Kit list – South America 2011

My pet hate about some sites how bad their suggested kit lists are.  Some are so basic that they don’t cover simple things, others suggest taking things that aren’t necessary.  Some of the things that I’m taking this time are not necessary but are things that help with the cultural and adventure experience.

Carry

• Karrimor Sabre 45

This is the same one I took on the last trip to Latin America, but now has the base repaired with Gaffa tape.  The big plus here is that it looks even more worthless and small enough not to be worth nicking.  I’m also taking one of the side pouches as this can be very useful for extra space for camping trips, for carrying water bottles.

• Camelbak Mule

The last trips I’ve been on I’ve used tote bags as day bags, and for the days where I was doing something like mountain biking I would use the Sabre.   I fully intend to do some mountain biking or some sports where a hydration pack is a big aid.

• 50l rucksack liner: This can be used to line the main pack and secure the contents by locking with the D-rings or a cover for the main pack if you need to store it at a hostel or for the flight.  I have also used it to check in stuff, for the flight and kept my main pack with my as carry-on.

• Various other bags just to keep things separated and compartmetalised and that way I can reach into my bag and grab what I want.

Clothes

Head

• 1 x Baseball cap – blue (£5 bargain) New York fitted cap company, looks very “street”
• 1 x buff – just a stretchy tube that can be used in so many ways.

Glasses

Over the last year I have managed to lose two pair of expensive spex and having back-ups are now always at the front of my mind.

• 1 x The ones on my head
• 1 x Prescription sunglasses – case
• 1 x back up pair regular glasses – case

Upper body:

Waterproof

• 1 x Waterproof jacket -  (cost £25).  Waterproof breathable basic, almost lost a very nice waterproof on one trip if I loose this one, I’m not going to worry about the cost.  In the Amazon even gore-tex doesn’t work so not too fussed on this item.

Jackets

• 1 x Burghaus fleece

Shirts

• 1 x long sleeved shirt (Barcelona shirt wacky shirt)
• 2 x short sleeved shirts (1 x Hard Yakka work shirt and 1 x yellow)
• 1 x long sleeved Ben Moon bamboo shirt.   Thermal sport ware shirt, good looking dressed down shirt and feels sexy.
• 1 x cotton T-shirt – Metallica.  Rock is big in Latin America and you don’t get bigger than Metallica.  Easy way to make friends with them latino loco locals.
• 1 x sporty ware shirt – used for doing any sports or normal ware.

Time

• MWC – 21 jewel movement automatic.  Cheap for an automatic and looks cool but super practical with fixed pins, so there is no pins to pop out.  I’ve been swimming in this watch and had no problems with the water resistance.

Waist and Legs

• 1 x Dickies work pants – grey
• 1 x Craghoppers trecking trousers model nosequito – synthetic quick dry.  Not sure how good the nosquito treatment will be against the Amazonian mosquitos!
• 1 x Cycling shorts – wouldn’t usually take these but if there is a possibility of some good riding these will be arse savers.
• Speedos – hipster ones.

Undies

• 5 x Penney’s sports hipsters (used these last time and given a good climate you can wash them in the evening and they will be dry in the morning).

Socks

• 5 x cotton socks – various Christmas presents.

Shoes

• 1 x Vans high top old skool – I would normally take trekking shoes but Vans old skools are so good for mountain biking on flatties.
• 1 x Terra Plana – Roots – I would normally just take one pair of shoes but would like to do some running out there and may have to buy some boots if I do manage to get a motorbike and I can ditch the old skools.
• I’ll probably buy some flip flops on the road.

Gloves

• 1 x Wells Lamont – leather work gloves.  These are what I was using for summer riding gloves.

