Archive for category Planning
Backpacks
Chuck and I will be carrying everything on our backs for the time we’re in Europe. This necessitates a durable, comfortable backpack that will be a house on our backs for our month long trip.
We poked our heads around the internet, forums, relatives and friends, and outdoor shops in search of recommendations. I heard from several people that Osprey Packs is a reputable company with good gear. Only one store in the Columbus area, Outdoor Source, is an Osprey dealer. After trying on a good few packs there as well as at Sabos Camping and Clintonville Outfitters, I ended up going with the Osprey Aether 70.
Osprey Aether 70 Pack which Kyle will use. Look at that wonderful, vibrant color!
I really like this pack! I got it in orange. The hip belt was custom heat-molded to my waist at the store. It helps the break-in process and makes it more comfortable. The material the pack is made of feels durable and seems to be high quality. The back liner is fantastic! It’s called AirScape and is like nothing I’ve felt ever before! It’s very breathable, very comfortable and just fun to feel. The 10% discount Outdoor Source gives to students is also convenient. I’ve purchased other gear from them, some of which I may mention at a later point.
Charles decided to get his pack at Sabos. They offer a 15% discount for paying with cash. I don’t feel they carry gear with as high a quality as Clintonville, but they do have a pretty good selection. I think they were the only store here in Columbus with the ‘09 models for Deuter. And on that note, Chuck got the Deuter Aircontact 65+10.
Deuter Aircontact 65+10 Pack which Charles will use!
I cannot comment much on the pack, since I do not own it. I did try it on, and it was decently comfortable. I like the cushioning on the Aether better, which was part of the reason I chose the pack I did. Charles is more than welcome to edit this or write a new post on what he thinks of his pack. (HINT HINT!)
We decided to go with the 70L range based on the duration of our trip. It should be enough space for us to take clothing and other essentials along with some luxury items like books, playing cards and some electronics. I also plan on using mine on future trips. They do make larger packs, but those are for either more extended trips or mountaineering. The packs both offer bottom access, which is convenient. I think Chuck’s even has front zippers. The top of my pack can be converted to a day pack, which may come in handy. Charles’ has a built in rain cover, which is pretty sweet. While packing here, we should probably leave some space for any souvenirs we might pick up.
Along with my pack, I got a pack converter. It’s basically a duffel bag which my pack will fit in for the air travel. Otherwise, the straps of the pack would get caught and the pack would be shredded. It’ll hold everything during the transit to and from Europe and folds into a pretty small bundle. It can also double as a rain cover for my pack, which means it’s double useful. It wasn’t cheap but should prove its worth.
We also bought locks which fit over our packs. They’re made of a wire mesh and have a metal wire which can be wrapped around something else and locked. It should discourage vandals and hopefully completely prevent theft of the packs themselves. If they don’t I will be very disappointed. And even though the contraptions fit over the entire pack, they fold down to a pretty small size. Those crazy engineers can work wonders!
I do believe that details the equipment we have thus far for our packs! Have you backpacked before? If so, what sort of pack do you have or did you use? What was your experience with them? Any recommendations for two neophytes? We’ll be sure to update on our experiences as we have them!
Round Trip Flight
Charles and I have been using STA Travel to help plan some of our trip. They helped us plan the general route we’d take through Europe, the cities and how long to stay in each place. We ended up booking our flight to and from Europe through them.
We’ll be flying Delta Airlines and leave from Columbus, Ohio on June 22. We fly in to Dublin, Ireland. We’ll fly back exactly one month later on July 22, leaving from London and coming back to Columbus.
We spent a lot of time looking at flights in to and out of a bunch of big cities and for some reason the Dublin/London combination on those specific dates was the lowest price we could find. There was nothing cheaper to be had, which works out for us! I think it’s a pretty lucky coincidence that the dates that would work out best for us happened to be the least expensive ticket we could find.
I know it’s been quite a while since our last update, but I should have some more time soon to fill you in on our plans as we solidify them!
So our trip begins on June 22nd with a flight to Dublin, and ends on July 22nd with a flight from London! One month in Europe is going to be one heck of an experience!
Passports
One of the biggest things for traveling abroad is the passport. I’ve been out of the country twice: once to Canada, the other time to the Bahamas. I didn’t have to have a passport for either of those trips. This trip to Europe is a bit different and I definitely need one! They take 4-6 weeks to process and receive, so you’ve definitely got to put in your application a while in advance.
I put in my application on April 13th at the USPS on Riverside Drive because they could take the passport photos on-site. The lady did not tell me when she was taking the picture, so it looks like a freaking mug shot. Oh well, who wants a pleasant photo for official government id? The passports aren’t exactly cheap, but they are valid for 10 years. I’m hoping to get a good bit of use out of mine, so I think of it as a good investment!
I don’t expect any trouble getting my passport since I was recently cleared for a secret security clearance through the company I’ll work for after I get back. It’s just a matter of waiting to get it back! A handy thing is that you can track the passport application online. I recently got an email saying it was now in the system. Should definitely have it in more than enough time for the trip. I believe Chuck put his application in a week or so after I did, so he’ll be good to go as well.
We’ll soon be updating with more info about our travel plans.
The Idea
I will graduate on June 14 this year but I don’t start my full-time job until August. That means I have the entire summer off. I’ve been playing around with ideas lately of things to do. First on my list was backpacking… somewhere. Over Easter weekend, I got to talk to lots of family members and several of them have been to Europe. From there came the idea of backpacking through Europe!
When I got back from visiting with my family, I set up an event on Facebook to see if others would be interested in the trip. I was surprised with the response I got! Most importantly, Charles Hellstrom said he was interested in the trip. A few people will be over there for a study abroad program and others may be over there at the same time I was wanting to go. It should be possible to meet up with some of these people while over there. That would be pretty fun.
This blog will detail the experiences of me, Kyle Tolle and my comrad, Charles Hellstrom as we plan, prepare and execute our journey to Europe. Both Chuck and I will be posting on here, so keep an eye out!