{"id":2451,"date":"2016-10-05T12:36:25","date_gmt":"2016-10-05T16:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/solbeam.com\/?p=2451"},"modified":"2016-10-22T17:46:21","modified_gmt":"2016-10-22T21:46:21","slug":"packing-list-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seekingsol.com\/packing-list-3\/","title":{"rendered":"*updated* packing list: minimal, high-quality, active, techie, and mom-friendly."},"content":{"rendered":"

: : : Packing List, for 1 Single Traveler<\/h2>\n

Wondering how to pack everything you need into one carry-on?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people find this process stressful, but I rather enjoy the challenge and simplicity of sorting through what is essential enough to qualify for space in my carry-on. Learning how and what to pack from the process of trial and error might be a rite-of-travel-passage, but if you want to skip ahead of that costly learning curve, here’s a basic packing list of some recommended gear. \u00a0My travel style is minimal, high-quality, active, techie, and mom-friendly. So proceed if that resonates with you. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Here are a few options and details on some of my personal favorite travel items:<\/p>\n

Daypack:<\/strong> A small daypack or backpack is a necessity. Something that <\/a>you can use to carry a book, camera, water bottle, and poncho on short outings. Remember to sling shoulder strap bags across your body and to turn backpacks to the front in crowded subways and busy streets. Osprey makes my current go-to day pack<\/a>. It packs down to AIR, so I can store it right in my carry-on if I don’t feel like carrying two bags.<\/p>\n

Kindle PaperWhite:<\/strong> <\/a>My bedside table at home has no less than 15 books stacked on it that I rotate through based on my mood. <\/a>And ADHD reading is not a travel-friendly addiction. The Kindle solves the problem. But the Paper White: Have you seen one!? It does NOT feel like an electronic device (which is my biggest problem with e-readers). It looks exactly like a good old fashioned, finger-turning, paper page. Technology at its simple best. \u00a0The technology is intentionally (?) outdated enough to ensure there’s no room to wander online or get distracted by pop-up instant messages. Seriously. Just like a good old book, but palm-able. Get your hands on one and try it out. You’ll see what I mean.<\/p>\n

Travel Journal:<\/strong> Use it for everything: travel expenses, journaling, scrap book, photo<\/a> album, poetry, sketching. I tape\/glue in old tickets and extra spectacular postcards and encourage new friends to get artistic. Bring a couple pictures of your home, family, kids, and best mates to share with new friends who you meet (gasp!) offline. \u00a0My journals are my most prized possession from each of my trips and I look forward to reviewing them in my rocking chair when I\u2019m 80 (somewhere on the French coast if you were wondering). I’m a big fan of the Moleskin line<\/a>\u00a0for my journals.<\/p>\n

Travel Alarm:<\/strong> Use your phone or buy something cheap and replaceable to help you hurdle time zones. \u00a0In general, I don’t buy or travel with fancy watches or jewelry. Most of my top travel destinations involve minimal decoration; sandy beaches and precious metal do not go together. Leave your valuables at home for the weightlessness of peace-of-mind.<\/p>\n

Melatonin: <\/a><\/strong>Melatonin<\/a> is a natural sleep aid that helps the body adjust its sleep cycle when jumping time zones. (If anyone knows if I can use this with my kids, please let me know.)<\/p>\n

Camera:<\/strong>\u00a0I’m currently (2016-17) travelling and experimenting with a Panasonic\u00a0LUMIX <\/a><\/a>mirrorless<\/a>. The jury is still out.<\/p>\n

Stored Images:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Take phone photos of your passport(s), drivers license, maps you want to quickly access upon arrival, etc. Store the digital\u00a0copies somewhere secure and accessible in the case of theft or loss. Put a passcode on your iphone if you don’t already have one.<\/p>\n

Money:<\/strong>\u00a0FYI, travelers checks died in 2016. Register your shock and move on. \u00a0So don’t forget your debit card (accepted virtually everywhere), some hard cash (in small denominations) and a credit card. My husband is a business owner, so our family flies almost purely on award tickets earned from our United Explorer Card<\/a>. \u00a0That’s a winning tip if you have a lot of expenses (ie. children), and feel comfortable putting everything on a credit card and paying it off every month.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Pimsleur Language Audio Lessons<\/a>:<\/strong> I personally believe that language is the front-door key to unlocking the magic and mysteries of a place and people. I also think it’s an act of basic respect to introduce myself and offer greetings in the language of the country (so kindly) hosting me. So I never leave home without investing in a month into language study first. Pimsleur is an audio language course<\/a> that gets that job done effectively. It’s mom-friendly in that it only requires 20-minutes a day. And it offers instant oral building skills that ensure confident and correct pronunciation. \u00a0I’m such a fan, I’d infomercial Pimsleur for free. I’ve worked through the full Pimsleur Spanish<\/a> and French courses<\/a> and introductory Portuguese<\/a>, Indonesian<\/a> and Mandarin<\/a>. I’m back to working through my Spanish course again if that gives you any hint of where I’m going next. Pro-tip<\/strong>: Language study sharpens mom-brain and staves off dementia. Savings Tip:<\/strong> I use my backlog of Audible<\/a> credits to purchase the lessons.<\/p>\n

Money Belt: <\/strong><\/a>20-years of travelling, and I still take my money belt. I rarely wear it, but I like having a discreet pocket for cash, passports and cards that I don’t take out for the day.<\/p>\n

Leatherman Tool:<\/strong> It\u2019s an insult to call a Leatherman Tool a “pocketknife”, but for lack of a better word I\u2019ll use the term. <\/a>They are the best and highest quality multi-purpose tools on the market. Get a StylePS<\/a>\u00a0for your pocket (which is TSA approved<\/a>!) and a Juice CS4<\/a>\u00a0for your checked bag. This is THE travelers\u2019 tool – by which all will swear. Full Disclosure: My brother is the CEO and President of Leatherman. But my recommendation is fierce regardless. \u00a0Subtext: super proud of my bro.<\/p>\n

Super-Absorbent Travel Towel<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0You can get one of these towels at travel stores or via Amazon<\/a>. These special towels are super-absorbent, very lightweight, dry in an instant, and come in handy often. If you’re staying at hotels\/houses, skip this.<\/p>\n

Silk Sleep Sack<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0If you\u2019re travelling through particularly warm climates or utilizing beds where you might prefer your own sheet, you should have *or make* a sleep sack. For those on a budget, you can make one simply by sewing two sheets together or you can pick one up at any travel store. Many hostels charge you for renting sheets, and you can save cash by bringing one of these. They also keep you safe from \u201csuspicious\u201d sleeping quarters<\/strong>. \u00a0I have also jumped in mine on overnight trains, while sleeping in stations\/on ferries and stuffed it as a pillow on bumpy busses and the like. My starchy cotton sleep sheet worked well enough, but it didn\u2019t keep me particularly warm and took up a lot of space in my pack. Solution? The Silk Sleep Sack<\/a>: Silk insulates you better, cleans easier, takes up NO space at all in your pack\u2026and FEELS like butter. Yes, it\u2019s about 40 bucks more than the cotton one, but if you\u2019re doing serious traveling, it\u2019s worth the cost for the extra comfort and added space in your pack.<\/p>\n

Shoes: <\/strong>Shoes are heavy, hard to pack and stink when wet. \u00a0Again, pay the extra buck. Comfort counts here more than you\u2019ll ever know. Here\u2019s what I take (as of 2016-17):<\/p>\n