Backpack Care: Packing For Travel

photo credit: alex-s

Some additional things to take note of when packing your backpack!

• Pack Protection: An inexpensive duffel is the best way to protect your pack from those who would harm it. Buy one that’s big enough for everything, including your hiking boots, air mattress, and a flat shipping box. Why the box? When you get where you’re going, put the duffel and your street clothes into the shipping box and send them home.

• Or send them, food drop style to a post office at the end of your trip, so your pack can travel home in safety, too (and you can wear your old street clothes home on the plane and marvel at how much weight you lost)

• Garbage bags: If you must go without a duffel, at least use a garbage bag - or several. Remove any straps and buckles that can be removed from the pack. Buckle and tighten everything else and wrap the whole thing in garbage bags with so much duct tape and rope that you’ll swear at yourself when the times comes to remove it all.

• Wrap in plastic: The change in air pressure in the baggage compratment of a plane causes liquid to expand. To prevent your mosquito repellent from exploding onto your peanut butter, put all liquids and semi-liquids into a sealed zipper-lock bag. The rubber band will help keep the package together even if the bag pops open.

• Luggage tags: Use them and include a local contact (or the hotel you’ll be staying in your first night) so that if your luggage is lost, it can be returned promptly. Also put a tag inside your pack somewhere.

• Locks: Small combination locks can deter theft - and you won’t have to worry about losing your keys.

Similar Posts:

• Rolling Duffel Bags For Your Overseas Hike
• Packing Methods For Your Backpack
• Add Fresh Vegetables To Your One-Pot Meals!
• Environmentally Conscious No Trace Camping
• Ultralight and Watertight by Adventure Medical Kits