Washy washy

• Laundry soap – There are so many counties that still do the hand wash.  The funny thing is, that I really did enjoy my time at the sink and in lots of Latin American counties a wash sink is usually standard or something you would look for.
• Pegs (plastic)
• Paracord – this could be used for so many other things but work great as a washing line.  I did have a bungee washing line but dumped it on the road as it was useless.
• Sink plug – I did take a Lifeventure universal sink plug, that universally didn’t work in any sink.  Now I have a universal sink plug I bought in BsAs last time for 2 pasos and works well in most sinks apart form the very small sinks.  I also have a very small plug I bought in Bolivia.  For some reason the plug holes in the sink in Bolivia are tiny!  A plug in Spanish is “tampon”.
• Laundry bag – Travel shops do laundry bags but they are huge I could fit my 45 litre in them.  Got a small mesh bag for all the dirty washing, but I transfer them to a plastic bag before I hand them into the shop.

Miss

• Spork Titanium (Light my fire). The last Latin American trip I had the plastic one of these that snapped, hence the upgrade for this trip.
• Kuska – Swedish army drinking cup/bowl plastic.
• Knife – Petzl sparta large
• Karabiner screw gate
• Gaffa tape – have this wrapped around my converter plugs.
• Head torch
• Torch key ring – super small but can be there just when you need it.  Stumbling in the dorm in the early morn’.
• Thermos – the same one that I bought in Chile the last time I was around.  I know it is going to take up so much space and I really should justify taking it.  But I know that if I didn’t take it I would just end up buying another when I get there.  So why not just take the one I have.
• Mate and bombilla – not taking these out with me but they will be in plentiful supply and easy to come by.  To be acquired en route.
• Sun screen – I know this can be bought on the road but I will probably buy some good factor 45+ at the airport, an altiplano essential.
• Hip flask – not essential and I know I would say take nothing of sentimental value and this has so much sentimental value, but sometime it is good to have some memories and something that reminds you of them.

Sleeping

• Silk liner – Jag bag silk liner.  If required I don’t mind doing super budget accommodation and bags like these make life so much more bearable.
• Ear plugs – Sleeping on long flights and bus trips and if I do get hold of a moto I’m sure it won’t be quiet.

Media

• Radio – eton mini 300pe, short wave, am and fm. It also has a clock and alarm for those early rises.
• External hard drive – Transcend shock resistant 500gb.
• Camera  – Lumix LX3.  Best in its class and an ideal size for travelling.
• SD cards
• Plug converter – I’ve got a two in one converter with a central section that I wrap in gaffer tape, easy way to carry gaffer tape.

Admin

• Passport – I know this goes without saying but under this read photocopies in each bag and scanned versions in your email account.
• Most tickets are online now anyway but would always be worth having a few copies just in case.
• Prescription for my glasses – I have this printed but also have this online.
• I tend to have a plastic admin pouch to carry all these copies in the pocket at the back of my main pack just so that are all protected.
• Diary – Got one with a small page for each day, so should be able to do a few scribbles for ideas.
• Pen
• I will be buying a map in BsAs for South America, but no guide books for me.  I do remember after the last trip to south america I was so sick of LP.  Maps are best easy to relate to take to a local and maps say much more than pages of English.

Security

• 1 x Combination lock – reasonably heavy duty.
• Combination locks for the rucksack compartments.
• Cable –  used to secure the main bag to something.
• Waist belt.
• Freezer bags – your priceless admin is safe but it’s no good if all soggy and sweaty.
• COMMON SENSE.

Learning

• English – Spanish dictionary
• English – Spanish verb tables

Wash kit

• Wash bag – Medium sized bag with a hanger.
• Razor – Butterfly opening safety razor.
• Shaving cream
• Shaving brush
• Tooth brush
• Tooth paste
• Floss
• Mouth wash fluoride small – Small bottles are good for a few days but if I’m stopping in a place for a few weeks I buy a large one.
• Lip saver – small metallic tin petroleum jelly, will be replaced with coco butter which is easy to get hold of in South America.
• Soap
• Soap box – small plastic one for to stop the rest of my kit from getting soapy, not the sort for standing on for preaching, not on this trip.
• Nail clipers
• Travel towel
• Piercing backup rings
• Condoms