Merino wool has been touted as an ideal travel clothing material thanks especially to its breathability, odor resistance and fast-drying abilities. I stocked up on a few lightweight merino wool items before leaving for my trip two months ago, and I quickly gained a favorite among the brands and also learned some other benefits of the material.

There are numerous brands of merino wool products; Icebreaker, EMU Australia, Smartwool and Ibex are among the largest and most popular. My items are all Icebreaker and EMU Australia because I like their styles and fits. I found Smartwool’s pieces to be too itchy and mostly for cold weather, which didn’t suit my needs for Latin America.

More than likely you’ve heard of the legendary Moleskine notebooks that were revered by artists, writers and travelers alike. Originally they were covered in a woven cotton fabric which was sheared, making it soft on one side. Bruce Chatwin describes this ‘Paris’ notebook in The Song Lines, “The pages were squared and the end-papers held in place with an elastic band. I had numbered them in series. I wrote my name and address on the front page, offering a reward to the finder. To lose a passport was the least of one’s worries: to lose a notebook was a catastrophe.”

After a three month backpacking trip I came home with ten filled moleskine notebooks neatly bound with twine. I’d begun the trip with two blank ones. Much to my delight, it was easy to find more along my way. I agree with Chatwin; losing a notebook would be a catastrophe.

Before converting three years ago to using modern day Moleskines ; I collected various other notebooks of thickness and size.  In retrospect, they don’t visually stack nice and neatly; whereas the Moleskins do. This might seem like a silly and simple pleasure, but it makes me quite happy.

Have you ever shared your intimate travel moments with a Moleskine notebook?

A guitar gets me behind a Railway Reservation counter in Ayodhya, India... / picture by Davide Antonello

Last week, Lindsey Rue’s post on Vagabonding inspired me to reconsider slowing down to enjoy the music from another perspective: the musician’s.

I have been a punk rock guitarist for the best part of my twenties, and I have started to love travelling because of the long, inspiring van drives linking venue A to venue B across beautiful unfolding scenery. At that time, the goal was to hit a stage, play a great show, set the crowds “on fire”, and leave excited for the next town. As I started travelling for the sheer pleasure of vagabonding a few years later, the experience I made as a touring musician proved very helpful in many ways. However, besides an MP3 player filled to the brim with my favorite classics, I preferred not to include music on my travels. In fact, music was such an overwhelming part of my previous life on the road that I preferred to put it aside, and enjoy travel to a different extent.

I did not realize how wrong I was until this past January 5^th, when I decided to pack a little ukulele-sized guitar in my backpack, and embarked on a flight to Kolkata, India. This instrument is custom-made: unable to find a proper suitcase, I had to pack it inside of a small daypack I always carry on my chest, sandwiched among the electronics and my valuables. In such a position,  the fret board sticks out, and is always visible. In little over a month, this proved to be a fantastic way to boost the possibilities of “taking it slow” and “make meaningful connections” as proposed by the Indie Travel Manifesto. (more…)

Have you ever been frustrated with your travel bag? Thought, "hey, you know what? I could do better than this"? Well that’s exactly what Jeremy Cohen and Fred Perrotta were thinking somewhere in the middle of their extended trip through Europe. At the end of the trip they decided to take matters into their own hands and founded Tortuga Backpacks, which has now launched its flagship pack — the Tortuga Travel Backpack 45.

Tortuga Backpacks were kind enough to send along a Tortuga Travel Backpack 45 pack for me to test.

The pack consists of two main pockets, two side pockets and two small stash-style pockets on each of the hip belts. There’s also a hidden pocket inside the main pocket for stashing your valuables. The Tortuga 45 also includes something I consider a must have for travel packs — a zippered cover for the shoulder straps and hip belt.

I didn’t get a chance to test it on the road, but the pack had no trouble holding everything I brought with me on a recent trip around the world. The Tortuga 45 also meets the size requirements for carry on luggage on most airlines, so you’ll never need to check it unless you want to. The padded back and hip belt make the pack comfortable even when it’s loaded down, though do bear in mind the emphasis on "urban". I wouldn’t want to walk ten miles with this pack, but for walks from the train station to the hostel you’ll be just fine.

