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What to Pack For a Year Abroad: 2016 Update

10/26/2016

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For a self-proclaimed minimalist, I have a whole lot of crap. So as I get ready to fly out to southeast Asia for another year abroad, I wanted to give you an update what exactly I’m packing. This isn’t just about having plenty of clothes – having the right gear can literally make or break your stay abroad, keeping you comfortable, prepared, and, in some cases, safe.
 
I’ve posted blogs in the past with a rundown of what I brought. So assume I have the same stuff (and more), either packed and ready to go on the plane with me or in a big bag left with friends in the Philippines. This blog will cover just the additions, changes, and notable items I’m including in my trip this year.
 
If you’re packing for a trip abroad, whether one week or one year, I hope this helps – and feel free to contact me for advice any time. 

​-Norm  :-)

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What I put it all in:

How do I carry all this stuff around? This year, I upgraded to the LL Bean White Mountain backpack. Last year, I went cheap and bought a backpack online that was made in China. It only cost $65 or so but you get what you pay for, so within months the zippers were breaking and the seams started to rip.

But this LL Bean bag holds a huge amount of things (70 liter capacity), is super comfortable to carry around, and incredibly durable. There are endless side pockets and storage spaces and you can even pull off the backpack lid to use as a fanny pack for day hikes.

This Cadillac of hiking bags only cost me $199 and I’ll probably have it to use for decades of travel.

You can check out this White Mountain pack or all of LL Bean's cool stuff here. 


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    Norm Schriever

    Norm Schriever is a best-selling author, expat, cultural mad scientist, and enemy of the comfort zone. He travels the globe, telling the stories of the people he finds, and hopes to make the world a little bit better place with his words.   

    Norm is a professional blogger, digital marketer for smart brands around the world,  and writes for the Huffington Post, Hotels.com, and others.

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