If you need to find yourself on some adrenaline inducing adventure to scratch your wanderlust itch, you’re part of a growing breed of traveler who opts for the more extreme forays. You might be an avid bungee jumper, enjoy launching yourself from aircraft with a parachute on your back, or you may prefer the thrill of scaling the world’s highest mountain peaks. Whatever it is you do to get your kicks, you choose to travel around the globe seeking out your next heart-pounding missions.
It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you need to pack wisely. Forget an essential item, even something as mundane as a quality rain jacket, and your newest dream venture could turn into the stuff of nightmares. Being an extreme traveler, you need to ensure that you have some specific items with you at all times. Take a look at this ultimate packing checklist to inspire your next trip halfway across the globe.
Photo Credit Pixabay
Luggage
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to personal preference for luggage. Some people swear by the freedom that a backpack can give them. More often than not, you can carry a backpack on the plane with you. You can avoid the hassle of checking in or the chance that your belongings will arrive in Honolulu when you’ve taken a flight to Borneo.
On the other hand, backpacks are not as rugged or strong as hard-shelled cases. With enhanced mobility, strengthened construction and made using lightweight materials Rimowa is a great option, and this review goes some way to explain why a re-emergence of traditional looking luggage is staking a claim to the extreme traveler market.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a backpack fan or a suitcase fanatic, you need to make sure you are comfortable with your luggage, and your bag of choice enhances your traveling experience rather than hinders it.
Photo Credit Pixabay
Camera
Every traveler wants to document their adventures. While smartphones are great, they tend to create mediocre shots, especially at night and low light. Instead, invest in a true camera. DSLRs produce outstanding results to a professional standard yet they can be bulky and incredibly expensive.
Consider these cameras created with the extreme and active traveler in mind. The Olympus Tough and the Nikon AW1 are both waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof. This means you could head out on a scuba dive, venture to the Arctic Circle for some glacier snowshoeing or scale a mountain without needing to worry about the condition of your camera. It will not only work, but it will produce amazing photos to document your extreme adventures.
Photo Credit Pixabay
Sleeping Bag
If you’re the sort of traveler who loves venturing off the beaten track, away from the crowds and into the wilderness, you need to account for all eventualities. The beating heat of desert-like scorching temperatures in the day can lead you into a false sense of security. You may not realize that temperatures can swiftly drop in the evenings as there is little or no cloud cover. Should you find yourself isolated and alone, you must have protection from the elements. By investing in a sleeping bag like the Snugpak Extreme 2, you’ll be protected from the cold, and can sleep under the stars without risking hypothermia.
If you are planning on camping, it’s vital you have the proper equipment to cope with the elements. Many sleeping bags now come with inbuilt mosquito nets as well as antibacterial coatings. Because they have been ergonomically designed to pack down into the smallest of spaces as well as being lightweight, they are ideal traveling companions for your trip.
Although the night time may be freezing, the daytime could be the complete opposite. You’ll need to ensure that you have a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, plenty of water and a good supply of sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays. Without these essentials, you run the risk of sunburn and worse, heat stroke. As an extreme traveler, there will inevitably be more health considerations that you cannot ignore. Note: I love buying army surplus clothing from Military Mart as a big fan of military gear.
Photo Credit Pixabay
Power Pack
As an extreme traveler, you want to set foot in places that have rarely been seen before. This might involve long days of travel, being on your feet for extended periods of time or simply not seeing an electrical socket for a day or two. You might be on a train deep in Tibet, a boat ride through the Amazon basin or sitting on a long bus journey through the dusty roads of the Central African Republic. During this time you might think that you have to risk being without any form of communication, smartphone or GPS. However, with a charged up power pack, you don’t have to relinquish all connections with civilization.
Power packs now come with large enough batteries to supply three or four full charges to devices without the need to be charged up again themselves. They are still small enough and light enough to fit into the side of your backpack or even in your jacket pocket and can be used in the most extreme circumstances. Having a GPS device is vital if you want to know where you are in the world, so a high quality power pack is a must.
Traveling is one of life’s most rewarding adventures. As an extreme traveler, your priorities shift from seeing the well-trodden tourist sites and taking the ubiquitous vacationer shots to something more authentic. You want to live like a local, see the grittier side of life and tear yourself away from the crowds. By going it alone, you need to pack differently than the traditional traveler to ensure that you can cope with the many challenges that extreme travel presents.
Tips for Trip Success
Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using CheapOAir, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.
Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to TripAdvisor.
You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.
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