Basic Gear

You may have noticed I’ve monetized my blog. I promise I won’t make earning money the main priority of this blog. My hope by doing this is that a) I ‘ll be able to fund some future trips/projects with any money that comes in and b) I can share some books, gear and other items I think might be of interest to you.  Conveniently I now have a segue to a post about gear I think you should bring with you.

A good backpack -   This will be used both on the plane as a carry on and in the field. Inevitably one of the planes you’ll find yourself in will be smaller. A regular carry on – even a carry on that fits the airline requirements will have to be checked which leaves you open to the risk of losing your bag. A backpack however will always fit in the overhead compartment.

In the field you need a good sturdy pack that will take a beating.  I recommend any of the 5.11 packs. I especially like the 5.11 Tactical All Hazards Prime pack. This is a very expensive pack but well worth the money.  There are plenty of reviews on Amazon if you’re interested. I highly recommend you not get any pack that is camouflage.  It might attract unwanted suspicion and scrutiny from customs. Remember you are a guest to your host country so be a gracious one and avoid doing anything that would cause suspicion.

Dickies Cargo Pants – I love these pants. They’re durable and clean up easily. There’s plenty of room to move around in them which is great if you have to walk any distances or if you find yourself crammed in the back of a suv with eight other guys for an hour or two.

Hanes Comfort Blend V-necks – My favorite shirt. They’re cheap so it’s not a big deal if they get ruined or you leave them for a friend you made in the field it’s no big deal. They’re light weight, cool and comfortable.

First Aid Kit – Lucky for me one of the more experienced men on my trip brought  a first aid kit. I was breaking up a large stone with a hammer when two small pieces chipped off and went straight into my hand. The cut was very small but bled a lot. Thanks to Gary’s first aid kit I was able to clean the wound, put some antibacterial ointment on it and cover it with a bandage. My lack of a first aid kit also earned me the nickname “Rookie” for the remainder of the trip. Save yourself some embarrassment and bring one. It’s also a great gift to leave behind for people who don’t have access to bandages or antibacterial ointment.

Electrolytes – If you catch a bug and end up sick you’re going to lose a lot of fluids. It’s imperative you keep hydrated. The more dehydrated you are the harder it is for your body to keep itself in good working order. Keep hydrated!

Boots – This is really more of a personal decision. Everyone moves differently so my recommendation is for you to find a boot you like. Personally, I really like the Timberland Pro Pitboss and the Catepillar Sentry boot. My reasoning is twofold - they aren’t too hot, the sole is thinner and more flexible. I had to climb around in some rafters for some electrical work in Africa and a thinner sole made it a lot easier to maneuver up there.

Socks & Underwear – I’m not sure if it matters much which brand you pick up but bring a lot of them. Keep your feet dry and change your socks a lot. Same with the underwear – you can wear the same pants repeated days and as long as you have clean underwear you’ll be fine. Underwear take less room in your bag than pants so it’s lighter to carry more underwear and less pants.

Hat – For me it’s the Real Deal Brazil cowboy hat. It’s tough and keeps your face and neck out of the sun which is extremely important.

Sunscreen – If you’re going to be outside in the sun you need lots of very powerful sunscreen. Sunburns in the comfort of your own home are bad enough. Sunburns in a foreign land are miserable.