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  What I Packed...

1 - Jansport Backpack (small)- I bought this hoping it would last me for a few years, instead, it slowly disintegrated in less than 6 weeks. It looked like a great backpack, but I'm afraid I just put too much stuff into it. It is always good to bring along a small backpack. It is easlily accessable, can be used as a day-pack, and distributes your weight when you wear it on your chest.

1a - Small Combination Locks (2) - These locks came in handy throughout my trip. I would use them mainly for two reasons: on my first backpack to keep pickpockets at bay and to lock my tent up at the campsite during the day when I was out exploring.

2 - Jansport backpack (large) - This was a backpack sent from Heaven. It held up to 50 pounds during my trip and never was damaged or uncomfortable. Although I started using it 3 months before I left for Europe, I was still discovering its great features and qualities throughout my trip. I nicknamed my bag "The Beast" after the big blue comic book hero.

3 - Quick Dry "Squeegee" Towel - Of all the things I brought on my trip, I was most disappointed with this one. It simply didn't do what it said it would do: dry quickly. Sometimes I would end up having to pack it wet in my bag after hanging it to dry for an hour only to find it STILL wet the next time I had to use it (and smelly). I ended up "permanently borrowing" a medium-sized towel in Transylvania that worked much better.

5 - Coleman Felt Sleeping Bag - Although it says it works for temperatures over 50° F, I had major success with this on my trip. I haven't done the math yet, but I imagine it rained 80% of the time I was camping and it was below 50° F 70% of the time, but the insulation of my tent (#6) would have made a heavier, thicker sleeping bag too warm for me.

6 - Eureka! Solitaire One-Man Tent - I couldn't have asked for a better tent. I am 6'4 and over 250 pounds, yet I had enough room in this tent at night for myself and my stuff (backpack and all). It makes a great locker during the day as well. (see #1a) When hiking, I barely felt its 2 lbs. 8 oz. weight.

(UPDATE: Feb 2004 - Well, my tent was attacked by a bear (again) because I left a candy wrapper in it (again!) - but I like this tent so much, I bought another one! You can find one for $70 (free shipping & no tax!) at Arkatents USA)

7 - Eggshell Ground Pad - Although this was lightweight, it was a little awkward. I ended up cutting about 3 inches off of the end (widthwise) in order to fit into busses! I hear that there is a self-inflating ground pad that would work a lot better and is less bulky.

8 - Baseball cap - I rarely used this hat. I discovered that most Europeans never wear baseball caps. With that said, it was odd to discover that Romanians love to wear them.

9 - Clothing - 4 T-shirts, 1 long-sleeved shirt, 1 pair of swim trunks, 1 pair of slacks, 2 zip-off-leg pants, 1 felt jacket, 1 Eddie Bouer rain jacket, 4 pairs of socks (see #12), 5 pairs of underwear, a pair of Nike boots (not shown) and a pair of Teva sandals (see #11). I am quite proud with what clothes I packed. With the exception of my socks and underwear, all of it really held up well. There were only a couple times where I wished I had brought more clothing, but I solved that by buying it in cheaper countries. (see "What I Needed to Buy in Europe" section at bottom).

10 - Beanie Hat - I ended up only using this hat to keep my head warm while camping. Since they say that 80% of body heat excapes from the head, I'm glad I used it.

11 - Teva Sandals - You will not find a better pair of sandals than Teva. They weigh a little more than just flip-flops, but I rely on heavy-duty sandals to explore beaches and ruins in warmer climates. I'm a big sandal-lover (In fact, I'm wearing these Tevas as I write this in March 2002) and I have a permanent tan to prove it.
Advice: break in your sandals at least a month before your trip to reduce blistering.

12 - Bag 'O Socks - I put all my socks and underwear into a sealable (Ziploc) freezer bag. Although it was rare for any of my clothes to get wet, the main purpose was to keep them dry. The Ziploc bags also saved me from the incredible smell of my dirty socks & underwear.

14 - Assortment of Containers - I used these all the time! They are perfect for carrying liquids like soap, sunscreen, skin cream, hair gel or detergent. (Just label them well - you can tell it will be a bad day when you wash your hair with liquid detergent.) I had to refill most of these containers along my journey - sometimes more than twice - but the size is perfect for long trips.

15 - Bag of Bags - No, this isn't some sort of Buddhist thought like a one-handed clap. I actually used these small Ziploc bags for holding miscellaneous items like film, shells, rocks, gifts, receipts, and notes. It was also a way for me to organize and protect items I found along my way. You can purchase these bags by the 100 at most stamp/coin collectible stores for a few dollars.

