Touring - Backpack Touring - What do I take?

Hello,

I was planning a backpack Tour these holidays, and was wondering what to take. How many clothes etc... If need be, I can get away with just Sandals or Jandals (thongs they are called in Aussie I believe). I havn't got a heck of a lot of room in my backpack....but I will be staying at a friends place each night!!

Thanks for the help.

Sam.

Are you cycling on this tour or hiking? Are you traveling through uninhabited places? Will there be water available? Are you planning on going to the opera at night or just sitting around and chatting?

Without some details, reasonable answers are pretty hard to come by!

Paul

I am cycling. I am leaving from my place, travelling to the edge of the city, then across pretty much the entire city(about 90km all up), and arriving at a mates place for the night.

While I'm staying in the area I will mostly be just riding around (I come from here, and want to go over my old favorite training routes), and meeting up with one of the school teams one day.

Once I've had enough, I will ride home again.

How long will you be gone, and how many cities do you plan to hit? Do you have a rack for the back of your bike to carry everything, or are you just strapping the backpack to your back?

Koffee

Will you be camping?
what is the weather like?
how long do you plan on traveling each day?
is there a change of you riding at nite?
will it rain? will you need food or water?
are there shops to repair your bike?
these are just a few questions that should help you pack!!
keep in touch !

You need at least two sets of clothes unless you like doing laundry in the nude. I assume your will be riding more than a few miles between friends' houses so you need your basic multitool, spare tube, patch kit, pump, etc. Might want to take a few toiletries so you don't stink too badly. Get some of the small travel size items at your local xmart. Take enough water to get you between refill stops and maybe pick up a snack along the way.

Other than that, take whatever else you want to have with you. Footbag, book, stuffed animal, big screen Tee Vee, etc...

I will be staying in just the one city, but my house from where I am starting from, is about 90km from where I will be staying in the city.

I will be away for probably about 4 nights or so, and I will only have a backpack. No panniers or trailers etc...

I will ride in the daytime only, and be staying at a friends house each night. I will be travelling up to about 50km each day, except the first and last day.

I can also carry enough water on the bike and there are a load of LBS along the way. I also carry a reasonable repair kit all the time.

sounds like all you need is a wallet, a set of clothes to hang out in at night, and some personal hygene items. Your pretty much going out for day rides, and staying at a friends house. Your going to be in a city, and not some rural backroads so there is no need for any emergency gear (just get off the bike and walk to a payphone) you don't need any camping gear cuase your staying indoors at night.

sounds like a perfect KISS situation to me

Keep It Simple Stupid (if your not going to use it, you don't need it)

Ray

Housten, we have a problem!!

I never managed to even start this tour. Turned out all my mates were out of town, had no where for me to stay, or I could only be there certain hours of the day which didn't work with what I was trying to do.

Oh well... the next holidays (in the middle of winter here) are only 10 weeks away...

Thanks for your help anyway :)