Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help, i am leaving for bangcok in two monthes and my next flight is two monthes after that in bali, so I have that long to travel down through malaysia and indonesia. i guess im looking for between a 60l - 70l pack, with a budget of up to £200. it will be rainy season aswell so waterproofing comes ino it. and im quite liking the look of daypack attachments. any advice would be truely apriciated, also if anyone can tell me any things they did out there that would be worth checking out. Cheers

Zak

If I was in SE Asia for a couple of months I could easily get away with a 30l pack.  And if I really wanted to, I could get-by on a day pack.  Why do you think you'll need 70l of stuff?

And waterproofs are pretty pointless in the heat & humidity you'll encounter.  Either get wet (you won't get cold, unless you're at the top of Mt Kinabalu) or buy an umbrella when you get there.

Questions on long distance destinations often get little response on this web site.  You might do better on Lonely Planet's Thorntree message board.

S'funny! That's where I usually direct them too!I'd suggest a good compromise of round about a 60/65 litres sack though! Plenty of good ones about in the sales online right now too! Check the equipment sale at Field and Trek for starters! http://www.fieldandtrek.com/Category-Rucksacks-EQUIRUCK.htm

Look here maybe too. http://www.theoutdoorshop.com/prodpage.asp?type=sub&sub=15008

Most good rucksacks are pretty water repellent on their outers up to a point, so not much in the way of ground damp should get through by putting them on the ground for a while. In tropical torrential rains though obviously, even the better totally waterproofed outers sacks might get some seepage to the kit within. Better to get used to religiously bagging everything within in plastic bags then, to be on the safe side anyways. Rucksac liners are useful bits of kit too, as indeed are drybags with sealable tops, for travel in the tropics.

Ponchos are a good alternative to separate waterproof tops and bottoms here for a traveller, as the garment can too double up as well into an improvised basha type jungle shelter. All that is needed extra is a good bit of paracord or some bungees to tie it into position. Some good helpful jungle travellers kit list tips on the Nomad travel stores website here.  http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/kitlist/jungle-kit-list

I've spent a few months in SE Asia without getting everything soaked, but it would worth having a dry bag and a few plastic bags.

If you do the standard backpacker circuit type stuff, I doubt you'll need the things on the nomad list.  They seem more aimed at full-blown expeditions, rather than a day or two in the jungle at Taman Negara or somewhere like that.

Id take the clothes im standing in and have my gear sent to new-Zealand.Ive done 3 long trips in that area,first time took way to much,second time onwards got it about right.Take next to nowt and buy as you go along.

Only time youre likely to need a jumper is for the air-con on the coaches.

Somethink along the lines for my last trip would be

1) 1 pants 1 swimming cossie.1 easy wash top 1 trousers (zip offs) 1 socks (optional)1 lightweight warm layer.1 umbrella.Snorkelling gear.

Only times I was cold were in the mtns of Flores (Buy locally) on the highest mtn in Thailand (cant remember the name offhand) and on the night time air con coaches.

Dont be like 99% of backpackers travelling with half a tonne of stuff they,ll never need.Go light.

Excellent destinations on the way down are the Perenthian islands,tioman Island  Koi samui ( 20 years ago) and before the tsunami phi phi,Krabi area and phan nga bay.Havn,t been since the tsunami.

I spent 7 days trekking in N Thailand booked locally at a guest house,cheap as chips but on some of these treks leeches were a pain,make sure you dont go to near the front of youre walking party.We always seemed to end up staying in the local opium dens which are preatty colourful places.

Second trip I done was in the western penns rainy season,if youre thinking goretex forget it just enjoy the slight cooling effect of the downpours on youre skin.

While on the subject of coaches in Thailand dont book the crappy backpacker ones that come out of the ko san road,not a thai in sight,full of backpackers with shit food and cramped as hell but waddle down to the central thai state bus station to go on there luxourious coaches with loads of room,fantastic food and you will probably be the only non- thai on the coach.Great fun.

Have a great time,its a magical place to travel and very easy even for a beginner.

Cheers Julian, will keep all that in mind. i cannot wait to get out there. would like to ask though what sort of bag you took with all of that in mind? sounds like you only really need a 30l bag at most. could you tell me any brands which offer the best value and comfort? cheers

Zak

My bags are nearly 20 years old (karrimors) and im not at all up to date on the latest models im afraid but first time I took a 65 liters as I was cycling on subsequent back packing trips 35 liters.