travel items for a round the world trip

The following list is not an exhaustive nor all-inclusive list. Take what you think is necessary. If you know you are not going to do much walking don’t take your boots! Remember if you find have left things behind which you require enroute, then there will be opportunities to acquire them along the way. All-in-one items may be a substitute for taking a plethora of fiddly bits. I would highly recommend one of the many Swiss Army knives on the market. Please feel free to print the following list.

documents

clothing

Lightweight hiking boots for outdoors. After awhile, boots seem to shrink some, so buy them large.
Trainers (possibly take either boots or trainers)
Sandals (thongs) for shower, very thin
Trousers (2), lightweight but not too thin
Shorts/swimsuit
T-shirts or collared shirts (2-3)
Thick fleece jacket (also used as: seat cushion; pillow; head cover on cold nights)
Wind and rain jacket, anorak, or light poncho
Socks (3-4)
Polypropylene liner socks (2)
Underwear (start with 5!)
Belt
Moneybelt
Sunglasses or clip-ons
Eyeglass leash
Hat/baseball cap
Medium stuff sacks (4) for clean underwear/socks, dirty clothes, regular usage, and misc other stuff.
’Ladies stuff’ - bras, scarf, makeup, swimsuit, sanitary pads

personal hygiene / toiletries

daybag

Pack only items necessary for the day from the following:

water
guidebooks
maps
directions
camera
film
batteries
eye drops
antacid
Lip balm
Sunglasses
Windbreaker/rain jacket
Gloves
Sweater
Hat
Socks
insect repellent
water purification tablets
sunscreen
Ziplocs
Pens
Paper
small flashlight
toilet paper
snacks (dried fruit, bread, crackers, cookies, nuts, water, cheese, chocolate)
moleskin or sandals in case of blisters
photocopy of the city map from the guidebook.
Label bag with home and local address
carry whistle, compass, and knife on a cord around your neck so that they will always be with you, even if you lose your pack in a river crossing or avalanche.
Waterproof matches
Backpack cover (rubbish bag) for rain. (Cheaper than a  'pack liner')
Security chain

moneybelt

other items

Disks containing, DOS and MAC, with email addresses, address book, telnet, pkzip, pkunzip, popmail, winsock, ftp, edit, winkerm, lynx, etc. to configure other computers for remote access!
Notebook computer (not if we are travelling fast) with power adapter/converters.
Waterproof watch (dual-time for calling home)
Electrical transformers/plug adaptors
Alarm clock (loud enough to wake you; two time zones so you always know what time it is at home)
Extra pair of glasses
Prescription dive mask & extra strap
Snorkel & extra retainer
Swiss Army Knife with scissors (Remember not to carry your knife on as hand luggage - it's likely to be confiscated although I have managed to get away with it on many occaisions. No, I can't reveal how!!
Flashlight with extra batteries and bulb (headlamp for cooking)
Change purse
Small combination locks for luggage (2-3)
Small padlock for door, with 2 extra keys (keep one in moneybelt, one in daybag, and third for partner's moneybelt)
Thin, two-meter, rubber-coated steel cable with looped ends for securing luggage
Small bag of laundry powder
Universal rubber plug, flat flexible drain stopper (for doing laundry in sinks without plugs)
Plastic or rope line for drying laundry
Very small laundry brush
Small candle
Mosquito coils and matches, in a hard plastic (tupperware) sandwich box to keep them from breaking.
Rubber bands
Safety pins for backpack zippers and pockets
Envelopes
Indelible marker (Sharpe) for labelling postal packages
String for packages
Packing tape (clear, to cover addresses to prevent ink from running)
Beige masking tape for peepholes, and mosquito net holes
Duct tape for major equipment problems, etc
Regular clear tape for paper tears, etc
Garbage bags
Ziplocs (plastic bags with a seal)
Earplugs for bus speakers and hotels, stored in a film container
Sewing kit - extra buttons, needles, thread
Iron-on patches
Nylon fabric and monofilament line to repair tears in bags.
Extra shoelaces and backpack buckle
Point and shoot camera (Digital for uploading images to web?)
Film, 20 rolls 200ASA, 36 exposure in clear canisters. (Keep a few extra empty canisters for stool samples when you are sick!)
Batteries
Large Army Surplus mosquito net with rope/string
Nails
Bring extra kite string.
Packing a duffel bag or woven nylon bag to put your backpack in during flights and on buses isn't worth all the volume and weight for added security. Anything lighter will wear out if you are on many buses and flights.

Also: Tiny goose-down sleeping bag. Wear long-sleeve polypropylene clothing instead of a carrying a sleep sheet. These are thin, polyester, winter clothes that 'wick' or transfer moisture from your skin to the outer layer of clothing to keep you dry. They make a big difference on cold days, since you feel warmer without having thick clothes on; silk does the same thing......oooo er!!!!
 

Water container
Sturdy plastic fork, spoon, and knife (best to put in hold, post 9/11!).
Large steel or enamel mug for heating soup, etc
Water purifying tablets
Fruit, salt crackers, ramen noodles, chocolate, cereal, bread, cookies, nuts(mix), rice, spam, cheese, muesli (as available)

first aid kit

Multi Vitamins (poor quality in many countries and some countries, particularly in Asia have fake medicines)
Vitamin C - available in most places (for colds...)
Insect Repellent - Deet, Autan, SkinSoSoft
Sunscreen (not always available)
Sunburn relief
Lip Balm/Sunscreen (Chapstick)
Aspirin(acetyl-salicylic acid)
Ibuprofin (Motrin, Advil)
Paracetamol (Panadol)
Antacid for upset stomach - Tums, Rolaids(not always available)
Charcoal Tablets for stomach problems - Nitin, Norit (not always available) Immodium
Smecta (dioctahedral smectite) to coat stomach when sick, else Pepto-Bismol tablets/liquid
Decongestant
Antibiotic ointment
Antihistamine(itch)
Anti-inflammatory
Antiseptic
Motion sickness
Ear medicine
Respiratory infection, intestinal infection antibiotic, etc.
Cough drops
Eye drops
Ear drops (alcohol)
Double amount of generic medicine
Caladryl (Calamine) Cream for bedbug bites, itching, and rashes.
Birth control and Safe-Sex supplies!
Bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, cotton
Ammonia stick (for mosquito bites),
Stiptic pencil (to stop bleeding).
Hydrocortisone (itching and rashes)
Moleskin for foot blisters. Or new, polyurethane bandages, such as Spyroflex. It breathes well to control moisture and promote healing of blisters. It is also thin, so it doesn't affect shoe fit. (Tape also works well if you don't have anything else).
Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
Thermometer, small scissors,
Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide in airtight containers.
 

NB:

Keep medicines in hard plastic(tupperware) boxes so they’re not crushed in transit. We didn't take syringes. If you do, you might want a letter from your doctor explaining that they are for medical emergencies. Probably don’t want to end up in a Bangkok jail for drugs offences…

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