16 - Gauze & First-Aid Tape - You never know when an accident might occur - be prepared! (also see #20)

18 - Money Necklace - In order to survive without your backpack in a city, you need very few things: money and your passport. Everything else can be reacquired. I used this money necklace to hold only a few things: my Carte Orange Pass while in Paris, larger amounts of money, my traveler's cheques, and passport) I would keep it not around my neck, but in my Velcro pocket of my pants for it was just as impossible to have been pickpocketed from that pocket as it would be if it was around my neck (see here for proof).

20 - First-Aid Kit / Overnight Bag - This bag held just about everything I needed: toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, baby powder, shampoo, sunscreen, hand cream, deodorant. As well as for all of those moments you cannot expect: bug spray, Neosporin, sewing repair kit, assortment of pills, vitamins, super glue, Band-Aids, moleskin (for blisters), fingernail clippers, shoelace, and gauze. Some of these items I only used once on my entire trip, but there is no way to forsee if you need them or not - so I just brought them and had no regrets. Try to pick out an overnight bag that has a hook on it for hanging from the bathroom door, shower head, etc. (Note: I removed most of the items this bag originally came with.)

21 - 100 oz. Water Bladder - I used this item once: on my hike up Mount Vesuvius in Italy. Other than that trip, it was easy to find potable water. If you plan on doing a lot of nature hiking, this kind of bag is a must. I could strap it onto my backpack and drink from it by way of a hose.

22 - Ticket Sleeve - I kept all of my transportation paperwork in this sturdy, plastic, bright red sleeve. If I lost this, it would have ruined my trip. I found it next to impossible to call my airline from Europe. Both the pay phones and my calling cards did not recognize "800" numbers. Luckily my reason for calling wasn't that important - but what if I had lost my ticket!?

23 - Extra Straps (2) - I used these straps to attach items onto the outside of my backpack (mainly my water bag - #21)

24 - Zipper See-Through Bag (with Books) - One of the most frequently used items on my trip was Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring. I've heard of ways to reduce the weight of your load by cutting up this "five pound travel bible" as I called it, but I couldn't do it - this book became my travel partner and a friend. Cutting it up would have betrayed it.

I hesitantly brought along Knopf Guide: Paris. At home, I own almost every travel book Knopf Publishing has released. They are wonderfully illustrated "travel guides" that are more suited for the dreamy armchair traveler than the realistic backpacker who would be crazy to pack all of these two pound books into their bag. Since I am only mildly insane, I brought along my favorite: Paris. It helped me decide which places I wanted to check out in Paris just by flipping the pages, seeing the pictures, and then hopping onto the Metro.

I also started the trip with a complete Lonely Planet's Europe Phrasebook, but I found out I only needed about 10 of it's 100+ pages so I cut them out and gave the rest of the book away. The heavy-duty zipper bag I kept these books in worked wonderfully. It kept them dry during heavy rain.

25 - Lightweight Rain Poncho (large) - Nothing works better or faster in protecting yourself and your bag from rain than a large, heavy-duty rain slick. You know what I'm talking about - those large sheets of plastic with the hole and hood in the middle for your head. I wrapped it up with a 10-12 foot length of poly rope.

26 - Small Photo Album - It's always a good idea to bring along a few photos to show people you meet along the way. I took with me photos of my family, friends, and activities I liked to do at home.

27 - Big Bag of Info - This Ziploc bag must have weighed 2-3 pounds easily! I brought along maps and information about most of the 40+ cities I planned on visiting on my trip. The negative of doing this is that you might bring info you will never use. I brought maps of Switzerland and never made it into the country. I also brought a nice map of Rome but forgot I had it until it was too late! I ended up throwing away or donating a lot of this info to travelers I met along the way. When I backpack again, I will definitely reconsider bringing a lot of printed info.

28 - Assorted Energy Bars - I brought along these energy bars in case of a time when I had no other options of food. Believe it or not, there were moments were I found myself miles away from a place selling food. Other times I discovered the hard way that most resturaunts and markets were closed during the early afternoon. (Some of my favorite energy bars: Tiger's Milk, Powerbar, Cliff Bar)

29 - Film - I brought 11 rolls of film to Europe. Some people say you should purchase film when you need it but I say no way! I tried searching for film in the Balkans during the off-season and the locals laughed at me. In Romania, although everything else was cheap, film still cost the same as it did in the States. I overpaid for four rolls in Sorrento, Italy and still regret not buying more at home before I left. I say pack it all in because you never know when you might need it.

30 - A 35 mm camera and a disposable camera - The camera pictured here was stolen within my first 48 hours in Paris. A friend of mine in Japan graciously sent me one of his (Minolta Freedom Escort QD) to the campsite I was staying at. I brought along a disposable camera specifically for moments like this: it is a good backup if your camera is lost, stolen or not working.

