Ultralight Backpacking

by Brenda Yun on

Now I don’t claim to be the biggest expert on ultralight backpacking, but I must say I’ve gotten better with backpacking light in the last few years. I’m heading to Nicaragua and Cuba for a month on Tuesday and thought it might be helpful to share a few tips on what to bring if you’re traveling ultralight.

I think ultralight backpacking distinguishes itself from regular backpacking because it means you’re willing to travel for longer than two weeks with a daypack. Mine’s a tried and true, ultra-dirty Kelty Blanca 200. If you intend to go ultralight, all of your belongings should fit in a pack that you can carry on with you whether you’re in a small bus or plane.
The trick to choosing what to bring with you is to bring only the stuff that’s has multiple functions and that you won’t mind losing while you’re on the road. A pair of zip-out pants double as shorts, for instance, is always a good (though kind of unfashionable) bet. Traveling is all about what you see, not what you wear, so bring the multi-purpose stuff, not the stuff that will bog you down or make you fret if you no longer have it.

So, in terms of clothes I’ve settled on this:

  • light raincoat
  • 1 longsleeve
  • 1 t-shirt
  • 2 tank tops
  • zip-out pants/shorts
  • capri pants
  • skirt
  • two sundresses
  • pajamas (that I can wear in public too, if I’m desperate)
  • 4 pairs of undies
  • 1 pair of socks
  • 1 bra
  • 2 bikinis (though you only need one, I plan on being in the water as much as possible)
  • pashmina scarf

Keep in mind I’m packing for tropical weather. If you’re headed for cooler climates, you can get by on three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of socks. Bring clothes that you can wash by hand and dry quickly. All of my clothes fit inside a plastic vaccum sack, which you can buy at any good drugstore for $5.

As for shoes, I usually bring just two pairs — three if I’m going to a cold climate. For this trip, I’m just going to bring my flip-flops (here in Hawaii we call them slippers) and my awesome ultralight pair of Nike flex sneakers.

Then you have to think about toiletries/accessories. I usually put those in a separate kit that will fit in the front pocket of my backpack. I’m pretty much sold on my hanging L.L. Bean kit with Hawaiian print. It came in handy when I was in Vanuatu, and a lady I met on Erromango asked if she could have it, so I gave it to her. When I got home, I bought another one just like it. Here are my toiletries/accessories:

  • money belt
  • toothbrush & toothpaste
  • shampoo & soap
  • comb
  • earplugs
  • chapstick
  • sunscreen
  • Q-tips
  • sunscreen
  • mini-flashlight
  • earplugs
  • aspirin, dramamine, vitamins
  • powdered laundry detergent
  • nail clippers
  • hairbands & clips
  • tampons

A lighter daypack is a must, and for women, a purse for the evenings is a good idea.

There are also some things you can’t leave home without. For me, it’s a laptop. I hate handwriting things, but having a word processor is essential for me as a writer. I purposely purchased a pink Acer mini-PC (for only $299!) because I don’t want to travel with my precious laptop (which contains all of my important files) and risk losing it. Still, I have a cool laptop lock to keep my Acer safe when I’m not around. Throw in my camera, iPod, and a good travel book, and I’m pretty much good to go.

Traveling light is a really liberating experience. It taught me what I can live with or without, and made me feel so much more grateful for the things I take for granted. Enjoy your trip!

5 days 5 bags – day 4: ZUCA Business Backpack

by Scott Carmichael on

Welcome to day 4 of our “5 days 5 bags” luggage lineup. Today’s spotlight is going to shine on the ZÜCA business backpack.

Last week I introduced you to what I described as “the best damn bag I have ever seen“. The ZÜCA Pro rolling case really did impress me that much. Of course, the ZÜCA Pro is designed as a bag for your clothes and other travel items – not as a rolling case for your laptop.

So, when I came across the official ZÜCA business backpack, I just had to take it for a spin, and see how well it goes with an already brilliant piece of luggage.

The ZÜCA business backpack does not require a ZÜCA Pro, but it is designed as an additional accessory for the rolling case. That said – I think anyone in the market for a business backpack could really benefit from it.

The ZÜCA business backpack has internal storage space for a laptop, 2 separate file/document pouches and a whole host of internal and external storage pockets. On the side of the bag is a large “office organization pocket” with space for everything you could ever need to take your office on the road.

The bottom of the bag is made of a rugged plastic, and no matter how full you stuff the bag, it is designed to stand upright in any situation. On the back of the backpack are or course the 2 padded backpack straps, as well as 2 adjustable straps for attaching the backpack to the ZÜCA Pro.

Once clipped onto the ZÜCA Pro, the bag hangs on very well, and doesn’t slide around like I’ve often seen with other bags designed to attach to the handle of a rolling case. Some of the other features of the bag include a cellphone pocket on one of the straps, and an opening in one of the side pockets to route your headphones to an iPod or other media player.

