, as if you ever need to go to hospital you can insist medical staff use it. N.B. Make sure you tell your travelling companions you have this with you in case you are unconscious when admitted to the hospital.
* A compact first aid kit for day to day scrapes including plasters, antiseptic cream, a rolled bandage for sprains, scissors and clean antisceptic towelette wipes. (I bought this in Boots chemist, UK but you could also buy this seperately if you had some items already and wanted to save money).
* One money belt that you can wear underneath your clothes, that is big enough to hold passports, credit cards and emergency money. If possible, one that has a goretex area for the part that stays against your body, so its less uncomfortable. I'd not bother with the waterproof ones you can buy, they are just too bulky and would be easily spotted underneath clothes negating the need for them in the first place.
* Lightweight hiking trousers with a zip feature to allow you to zip the bottom half on and off to go from trousers to shorts and back. Invaluable in unpredictable climates!
* Two, or at most three hiking teeshirts with breathable material that takes sweat away from your body, stopping nasty smells and preventing you from getting cold.
* A compact hiking towl - really handy (and very nickable, unfortunately) as it has anti-bacterial qualities and dries very quickly. Its also very light.
* A silk or cotton bag to put inside potentially hired sleeping bags or hostel beds, to keep potential nasty bugs at bay.
* Immodium or other anti-diahorrea treatment - 3 packs.
* Anti-mosquito insect repellent containing DEET. Even if you're not planning on going to the jungle, the lure might be too much when you're there. Surprisingly useful as mossies don't realise they are meant to stay in the jungle and often come out at dusk in cities too.
* A small Spanish phrase book - most contain useful dictionaries in the back of them, and are much more handy than the dictionary alone. You probably won't have room for the dictionary and the phrase book.
* A waterproof jacket that actually works - test drive before you leave if at all possible!
* Hiking boots that are bought specifically to fit you. You could ruin your feet permanently if you skimp on these.
* Double-lined hiking socks, which stop rubbing and blisters when you hike for long distances - two pairs, three at most.
* Flip-flops, jandles, thongs, or whatever you want to call the very thin, plastic things you put on your feet at the beach. Invaluable!
