Zen and the Art of Packing

10pm (Singapore time), Changi Airport, 26 July 2009

I had planned to write a lengthy post about my packing process, the philosophy behind travelling light and the various choices and discoveries I made along the way – the theory being that as you've had a tour of the bag, then perhaps you might be interested in the contents. I had drafted the begginings of a post on this already, but sitting here now in Changi Airport waiting for my flight to London, it occurs to me that this would make for pretty dull reading.

Even my Dad, a most venerable Sensei of the ancient art of packing lightly and effectively, probably wouldn't bother to read it.

Rather than bore even him to death, I'll give you a very quick run-down of what I've got, and maybe follow it up in a few months with some thoughts on whether it was effective. As well as the bag I blogged about a month ago, and the red shoulder bag I'm using as a carry-on, I'm having two packing boxes shipped to me in Sweden by Air Freight.

My bag has all the usual suspects: socks and jocks, pjs, two shirts, two t-shirts, two pants, two jumpers, raincoat, light jacket, shorts, bathers, scarf, hat, travel towel, toiletries, books, sleeping sheet and a lunch box full of small useful items like a clothes line, pocket knife, spork (which I think sounds like a Swedish word...imagine the Swedish Chef saying it. See, it does, doesn't it?), plastic bags, torch, sewing kit and the tiny screwdriver which I need to put the lenses back into my glasses when they fall apart. Oh, and gaffer tape. One should never be without gaffer tape. Or a towel, obviously...

That came in at 13.6 kilos (13.8 out of Singapore courtesy of one small addition which I shall mention later...) which is a weight of which I am quite proud. “Very good Grasshopper” said Sensei Dad.

My carry-on has books, laptop, camera, flash hard drive, iPod, chocolate (thanks Hannah!) pen and paper, address book, ear plugs and sundry paperwork. That weighs about 5 kilos, I guess, although I haven't actually weighed it.

As for the boxes, after an initial attempt to pack what I actually wanted to take:



I decided to settle for most of this:



It looks like a lot, and perhaps it is. Time will tell if it's too much (or too little) but I stand by it for now. Buying enough clothes for 7-months in Scandinavian Europe, including all of Autumn and Winter, was not really an option given the prices. Plus, without my wooly jumpers I loose all my powers.

New toy...

Last Friday afternoon I handed in my final essay for the semester, an American History paper on changing ideas of government in the USA from the revolution to the New Deal. It was supposed to be fifteen hundred words, but came out closer to three thousand. In recognition of my stellar effort in giving not just 110%, but close to 200%, I decided to reward myself with a new toy, something I've had my eye on for a while.

"What happened to saving for travel?!?", I expect you are shouting pointlessly at your computer screens. Shout no longer friends, for my new toy is highly relevant. Behold:


The Mont Astro 65L travelpack :-)

(At this point you should all go "ooohh, aaahh" in a thoroughly impressed fashion. Go on, you know you want to...)

Actually having a backpack - and a quite nifty one at that - has really ramped the excitement up a notch. My Grandad had offered to chip in some money for the pack, so I took it straight to his apartment just off Little Lonsdale St to show it off and collect my prize. (Thanks Grandad!) As I was carrying quite a few other things as well, he had the bright idea of filling it up and taking it for a spin on my way to work. Strutting happily down Swanston Street and over the bridge, I felt the thrilling edge of an adventure. Even being teased by the aging security guard at the stage door did little to dampen my spirits. I was off on an adventure...even if it was only as far as the locker room...

"But what" I expect you are asking yourself, "is so exciting about a bag?" Put it down to boys and their toys if you must, but at least let me show you a few cool features:

The harness (which has a really good waist belt with multiple points of adjustment and is incredibly comfortable once it's all tightened up properly) packs away completely behind this zip-up panel, which itself tucks away neatly in the base (see above).

The bag is very sturdily constructed with sturdy zips and buckles and a tough (yet light) tear-resistant nylon. It has large compression panels at the sides, which reduce bulk and pull everything closer to your back, transferring weight to your hips and off your shoulders. It opens up completely like a clam (see below) to give you easy access to everything without pulling things out of the way and messing up your pack.


One-half of the pack is divide into two zipped compartments, which have their own nifty feature. They zip out completely, and then zip up into the 35L "Travel Pod". Add the shoulder strap from the main bag, and you've not only got a neat overnight bag or laundry bag, but an extra carry on for all your souvenirs, while loosing none of the internal capacity of the main bag (see final image below).


As with most packs on the market for backpacker types like me, a daypack is included in the design, but not the usual "zip on" design which is next to useless because it leaves the pack a.) a long way from where you can protect it and b.) a long way from your center of gravity (which can lead to you rolling on your back like a turtle unable to right itself if you're knocked down in the street by some old German nanna).

Instead, the daypack (which has lovely comfy padding in the straps and back, as well as other useful features) is concealed in a pocket, marsupial style - which seems only right for an Australian-designed product. It also has handy little clips to attach the daypack to the front of the main harness, just to cement that "Look at me, I'm a tourist" look that all backpackers strive for...

So there you have it, my new toy. Pricey at just over $400, but in my view worth every penny. Three bags, total capacity 125L (way more than I should be carrying ever), tough materials, relatively lightweight (about 3 kilos all up) and a lifetime warranty. A family of travelling friends that will never ever stab me. Who could ask for anything more?