The ZÜCA business backpack costs just $95, making the entire combination of a ZÜCA Pro with backpack just $380 – under half of what I’ve previously spent on a premium luggage combination.

Of course, there is one thing not incorporated in the ZÜCA business backpack – the laptop portion is not “TSA friendly”, which means you will still have to remove your laptop at the airport checkpoint.

Other than that, I’m very impressed – it isn’t easy to take something as boring as a business oriented backpack, and turn it into a well designed bag. The ZÜCA backpack has pockets everywhere you’d expect them, something I noticed on their rolling bag as well.

Dimensions (W*H*D): 17*13*7.5
Weight: 3lb
Colors available: Black
Warranty: 1 year from date of purchase
Price: $95.00
Product page: ZÜCA

5 days 5 bags – day 3: ARC’TERYX Blade 30

by Scott Carmichael on

Welcome to day 3 of our “5 days 5 bags” luggage lineup. The Arc’teryx Blade 30 (cool name!) is a travel backpack designed as part overnight bag/part laptop bag.

The Blade 30 features 2 main compartments – one portion is designed for your clothes and other items, and has an integrated fold-out suiter, the other has a laptop sling designed for most 15″ machines.

On the front of the bag are 2 expandable pockets, one for small items like your mobile phone and MP3 player, and another for slightly larger items like a water bottle or toiletries.

The bag has an integrated hard plastic shell in the back, and molded foam padding to reduce the load when you carry your stuff around.

The inside of the main portion with the folding clothes bag, perfect for keeping pants and shirts from getting (too) wrinkled.

On the back of the bag is a hidden pocket, which is perfect for tickets and other valuables. On the top of the bag is an oversized carrying strap, which you’ll also find on the side.

This side handle is very well designed, as it is built around a hard plastic frame, which means you can carry it using the handle, without the bag sagging.

I really like the concept of a rugged and well designed bag suitable for a day trip. I packed the bag with the kind of stuff I’d normally drag along on an overnight trip, and even when I placed a 15″ laptop in its side loading compartment, everything fit very nicely. The thick padded straps and molded foam back plate made it quite comfortable to carry.

I was especially impressed by the hard plastic protection inside the back of the bag, which helps add a little extra protection when you store a laptop inside it. My only (very minor) complaint with the Blade 30 is the color of the inside portion – I’m convinced that bright green is a color just asking to get grimy after a couple of trips.

Dimensions (W*H*D): 14*21*4
Weight: 3.51lb
Colors available: Black, raisin
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: $199.95
Product page: Arc’teryx

5 days 5 bags – day 1: Timbuk2 Patrol ballistic fabric

by Scott Carmichael on

For the next 5 days, I’ll be reviewing one piece of luggage a day. Today’s bag is the Timbuk2 Patrol ballistic fabric.

The Patrol is a nifty multifunctional bag which can be converted from a regular bag to a backpack in about 20 seconds. The bag features 2 main compartments – one for your clothes and other items, and one internal padded compartment for your laptop. The design is quite brilliant as the laptop portion “hangs” in the main compartment, which means it can be protected not only by its own padding, but also by whatever clothes you pack in the bag.

On the outside of the bag are 4 compression straps, which make it ideal for “overstuffing”, a packing method that has often saved me.

The Timbuk2 Patrol has pockets everywhere – 2 storage pouches on the outside, 2 waterproof zones on the
inside, a separate folding pouch in the main compartment and a very well hidden compartment on the back.

The shoulder straps can be unclipped, and packed in a pocket in the back portion, keeping them out of the way. This also makes it easier if you need to check the bag (ugh) or when you want to carry it using the top or side handles.

The back of the bag has thick foam pads to keep you comfortable. Each foam pad also has air circulation channels.

All in all a real travelers best friend – all the components feel sturdy, zippers are the highly rated YKK brand and the ballistic fabric feels like it could stop a bullet.

The price is a little steep, but very much in line with other premium luggage products. The version I tested here is the “brown/flame” version, which stands out a little, but it really does make for a cool looking color combination.

Dimensions (W*H*D): 14.5*19*8
Weight: 4.1lb
Colors available: Black, dark brown/flame, spinach/army
Warranty: Lifetime, no hassle
Price: $225
Product page: Timbuk2.com

Daily deal – Swiss Gear computer backpack for $30

by Scott Carmichael on

Today’s deal of the day is for the highly rated Swiss Gear computer backpack. This stylish travel rated backpack features padded shoulder straps, an MP3 player pocket, a laptop pocket and even special opening in the top to route your headphones inside the bag to your iPod or other player.

You’ll find the deal at Amazon.com for just $29.99, and since it is over $25, you even get free (saver) shipping. The bag has a retail price of just over $100, so the deal really is quite “hot”.

Sadly, the deal is only available on the red version of the bag, so if you don’t like standing out like a Swiss Army Knife on your next trip, you may want to look for a less visible bag.