Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador
Peru
Travel Gear
What Kind of Gear do I Need?
Now this section is really aimed at long term travelers, if you are just at this site because you are planning a vacation to Peru you can probably pack you own suitcase. There are really four main setups people use when doing long term travel.
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The One Baggers.
People who travel with absolutely everything in a single backpack. How can you spot a one-bagger? Don't worry. They’ll tell you. I joke, but I give them props because I couldn't do it.
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Standard Backpack and One Carry-on
This is a good setup if you can swing it. Saves money on checked bag fees and gets you out of the airport quicker. (Unless it is a new country because you usually have a long wait in the customs line anyway.) Although, seems like more and more airlines are going "budget" and want to charge you for a carry-on (When did personal item, i.e. backpack become different that "carry-on"?)
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Standard Backpack and One Checked Bag
This is me. I carry a 40L backpack and just a regular suitcase. I prefer fabric. I get that a hard-shell may protect better, but to me, it just seems easier to crack. My fragile shit goes in my backpack anyway. I've considered trying to get down to a smaller suitcase but I don't think it'll happen. So it's checked bags fees for me. What I don't quite understand is fees for flights vary quite a bit. In a low cost of living country, you can get flights much cheaper than flights of the same distance in high cost of living countries. But oddly, bag fees don't seem to work that way. They seem to hover around $60 worldwide.
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Standard Backpack and One Military Style
These guys carry one small backpack on the front and one giant one on the back. It seems like the worst way to travel to me. I always hear them say, "well I got my hands free and some 3rd world roads are rough for a wheeled suitcase." I suppose so. But if you have enough gear to require that much space, your lodging isn't likely located on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Most towns, you're getting off the plane and into a cab. Of course, it could be specialized gear like camping equipment. I'm not making judgements, I'm just saying if you saw this set-up and think it looks convenient, unless you specially need this, in my opinion Option 3 is better.
Your Backpack
This will be one of your most important tools, so shop around. It isn't important you spend a lot of money, in fact there are some absurdly expensive packs out there that too much crap on them and are pretty much never worth the $300-400 price tag. I considered a canvas bag. I had an idea of getting flag patches wherever I went and sewing them on because those canvas bags will go hard and last forever. However I decided against that. Honestly, I don't want random people on the street knowing my travel habits (travel can be seen as a luxury and traveling to many places may make it look like you have money and therefore are a target). But besides that the canvas bags don't seem to have much shoulder padding or features. Generally just a couple pockets.
This is the one I got from Amazon and it cost $30. It is the second I had bought, the first lasted two and half years but it did have from fraying and one zipper was starting to stick so I just went ahead and bought a new one last time I went home even though I could have gotten some more miles out of it. Like I said it is one of your most important pieces of gear and I didn't want to be forced to buy one I didn't really like if it died later.
Inventory
When I first started I made a spreadsheet with a checklist of all of my stuff but honestly, I rarely use it. I am really detailed about systematically checking every drawer and clearing every room of where I stay before I go. I did refer to it to make sure I had all of my shirts but I just know the count now.