Everyone brings something truly useless on their first long trip. For me it was a water filter. Great idea in theory, avoid plastic bottles, save the planet etc, etc. Then reality set in and the water filter stayed at the bottom of my bag for months until I finally sent it home with a friend.

There are a million guides and lists of stuff you ought to bring with you in your travels, but …

Everyone needs to pack, no matter where you’re going.  And if you’re anything like me, you use lots of scraps of paper, or maybe one page of your journal, criss-crossed with scribblings, and then you forget something anyway.  On my last trip out of the country, I forgot earplugs; “No big deal,” I thought.  “I can sleep through loud tribal drumming, people shouting, and street …

The Lonely Planet blog has an interesting post musing on whether or not the backpack is the best luggage for, well, backpacking.

Anyone who’s done an extended trip with a backpack has undoubtedly gazed with envy at those rolling their luggage along without a care in the world and probably wondered — why do I have all this weight on my back again?

It’s a valid question and there …

Following on to yesterday’s post, Boston Globe travel writer Tom Haines also recently wrote a story about packing for the journey , and he points to a number of small, essential items to pack for good times:

Flashlight, for finding the lamp switch or, when there isn’t one, the toilet.

Toilet paper, for when you get there.

Baby wipes/sanitizer, for a quick hand wash before lunch …

Packing light. Photo: Amina Elahi / Flickr

Business travelers, also known as “road warriors,” are some of the most experienced trip hackers around. Although here at Vagabonding we espouse slower wandering, these hard-core types have streamlined the process to a science. Their advice appeared in this New York Times article: How the tough get going: Silicon Valley travel tips. …

… problem of having a much reduced trunk space because of the gas tank’s size. Another reason why packing light is a must!! But realistically, factor that as long as you may easily borrow an amplifier and a drum set, you will have to travel with your own guitars: hard cases cannot be bent to fit a small car’s trunk space… and most extremely, you will not be able to deepen that new acquaintance you made at the show on the backseat of a little car full of equipment…

Based on my own …

… (unless of course you opt to go minimalist and skip the bag altogether ). If you’re good at packing light, but want some extra protection for your laptop and other electronic gizmos, Keen’s Airport Way backpack makes a great choice.

The bag is slightly larger than your average school backpack and features a well padded, TSA-compliant laptop compartment that will hold anything from a netbook or iPad to a 17-inch notebook. There’s also room for a power brick and any other …

The idea of packing light is nothing new. Henry David Thoreau famously explored simple living. Rick Steves advocates one 20-pound bag. Many airlines now penalize travelers with even one checked bag by imposing a baggage fee. And in this BootsnAll interview, Rolf suggests that a small pack keeps the traveler from being tempted to cram unnecessary stuff in there.

Every time I pack for a trip, even …

… for travel (vacations v. sabbaticals v. quitting)

51:10 – 52:50 : Q&A – What to pack, packing light

52:50 – 54:40 : Q&A – Staying motivated to travel; not getting jaded

54:40 – 56:20 : Q&A – Dealing with the prospect of running out of money

56:20 – 56:35 : Closing remarks and wrap-up

Feel free fast-forward to the topic that interests you most. For more information on my book, Vagabonding.net contains reviews, resources, and travel information.

If you’re an independent traveler, packing light is essential — not only to reduce weight, but also to make sure that no clutter gets between you and the experience of your journey. Indeed, less gear means more freedom on the road, and the only downside to this principle is that it can be hard this time of year to shop for indie travelers on your gift list.

Thus, I suggest a few “light travel” gift ideas for independent …