Since I was young, I have loved shopping lists. Grocery lists, back-to-school supply lists, and the like. Also, since a young age, I have been (more than a little bit) interested in getting a good price. Some people call this being Mennonite (or Jewish), frugal, cheap, or neurotic. On a regular basis I do my grocery shopping at 5 different Bay Area stores. I typically refuse to buy something at store A if I know I can get it, and a few other things at store B for a better price. And sometimes I have particular lists, so stores C, D, and E inevitably come into play.
When I was living at 402, my roommate Pablo was curious when I went grocery shopping and came home with bags from 4 different stores. This was not just a result of me taking a smorgasbord of recycled bags from home (although, I do try and always use recycled bags), I was actually shopping at 4 different stores. I can't help it, really, I can't.
So the same holds true when I shop for clothes. In the past few years, it's been very rare that I pay full price for clothing. Usually I shop at pre-owned clothing stores - Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads, and various thrift stores. Or I bargain hunt online - Amazon, Ebay, and even Craigslist.
Last year (2012) one of my New Year Resolutions was to give up shopping for clothes. It wasn't a vice for me, I was never a shopping addict, and I didn't spend $100s a month on clothes. I was after all, sticking to the previously mentioned habits. However, I started to think is was ridiculous, how many clothes people actually buy, not because the old ones don't fit, or because they are ruined, but just because you can. Throwing out perfectly good clothes, glossing over the same section in your closet that you never really actually wear but hold on to because you haven't ever worn them but one day you might, and buying new clothes as a form of retail therapy became things I decided to give up. There were a few exceptions - gifts, clothing bought with gift cards, and 2 T-shirts which I called "uniforms" which was sort of a loop hole - but overall, I stuck to it, and for a year, I didn't really buy any more clothes.
Luckily, this year is different! New year and new resolutions!! Because we are planning on getting rid of basically, all the the stuff that we own so we can live out of backpacks, the shopping as a whole is being kept to a minimum. We do though, need to acquire a fairly specific collection of clothing that we will wash and wear, with little variation, for the next 2 years. So, in small bits, each month we are doing some shopping to grow our collection. I forgot how fun and exciting shopping is!! Especially when you are shopping for something as exciting as a trip around the world.
Our Rough Guide to traveling around the world suggests bringing 1 outfit. That's right, ONE. Basically you are in that single set of clothes or you are naked. How exactly do you deliver that one set of clothes to someone to launder wearing your birthday suit? Seems inappropriate in most cultures I've ever heard of. So while we are trying to pack minimally, Brandt says, "If I can carry it, I can bring it," and tank tops are small, so I'm going to bring 5 :)
Our collection will soon be complete! Some items we already own, but we have purchased: a 65L pack, a day-to-day backpack, 3 pairs of hiking/day wear pants, a belt, a skirt, many tank tops, 2 fleece jackets, one pair capri yoga pants, one pair yoga shorts, 3 button-up hiking/dress shirts, 2 rain jackets, an international outlet converter, a deck of cards, dice, 2 travel journals, a few long and short sleeve T-shirts, and merino wool underwear. Say goodbye to cotton - everything is polyester, nylon, merino wool, or some other combination of sweat/smell/wet-resistant and quick-drying type of fabric.
True to my shopping beliefs, absolutely nothing has been purchased at full price!! Brandt has really gotten the hang of this too, and I couldn't be more proud. If you have more time than money, comparing prices, using a discount, and working your "connections" (i.e. friends at Patagonia, etc.), really can pay off. Here are some websites not to be missed:
Amazon.com
Backcountry.com
GearTrade.com (becoming Amanda's favorite. Always free shipping)
EBay.com
BobWards.com
And here is our collection:
Have you backpacked?? Please let us know what things you really did need and use, and other things that you should have left at home, were useless, or just took up space. We strive to become packing backpack experts!
