Packing for a grand adventure takes some thought.
Depending on where you are going and what time of year, you will need to make sure that any essentials you can potentially be without if something goes amiss, get packed into your checked luggage. Tripods are usually okay to go in your checked luggage as you can pad it with your socks and other things. Sunscreen is another “must pack” item, and don’t forget your personal hygiene supplies, including your toothpaste and toothbrush. Because weather can always vary, we highly recommend packing shorts and pants that are weatherproof and quick drying. We love those pants that zip off into shorts. A rain poncho you can wad into a pouch can come in handy when you least expect it. Also, remember to bring some sort of broken in waterproof shoes. Hats are a must to keep the sun off your scalp, and in colder weather, it helps to keep you warm. Speaking of warmth, remember to pack some hand warmers as they can be quite useful if a cold snap awaits you on your travels.
What you DON’T want to check if you are flying are certain important items that MUST go in the overhead bin. Never ever put your binoculars or your camera equipment in your checked luggage. Instead, get a padded backpack (hopefully one that can go under your seat) to include your binoculars, scope, camera, and laptop. We also encourage you to bring a good book onboard and some snacks as oftentimes what is being served by the airline is ridiculously expensive and isn’t what you wanted to munch on anyway. You’ll also want to bring along any medications, prescription glasses, and a change of clothes in case of unexpected delays or if checked luggage has gone missing. While you might be hoping to “unplug”, we still recommend bringing portable chargers as those might be difficult to find, depending on your destination and how far you are off the grid. Batteries are a must too — always bring extras, especially for if you need a special one for your camera. If you are traveling to a different country, double check to see if you need any travel adapters.
We suggest you lay out what you intend to take well in advance, and then look again before you actually start putting your items into the luggage. One person in our family tends to always go overboard with clothes “choices” and too many shoes. Another family member (who also will remain nameless), likes to take too many stuffed animals in her backpack. So if you have some pack rats in your family too, sneak into their bedrooms during the dark of night and remove some of the unnecessary items from their luggage. Trust us, if they do miss it later, you can blame it on the suitcase grinch.