The pack is made of ballistic nylon, which means it’s tough enough to stand up to the rigors of city travel, though you probably wouldn’t want to hit the Appalachian trail with it. The nylon also means the Tortuga 45 is water resistant (though not water proof). I stuck it in the shower for 20 seconds or so and it managed to repel most of the water. Suffice to say if you’re caught in a brief rain shower you don’t need to worry.

Overall I liked the Tortuga Travel Backpack 45. It’s a bit on the boxy side compared to some packs, but it’s definitely functional. My only real gripe is the size of the logo. It’s big. Really big. But I have a known allergy to all branding/logos/labels (even for brands I like) so that may just be me.

If the logo doesn’t bother you and you’re in the market for a new pack, well, we’re giving away our review copy of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 45 (which, as noted, has been briefly exposed to water, and few walks around my neighborhood, but is otherwise brand new). Just leave a comment below telling us where you’re headed and how long you’re going for and I’ll randomly select one lucky winner next week.

Congrats to our winner Jim Johnson

The Tortuga Travel Backpack 45 is available from the Tortuga Backpack website and costs $250.

Having lived abroad for several years now, one travel investment that I can honestly say has been worth the expense many times over is my Amazon kindle. Sometimes travelers can get caught up in the myriad travel accessories there are out there on the market. Will these items make your trip better? Easier? Most seasoned backpackers swear by packing their bags with the absolute minimum, so as not to hamper their travels with the extra weight or worry for these items.

At first glance, a kindle can seem a bit expensive. The computerized books begin at US$114 with the newest version costing around $189 with all of the features. For some this is simply as unwanted expense. I would never have considered undertaking the expense, until I was living in the North of France and found that purchasing the occasional English novel or book amounted to a great expense. English literature is not incredibly plentiful in the region, and what books were in stock were shockingly expensive. If I wanted to read in English it was going to be costly.

Now, living in Asia where I do not have the option of reading in the local language, here too English books are more expensive. There are still English books available at the local bookstore, though they have a considerable mark up. Additionally, literature other than the popular novels can be virtually impossible.

Investing in a kindle not only allows me to read English novels more cheaply, it opens up the whole literary spectrum that is otherwise closed off to me where I am living – or only accessible at a ridiculous import price.
If you are planning to live abroad for any significant time, purchasing a kindle may be beneficial to you. If you are planning to be actively on the road, even for a long duration, a kindle might be an unnecessary expense. It may add extra weight and anxiety to your travels by adding an extra expensive appliance to worry about. Plus, it is always fun to pick up random paperbacks from local hostels or guest houses, leaving your finished paperback behind for other travelers who are passing through.

Vagabonders can be masters of packing methods, as well as knowing which items are absolutely necessary and which can be left behind. Recently, a Lifehacker article (Unusual Items Worth Packing on your Next Vacation) suggests some additional things to consider stashing in your bag before your next big trip.

Some of the items are somewhat old-hat, such as keeping a color copy of your passport in your bag, as well as duct tape. Others, like split key rings to use as locking devices, and baby powder to help get unwanted sand off your feet (see also: shower), may make you think about other uses for common items that are worth adding them to your packing list.

Do you have a tried-and-true unusual item that you always bring along? What is it, and how does it enhance your travel experience?

When I was a kid, I used to carry an agate arrowhead with me when I traveled with my family. I found it in an Idaho river, and my dad’s uncle offered me $20 for it. That was a lot of money for me then. I turned him down, thinking that if he was willing to offer me that much, it was surely special. As a talisman on my travels, it served as a reminder that any moment could be lucky.

The arrowhead sits on my desk now, accompanied by other travel mementos: a jade carving from Honduras, salt crystals from Peru and a Zulu coconut from New Orleans. In fact, the special items that go along on my travels are all practical. I miss having some small item packed in with the rest—something that’s just along for the ride and snaps my attention back to the moment. It’s time to take the arrowhead back on the road.

One friend travels with a charm on her bracelet that was blessed by the Dalai Lama. Another friend carries a turquoise-colored piece of beach glass. Many folks bring along photos of their kids or sweetheart. One adventure-minded pal will always wear a Maori greenstone necklace when he travels over water.

