My Packing List (cobbled from previous lists)

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and to traveling with just one carry-on. Thought I'd share what I plan to pack. I'm really looking forward to your feedback. There are some unusual items in here that are carryovers from my camping list and my emergency bag lists. Example: Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap can be used as hand soap, bath soap, dish soap, laundry soap and tooth paste.

I know the list looks long, but I've listed every single item along with the container it comes in. This is a throwback to ounce counting in camping. However, all of the items can fit into a carry-on sized bag or worn on my person. My wife will be traveling with me so some of these items will be used and carried between us.

This is the basic travel bag I plan to have ready at all times. My wife's will be similar. We like the idea of being able to travel on a whim. That's one of the things that appealed to us when first reading about traveling with just one carry-on bag for each of us.

We want to travel the U.S. first. And we're not just interested in visiting the big cities and tourist traps. We want to discover the people and the stories that make the U.S. great. That may mean staying in a new friend's guest room/basement/barn

NOTE:
Souvenired = Bought at destination
Gifted = Up for being given away before leaving destination

WORN
1 Baseball Cap (Khaki or gray. Gifted)
1 Long Sleeve Button Down Shirt (Wrinkle-proof. Off-White)
1 Lightweight Blue Jeans (wrinkle-proof)
1pr Underwear (Briefs, Non-White)
1pr Socks (Short. White)
1 Belt (no metal. Black)
1pr Trail Runners or Nice Sneakers (no metal)

SECURITY POUCH SECTION
1 Security Pouch
1 Picture of a baby (higher chance of pouch being returned with a picture of a baby inside)
1 Passport
Cash
1 Important Info Card (Emergency Contacts Card w/ Calling Card Info. Travel Insurance Info. Backed up online)

IN POCKETS
1 Cell Phone (Camo'd to look crappy)
1 Visual Translator

CARD CARRIER SECTION
1 Card Carrier (Clear plastic)
1 Picture of a baby
1 Drivers License
1 Bank Card
1 Credit Card
3 Business Cards (Gifted)

FALSE WALLET SECTION
1 False Wallet
Cash (Ten 1's)
2 Dummy Credit Cards
2packet Tums
2packet Lactose Intolerance Pills

KEY CHAIN SECTION
1 Split Key Ring
1 LED Keychain Flashlight (button batteries)
1 Whistle (Yellow, Fox 40 Micro)
2 Keys
1 Flashdrive with important documents (Inside Important Papers Anti-Static Bag. Password protected)
On the Flashdrive:
Copy of Medical Records
Copy of Passport
Copy of Birth Certificate
Copy of Social Security Card
Copy of Drivers License
Copy of Insurance Policies
Important Pictures (Family, property, etc.)
Important Videos (Family, property, etc.)
Encryption Software (password protected)
Compression Software
Adobe Reader

MAIN PACK
1 Pack
1 Luggage Tag (attached to shoulder strap)
1 Compass (attached to Luggage Tag)
1 Map Bag (Modified Zip Top Bag)
1 Map (Souvenired)
1 Camera Bag (Digital Camera inside. Camo'd to look crappy)
1 Digital Camera (attached to inside of Camera Bag. uses AAA Batteries. Camo'd to look crappy)
1 This Packing List (on waterproof paper)
1 Toilet Paper Bag (Modified Zip Top Bag)
1roll Toilet Paper (tube removed)
1 LED Headlamp (uses AAA Batteries)
1 Pocket Knife (Must be Souvenired and Gifted)
1 Combination Flex Lock
1 Water Bottle or Bladder
10 Water Purification Tablets
1 Hooded Poncho (considering an umbrella instead)
1 Bandana (40" X 40". Not Blue or Red. Souvenired, Gifted)
3 Trash Compactor Bags
1pk Breath Freshening Tabs
4 Clif Bars
1 Door Stop (homemade. Plywood with a screw bolt)
1 Lightweight Daypack (need advice on any alternatives)

SAFETY BAG SECTION (H1N1 is a real concern)
1 Safety Bag (Modified Zip Top Bag)
3 N95 Face Mask with Exhaust Valve
3pr Nitrile Gloves
1btl Hand Sanitizer
1oz Bug Repellant
1 Mylar Emergency Blanket
1pr Swimming Goggles

EYE/EAR WEAR SECTION
1 Hard Eyeglasses Case
1 Spare Eye Glasses
1pr Earplugs (no box)
1 Anti-Snore Clip

