I just got back from Venezuela and Ecuador. I was again reminded how easy it is for me to pack and get ready that I hardly blink when I need to travel in a moment’s notice. I make travel easy by having a “Ditch Bag” ready and packed with some essential tools. I grab the Ditch Bag for travel or sports including motorcycling, camping and hiking. Here are some bare essentials that I keep in my carryon Ditch Bag. (Keep in mind I am male!)

1. 2 - pairs of Ex Officio travel underwear and 1 pair quick dry swim shorts
2. 2 - Under Armour T shirts and/or 1 long sleeve shirt (poly not cotton)
3. 2 - pair black or dark crew socks (light/medium weight)
4. 1 - microfleece beanie
5. 1 - mini umbrella (under $5.00!)
6. 1 - pair flip flops
7. 1 - Petzl Zipka Plus Headlamp
8. 1 - climbing carabiners and 2 - non climbing mini carabiners
9. 25ft 6-8mm rope (1000+ lb static breaking strength)
10. Toiletries kit (toothbrush, floss, comb, bar of soap, medications, ear plugs, sleeping mask, deodorant, personal medications, eyecare kit)
11. Mini First Aid kit (augmented with Cipro/Levaquin, bamboo chopstick, duct tape and rubber gloves)
12. Japanese incense and matches
13. Light silk scarf in a solid color
14. Aloksak storage bags
15. Coolmax sleepsack
16. Zipties
17. Wedge style doorstop
18. 100% cotton bandana
19. Katadyn micropur water purification tablets
20. Package of unscented wipes like TimeOuts Sport Wipes
21. One unlocked SIM ready GSM world phone w/charger
22. Sunglasses
23. Copy of passport and affinity card numbers in a document
24. Personal business cards, 3×5 cards and pen
25. Gmail, Yahoo or other web email address (send copies of travel docs to this special purpose email address)

There may be other items to toss in this kit, just make sure they are essential, and if a burden disposable. If it is something you can buy where you are going, and it adds weight, reconsider the value of traveling too prepared vs. traveling light and smart.

While most of the things I have pre-packed are obvious in their purpose a few may need explanation. Here are my thoughts: Cotton takes too long to dry and I find colored poly undershirts cool enough or warm enough. Japanese stick incense, because you may get stuck in a musty or smelly room. Bandanas do so many things and require their own blog, but keeping one handy can be invaluable. Zipties can be used for securing keys, locking luggage, fixing broken bags and more. Rope can be a toy, a clothesline or in an emergency it a lifeline. To that end, know a few knots! Wipes are invaluable too, but Sport Wipes because they clean you up anywhere and everywhere you are and are big enough to handle tough jobs. Mini umbrellas so you can handle sun or torrential rain wherever you are.

So, this is my “Ditch Bag”, what’s in yours?

This entry was posted on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 8:45 pm and is filed under Lifestyle and Leisure, Observations and Trends, Sites, Tools, Tips and Gadgets, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.