· Everybody has a black pack so when you arrive at the airport baggage carousel and three hundred jumbled, upside-down black packs come through it is very hard to tell which one is yours. Even if it has a brightly coloured ribbon tied to the handle.
· So, buy a nonblack pack and you will thank me.
· We like to play luggage races where the winner (first person to retrieve all of their gear) is bought cocktails by the losers.
· Four wheels are great for ease of manoeuvrability. You don't really need shoulder straps unless you plan to do a lot of walking over sand. Most of the time it will be wheeling it from car to check in desk, carousel to taxi and taxi to hotel. All on solid ground.
· Something slim enough to fit on luggage racks on trains and buses is handy and makes for easier handling on some of those tricky ferry gangplanks.
· Locking zips, reasonable quality, price and size (don't go overboard) and you have yourself a pack.
· Next you will need a day pack. Think of this as your runabout while the main pack is parked. It is also your carryon luggage on the plane. Most places will normally look after your gear and usually for free. Even if you've only been there for one night. You should be able to live out of your daypack for weeks on end.
· Your day pack is good for carrying things around you might need during the day, going on day trips, over-nighters and also for side trips as long as two weeks.
· It's a lot easier clambering over 3 ferries to get to your boat carrying a day pack than trying to manoeuvre that big thing on wheels. It gives you a lot of flexibility.
· When you don't need it you can just store it empty in the main pack and you only have one to worry about. Just remember to have all your valuables in there and close at hand when you are on transport and can't always keep an eye on your main pack.
· It is also essential on motorbike trips and if you get a bike with a basket it should fit in nicely. Otherwise, you could strap it to a rack so take some occy (octopus, bungee, shock cords) straps with you.
· The worst-case scenario is to put it on your back with the straps let out so the seat takes the weight of the bag. A full pack strapped precariously across the back of a little scooter is an accident waiting to happen! Some still try it though.
· For these reasons you are better off not getting a day pack with wheels. It needs to be small enough to meet carry on requirements and big enough to keep you going for a fortnight. About 35 to 40 litres is a good size. You might want to check your telescopic golf clubs fit in it.
· You don't need to fill it up for the plane. Just things you need on board, money belt, Kindle, ear popping sucking lollies, camera, phone etc and anything valuable or fragile. Airlines don't misplace your things very often but it is still nice to know your valuables are close at hand. You can fill it up though to avoid expensive problems with excess baggage. Which is a problem with cheap airlines. They seldom weigh your carryon luggage though.
· Baggage handlers don't appear to be too concerned in treating your bags with any respect in public so what goes on behind closed doors doesn't bear contemplating.
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Main Pack
· It is also good to keep your valuables close when your main pack (locked) is in the compartment under the bus, on the roof or in the next train carriage and you can't keep an eye on it.
· Your third and most important bag should be a security pouch with a nice long cord to hang around your neck for your passport, credit cards, passport photos, health certificates etc. With this bag you can still travel without the other two. This one is your prime focus to keep safe, then the day pack and then the main pack. It can be a long, lonely trip back to the capital to get a new passport with no money.
· Remember a lot of cheap airlines have 15 - 20kg (or less) limits and charge a fortune for excess baggage. You can carry a small weighing device to check your bags before heading to the airport. Plastic bags are useful for laundry bags and packing cells are great for locating and quick access to your stuff.
· A sarong has multiple uses - dressing gown, changing room, laundry bag, beach towel, baby hammock, sun hat, pillow, scarf, rope, mosquito protection, quick drying towel, sheet, fly swat, compression bandage, evening wear, first aid sling, pyjamas, you name it. Duct tape is equally as useful.
· Toiletry bags are good as packing cells for toiletries, electronics (plugs, cords, chargers, batteries, memory cards etc), first aid kits, important papers and stashing cash. Local plug adapters are usually pretty cheap and available at local hardware or electrical shops when you get there.
· Souvenir a few soaps and shampoos from the flash hotels for the really cheap places that don't supply them. You don't need too many as most places will supply them. Often their shampoo isn't great quality so take a little bottle and fill up with the good stuff.
· Betadine cures most infections and tiger balm handles everything else. Just read the pamphlet that comes with it.
· Bose (or other premium) travel speakers are essential for the room and drinks on the balcony / patio / terrace / roof, both for party and relaxing mode. As are headphones for zoning out on transport.
· Good grip on your footwear could save your life (literally) due to wet and / or slippery footpaths. Often you will need to slip them off and on with a minimum of fuss, for houses, temples, swimming pools etc. Crocs (great for waterfalls and caving) or good quality thongs (flip flops) and sandals should fit the bill.
· Zip off pants are a great idea. Good for flying from cold / hot places to the other way round and passing dress code after a long day of walking around in the heat. It's amazing the difference that little bit of extra fabric makes and they fit easily in your pockets. They are also lightweight and quick drying.
· Having a couple of your own padlocks is good for locking bungalows, cheap rooms, bicycles, motor bikes and safety boxes.
· Hidden pockets are useful in dangerous places where theft is common and blatant. Carry your big bills in the secret pocket and leave ten dollars in your wallet to keep the robbers happy. Don't worry there aren't many places like this and it's probably not on your list anyway (Rio de Janeiro and other cities in Brazil being the exception). They are also good to keep pick pockets at bay.
· Long johns, thermal tops, gloves, spray jackets, beanies and such mean you can stay warm and dry without having to carry bulky stuff.
· A kindle e-reader means you can carry hundreds of books in less than the size of one.
· If you like to have hard copies of your travel arrangements print them out and store them in the clear A4 folders that they sell in supermarkets for a few dollars.
· High quality telescopic golf clubs are available from the reliable Steve Divnick at divnickgolf.com.
· Rather than buying expensive travel accessories at home that you may not need you can usually pick them up a lot cheaper when you get there.
· If you have some old clothes and things (trainers, shirts etc) you want to throw away, bring them along and leave them for the maid when you are finished with them.