Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Handy items
We love this advice from gap-year veteran Becci Coombes, from GirlsTravelClub.co.uk,
where you'll find gear, gifts and advice, for her top tips on packing for your trip:
“The key to a well-packed rucksack is not to fill it up,” Becci told us, “but leave plenty of
room for your necessary holiday purchases. When you are packing, lay everything out you
think you are going to need, then halve it, before halving it again!”
Here is a list of some handy items Becci has found useful that you might never have con-
sidered…
•
Dental floss
. Have you ever thought about how handy 50 metres of strong string
(albeit minty-flavoured) all neatly packaged in a cute little box with a handy integral
cutter could be? Many times I have used it for hanging mozzy nets, as an emergency
bootlace, as a strong sewing thread, and it also makes a great washing line for dry-
ing your swimming gear.
•
Forget those universal sink plug things; when you fill the sink up with water then
try and actually wash something in it, the plug will either be knocked out by your
vigorous sock-washing or just float about annoyingly as all your precious hot water
drains away. A
squash ball
is much more useful; you can wedge firmly it into the
hole and then use it to play squash afterwards.
•
Micropore medical tape
is marvellous stuff for the thrifty packer. Not only can you
use it as an emergency plaster on blisters and little cuts, you can hold dressings on
with it or put it on tiny splinters to yank them out of your thorn-ravaged flesh.
•
Clear ziplock bags
in different sizes. You can use them for storing wet swimming
costumes; keeping those less-than-pleasant socks from tainting the rest of your gear,
and also keep any maps nice and dry as you tramp through unexpected downpours
looking for shelter.
•
Bin bags
also come in handy in many more ways than you'd think. Aside from us-
ing them for litter, you can always use one as a rucksack cover or an emergency
poncho in a downpour; just cut a head hole and sit under it, keeping your arms nice
and warm next to your body. Fill one with dry leaves as a mattress to insulate you
from the ground damp as well; on one of our travel skills courses we stuffed them
really full and used them as beanbags, and they were surprisingly comfy!
•
I always make sure I've got a few
elastic bands
about my person as they are always
being used for different purposes. Roll up your biggest items of clothing and secure
with a couple of bands so they take up less space, and also put a couple round your