Do you have a travel talisman? What is it and where did you get it?

Does a roll of duct tape always find its way into your suitcase? Are you a jury-rig master? Unless you travel in a bubble where stores are always nearby, open and have absolutely everything you need, you’ve likely had to figure out how to repurpose something.

A recent Lifehacker article highlights the website’s most popular repurposing tricks of 2010. While some are a little over my non-geek head, others speak to my travel self, such as: turning a hoodie into a laptop bag, using nail polish to relieve an itchy mosquito bite, sealing plastic bags with old bottle caps and turning a film canister into a confetti bomb.

Fancy yourself a travel MacGyver? Share your best travel tricks in the comments section. Everyone, even the best at DIY, can use a new tip.

Chrome, probably best known for their bike messenger bags, have released two new bags that are worth considering for your next round-the-world trip. The folks at Chrome were kind enough to send Vagablogging the new Yalta bag to test out and pass along to one lucky reader.

The Yalta’s larger sibling, the Brigadier, is similar though slightly larger. The outer shell of both bags is made of Tarpaulin, a rugged, waterproof material that will stand up to the day-to-day abuse of travel and keep your things dry.

The Yalta also features a waterproof internal compartment for storing wet clothes, or, if you keep it dry, can offer added protection from the elements. There’s a zippered sleeve between the padded, back panel and the main compartment which provides a safe place to stash your laptop, guide book or other reasonably slim items (the sleeve had no trouble accommodating my 15 inch laptop and could probably even handle a 17 inch).

When it comes to organizing your gear the Yalta falls a little short of similarly priced bags. Organizing options are limited to a single main compartment. You can access the main compartment from the top, via a canvas roll top which cinches down with a seatbelt-style buckle that’s typical of Chrome bags.

There’s also a small zippered second pocket on the back of the pack, but the heavy material and small size of the pocket make it difficult to access when the pack is fully loaded.

If you’re the type that likes everything in its place, this is not the bag for you.

The back of the Yalta, showing small back compartment

15in laptop inside the Yalta laptop sleeve

The Good:

• Very tough, waterproof shell — It’s difficult to imagine the damage it would take to tear this bag and the fact that your things will stay dry in the downpours of Southeast Asia is a big plus for travelers.

• Nice padding, but still lightweight — The Yalta isn’t the lightest bag on the market (heavy-duty construction is never lightweight), but the padded back and shoulder straps distribute the load well. Even fully loaded the Yalta didn’t put excessive strain on my shoulders.

• Simple, single compartment — definitely not a bag for organization nerds, but some people like having just one big compartment.

The Not-so-good:

• Small back pocket — the pocket is too small and difficult to use when the main compartment is full. If the pocket were larger, with expandable sides for easier access, it would be more useful.

• Chrome buckles — Having broken many a custom buckle on the road, one thing I look for in pack is how hard it’s going to be to repair on the road. The chrome buckles on the pack’s shoulder straps look stylish, but you’re going to have trouble replacing them in the far corners of the world. That said, they appear to very sturdy, so it’s possible this would never be an issue.

As for holding all your gear, well that depends on how light you travel. The Yalta was definitely full when I loaded it down with what I typically bring on longer trips, but it did hold everything. If you think 1800 cu in is a bit small, check out the Brigadier, which is similar, but nearly twice the size. The Brigadier lacks the extra back padding of the Yalta, but it it offers a shoulder strap for carrying it like a duffle bag.

Overall I was impressed with the Yalta. It’s a durable, seemingly bomb-proof bag that’s plenty big enough for those who travel light. At $120 the Yalta isn’t the cheapest bag out there, but the high price seems somewhat justified given the quality the materials used (the Brigadier is $140).

Too expensive for your tastes? Well, you’re in luck, we’ve got one to give away.

Leave comment below describing your worst pack/travel gear disaster story and I’ll use Random.org to pick a winner.