FIRST-AID KIT SECTION
contents under review

NETBOOK KIT SECTION
1 Netbook Sleeve (Camo'd to look crappy)
1 Zip Top Anti-Static Bag
1 Netbook (Uses AC. Camo'd to look crappy)
1 Netbook Power Adapter
1 Mini-Surge Protector
1 Ethernet Cord
1 Digital Camera USB Cord
1 Laptop Cable Lock

STATIONARY KIT SECTION
1 Modified Zip Top Bag
8 Family Pictures
1 Magnifying Lens w/ envelope (Gifted)
1 Notebook
1 Pencil with Eraser
1ea Pens (Black, Blue, Red)
2 Tyvek Envelope
$10 U.S. Stamps (Forever Stamps)
10 Business Cards (Gifted)

CLOTHING SECTION
1 Balaclava (can be worn as a beanie. Black)
1 Bandana (40" X 40". Not Blue or Red. Souvenired, Gifted)
3 T-Shirts (Charcoal, Black, White. Gifted)
1 Button Down Shirt (wrinkle-proof. Blue, Long Sleeve)
1 Sweater (Black)
1 Jacket (wrinkle-proof. Black)
2pr Underwear (Briefs, Non-White)
1pr Pants (wrinkle-proof. Charcoal)
1 pr Cargo Shorts (Charcoal)
3pr Socks (1pr Short White, 2pr Black)
1pr Dress Shoes (no metal. Black)
1pr Flip Flops (Black)

REPAIR/SEWING KIT SECTION
1 Container
20ft Duct Tape
10 Binder Clips
20ft Paracord
10 Reusable Zip Ties
1btl Super Glue
1spl Nylon Thread
5 Buttons (Assorted Colors)
10 Safety Pins
2 Sewing Needles

ELECTRONICS SECTION
1 Zip Top Anti-Static Bag
1 Mini World Radio (uses AAA Batteries. Camo'd to look crappy)
1pr Earbud Headphones (Black )
4 AAA Batteries
1 Cell Phone Charger (Uses AC)

TOILETRY KIT SECTION
1 Toiletry Kit Bag (Modified Zip Top Bag. hangable)
3oz btl Liquid Soap (Dr. Bronner's Peppermint. Hand soap, bath soap, dish soap, laundry soap, tooth paste)
1 Nylon Wash Cloth
1 Toothbrush Bag
1 Toothbrush (use Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap for tooth paste)
1 Floss (use as clothes line)
1btl Rubbing Alcohol (use as deodorant. Souvenired)
1 Palm Hair Brush
1 Fingernail Clippers
1 Tweezers
1 Disposable Razor
1oz btl Olive Oil (Shaving Oil, Moisturizer, Lip Balm. Souvenired)
1 Camp Bath Towel (MSR Original PackTowl)
1btl Goldbond Medicated Powder
1btl Melitonin Pills
1pk Tums
1pk Lactose Intolerance Pills
10 Condoms

KITCHEN BAG SECTION
1 Bowl (microwave safe)
1 Lid for bowl (microwave safe)
1 Spork
2 Mini Lighters (Souvenired, Gifted)
4sq ft Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
1btl Booze (Souvenired. Gifted)
1btl Habenaro Powder

ENTERTAINMENT KIT SECTION
1 Bag
1 Paperback Book (Gifted)
1 Card game rules (End of the Line, Bartok, Werewolf and Variant, Spoons. Gifted)
1 Standard Playing Cards (Don't Die Out There survival info cards. Gifted)
6 Mini Dice (Black with white glow in the dark pips. Gifted)
1 Nose Flute (Gifted)

UNDER CONSIDERATION
1 Cheap Solar Powered Calculator
2 Umbrellas (Instead of a hooded ponchos)

I would suggest more polyster clothing so it can dry out faster if you get wet or when washing it. tops ,pants, undies,socks..etc...

drying a pair of jeans would take almost all day if left in the sun.

take a 2nd credit card incase the first failed one is locked or fails.

put your electronic's in a ziplock bag so they don't get wet.

if your not already in america get a prepaid gsm sim, AT&t is the largest, pick one up at a store here in the usa for about 15 bucks. make sure your phone is unlocked. wall current is 110v pick up a charger at any store for under 10.00 us dollars.

combine your safety bag and your toiletry bag into one.

keep your passport on you, alot of states in the usa are cracking down on immigrants,vistors ,buying alcohol,etc..

if your driving make sure to call your credit card company about zip codes, alot of gas stations now require a zip code to use your credit card at the pump. or just go inside.

a poncho would be better or integrate your jacket and raincoat into 1.

a sleep eye mask..

Quoting flir67

I would suggest more polyster clothing so it can dry out faster if you get wet or when washing it. tops ,pants, undies,socks..etc...

drying a pair of jeans would take almost all day if left in the sun.

