Pack Like You Green It in 2012
ECOVORE: http://www.theurbn.com/category/feature/ecovore-feature/
Last edition from Ecovore: Skating on the Eiffel Tower
Better to crack helmet than head. By Robin Tierney
To ring in the new year, here are some lessons learned for Ecovore-friendly things to pack:
Bicycle helmet. See this picture? Better to crack helmet than head. Bring your own helmet and you’ll know it fits, it’s clean and it will do its job. Being lightweight, it’s easy to carry on and around, and for a sporty look you can wear it on board flights.
Clip on lights. These are a must when pedaling after dark. And not a bad idea for pedestrian protection too.
Backpack. Easier and more versatile for the active globetrotter, and typically easier to stow than those roll-aboards.
Eating utensils. To avoid the wasteful practice of picking up disposable forks, spoons, knives and chopsticks with my take-out and leftovers, I bring my own. Warning: for some overseas flights, airport security agents will take away forks and knives. So I take only non-metal knives and, for places frowning upon metal tines, I’ll substitute for that as well.
Source: thegreenpages on flickr.com
Reusable bags. Easy and light additions that will come in handy…and avoid the wasteful consumption of paper and plastic bags as you munch and shop during your travels.
Reusable food storage containers. Another eco thing to do, plus they can save you from having to clean up leaks from take-out containers. I stash one in the outermost back pocket of my backpack. By the way, it helped cushion a blow when a car driven by a distracted motorist thrust me onto the pavement.
Water bottle. I carry a thermos since it works for hot and cold beverages. But there are some trick collapsible bottles, such as the Platypus Platy.
Moist towelettes. One of the only disposable things I love. Handy for cleaning hands, face, body (in a pinch), wounds, etc.
Quick-dry clothing. Definitely good investments. Lighter-weight clothing adds less volume and weight to your bag while also being easier to clean and quicker to dry. I hang mine near the room’s air vents. Another benefit: the fewer dirty clothes to carry, the better for your personal environment. Tip: hotel shampoo and soaps work for washing.
Don’t swipe hotel toiletries.Those are resources. However, I do take the soaps and bottled items I’ve begun using so I can use them up on subsequent stops. You can get several uses out of a single bottle or bar.
Source: cote on flickr.com
Clean multi-functional footwear. You can enter fancier spots in athletic shoes without shame if they’ll clean. Often, I pack only a terrain-appropriate pair of athletic shoes and clean, decent-looking flip-flops. Another tip: simple, attractive, clean jackets and shirts keep others’ visual focus on your upper body.
Multi-functional gloves. My bike gloves have built-in flashing lights. Even if I’m not bicycling, tough gloves help me when climbing or crossing rocky terrain.
Scarf. Useful for keeping breezes from crossing your neckline and can be adapted for other uses. Plus a well-chosen scarf can double or triple for heavier/higher-volume articles of clothing.
Rubber bands. Solid ones. Good for keeping trouser legs in place, keeping cool air from passing up loose jacket cuffs, securing plastic bags around your socks or shoes in rainy weather. Really long strong rubber bands can be manipulated to hold bike maps on handlebars and to keep bike lights affixed.
Phone calling cards. A good back-up plan…or substitute…for cell phones.
Something to read. A magazine or other lightweight reading material can be the best way to prevent boredom and shake off impatience no matter where you go.
Source: katerha on flickr.com
Codes in writing. Just in case you can’t access your digital files, have flight, hotel and other codes and contact info written on a slip of paper, and keep that in a safe, easy-access place.
Acu-pressure wrist bands. Cheap, healthy, reusable, eco and effective alternative to medications for preventing air- and sea-sickness. These include Sea Bands. Yes, they work. Plus they can be used to keep loose wrist cuffs in place. Yeah, I dislike breezes surging up my sleeves. Same goes for the head; pack a stocking cap.
Foam ear plugs and sleep mask. Lightweight cheap investments that make it easier to sleep away from home and relax in vehicles (except when you’re the driver).
Veg guides. For maintaining health, fitness, endurance and low-on-the-food-chain eco-conscious eating habits, I use online guides to find good vegan-friendly restaurants. I like Happy Cow dot net and Veg Guide. Also, some cities have veg groups that post their own dining guides.
Earth-friendly shopping guides. Some healthful and eco-conscious favorites include Go Cruelty Free, Leaping Bunny and Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.
Dry bag. There are custom dry boxes for cameras and phone worth the money. But also inexpensive vinyl resealable sleeves that also work to protect gadgets from rain and water.
May your travels be safe and eco-aware in 2012!
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