32 - Tide single-use detergent blocks - These worked surprisingly well! I would have wished I had more if they didn't take up so much room, but luckily they were sold individually at the cleaners I went to on my trip anyway.

34 - Alarm Clock - You'd be amazed on how you can sleep through almost anything after a long day of exploring. Luckily, I didn't sleep through this alarm clock. God bless the snooze button.) I would bring one again on my next trip. Try to get one with glow-in-the-dark hands (or better yet, go digital!)

35 - - See #14

37 - Matches / Lighter - I brought along both - but mainly used the lighter. I brought matches just in case the ligher wouldn't work. (Always a Boy Scout, I guess: "Be Prepared")

38 - Spoon/knife/fork Camping Kit - great item! Used frequently to prepare and eat picnics. A must!

39 - Water Purification Tablets & Vitamins - I never used the tablets because I always drank either bottled water or water I knew was safe. If I did more camping in remote areas, I'm sure I would have used the tablets. I took a vitamin every morning while in Europe (as well as every day up to three months before I left) because there's nothing worse than being sick on the journey of your life.

40 - Plastic Vials (12) - I took these specifically to gather rocks and soil along my journey. Sure, it added a lot of weight to my load, but it was worth it to me. I gave a small lava rock from Mount Vesuvius, Italy to all my friends and family upon my return.

(not pictured) - Standard US Military Pocketknife - I boarded a plane on the East Coast of the United States bound for Europe just 15 hours before the infamous events of Septemeber 11th. Not a day goes by that I wonder how my journey would have changed if I had a plane ticket for just a day later. For one, I don't think I would have had this knife on my trip. It did more tasks than I could possibly mention here - mainly for security against the dangers of the unexpected. If you do bring a knife, always be consious of the fact that you are carrying it, especially when entering museums and important buildings. The security at The Louvre and Palace Versailles in France were helpful in keeping this knife while I toured their facilities.

(not pictured) - Small Umbrella - Unless you are a fish, bring a small, lightweight umbrella when going to Europe during the rainy months. I used this item almost every day it rained and thanked myself for bringing it.

(not pictured) - 7 in 1 Adventure Tool - This device was used when I was hiking by myself during the day (and, more importantly, at night!) The small item has a compass*, magnifying glass, safety mirror, safety whistle, thermometer*, storage area and a LED light*. (*items I used the most)

(not pictured) - Small Umbrella - Unless you are a fish, bring a small, lightweight umbrella when going to Europe during the rainy months. I used this item almost every day it rained and thanked myself for bringing it.

  What I Left Home...

* - Eddie Bouer Sleeping Bag - This beast took up more than 50% of my backpack! It's a great sleeping bag, but was not necessary at all for my trip.

* - Coleman Camping Cookware - It was a hard decision to decide not to bring this camping gear, but ultimately I had no choice: I didn't have any more room in my backpack! (besides, with the weight of this, plus a fuel bottle and a propane stove, my bag weighed close to 70 lbs!) However, I would have probably saved a lot of money on food if I did bring this by eating pasta every night instead of eating "out."

4 - Small Pillow (in plastic bag) - I threw this item out before I left for Europe. It struck me that my felt jacket stuffed into a pillow case worked perfectly as a pillow.

13 - Lightweight Emergency Poncho (small) - Although I didn't bring it (I had a nice rain jacket and a sturdier rain slick), it's always good to carry with you in case of emergency. It can also be used to cover your backpack (I used #25).

31 - Binoculars - I ended up not bringing these small binoculars. There were 4-5 times on my trip I wish I had them, but not enough to make me regret not bringing them.

33 - Altoids Box - A good box to store misc. paperwork in. But I opted to not bring it due to it's weight. A small plastic Ziploc bag (#15) worked fine for me.

36 - Shower Cloths - Believe it or not, I held onto this product for over a year just so I could use it in Europe. These foamy one-time use cloths are used for showering when you can't use an actual shower. Howerever, I came to my senses a couple days before I left for Europe and left this bulky package behind...

  What I Needed to Buy in Europe...

* - A Sweater - In Romania, I was way under dressed for the weather. I borrowed a jacket from my friend and bought a sweater in order to survive the 17 days I spent in Romania. I found it quite easy to shop for clothes - so I have no regrets on not bringing the sweater with me through the warmer climates of Europe.

* - A New Backpack (small) - My first backpack (see #1) was dying quickly in Eastern Europe. I knew that if I didn't replace it soon, it was going to rip open and all of my day-pack stuff would fall out onto the street. In Sarajevo, I found a cheap ($5) satchel bag and it worked OK for the rest of my trip. When I say "OK," I mean it did it's job - but I wished immediately after buying it that I picked out a bigger one. This one could barely carry my Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring and a bottle of water!

