My New Home

By Mike Huber

Traveling and living mostly off my BMW GS1250 for the past six years has really taught me how to live in a minimalistic way, but travel with enough to be comfortable. It is a rarity that I need anything more than what I have. My organizational skills are honed to the point that I know where everything I own is at all times. Everything has a specific place and keeping items consistent with their location is key to organization. I can get out of my tent at 2:00 a.m. and know not only which pannier any given item is located, but the exact location within that pannier. It’s an art form that I take pride in. So you can imagine if things are flipped upside down and I am pushed into a new packing routine how it would take time to readjust my mindset to a new format.

This is exactly the place I have found myself in now. Beginning January 10^th I am converting from a motorcyclist to a backpacker as I begin a trip to Oceania for an unknown period of time. Auckland, New Zealand will be my starting point and a 50 Litre Osprey Backpack will become my new home. Relearning organizational skills as a backpacker will include a learning curve, albeit a fast one. With a little bit of discipline my organization as a backpacker will become just as honed as my previous life was on the motorcycle.

Here’s my packing list:

- - Sleeping bag
  - Tent
  - Inflatable pillow
  - 2 pairs of pants
  - 3 t-shirts
  - 2 sweat shirts
  - 3 pairs of socks
  - 3 pairs of underwear
  - Swimsuit
  - Winter hat
  - Baseball cap
  - Sunglasses
  - Personal hygiene kit
  - Flip flops
  - Airtags
  - Air mattress
  - SpotGen3 GPS tracker
  - Plastic fork
  - Power adapter for New Zealand and Australia
  - Luci light
  - Headlamp
  - Laptop
  - Medical kit
  - 3 litre water bladder
  - Rain jacket
  - Foldup day backpack
  - Updated US Passport
  - International driver’s license
  - Lambykins

Although this seems minimalistic it will be summer in the southern hemisphere so going light on clothing was an easy decision to make. I am sure if I am missing anything it will be easier to pick it up along the way rather than carry the weight and bulk of unneeded items. Being new to backpacking I am fully open to criticism and suggestions on anything I am missing or have over packed. Let me know your feedback and items that you cannot live without that should be added to this list.

Read the Mike Huber New Zealand posts here: