"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." -Leonardo da Vinci
Packing for my trip to South America has been fun and challenging. While I’m a minimalist at heart, there are just certain things you have to have on a stranded island. Granted, I’m not going to a stranded island, but if I were, those things would be in my “personal item" Travelon bag.
This is the bag that I don’t leave home without when exploring during the day. In this bag check, one would find my iPad, headphones, Kindle, chargers, cables, waterproof phone case, passport, moola, battery backups, windbreaker, microfiber quickdry towel, water bottle, etc. This part of my packing wasn’t hard; it was fun.
My carry-on backpack was the challenge. Since I’m traveling during the winter months (June, July, August) in South America, that meant I had to include long pants and long sleeve items. Temperatures where I’m going are typically in the 60s and 70s during the day and anywhere between 40s and 50s at night. This ultimately means layers; lots and lots of layers to shed when the sun comes out but reapplied when dusk sets in. As best as I can tell, only two nights of my trip have the strong likelihood of being in the 20s to 30s at night. I originally planned to bring my lightweight, puff jacket but after going through 6 packs of my bag, I just couldn’t justify the space it takes up compared to how much I will use it. I will undoubtedly be really uncomfortable for the two nights in the Uyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia and be wearing everything in my bag to keep warm, but it is what is.
Like I said, after 6 packing run-throughs, and three days ahead of schedule, I have my bag packed. I’m traveling with a 22” ExtremePak backpack style bag that served me well as a carry-on for most US airlines and my flight to Cuba last year. Read another way, it’s not a carry-on for the smaller airlines and flights in South America, but there’s nothing I can do about that. LATAM will be taking my $15 on each flight. However, when you’re only paying $30-$50 for the flight itself, I feel ok. Inside the bag, I’m utilizing the rolling method and packing cubes. A small duffel bag is serving as a compartment, too, and one that I can use for overnight trips where my entire backpack isn’t warranted. After all is said and done, my backpack weighs 27 pounds or roughly 12 kilos.
In my ExtremePak Backpack:
Drawsting Bag:
This is the bag that I don’t leave home without when exploring during the day. In this bag check, one would find my iPad, headphones, Kindle, chargers, cables, waterproof phone case, passport, moola, battery backups, windbreaker, microfiber quickdry towel, water bottle, etc. This part of my packing wasn’t hard; it was fun.
My carry-on backpack was the challenge. Since I’m traveling during the winter months (June, July, August) in South America, that meant I had to include long pants and long sleeve items. Temperatures where I’m going are typically in the 60s and 70s during the day and anywhere between 40s and 50s at night. This ultimately means layers; lots and lots of layers to shed when the sun comes out but reapplied when dusk sets in. As best as I can tell, only two nights of my trip have the strong likelihood of being in the 20s to 30s at night. I originally planned to bring my lightweight, puff jacket but after going through 6 packs of my bag, I just couldn’t justify the space it takes up compared to how much I will use it. I will undoubtedly be really uncomfortable for the two nights in the Uyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia and be wearing everything in my bag to keep warm, but it is what is.
Like I said, after 6 packing run-throughs, and three days ahead of schedule, I have my bag packed. I’m traveling with a 22” ExtremePak backpack style bag that served me well as a carry-on for most US airlines and my flight to Cuba last year. Read another way, it’s not a carry-on for the smaller airlines and flights in South America, but there’s nothing I can do about that. LATAM will be taking my $15 on each flight. However, when you’re only paying $30-$50 for the flight itself, I feel ok. Inside the bag, I’m utilizing the rolling method and packing cubes. A small duffel bag is serving as a compartment, too, and one that I can use for overnight trips where my entire backpack isn’t warranted. After all is said and done, my backpack weighs 27 pounds or roughly 12 kilos.
In my ExtremePak Backpack:
Drawsting Bag:
- Toms slip-ons (in a drawstring bag because they stink)
- 8 underwear
- 7 socks
- 3 sports bras
- bra
- chiffon vest cardigan
- 2 light scarves
- 2 everyday shorts (jean and black)
- denim skirt
- 1 olive khaki pants
- 1 black linen pants
- 3 gym shorts (black, olive, red)
- capri leggings
- lightweight hiking pants
- medium weight joggers
- cardigan
- cotton dress
- 3 casual long sleeve
- 3-4 tanks
- 5-6 tees
- zip up long sleeve
- 2 nice tops (black and coral)
- toiletries bag
- hair straightener
- laundry bag
- Birkenstock sandals
- feminine items
For flight:
- Blue Jeans, tshirt, button up long-sleeve, grey fleece tied to bag, sneakers
 |
| Backpack with cubes |
 |
| Clothes rolled up and organized...for now |
 |
| Toiletries |
No comments:
Post a Comment