Our 60 Litre Life

So here we are......4 days until we leave and we need to start packing and I have a small scale Mount Everst of discarded clothes on the floor by my bed!

I have had a "we might need this" collecting vessel...a.k.a. laundry basket for a few months now. When we thought of something or read a packing list on a blog, we tossed it in there for future consideration. As the heap in the basket grew bigger and bigger, reality set in........no room for "just in case or but it's small" items......it was time to purge!!!

Everything we need will have to fit in our Osprey backpacks and Pacsafe day packs. The rule here is pack light!! Okay, now "pack light" can mean a whole different thing to different people. Some veteran travellers head out for months on end with a backpack half the size of ours and some with a backpack that is more along the 80 litre size. We opted to go somewhere in between and purchased two 60 litre packs. Now...60 litres might sound like a lot but when you start mumbling to yourself about where to stuff another pair of underwear because your malaria pills took up the room.....60 litres turns out to be smaller than you think!

Lots of people who travel to Southeast Asia suggest to pack little clothing and just buy what you need there. This sounds like the perfect thing to do, but me being on the full figure curvy side and Rick's six foot-four giant height, could pose a problem when trying to purchase clothing in country! We will still pack light and hope for the best.

Now packing for an adventure such as ours does require a few special items that are not on the normal travel list. Quick drying items are key.  Here is a rundown on what we have managed to stuff into our packs for three months of adventure travel.

3-4 light, airy, baggy short sleeve shirts (temps can be pretty high, so air flow is key!)

1 light long sleeve shirt

1 pair of shorts

1 pair of light long pants

1 pair of capris (temples require you to have your knees and shoulders covered)

1 knee-length skirt (not sure if Rick is packing one....lol)

3 quick dry underwear

1 sarong (many uses)

1 bathing suit

2 pairs of socks

1 bandana

Hat

Sandals

Bikini top for when bra is being washed (again....not sure about Rick!)

Down sweater (great for when we are on the plane and in San Fran and the cooler nights in the north)

Travel towel and wet bag

Silk sleeping sheet (this is for using in hostels that are a little more questionable)

Neck pillow (a must for the 18 hour flight)

Light Touque (I like to wear one one the plane when the AC is a little high)

Waterproof cover for backpack

Toiletries (the basics)

Small first aid kit

Things to help with stomach issues, jet lag, and of course traveler's diarrhea 

Malaria pills and antibiotics 

Toilet paper, wipes, hand sanitizer ( I will master the squat toilet!)

Headlamp

Journal and traveler watercolour set

Mesh pack safe

iPad, iPod, GoPro (GoPro mounts - head, chest, and selfi-stick)

Camera

SD cards

Travel documents (Nexus card, passport, Thai Visa, Vietnam Visa, extra passport photos)

Means to get money out of the bank....a.k.a. Debit and Visa cards

Earplugs (planes, trains, buses, boats, dorm rooms are always filled with nighttime music)

Book to read that can be left at a hostel for others to enjoy

Cheap reading glasses

Sunglasses

Whew! To help keep things organized in our packs, we are using packing cubes and compression bags. Add some carabiners to the outside will make it easier to carry shoes or a grocery bag filled with yummy treats. 

Wondering how much this all weighs? When I first put it on I thought, "why is there an elephant riding on my back!!" No seriously, the pack itself weighs 7lbs 11oz (internal frame and wheels add to this), and when packed with the above items, it comes in at a easy to manage 29 lbs. Of course, ask me how light that is after lugging it around for three months......thank goodness for the wheels and handle features! 

Thank goodness my curvey bootie isn't any wider or it wouldn't fit between the wheels!! 

Having always been a traditional 80 litre backpacker, I am looking forward to trying out this backpack. It opens like a suitcase instead of top loading and has a mesh ventilation system so your back isn't right up against the pack. 

So there you have it.....my home for the next three months. I will let you know how our 60 litre life works out 😃

http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/wheeled_bags/sojourn_2560l