Gear

Before any voyage, it is important to assess one’s gear. I knew there were many things I would need for such an endeavor, some I owned, but more I did not. Here is a rundown of everything I took with me:

Shoes – I am a walker. Habitually, whenever I need to clear my head, get outside, or just do something, I walked. Since I would be traveling, I knew this would be my primary form of transport. I needed something rugged for both the urban environment as well as for the jungle paths I knew I would be traversing. After much research, I settled on Merrell Men’s All Out Blaze 2 Waterproof Hiking Shoe. It had good reviews, and as I can see now, having averaged 5 miles of walking a day, with some days being close to 20 miles walked, they held up great. You will need to swap out the inserts. My go-to is Dr. Scholls.

Hat – Much to my dermatologist’s pleasure, I took her advice and bought a big floppy hat. I got the EINSKEY Men’s Waterproof Sun Hat because it offered much better sun protection than a baseball cap, as well as great shielding from the sun when the sun was setting at just above eye level.

Sunblock – I went with a powder sunblock for everyday use, spray on for when I was at the beach, the above-mentioned hat, and a UV protection water shirt when I was at the beach as I am very, very white.

Bug Spray – I used Sawyer Products SP713 Premium Maxi-DEET Insect Repellent Pump Spray for its deet content. As I am no stranger to mosquitos due to my youth camping in the Maine wilderness in the summer, I made sure to have the best money could buy since where I would be traveling, Malaria would be a concern

Vaccinations – I needed to get my hepatitis A and B vaccinations, Japanese encephalitis, and yellow fever. As the Japanese encephalitis was the equivalent of a rent payment, I did not have enough money to secure a yellow fever vaccination until about halfway through my trip. And thank God I did as I would not have been allowed to enter a few countries later in my voyage.

Meds – I would need to take daily meds after coming into contact with countries that have malaria. I secured them while still in the United States to make sure that I would be getting the proper meds and not some generic, or worse, sugar pill if I were in a foreign country. Also, plan to stock up on any other meds you would need for a full year. Look on GoodRX.com to see where you can find them the cheapest. Depending on how developed a country may determine the ease in which you can get medication. Although, in some, you can be your own pharmacist.

Adapter – Given that the modern world runs on electricity, you would think that by now we would all run on the same voltage if not on the same plugs. Not the case. I got a Homdor Travel Adapter because it was very highly reviewed and it ended up lasting me this whole time.

iPod Touch – Until an unfortunate accident, I was able to use my iPod Touch instead of a phone for my whole trip. I could use FaceTime Audio to talk to my family, Google Voice to talk to people and clients back home that did not have Apple Products, I was able to use maps, that even though I was not connected to WiFi could still track my movements and guide me to where I needed to go, and most importantly, I was able to use rideshare apps to get to where I needed to be. This was a lifesaver and a 4^th of the cost of a new iPhone. Also, opt for a backup service just in case. Speaking of cases, make sure you get one.

Suitcase – Although I was not technically a backpacker, I managed to use a small Samsonite roll case for a year. It was a perfect size and allowed for the perfect weight.

Backpack – One of my friends opted for a Thule backpack and had nothing but great things to say about it. So, taking that and user reviews into consideration, I opted for a Thule Crossover 32L Backpack

Locks – I decided to get the 4 pack of Master Locks with a key instead of a combo. I liked how they fit snugly around the zippers of my backpack as well as my suitcase.

Bike Lock – I also opted for a bike lock in conjunction with my smaller locks to secure my luggage to any sedentary object. While a lot of dorms had lockers, some did not. I figured that if I made the prospect of stealing from me a difficult one, then it would be less likely to happen.

Computer – Since I needed to work from my computer, I brought two as one was a spare. Unless you need a souped-up machine for work, I would advise against it. There are plenty of cheap computers out there. If need be, buy one in Asia. Anywhere else in the world is going to have a premium on them.

Clothing – Since I would be going to various places north and south of the equator, I would be experiencing a lot of different weather. I opted for 4 sets of reversible pants, a collection of t-shirts, some rollable sleeved long sleeve shirts, a jacket, two scarfs, a wool hat, and a ScotteVest along with socks and underwear. The ScotteVest made airport travel a breeze as I would put all the important documents in my breast pocket, with my charger and iPod in the other. It was also great for hiding various things such as a fat stack of cash that I needed when I was going through Asia.

Duct Tape – This was indispensable for a lot of reasons. After walking close to 1500 miles at the 6-month mark, I cushioned the inner heel of my shoe with it. I also used it to provide extra padding for inserts and used it to secure shampoo bottles and the like tucked in my roll bag.

Super Glue– This was a godsend. I used it to fix everything from a flap on my shoe to securing my glasses that fell apart. This was a big help.

Tevas – Tevas are great for activities where you know your feet will be getting wet like sailing, hiking by water, or kayaking.

Flip Flops – I used my Tevas for shower shoes until I realized that a pair of cheap flip flops would be better suited and would dry much more quickly.

Sleep – Ear plugs and a good sleep mask cannot be overstressed. You will need to sleep on buses, planes, and in rooms with loud and often rude people. These will make sure that you will be able to get a good night’s sleep.

Shower time – Get a microfiber towel for quick-drying, a robe that can double as a sleep curtain, and carrying case for your toiletries to make sure your stuff stays organized when you go to wash.

Day trips – If you are planning on heading out for the day and do not want to take you bigger luggage with you, a day pack is essential. Be sure to include a water bottle and perhaps some Tupperware containers to store food. This is also a great way to save money at the airport.

Entertainment: I am a reader. However, actual books are incredibly heavy and not the best for traveling light. Enter, the ereader. There are many kinds, but the best is a Kindle Fire. I love mine. It made hours on buses, planes, and trains fly-by. Also, before you go on your voyage, be sure to register with your local library as you can download books from them for free. Be advised, if you are trying to use it to view media, YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video have very strick regional controls. This means you cannot watch videos in the same way as you can at home. Also, depending on the country, like the United Arab Emirates, they can block sites entirely.