Frequent moves are a part of life when you’re a nomadic freelancer and when we move from country to country we try to settle into a location for at least a month at a time, often staying for a few months in one spot. But sometimes we’ll move from place to place every couple weeks. Over time, I had hoped that we would turn into an elite team of baggage packing ninjas, but truth be told it still comes down to muscle and bullheadedness whenever we move our 70-80kg of gear. I’m still amazed that we have so much stuff, but there’s a fine balance between packing light, living comfortably, and being work efficient. I thought it would be interesting, or maybe even helpful for a few people to see what we haul along to live like we do.
Computer Gear
- HP HDX 16 Laptop
- Macbook Pro 15″
- Laptop Cooling Pad
- 2 iPod Touch mp3 players
- Skype headset
- 2 sets of ear-bud headphones
- 6 backup hard-drives
- DVD software backups
- Wireless router
- Various network & USB cables
- Various power cords
- Waterproof laptop bag
- Laptop Backpack
Camera Gear
- Canon D40 Camera
- CompactFlash card reader
- Ikelite underwater camera housing
- 2 underwater lens ports
- 4 camera lenses
- Cleaning kit
- Small tripod
- Speed-light
- Underwater strobe & battery pack
- Various battery chargers
Clothes
Mike:
- 2 pairs of reading glasses
- 2 pairs of sunglasses
- 1 pair of jeans
- 10 shirts
- 5 shorts
- 2 pairs of socks
- 5 boxer-shorts
- 1 pair of flip-flops
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 1 hoodie
- Hat
Kelly:
- 1 pairs of sunglasses
- 1 pair of jeans
- 12 shirts
- 3 sundresses
- 6 shorts
- 2 pairs of socks
- 1 pile of underwear
- 3 bikinis
- 3 pairs of shoes
- 2 pairs of flip-flops
- 1 sweater
- 1 hoodie
- 1 sarong
- various bits of jewelry
Dive Gear
- 2 sets of fins
- 2 sets of booties
- 2 rash guards
- 2 dive masks
- 2 dive computers/watches w/mini compass
- 2 metal ‘pokey’ sticks
- Retractable 40m spool
- Dive buoy
- Fin bag
- Dive charts
- Dive log books
- Dive light (broken) :(
- Dry bag
- Large dive duffel bag
Misc
- Passport Folder w/travel documentation and backups of IDs and cards
- Kelly’s purse and wallet
- Mike’s wallet
- Waterproof wallet
- Multi-tool/Swiss Army Knife
- Small backpack for day trips
- 2 toiletries bags
- Unlocked GSM cellphone and charger
- Portable alarm clock
- 8 books
- Resistance bands for work outs
- Small first aid kit
- Small flashlight
- Baggage locks
- Padlock
- Pacsafe (wire mesh to wrap and lock around bags)
- 2 towels
- Padded neck cushion
- Inflatable neck cushion
- Deck of cards
- A pair of dice
- Bottle opener
- Lighter
- Various shampoo, deodorant, lotions, sunblock, toothpaste, etc
- Hair clippers/shaving kit
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Bug repellent
- Tylenol
- 2 toothbrushes
- 3 months of contact lenses
- Plastic bag of receipts for tax time
- Laundry Bag
- 4 mesh bags
- Notebooks and a few pens
- Electrical tape
- Various electrical plug adapters
- 2 huge rolling bags with shoulder straps to pack it all in
No matter how much stuff we get rid of from our bags, we consistently repurchase the same items in the next country we visit. So we’ve pretty much decided to stop culling the inventory unless it no longer fits into the bags or one of us develops serious lower back issues.
Posted by: Shim
Great list! I love pack inventory lists like this. 6 hard drives is impressive! I’m in Dumaguete now your blog has been helpful for me. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dan. Great to hear that our posts are helping you out. Yeah, the 6 drives are a little overkill… but between Kelly’s photography and data backup, we’ve got a few copies of everything everywhere. Just in case.
It’s a good thing you aren’t backpacking all that stuff. I have a friend who lives like that and whenever he comes by for a few days, I’m always shocked at just how much stuff he’s got stashed in his pack. If you ever decide to give it up, I bet you guys would be great in the moving industry. Hook up with military movers and go pack up everyone else.