Jaunted

1. 10” netbook computer – essential to maintaining my website, pictouring.com, while abroad.
2. DSLR camera – the heaviest item in my pack, but it redeems itself by capturing awesome pictures.
3. Insulated mid-layer jacket – my everyday (literally), all-purpose sweater.
4. Ski socks – more wicking = less washing!
5. Waterproof rain-pants – priceless when it really pours; also, doubles as my “laundry day” pants when my everyday pants are in the wash
6. Collared shirt – great for fancy occasions and for blocking your neck from harsh summer sun.
7. Multitool – 4 different kinds of knives, because you never know what you'll run into out there.
8. Flashlight – lighting the way whenever and wherever the sun doesn't (e.g. nights in the Himalayas, the Great Wall of China, black-outs in Kathmandu, etc.)
9. Emergency rations – I once met a Chilean guy who carried a can of beans everywhere he went because a bad hitchhiking experience left him without food for 40 hours. If something similar ever happens again, those beans will prevent him from keeling over, and for me, so will this bag of Haribo.
10. Notepad and pen – a great way to jot down contact information and to ask for directions without having to whip out a fancy smartphone.
11. External hard drive – duplicity is a beautiful thing, especially when your netbook decides to go for a swim in the Nile.
12. Foldable daypack – for those days when 25lbs feels like 50lbs.
13. 1L water bottle – for those long hikes in the woods.
14. Sleeping bag liner – I once rented a sleeping bag in Kathmandu that was infested with bed bugs, and crawling into the bag each night was like dinner-time for them. A liner would have at least made those bugs work for their meal.
15. Scarf and gloves – A scarf can be many things. It can be your towel, your turban, your handkerchief, and also, your scarf
16. Rain jacket – I heard they keep you dry.
17. 2x T-shirts – pack ones that you're okay with destroying.
18. Mosquito net – worth its weight in gold, especially when Dengue Fever and Malaria are abound.
19. Toiletry bag – keeps it all together, even when the world around you seems to be falling apart.
20. Cold/flu medicine – because burning up with a 100+F fever isn't fun, and worse yet when you're stranded in western China and struggling to say “fever medicine” in Chinese.
21. Malaria prophylactics – the stuff is no joke; you could die.
22. Sewing kit – everyday-wear will eventually wear down, and if you can thread a needle and string it through cloth, you can repair just about anything.
23. Backpack lock – Pacsafe makes some pretty cool backpack locks, which offer you peace of mind from would-be thieves when you decide to fall asleep in a train.
24. Wool beanie – keeps your noggin warm.
25. Thermals – keeps your everything else warm.
26. Wool long-sleeve shirt – warmth without the weight.
27. Lightweight pants – great for covering up in temples and for preventing odd tan lines.
28. AC adapter – power to the people, or just you, anywhere in the world.
29. Toilet paper – don't get caught with your pants down without it.

About the Author: Chris is a photographer and consummate travelers who runs Pictouring, a brilliantly executed photolog of the world, as well as a fundraising campaign that advocates the preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is allied with the Global Heritage Fund to "protect sites threatened by neglect, mass tourism and urban sprawl." What's more is that Chris keeps away from over-editing his photos, so all of them—like his collection of Southeast Asia shots—are both unique and original. You can check out his website here, or follow him on Twitter @pictouring.

[Photo: Chris Wang]