* - More Socks - By my 68th day of my journey, my socks looked like the leftovers from Thanksgiving meal of a family of moths! I bought 4-5 pairs in a convenience store in Romania for about US$2.

* - Another Toothbrush - Before I left for Europe, I contemplated drilling holes in the handle of my toothbrush to save space. I decided not to because I wasn't that die hard of a traveler yet. But what I really should have considered is buying a new brush before leaving - it would have saved me a trip to the Romanian pharmacy after the bristles of my first brush looked more like a fuzzy caterpillar. Which leads to...

* - More Liquids - I brought a 24 gram tube of toothpaste hoping it would last me the whole journey. It ran out three times! But it wasn't a big deal - I refilled it using friend's larger container of toothpaste. (Picture two toothpaste tubes making out.) It was easy to purchase toothpaste, hair gel, liquid soap, laundry detergent, etc. in Europe - and usually for less than if purchased home in the U.S.

I also ran out of sunscreen in Italy. Fortunately, it happened on one of the final days of sunny weather on my trip. Can you believe they sell "sunscreen" with an SPF level of zero in Italy?? What's the point of that??? It's like selling dry water.

* - Hair Gel - I never realized how important hair gel was on my trip. Without it, I'd either wear a hat and look like a tourist, or go sans-gel, and look like a crazy homeless man. I bought a large container of it in Romania (for about US$1.50) and took what I needed and gave the rest to a crazy Romanian homeless man (just kidding abot that last part).

* - Books - I never thought I would need to bring a book on my trip. "I'll be distracted from my surroundings!" I argued with myself. "I'll miss something!" Well since I've never been on a night train going through the dark Transylvanian alps of Romania, I was a bit naive. On my trip I bought The Beach, by Alex Garland, Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, by J. K. Rowling, and Around the World in Eighty Days , by Jules Verne - all highly recommended travel companions.

  What I Wish I Left Home...

17 - Money Belt - Yes, my money belt! I rarely used it after the first week. I learned that my large leg pockets on my zip-off pants worked perfectly for carrying important documents. I usually kept photocopies of my passport, plane and train tickets and misc. identification in here and kept it in my backpack. For everything I NEEDED TO HAVE ON ME, I used a money necklace instead.

19 - Visor Handheld Computer (with Foldable Keyboard) - Of all the things I brought, I regretted bringing these the most. As a Californian ... no, as a Los Angelino, it became common for me to use high-tech gadgetry on a day-to-day basis. But I realized very quickly just how different my culture is from Europe's every time I brought out this small handheld computer. I would use this to type my e-mails home and my journal entries but after a few stares by some suspicious guys in Paris, I felt it would be safer for me to only use it in private. I ended up never using it again on my trip. Besides, journals are more personal when handwritten. (see this page for more on that).

27 - Big Bag of Info - This Ziploc bag must have weighed 2-3 pounds easily! I brought along maps and information about most of the 40+ cities I planned on visiting on my trip. The negative of doing this is that you might bring info you will never use. I brought maps of Switzerland and never made it into the country. I also brought a nice map of Rome but forgot I had it until it was too late! I ended up throwing away or donating a lot of this info to travelers I met along the way. When I backpack again, I will definitely reconsider bringing a lot of printed info.

39 - Water Purification Tablets - I never used the tablets because I always drank either bottled water or water I knew was safe. If I did more camping in remote areas, I'm sure I would have used the tablets.

41 - Belt - I didn't wear this because I didn't wear my slacks (they broke and I didn't care to fix them).

  Packing Tips:

Ok. First of all, let me tell you that I am not any sort of expert in packing. Before I packed the stuff listed to the left, I had only done two dozen or so hikes in my lifetime which included a backpack - and most of those trips were when I was a kid and the backpack was packed by my dad. I'm sure there might be some cool gadgets or lighter weight items that you could use instead of the items listed to the left (please see current packing lists), but the point of this list is to show you what was used (and not used) on a 77-day trip through 14 European countries in the Fall of 2001. Some of the items you can click on and it will take you to the company's website for more handy-dandy information (as long as the links aren't outdated). The picture to the left was taken a week before I departed for Europe in September 2001.

At the bottom of this page are two additional lists, "What I Needed to Buy in Europe" and "What I Wish I Left Home." I hope these might help you as well. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and I'd be glad to help you pack for your own pilgrimage. Keep in mind that this list was compiled for my first backpacking trip. Keep an eye out on the site for packing lists used on my 2004 trips to Europe and South America.

~Kahunna