What not to pack: Things that we have previously thrown away on the street

What not to pack: Things that we have previously thrown away on the street

Before we left London, I practiced running with my backpack for 20 minutes. I barely managed it, but it was HARD. Add in the scorching heat, soggy humidity and uneven terrain of the road and 20 minutes feels next to impossible. As a result, we often find ourselves throwing away things that we thought were necessary just a few weeks before. Here's a list of the problematic items in case you're tempted to make the same mistakes.

Kia

Sports Bra: I thought I would need it for trekking and hiking, but a regular bra was enough. I might buy one in South America before trying Macchu Picchu, but it's likely that a regular one will do just fine.

Bandeau Bra: I picked this up for my strapless dresses, but I hadn't used it in the first month so I threw it away.

Second Bottle: Peter and I took a bottle each, but found we only took one with us on day trips, which meant we were lugging the second around for no reason.

Second camping jug: Peter insisted on bringing it, but when five weeks went by without a single use, I persuaded him to let him throw it away.

Third pair of socks: We're in the Pacific! We hardly need socks! In South America I can wear one, wash one.

Large Bottle of Shampoo: Normally I would transfer to a travel bottle, but decided against it since we were traveling for a year (so I would need everything). I have since decanted some and thrown the rest away. Every little bit helps.

Iron Tablets x 4 Packs: As a vegetarian I find it difficult to get enough iron so I packed a year's supply of Floradix. I found myself skipping days, so I figured I would only need half of what I packed.

Inflatable Neck Pillow: Not as comfortable as I hoped so I threw it away.

Salicylic Cleanser: This cleanser from Paula's Choice leaves my skin looking clear and refreshed - much needed in my dirty, dusty hometown of London. In the Pacific, the sun (and sweat!) did wonders for my skin, so I don't need that.

Peter

Two Bars of Soap: I mean, seriously? Did he really have to pack three bars of soap?

Boxers: He didn't run out as quickly as he expected, so he parted with a pair.

Lots of extra clothes (third t-shirt, second shirt, second vest, second pants): Peter realized he had packed too many clothes, so he gradually got rid of some of the extra things. I suspect he'll keep going until he gets down to the bare minimum.

Two out of five pairs of socks: Since Peter plans to do a lot of climbing and trekking in South America, he went a bit overboard with the socks.

Plastic cutlery: The campsites we stayed at had fairly well-equipped kitchens, meaning this extra weight was unnecessary.

Second iPhone cable: Peter ruined his phone by submerging it in a so-called waterproof case, so we threw away what was already extra luggage.

Playing Cards: We hadn't even played these.

Waterproof camera bag: Didn't work!

Things we fought for

Mosquito Net: Peter insists this will be useful, even though we haven't had to use it yet. I reasoned that most places we've come across have provided one if needed, and worse, we can just buy another one in South America. We had a little argument about it which he won (And by 'win' I mean he now wears it instead of me ; )

Travel Hair Dryer: This always shows up on the “what not to pack” lists, but it is so useful, especially in the Pacific where I regularly swim, snorkel, and kayak (usually followed shortly by dinner). It allows me to take a quick shower, then blow my hair dry, tie it up and out of the way, and rush out again. It's so practical and I'm super glad I packed it.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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