Your roommate is on his way out the door and invites you to go with him to the bar. You stand up and walk to the bar where you meet up with some friends who have an extra ticket to a concert where the band invites you to travel with them to the next tour location where you meet a girl and end up spending the weekend at a beach side cabana. Could you stand up and do that right now with only what you have on you?

I have.

Part of being able to just up and go is having what you need already with you. Sometimes those vital minutes searching for something means you miss your opportunity. The next time someone asks you to go somewhere with them, take a look at the expression that crosses their face when you stand up and say “Okay, let’s go!” – no prep needed.

What follows is a generalized breakdown of some gear that will allow you to wander a city and interact with all of its denizens with ease and comfort.

Clothing:

Wear clothes that are neutral in color, easy to get on and off, and blend into any situation. My clothes don’t attract attention, nor do they convey a set demographic. I could be rich or poor, in college or in my late 20’s, headed to the bar or coming back from a day walking in the woods.

The shirt is a half-zip collared stretchy thing that keeps me cool in hot weather, and warm in cold weather. It washes and dries in under an hour, and compresses up to nothing. It naturally repels liquids, which is great when someone knocks their beer all over you in a bar.

The pants are straight leg synthetic khakis that are also quick dry and water repellent without looking like it. They weigh next to nothing and fold up very small with tons of hidden pockets.

The boxers are Patagonia Capiline Silkweight and, like everything else, dry fast, look good and weigh little.

The jacket is both for rain and wind, and as a place to hold other items. The pockets start in the normal place, but run up the entire side of my body and are big enough to hold a bottle of wine completely inside them. When empty, it folds into itself and can become a small pillow, or a sack to hold other things. There is a built in stow-a-way hood for really bad weather.

The shoes are dark in color, waterproof, and work just fine as hiking shoes or dinner dress. They have Vibram soles, which means I am not going to slip in on wet surfaces, I can hold my own on a trail, and I won’t scuff up someone’s boat deck.

The socks are dark Smart Wool, which dries fast, lasts forever, and wicks the moisture away from your feet to fight blisters and odor.

Gear:

The phone is an iPhone. Probably the most useful gadget I have ever owned it is my camera, GPS, internet (for finding good places to go, or for meeting up with people) and ebook reader for long trips.

The Leatherman is a Skeletool, which is lightweight and has what I need most. Bottle opener and knife are used the most, followed by pliers and a screw driver for quick fixes. With the knife locked open, the handle fits into my palm to create a good base for a hammer grip should a fight come up. (you never know…)

The wallet is my passport to everything else. Money, proof of who I am, the ability to move freely in a cab, plane, bus or train. I also keep my health insurance and my CPR / First Aid training cards with me as well.

The sunglasses allow me to distance myself from people and avoid eye contact if the need arises (beggars…). They also come in handy the next morning when you have been out all night.

These four items are with me no matter what I am wearing.

Why?

The goal is to fit in in any situation. A button down collared shirt  with pressed pants is great at a club in the evening, but if you don’t make it home that night, they look a little rough in the morning. Wearing the above clothes I have swam in the Atlantic ocean then ridden a motorcycle across Costa Rica through a torrential mountain rainforest (literally soaking wet) and into the hot valley on the other side (where the sun dried me in an hour) down to the Pacific ocean, gotten off walked into a nice restaurant, grabbed dinner and a beer then went swimming. No second looks – I fit in everywhere.

When traveling and you stick out, you automatically become a target for others. When I go to Turkey in three weeks, I will have to adapt my clothes to blend in a little more. It helps you get what you want out of the locals.

Click to see it full size.

I don’t actually use icons on the desktop that often as I launch everything from the rocket dock or with shortcuts.

This is Windows Vista with the RocketDock application launcher and a background I made in Photoshop. I just put the icons in the bubbles.

What does your desktop look like?

