Tips for Traveling Pilot-Style

Time to pack for Tunisia.

Packing so often to distant lands is like second nature to me but it wasn't always that way. It took dozens of hours of squeezing, cramming and wedging to get it right. Even now I pick up lessons how to pack more efficiently every time I travel.

Lets begin with the luggage. I use a gray Eagle Creek Thrive Travel Pack to keep my hands free so I can carry my tripod in one hand and open doors with the other.

At the bottom of the Thrive Pack I stuff my clothes. I keep it simple. For an eight day trip I recommend no more than four pants and four tops. I never wear bluejeans because washing and drying pants is much faster and if you're entering holy places or fancy restaurants, Levis are never appropriate.

No jewelry, no sunglasses, no pajamas, no robes, no belts, no dresses, no skirts, no extra shoes. Wear only one pair of comfortable fashionable slip-on shoes like Merrills. Shoelaces just slow you down when going through metal detectors so leave your sneakers at home.

Next up, toiletries. I keep it super minimal starting with my favorite toothbrush and one trial size tube of toothpaste. I think small-size generic toothbrushes are a waste of money. My teeth never feel clean and the extra space saved isn't worth plaque.

Girls, don't bother with bringing shampoo, a good expensive conditioner is all you need. Every hotel, hostel and B&B offer up free shampoo but few ever carry conditioner. If not, use body soap on your hair and then a large dollop of conditioner. Don't fret, it's only 8 days.

Same goes for toting makeup. Forget about eye, lip, nail, hairspray, gel, mouthwash, even deodorant. All you need is a SPF-based pressed powder compact with a mirror along with Chapstick and sunscreen and you're good to go. The sunscreen alone acts as a lotion and moisturizer. Before you leave, fine-tune those toe and finger nails so short you won't need to bring a clipper.

Lastly, if you're like me, you wear glasses and contact lenses. Toss the trial size saline solution, backup lenses, glasses, compact, Chapstick, meds if you take them, small hair brush, toothbrush and toothpaste all in one large Ziplock bag.

Time for the heavy essentials that no bonafide videographer can leave home without: a Wi-Fi Mac laptop with power cable, cell phone and charger, Nikkon 35mm camera and charger, Iomega 500gig portable hard drive, my Sony EX3 video camera with batteries and charger, a backup Ethernet cable, one USB and one 400 mbps firewire cable, one control strip, one wireless lav mic, 2 double A batteries, converters and adapters.

My backpack is now officially heavy. I bound everything tightly around my clothes except for the laptop, still and video camera.

Lastly, my business cards, money, frequent flyer cards, credit card, tickets, passport and one felt-tip pen all get placed inside my favorite REI Travel Neck Wallet. No ballpoint pens! Felt tips write upside down and never explode. Photocopies of my travel documents are backed up on the laptop and portable hard drive should I lose them.

The laptop,cameras and Ziplock bag of toiletries get placed inside a Red Cross day bag that gets bungied to the side the Eagle Creek Thrive Backpack. No, I don't work for Red Cross but the logo is universal and that's always helpful when you don't speak a foreign language.

Okay. I'm ready! I'll hit the Amtrack from Rensselaer to Penn Station and then catch the A, E or LIRR for JFK. Oh wait - I need an empty plastic Poland Springs water bottle so I can refill it at water fountains anytime. Unless you're traveling to a third world country without proper sanitation, don't buy water, that's a waste too. Drink from the sinks.

Once I get to JFK, I check the Thrive Travel Pack and tripod but carry aboard the Red Cross day bag. I no longer look like a pack mule.

I hope I didn't forget anything...