Gear
Gear is important for nomads. You want lightweight stuff that is useful and versatile like a swiss army knife.
Clothes
- Wear layers (you only need to wash what's in contact with your skin)
- Quick drying synthetic fabric allow to take less stuff (because it dries overnight).
- Synthetics are not biodegradable. Underwear in particular have shorter lifespan so should be more eco-friendly.
- Merino wool is a good alternative for synthetic garments in terms of smelling, drying and weight.
- I highly recommend wool as it is "self cleaning" and a great insulator and durable. Silk, hemp and linen are also great materials to wear for their durability, weight and insulation/breath-ability factors.
Bags
- any good suggestions?
theres a singled string cacto root tied net, shoulder leatrher strapped multi purposed very light amazing capacity, sold in the market of mexican town san cristobal de las casas .. i wwidely recommend it, ive been using it very rughly as my second skin for 8 years and still would go around another many... easy to fix (if you have rough hemp thread of other rafia string, easier to dry, compact and just awesome !
Tools
- Swiss army knifes rule
- A multitool allows you to fix stuff and be useful to the sedentary society.
- Compass
- Chopsticks and a spoon (universal eating utensils)
- Various lengths of rope
- Headlamp
Maps
- Maps don't run out of battery
- A GPS is a very helpful device
- Taking pictures of Tram maps can be enough.
Hygiene and first aid gear
- Biodegradable soap to wash outside.
- Synthetic fiber towels are small and dry quick. Important when you like to wash before going on the road.
- Toothpaste is not actually needed.
- Toilet paper does everything.
- Sport tape is a more durable replacement for plasters
- deodorant crystals are a year-lasting alternative to deo spray.
- Some people just don't need deodorant.
- soap bars or fluid soap can be used for shampoo, detergent, shaving. (Dr. Bronners liquid castile soap has 18 uses, i brush my teeth with it and its biodegradable)
- a lot of site:nomad nomads carry painkillers (don't use Aspirin™, it makes your blood more fluid), tiger balm and antibiotics
- 30 day night and day contact lenses are a replacement or backup for glasses
- Needle + thread + safety pins.
Electronics
Computers
- wp:Netbooks: Very light and cheap computers.
- Smartphones can do a lot that computers can do but are much more portable.
- The new Nokia:N900 is a good example of these.
Sources of power
- Rechargeable batteries with a charger
- Solar panel for outdoor nomad.
Access
Prepaid SIM cards around the world: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/ Some of them with GPRS or 3G internet.
Food
Super foods
Super foods are great; light weight, compact and carry a lot of essential vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy in even the most trying of environments
- Spirulina
- Maca
- Wheatgrass
- Goji and Acai berries
- Hemp seeds or powder
- Coco beans
Bread
- Homemade sourdough bread can be packed full of nuts and seeds and often can go for days without getting stale. Also, a sourdough starter is a nice gift for you new hosts.
Sleeping
- tent
- Hammock
- Good for urban camping because you can camp up in the trees, where people don't naturally look.
- Lighter than tent
- No need for insulating mattress
- Bad in rainy weather
- There are some waterproof ones.
- No problem with dangerous fauna.
- Tarp
- Minimalist and very light solution.
- Magic bed
- Please Realitygaps edit.
Money
- the German DKB Bank has a free plan with a Visa card with which you can withdraw money for free worldwide
- There are various banks in the USA that dot he same provided you remain active on the account within certain time parameters.
Other sites with gear and tips
- Live nomadic by Tynan, Life Nomadic Gear
- The Intentional communities site links to hundreds of similar sites