I’m about to go to Nepal and India, where I’ll be trekking in the Himalayas and chugging across deserts on sleeper trains. So over the past month or so I’ve been preoccupied with packing the single perfect backpack containing only items that I’ll actually need. I’ve been consulting Reddit’s r/OneBag as well as the Strategist’s archive of packing lists, and will be taking the opportunity to test out some of the more adventurous travel gear in my storage cupboard.
There are lots of great water filter bottles (like Lifestraw’s) out there that are useful for backpacking trips in the wilderness, but Grayl’s water purification tech goes a step further and can remove heavy metals and viruses from contaminated water supplies. I’d like to avoid buying single-use plastic as much as possible on the trip, and this bottle will give me more confidence to fill up from hotel sinks. Also kind of a cool and useful item to own for when the Apocalypse comes?
I’ll be using a 35-liter Cotopaxi Allpa as my main luggage and carrying small essentials in my trusty Baggu crescent bag. A daypack is always a good idea though, so I’ll also stow this one to use as needed. (And I suspect I’ll be bringing back quite a lot of shopping in it at the end of the trip.)
Hikerkind’s blue puffer packs into a feather travel pillow and looks really cute with the brand’s brown hiking pants. A slightly ’70s aesthetic feels appropriate for the hippie trail.
I have tested out many pairs of winter shoes for this job, and these Danner hiking boots are among the prettiest and comfiest. They’re insulated and the Vibram soles are designed to grip onto ice and snow.
I would rather be too warm than too cold, and as such will be bringing this sleeping bag liner to enhance whatever bedding situation I encounter on the trip. It’s very toasty and an easy way to winterize a three-season sleeping bag. I recently loaned it to a friend who was camping in Joshua Tree over Thanksgiving and am pretty sure it saved her life.
One of my best friends gave me a silver St. Christopher pendant when I moved to the United States from Australia six years ago. He’s been considered the patron saint of travelers, and I always wear him for a bit of extra protection on solo trips. I’m not religious, but I do believe in jewelry.
Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently.
I was excited to be sent a pair of these ROA x Altra sneakers to try out. They’re significantly cooler looking than most trail runners and definitely the most affordable way to get your feet into a pair of ROAs.
In suitcase news, Casetify has entered the luggage game with this carry-on that uses the same corner bumper tech as its beloved phone cases. Makes a lot of sense, actually, and I like how the colored wheels look, too.
I used to travel with an Aeropress, but these days there are easier ways to bring back-up coffee on the road. Many fourth wave roasteries now sell surprisingly delicious instant coffee and a few start-ups have also come out with single-use pour-over packets that use fresh grinds rather than freeze-dried ones. Brooklyn’s Disco Disco recently sent me these to try, and they pass the taste (and design-y packaging) test.
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