Gore-Tex’s most capable shell materials have always had to be stand alone, making them a little bit like wearing a crinkly sheet or garbage bag (without the sweat build up, of course). They’re taking their 3 layer shells and bonding them to interesting inner liner materials in an extension of their “comfort mapping” tech. So, if the chest and back need insulated, they can attach a piece of fleece there; or padded armor on elbows and shoulders; or antimicrobial liners on armpits. The sub brand isn’t new, but before, comfort mapping involved sewing, opening up the potential for unsightly seams and water leakage. Now they heat press the new layers in, so that there are no extra punctures in the outer layers, and things like pockets can be sewn now into the inner materials without causing punctures, either.

From Gizmodo

You might know it already, but almost all of the gear I took on my trip was from REI. I was happy with almost everything I had with me, and the few products that wore out over the six months I used them were replaced or refunded (with cash) by REI with no questions asked.

REI is having their anniversary sale right now, and it goes until Sunday.

Hop on over to their site for some incredible savings. I have already been to the store more than once this week to stock up on gear for Alaska.

 The Universal Packing List

It can automatically upload photos from any camera that uses SD to your computer, or directly to flickr, facebook etc…

Check it out.

Eye-Fi Card, Wireless 2 GB SD Memory Card ]]> http://www.benhanna.com/2008/01/27/can-we-say-really-cool/feed/ 0 http://www.benhanna.com/2008/01/18/my-laos-cell-phone-number-is/ http://www.benhanna.com/2008/01/18/my-laos-cell-phone-number-is/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:07:08 +0000 Ben Hanna http://www.benhanna.com/blog/2008/01/18/my-laos-cell-phone-number-is/ 0207903868

to dial it, I think you have to put +865 in front.

So far I have lost: 1 pair of cotton boxers, my travel pillow, my quick dry towel. Not so bad.

What has worn out: My pair of REI quick dry pants are a disappointment. I have had to cut the zipper off of the cargo pocket in order to use it, because it locked shut. Also, the inner lining of my bag has started to come apart, but I found a place here that will fix bags, and I am going to try to get them to sew it back together.

Every thing else is holding up pretty well, my shoes were so dirty that I washed them yesterday and they turned all the water brown but they look like new now.

This is a really random entry, and not planned because I am just killing time. I am pretty done with everything this town has to offer, and am just waiting on an email from a guy in Vientiane to see if he is in town and I can crash at his place there.

Side Note: Just ran into a couple who run the Leconte Lodge in the Smoky Mountains. Pretty random coincidence, but if I get lost on the AT I have a place to crash.

Also, I have been in contact with Casey, my old suite mate from freshman year, and he is planning to through hike the AT, something I am very interested in doing… So more about that in the near future.

In case you forgot, here is a screen shot of the old one. I am of to Pai, then Laos.

-Ben

This is not all encompassing, just a few items that stand out.

Lets start with clothes. Most of my clothes are quick drying, moisture wicking fabrics that I got at REI or have accumulated over the years.

Pants

Exofficio Zip off Pants with Buzz Off – These have been my go to pants so far. They are comfortable, light weight, block the wind and hold up well. The pockets are large enough that I can put a full guide book in them without it bothering me. Inside the right pocket is a Velcro pouch for change, chapstick or anything else small you don’t want falling out. Inside the left pocket is a hidden zipper pocket that is decent sized and can hold a wallet or other item you don’t want pick pocketed. It is so well hidden I didn’t find it until two days ago. No cargo pockets on these pants, but both rear pockets have Velcro flaps for they hold things well. The Buzz Off is a built in insect repellant that hold up for 26 washings. There are loops for a real belt and the pants button shut with a double button.
REI Zip off Cargo Pants – Similar to the Exofficio, but different. I did not realize how different until I started using them for more than one day. Pockets are a little smaller, big enough for a language guide, but not for a guide book. These pants have cargo pockets covered with Velcro flaps however, and the right one actually zips shut underneath the flap. The left one has a small pouch for items such as change and chapstick, but the actual pouch does not seal itself. Both are big enough ,but the top inch of the guide book sticks out, which is less than optimal. The back pockets both Velcro shut. No belt loops, but there is a waist cinch band that works just like a belt and clips together along with a snap button on the actual pants. These did not come as insect rappelling, but I soaked them in a solution that made them insect repellant for 6-10 washings.

