What we took, What we loved,What we should have skipped
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Luggage
Checked luggage was a rolling soft canvas bag. Mine was an old toolbag from Ryobi Tools- very sturdy. Fancy bags look like you have something worth stealing. Ugly bags do not.
This bag did not last. Had to buy a Salomon bag in Ushuaia, which is very solidly made!
Two sturdy backpacks- as large as you need, we used ours for transport of stuff for carryon (cameras and basics) on the plane and then turned them into water and excess clothing storage for hiking.
Compression sacks. You can buy nicer quality ones but we got these in his & her colors. Labeled the outside with tape so we knew what was in each one.– These worked just fine. Would buy again.
Erik- Clothing
Marmot Precip Eco Jacket- worked great
LL Bean Wool Jacket– I loved this jacket, plenty warm and certainly stood out in a sea of puffy jackets. Doesn’t pack small. though
Meriwool Base Layer Shirt – great shirt, would buy again
Meriwool Base Layer Leggings– also great, would buy again
Darn Tough Wool Socks- better than the Danish Endurance, but pricier
Danish Endurance Wool Blend Socks– good wool socks. I’d buy again
Marmot Arch Hiking Pants– great pants, but pocket is a little small
Columbia Convertible Hiking Pants– Good pants, wold buy again
Rain Kilt- easier to put on and remove than rain pants. Horrible- cheap and got torn in the brush.
Various T shirts/Underclothes. I packed for 10 days without washing.
2 wool scarves, 2 pairs lined gloves
1 Pair semi dress pants & shirt- I had two nicer shirts, but left the pants at home. Good on the cruise.
Camera & Electronics
Sony A7RIII with Sony 24-105G Lens
Sony A7RIV with Sigma 11-24 Art Lens
International Multi Plug USB/ USBC Adaptor– never worked once I left the US. Maybe just mine though.
Various cables and chargers to charge phones, ipads, camera batteries
Cheap Gimbal Selfie Stick/Tripod– cheap, unreliable. Got lost. Didn’t miss it. Replaced it with a DJI Osmo Smartphone Gimbal
Joint Items
First Aid Kit- at least all of your prescriptions, basic pain relief, bandages, antihistamines
Toiletries- enough at least to get you going, you may decide to buy what you need locally. But you should pack necessities just in case.
KT Athletic Tape, for hurt knees and ankles- didn’t need it, but didn’t regret taking it either
Hiking Sticks– not required but Erik needs them- very handy- even Melinda used them in the wind!
Zip Lock bags just come in handy
Leatherman Tool (checked luggage only)- always useful when you need them. A cheap one might suffice.
Water Bladder- you can buy a whole water system like Camelback, or you can just buy a bladder. We chose to just carry our bladders in the backpacks we were traveling with.
Headlamps- you can buy them cheap but I’d spend a bit more on quality ones
Sturdy daypack backpacks