{"id":2422,"date":"2013-01-21T19:28:45","date_gmt":"2013-01-21T18:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/?p=2422"},"modified":"2022-02-14T10:32:47","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T09:32:47","slug":"what-there-is-on-my-backpack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/what-there-is-on-my-backpack\/","title":{"rendered":"What there is on my backpack when I travel around Asia?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"whatMy luggage during my three weeks in Xinjang.<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n

One of the questions that I receive from the readers that are coming to China is:<\/p>\n

“What the hell should I put on my backpack?”<\/p>\n

My answer usually is:<\/p>\n

“Unless you are planning to climb the Everest, the same things that you would bring to any other place. Just remember that the Chinese winter is cold, so bring a couple of warm clothes.”<\/p>\n

Today I want to share what I bring when I travel around China or South East Asia and how I organize my stuff.<\/strong><\/p>\n

p.s. This is also what I would bring to America, Africa or Oceania. <\/p>\n

How do I travel?<\/h2>\n

I always travel with a 70 liters Ferrino backpack ( the grand-parent of this one<\/a>) that I bought in 2000 (yes, it’s indestructible!) and a smaller backpack North Face<\/a> that I bought in 2011. <\/p>\n

In the sequel I will call <\/strong> the North Face “frontpack” (maybe a neologism?) for distinguishing the two of them. <\/p>\n

Why frontpack? Because I usually carry it on my front side while I wear the backpack on my shoulders (see photo below).<\/p>\n

My frontpack contains electronics (laptop, camera, lens and so on) and documents. It always travels with me.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I say “always,” I mean it. I bring it to the toilet and, when I sleep, I use it as a pillow (unless I’m in a private room).<\/p>\n

The backpack contains clothes, toiletries and random stuff (such a tripod that I often bring and never use).<\/p>\n

I could maybe buy a bigger backpack (100 liters) and avoid to carry two items all the time. However I like this set up (backpack + frontback) for a simple reason:<\/p>\n

Every time I need to leave my backpack (as when I take a plane or a bus) I don’t have to worry for my stuff (basically laptop and camera) or lose time for taking off a smaller bag from my huge backpack. <\/p>\n

I just put the backpack – which only contains cheap stuff as underwear or the tripod – on the trunk and keep my frontpack – which carries all the important things – with me. <\/p>\n

\"backpackSee? I can take photos while carrying ALL my stuff<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n

Backpack versus suitcase<\/h2>\n

If you are just taking a plane and then staying at the same hotel for your whole vacation, I don’t see any difference. I may even argue that a suitcase is better as it doesn’t crumple your clothes. <\/p>\n

Also, maybe you are forced to bring a suitcase because you have some physical problems.<\/p>\n

In all the other cases, the advantages of a backpack are obvious.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Look at the photo above. I can carry my whole luggage for kilometers in whatever ground I want (try to bring a suitcase up to a mountain). Also, I keep my hands free so that I can take photos or eat the fruit that I find on the road without changing set up.<\/p>\n

There are people that hate backpacks and prefer travel with a suitcase because “backpacks are too heavy.”<\/p>\n

I know only three reasons for which your backpack is too heavy: <\/p>\n