We tried to keep our packs super light this trip (about 10 lbs in half-full 40L packs). This allowed us to bring everything we had to the Museum of the Revolution and check it in the coat check, avoid paying carry on or checked baggage fees, stick it in our laps in a crowded colectivo taxi, comfortably walk door-to-door looking for housing, and walk a few miles without noticing the weight.

Here’s a picture of our non-clothing essentials. 

This was the first trip that we brought a SteriPen and it was a cross between a magic wand and a miracle. I would never go anywhere in the developing world without it, ever again. (We promise, we are not sponsored by SteriPen, we were not paid to say good things about it, we have never been in touch with the company, and we did not receive the product for free. It’s just that good.) Here are a few favorites:

[amazon_link asins=’B00V7P1R86,B016XG39YI,B00NUCYV82,B00194BOJW’ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’80liters-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’9338b5c4-dd57-11e7-b55a-81a28cefc1b6′]

I STILL overpacked in terms of clothing:

-1 arcteryx quick dry tee (pro beta)
-1 REI tee (wore only a few times)
-1 tank (didn’t really need)
-1 dress (never wore)
-1 REI button down (pro beta)
-1 thermoball (only wore on airplane)
-1 pair zip off prana pants (pro beta)
-1 sports bra
-2 pairs light wool socks
-2 pairs Patagonia underwear (pro beta)
-1 rain jacket
-1 pajama pants (primarily for sentimental reasons)
-1 swimsuit
-Scarpa crux approach shoes
-cheap flip flops
-climbing shoes (didn’t use)

I was wearing about half of this at any given time so there wasn’t much left in my pack. We did laundry in the sink with camp suds and a universal sink plug. It was super nice to be able to separate the bottom of the pants and wash them separately because they tended to get much muddier than everything else.

Next time I’ll bring string to use as a clothes line.