Leaving for a year of travel ... enough to make anyone dream! But behind this beautiful project that we started just over a week ago, we are receiving many questions from our friends and readers. Two recurring themes are: budget and packing.
What to pack for a year of travel? How to choose your gear? Should you plan for all your clothing, health, IT needs ... for a year? These are all questions we will try to answer by revealing the contents of our bags.
Packing Your Bag for a Gap Year
Packing your bag is a major step in preparing for a year of travel. Going on vacation for a few weeks or for a year is not the same! And this is particularly felt during the preparations. While the questions might be similar, the attention given will undoubtedly be greater.
What Bag to Take for a Year of Travel?
Before wondering what to put in your bag, it logically leads to the question of what bag to take. You guessed it, I have a preference for backpacks! To help you in your choice, several important points should be considered:
After testing several Osprey bags (notably during our month-long trip to Cambodia), we opted for the Aerial 55 and Aether 60 models. We will talk in detail about these bags soon.
Alongside our two large bags, we each have a smaller bag to keep our most valuable items safe during our major travels, and to head out on day trips.
- What are my needs, my travel style...?
- What type of bag: backpack, rolling suitcase ...?
- What size bag?
- What essential points to check before purchasing: waterproofing/rain cover, easy bag opening, number of compartments, comfort ...?
What to Take in Your Bag?
Over a year of travel, the countries traversed will be numerous and varied, just like the styles of landscapes and climates: coast, desert, mountains, jungle ... How to plan what to wear for temperatures that can range from 45°C to -25°C (for example, in the Atacama Desert).
First of all: keep things in perspective! This perspective can be approached on two levels:
In short: let go! Being prepared is mostly a state of mind!
Then, knowing whether to take the old favorite t-shirt or the latest technical gear ... Both options are valid. It all depends on your style, your needs ... and your budget. But when you think about your expenses, consider the long-term implications as well: an old pair of pants is likely to fail during the trip (and will need to be replaced), while technical gear will be more durable.
- the residents of the countries we visit must also dress: it is possible to find clothes on site, suitable for the climate
- it is impossible to think of everything: because life is full of surprises, and trips are full of unforeseen events ... and human memory is limited!
In Amandine's Bag
In my bag, I mainly have my clothes along with toiletries and a pharmacy kit. Here are the details.
Clothes
Suffering from Raynaud's disease, I have circulation issues that, in cold climates, turn my fingers and toes into icy white or bluish-purple ... Heated soles help me stay outside all day without suffering from the cold!
Because there is no bad weather, just bad equipment!
Total weight: 11 kg (empty bag weight: 2.3 kg; total weight of Eider technical clothing: 1.7 kg)
- a lightweight waterproof hooded jacket in Gore-Tex (Karthala Jacket - Eider)
- a super-lightweight and warm down jacket (Yumia Light - Eider)
- a lightweight and warm fleece vest (Cotopaxi Jacket - Eider)
- a merino wool sweater
- a technical base layer
- 3 lightweight and quick-drying t-shirts: 1 mid-length sleeve (Enjoy T-shirt - Eider), 1 that protects the shoulders (T-shirt Tao Tank - Eider), 1 tank top with thin straps (the same one I took during our first long trip!)
- a tunic (for a feminine touch ... and for fun!) with short white leggings to wear underneath
- 2 technical pants, one of which can transform into shorts (Atacama Pant + Taha Zip Off - Eider)
- a pair of shorts (Pokhara - Eider)
- a scarf
- a hat (souvenir from Sainte-Maxime!)
- a beanie
- a pair of gloves (Windstopper - Eider)
- underwear (2 pairs of lightweight socks, 2 pairs of warm socks; 3 pairs of panties and bras)
- a pair of leggings
- hiking shoes (with Vibram soles - Asolo)
- sandals (Teva)
Other
- Toiletries kit, including the basic essentials plus a solid soap-shampoo and a menstrual cup
- Pharmacy kit
- Heated insoles (foot warmers - Grabber)
- 2 Diving masks
- 2 Diving logs (PADI)
- essential small accessories to include in your bag" href="https://pc-cooling.de/en/top-10-essential-items-to-pack-in-your-backpack/">Small accessories and more > : vaccination records, international driver's license, flashlight, knife, toilet paper - tissues, plastic bag, rubber band, earplugs...
In François's Bag
Clothes
- a lightweight waterproof hooded jacket in Gore-Tex (Target Aero II Jacket - Eider)
- a super-lightweight and warm down jacket (Yumia Light - Eider)
- a lightweight and warm Polartec Powerstretch layer (Wonder 1/2 Zip - Eider)
- a lightweight fleece vest (Techno Wool Biface technology: Shift Wool - Eider)
- 3 t-shirts (Benz Aero, Big Bend, Glieres Gots - Eider)
- a pair of pants that convert into shorts (Adrar Zip Off - Eider)
- a pair of shorts (Galapagos - Eider)
- a pair of gloves (Windstopper - Eider)
- underwear (3 pairs of boxers, 3 pairs of socks)
- a beanie (Wonder Beanie)
- hiking shoes (Forclaz Flex 3 - Quechua)
Camera Bag
François kept space in his large bag to slip in his small bag, in which we put our photo, video, and IT gear.
Other
A tripod (KN-TRIPOD 19 - Konig): weight 0.66 kg
Total weight: 14 kg (empty bag weight: 2.3 kg; total weight of Eider technical clothing: 1.9 kg)
Photo, Video, and IT Equipment for Traveling
In our two small bags, we split the photo and IT equipment. As you can see, we are quite heavily equipped!
But today, with the well-established Un sac sur le dos blog, our passion for photography and our new interest in video ... our equipment is much more extensive than before.
- LowePro FastPack 250 backpack
- Osprey Escapist 20 backpack
- Apple computer - MacBook Air 2013
- Apple computer - MacBook Air 2011
- Apple tablet - iPad mini 2012
- Apple phone - iPhone 5S (which took the photo, and thus, isn't shown here)
- Apple charger for MacBook (+ MagSafe -> MagSafe 2 adapter)
- Charger + cable for iPad
- External hard drive (Backup) Lacie Rugged Mini Thunderbolt (1Tb)
- Apple USB -> Ethernet adapter
- Canon EOS 6D GW (body)
- Canon EF 24-70mm F/4 L IS (black lens)
- Canon EF 70-200 f/4 L IS (white lens)
- Canon charger + backup Canon battery
- SunSniper strap, mounted on the Canon 6D body
- Sony NEX-5T (body)
- Sony SEL 18-55 (gray lens)
- Sony charger + 1 Sony battery and 1 backup Chinese battery
- 8 SanDisk 64Gb class 10 memory cards
- GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition
- GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition
- USB -> mini USB cable to charge the GoPros
- Many attachment systems for the GoPros
- Zoom H1 microphone
- 2 power adapters
Equipping for Travel
During our previous major trips, we weren't as well-equipped. The way to prepare largely depends on individual needs and budget. And being ready to go is mainly a state of mind!
I hope this list will address the questions of many curious people who wanted to know what we packed ... and provide some insightful tips for future travelers.
And you, what do you take when you travel? What are your experiences and advice on this subject?
- 10 essential little extras to include in your bag
- 10 things (really) essential to take on your trip
- Traveling in the cold... and surviving! (special for the cold-sensitive)
- First trip: the fear of setting off (Response to a reader)
- A year of travel around the world recap
- A year of travel: what it has brought me