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.

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Read the Mike Huber New Zealand posts here:

• • Packing for New Zealand
  • Auckland
  • Tongariro Crossing
  • New Zealand Part 1
  • New Zealand Part 2
  • New Zealand Part 3
  • New Zealand Part 4
  • New Zealand Part 5

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