A couple of weeks ago I offered signed copies of my two books as a holiday gift option; today I want to share a few other gift ideas. Each year publishers and gear companies send me far more books and equipment than I can review here — but a lot of what I get turns out to be quite useful and/or interesting. Here are some examples of recently released travel-themed items that I’ve enjoyed over the course of 2010:

Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory, by Peter Hessler.
2010 was a big year for books about international road and surface travel — and Hessler’s book about China’s emerging car culture was the best of them (Carl Hoffman’s The Lunatic Express runs a strong second). A longtime China correspondent for the New Yorker, Hessler has great reporting skills, an engaging and good-humored voice, and a keen eye for Chinese culture.

Tonoharu, by Lars Martinson.
As a fan of both expatriate memoirs and graphic novels (I recommended Guy Delisle’s graphic memoir Burma Chronicles in a Guardian roundup a couple of years ago), I enjoyed Martinson’s meticulously illustrated Tonoharu series, the second volume of which came out this year (part one was published in 2008). Tonoharu is a fictionalized look at the life of an American teacher-expat in Japan, and so many details of this story reminded me of my own experiences teaching in Korea in the late 1990s. Graphic novels are good at capturing the nuances of straightforward events — and in particular Martinson employs silences and lack of English dialogue to communicate the sense of isolation that comes with one’s first few weeks of working in an unfamiliar land.

Vida, by Patricia Engel.
Patty is a former student at my Paris writing workshop, and she certainly did us proud with this collection of interconnected short stories about a girl who is the daughter of Colombian immigrants. As critics have noted, Engel’s prose is spare, razor-sharp, and disarmingly funny — and Vida continues to land glowing reviews and year-end top-10 mentions from the likes of the New York Times.

Lonely Planet’s A Moveable Feast: Life-Changing Food Adventures Around the World, edited by Don George.
I’m not usually a fan of food-travel books, but this essay collection offers up a great menu of culinary adventures from places like Mongolia, Mexico, and Morocco. Contributors include Anthony Bourdain, Tim Cahill, Pico Iyer, Andrew Zimmern, Simon Winchester, Jan Morris, Elisabeth Eaves, David Downie, Jim Benning, Lawrence Millman, Amanda Jones, Laura Frasier, Larry Habegger, and Jeff Greenwald.

Chronicles of Old New York: Exploring Manhattan’s Landmark Neighborhoods, by James Roman.
I took my parents to New York this spring, and this book, which contains 25 intriguing tales from the history of the city, really captured my father’s imagination and brought the city to life for him (which in turn allowed me to see sides of the city I’d missed in all my previous visits). The book also features self-guided walking tours of nine historical NYC neighborhoods.

Travel shoes: Kuru Travel Shoes.
I’m such a fan of Blundstone boots that I can’t imagine vagabonding long-term in much else — but if boots aren’t your style, Kuru makes a sturdy and versatile travel shoe that performs well and looks good. I’ve mainly been wearing mine at home or on short trips to places like New York, and they’ve proven comfortable regardless of whether I’m doing chores on the prairie or pounding the pavement in the big city.

Travel shorts: Molecule Cargo Shorts.
I don’t own many pairs of shorts anymore, since I tend not to wear them much on the road (I find a well-designed pair of pants to be more versatile — even in hot weather — and a pair of surfing-style board-shorts can do double-duty in your pack). That said, I love the look and design of these cargo shorts. If you’re more of a shorts/sandals traveler than a pants/boots traveler, these are a great option (the biggest drawback being that they can be bulky if you’re packing them instead of wearing them).

Travel pants: ScotteVest Flex Cargo Pants.
ScotteVest outfitted my baggage-free round-the-world journey earlier this year. I didn’t bring the Flex Cargo pants on that journey, but I have a pair I wear at home and on shorter journeys. SeV products are known for pockets, but I like the Flex Cargo pants less for carrying capacity than comfort: It’s like you’re wearing sweats, only the advantage is that you’re not wearing sweats.

Travel bag: GoLite TraveLite convertible bag.
Scott Gilbertson reviewed this bag for us earlier this year, and hit on all its pluses and minuses for vagabonding travel. I don’t know if I’d use it overseas for the long-term, but it’s great for one-bag journeys in the U.S. — and in fact I’d reckon you’re carrying too much if you can’t fit everything into its space-maximizing, overhead-bin-sized dimensions.