Underwear

I have two pairs of Exofficio quick dry breathing underwear, one boxers, the other boxer briefs. Both are very comfortable, dry fast, and breathe well. The boxer briefs ride up all the time and are uncomfortable while they are bunching, but once you are situated, they are fine. I also have two pairs of Patagonia Capelene boxers that I have been using since I was a sea kayak guide, and they are great. They dry fast, are soft as silk, and I love them. However, they don’t breathe as well as the Exofficio ones.

Shirts

Two quick dry t-shirts, one Columbia, one Mountain Hardwear. The Columbia one is a little tighter, thicker, and warmer. It is blue. The Mountain Hardwear one is lighter, thinner, looser and light brown. Both dry fast, roll up tight, don’t wrinkle, and are good.

I have an REI black long sleeve thermal shirt that is a half zip. It has a collar of sorts that can go all the way up like a mock turtle neck for warmth, or zip it down a little and it is a collar, good to go out in or to a nicer place. This is my favorite shirt here where it is often cold. It is soft, stretchy, and dries fast. Many Koreans where black as well, so I blend in better.

I also have a long sleeve Columbia quick dry button down. It is red, and soaked in the same insect repellent as the REI pants. It is vented everywhere and the sleeves roll up and button so they stay up. I have not worn it yet since I have been here.

Another shirt I have not worn yet is a short sleeve button down Northface that is quick dry, vented, and double layered for moisture wicking ability. It is more of a tropical weather shirt, which Korea is not.

I have a green REI jacket that I got a while ago, it is only an outer shell, but it breathes, has a roll up hood, a chest pocket, and is very light weight. It has been cold, and I wear it a lot. But as I am heading south, less and less, and in Southeast Asia I will probably only wear it when it rains.

Socks and Shoes

Standard light hiking socks of a blend of materials, they are all fine, just of different thicknesses.

I have my Chocos here with me, but have yet to wear them. I also have a pair of Merrell light hiking shoes with Vibram souls that are amazing. They stretch enough that I can slip them off when I enter a place that you have to take your shoes off (restaurant, room, etc…) I also have hiked a long way in them, and they work like a charm on trails, wet rocks, city streets, and palace paths. I haven’t got them soaking wet yet, but I bet they would dry. They are light, bouncy and great.

So much for clothes.

The rest of my stuff is a random assortment.

My laptop, a cheaper HP that has been working fine, but I wish the battery life was longer. I haven’t run out yet, but it eats it up. It is small with a 14 inch screen, but I download my pictures to it every night, and then upload them when I get internet. It has wifi and all the other trappings new laptops come with, including a card reader which is nice and a built in webcam with microphone, which is crucial for Skype calls back to the parents. I also type my blogs on it while I am traveling then upload later.

My Nikon D50 dSLR camera. It is big, and I am split on it. I often find myself wanting a small, unobtrusive camera that I can just keep in my pocket, but then I love the control this camera gives me. It takes great pictures, and I have had it for a while. I just feel like such a tourist (which I am) when I have it out. Because it has many options, I find myself spending more time at locations trying to find great shots. If I had a point and shoot, I might get more candid shots, but less composed ones.

My cell phone, which is basically a little computer. Touch screen, slide out keyboard, I have been using it to take the videos you see, and for the occasional photo when my big camera is packed away. I have also been using it to plan out my itinerary and budget on pocket Excel and Word. It is easy to just put in what I spend in the excel sheet then put the phone back in my pocket.

I have an assortment of random gear, including power adapters – a must, and a little bendable tripod I can position anywhere, even around a tree limb. Haven’t used it yet. Also my iPod nano, and a med kit, along with my dop kit, which has toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, Doc Brauner’s everything soap which I use for shampoo, body wash, shaving crème etc…

That’s about it. I keep everything in my back pack, which is a High Sierra 45 pack. It has been good, is the right size and is holding up fine. I have a wire mesh cinch bag that I can fit most of my gear in inside of the pack so that I can lock it to my bed in hostels, and so people can’t razor the bag and steal my stuff, but it is annoying, and I tend to use it only when I am in a shared room in a hostel, as Korea is safe in general. When I am in Thailand and Southeast Asia, I will use it all the time.
If you made it this far, you are way too interested in how gear holds up, and you should probably quit your job and meet me over here.