the wander project dispatches from over there

TWP Gear Guide: A Rough Edit of my Packing List

It’s easily one of the top three questions asked of RTW travelers (right after “Why are you doing this?” and “How are you financing this little venture?”): What does one pack for a year-long trip?
So here’s your answer. I’m still editing this list— I’m sure I’ll ditch some stuff (like clothes) and toss in a few odds/ends, but this is pretty much it. Travelers, feel free to offer your suggestions.
Clothing
one pair of travel pants (patagonia continental pants)
three l.s. travel shirts (patagonaia/gramicci/the north face)
two synthetic s.s. T-shirts (patagonia calpilene)
two synthetic l.s. T-shirts (patagonia [...]

TWP Gear Guide: Packing Light

You’ve seen them: 100-pound girls buckling under 110-pound backpacks, guys with entire trains of rolling luggage in tow — people lugging so much stuff  around the world that they spend more time managing their gear than actually experiencing their destination.
Don’t be one of them.
A huge bag is a liability. You’ve got to transport it, then you’ve got to stash it somewhere or keep it with you at all times.  You’ve got to keep it (relatively) clean and dry, and you’ve got to keep it safe. Clearly, less is more.
Now that you’re convinced [...]

TWP Gear Guide: Travel Footwear

Footwear is perhaps the most important gear decision you’ll make when preparing for your extended trip. Why? Because shoes are the one item that must function flawlessly: “making due” with ill-fitting or inappropriate footwear is asking for trouble. Does mean that everyone should be packing a pair of burly hiking boots? Absolutely not. You should make every effort to match your footwear selection to your itinerary. If you’re simply stringing together as many Indonesian surf breaks as possible, pack your flip-flops and forget it. But if you plan on doing any significant trekking, you’re going to need a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or boots to protect your feet and ankles from the terrain and help support the weight of the pack you’ll be carrying.

TWP Gear Guide: Travel Clothing

Picking clothing for an extended trip is often a source of frustration for many travelers — they’re apparently attempting to cram their entire closet into 70 liters worth of backpack. They’d do well to learn from outdoor athletes: the contents of a hiker’s bag, much like that of a long-term traveler, should represent the minimum amount of gear that keeps him/her comfortable across the widest range of conditions. Travel clothing has never looked better, either. With manufacturers now cranking out stylish designs in subtly high-tech fabrics, there’s no need to look like [...]

TWP Gear Guide: Backpacks

Your Backpack. As a long-term traveler, it might be the most important piece of gear you select. For a bag you’ll actually enjoy hauling around the world, look for quality construction, a perfect fit and smart design.

Quality: When purchasing a pack, you should expect to get what you pay for. Can you make it around the world with a cheap backpack? Of course—many people have. But your pack will soon feel like an extension of your body, and it’ll take more abuse than anything else you own. Why not go for [...]