Adventure Travel Gear

Overpacking(taking too much clothing and gear) is the biggest travel mistake a beginning adventure traveler makes. Traveling light is an art, but selecting the right gear can help you accomplish it quickly. Over the years I have created a packing list. However, the list isn't the same for every trip I take. It varies depending on where I am going, and what activities I will be participating in. The key is to still pack everything you need to have a comfortable, and enjoyable trip, while leaving behind unnecessary items. A packing list helps me determine this. For the items I do carry, I try to select the smallest (most compact) lightest version available. I have travelled a great deal, both business and vacations, and I have found that the lighter my luggage, the more I enjoy the experience.

There are numerous outdoor adventure stores on the Internet. I have also found that lightweight backpacking stores have many items of interest to Adventure Travelers. I have tried lots of different travel gear out, and have experimented with a variety of different solutions. GearBuyer is a great website to find the best price on outdoor gear, and it's sister website, FootwearBuyer, is great for finding the best price on shoes. What follows is the sum of my experiences with adventure travel gear.

Water Treatment: With adventure travel you will frequently encounter water that is not fit to drink. Portable water filters continue to get easier to use, smaller, and more effective. I personally like the Ultraviolet Light water treatment pens from Steri-Pen. I have used one of these for several years without ever having a problem. It is so small and easy to use that I can easily treat water at a restaurant if I think it is necessary. Along with how easy and effective UV water treatment is, the other thing I appreciate is that it doesn't leave any chemical after taste.

Travel Towels: Travel towels absorb ten times their weight in water and are a fraction of the size of a traditional towel. They can be purchased at many adventure travel stores and lightweight backpacking shops.

Travel Backpack: Traditional Hard Sided Luggage is heavy, difficult to carry, and a challenge to stow away. I prefer soft sided duffel bags, or a backpack (a rucksack for our friends in Europe). I have several different size climbing backpacks that I use for travel backpacks. They are made of a more durable material, and have multiple lash points for attaching additional items. Some people prefer panel loading backpacks, but the packs I use are all top loading.

Sleeping Bag: Even if I am staying at a lodge, I travel with an ultra compact, ultra light sleeping bag. I prefer down sleeping bags and my favorite are from Montbell, and they stuff down to smaller than a Nalgene bottle. A sleeping bag comes in handy if you get stuck sleeping in an airport (if you travel enough, it will happen), and for sleeping in beds where you are certain about the cleanliness of the room. I also take a silk sleeping bag liner with me. It is impermeable to bedbugs. In rare cases I treat the mattress I am sleeping on with BugProof. If a mattress isn't available, or if the one provided is really nasty - I have an inflatable sleeping pad that I carry with me.

Tents and Shelters: Backpacking tents can still be bulky and heavy. If I am going to be camping, I tend to take a lightweight tarp, and if bugs are an issue I take a bug net. For my use I selected the Integral Designs Silshelter and the Bug Liner. This combination gives me all the protection I need in a lightweight, highly compressible package.

Umbrella: I have a very small, lightweight umbrella that I take with me on many trips. An umbrella can help you in rain, but they also help keep the sun off you on sunny days. Try to find a small one, in a light color, or silver reflective material.