I agree with your polyester suggestion. Some of our clothing is polyester, however we are considering getting more merino wool items. I've read that merino wool clothing drys fast and stays warm even when wet. We'd like to incorporate more natural materials into our travel inventory.

The jeans on my list are not made out of denim, they are made out of a quick drying material. I can't remember the name at the moment.

Quoting flir67

take a 2nd credit card incase the first failed one is locked or fails.

Good tip. My wife will be carrying her's as well.

Quoting flir67

put your electronic's in a ziplock bag so they don't get wet.

The Zip Top Anti-Static Bag is a form of ziplock bag.

Quoting flir67

combine your safety bag and your toiletry bag into one.

I see where you're going with this one. However, we plan to keep our safety bags in an easy to reach section of our packs for quick access if needed. If we include all our toiletries in the safety bags it will make it difficult to quickly find the safety items we are looking for.

Quoting flir67

a sleep eye mask..

I had considered a sleep mask, but it was suggested that the bandana I have listed could be used.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Do you have any suggestions for a daypack? Just something to carry while out from the room for the day? I was thinking something just big enough to carry a bottle of water, digital camera in its bag, notepad, etc. I was considering using the Japanese art of Furoshiki. Here's a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC7MH3EzBWM

Here's a link: http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.gif

1 Picture of a baby...

Never thought of that, but it makes sense...Clever thinking..

Most of what you have will get in the way everytime you open your bag...
...and chances are you'll never know if you've lost something.

Out of interest, how much does it weigh?

edit: How about that old chestnut of halve everything, then halve it again? Or (an alternative of mine) must take, should take, could take - though you have to be really honest with that one. Anyway - good luck with it.

[ Edit: Edited on 21-Sep-2009, at 04:29 by fabyomama ]

Quoting BASEnutter

1 Picture of a baby...

Never thought of that, but it makes sense...Clever thinking..

Thanks BASEnutter, but I can't take credit for coming up with that idea. I read about it in this article a few weeks ago.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6681923.ece

Thanks for your comment.

p.s. I like your username.

Quoting fabyomama

Most of what you have will get in the way everytime you open your bag...

I don't understand what you mean. How do you get around having most of what you have in your bag from getting in the way every time you open your bag? I plan to have all the items on my list grouped in sections (as I've listed) and put into their own bags (as I've listed). Beyond that, I will label and color code each of these section bags.

Quoting fabyomama

and chances are you'll never know if you've lost something.

As I stated in my packing list in the original post, I plan to keep a packing list on waterproof paper in my pack.

[ Edit: Edited on 21-Sep-2009, at 22:01 by Wayneburg ]

My mistake as I thought it was feedback. If you want confirmation then go for it - just don't lose the list.

Still interested in how much it all weighs.

Probably should add that, even in my relatively limited experience traveling carry-on only, trying to cover all possibilities can seriously effect the enjoyment of a trip. I try and think of journeys as glorified day trips and it's surprising to learn how very little extra I actually need - but these are just my thoughts.

Anyway - you might be one of those people who takes pleasure in covering everything - and that's fine.

Quoting fabyomama

My mistake as I thought it was feedback. If you want confirmation then go for it - just don't lose the list.

Quoting fabyomama

Most of what you have will get in the way everytime you open your bag...
...and chances are you'll never know if you've lost something.

Oh I see. Maybe I should be clear as to what kind of feedback I would appreciate.

Would you care to offer some constructive feedback on what you think should be taken off my list because it will get in the way every time I open my bag?

Would you care to offer some constructive feedback on how you solve the problem of not knowing if you've lost something?

I don't understand why you wrote, "If you want confirmation then go for it." I do not want confirmation. As I stated in my original post, I am looking forward to feedback. I have re-read every single post in this thread, including the original post, and I cannot see where I have in any way suggested, inferred, or alluded to some desire of confirmation? Would you care to offer some constructive feedback to help me to understand why you interpreted anything I've written as a desire for confirmation?

"Would you care to offer some constructive feedback to help me to understand why you interpreted anything I've written as a desire for confirmation?"

Made me chuckle that did, but here goes. Because you didn't like my feedback? I don't really know. Is this an exam?

But to keep to the thread and in answer to your other questions - leave 75% of it at home, because it sounds like a mission pack. And burn that list! If you feel you need one that's colour-coded, sectioned and water-proofed, you're taking too much.

Hope that helps.

edit: Nearly forgot. How much does it all weigh? Seriously - I'd like to know.

[ Edit: Edited on 22-Sep-2009, at 15:42 by fabyomama ]