Gear

Although a great deal of what you need for Big Brother Backpacking will be provided after your arrival, there are still a few notable things that need to be dealt with before your flight.

For your convenience, we have separated these into the categories of physical in the case of gear, and mental in the case of personal responsibilities. Please remember that although it may not be immediately obvious to you in the store, the quality of your gear will directly influence your enjoyment of the trip.

There are no requirements for size, weight, strength, or gender. If you personally feel that you have what it takes to do this expedition, then we are willing to help you achieve your goals . Be sure to take into account all of the variables that go in to making this trip a personal success, and there should be no problem. If you are worried that maybe you are not conditioned enough for the trip, and that maybe your pack might be to much for you, please take our guides as examples of how determination and personal fortitude can overcome a lack of physical size. Although neither of our head guides are over 5'8 or 140lbs, neither has yet to give up on any trip, nor meet a pack they couldn't carry. If it does turn out that the weight is too much for you, however, don't fret too much. There will undoubtedly be a little extra space in your guide's pack to help lighten your load.

Although age is not a requirement, we are less likely to accept students for group trips outside of the range of 15~19 years old without having a personal discussion with the parties beforehand to determine eligibility. If certain age groups outside of these categories would like to sign up for personal expeditions, we would be more than happy to discuss the matter over email. Please see our contacts page for more details.

 

Physical

• Pack • Sleeping Bag • Comfortable Shoes • Water Bottle • Headlamp • Multi-tool • Mess Kit •

  • A sturdy and comfortable backpacker's pack (preferably 65+ litres). A good quality pack can be found in many retailers nationwide, but our professional preference is towards Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) gear. So far, we have found all of their gear to be dependable and long lasting, albeit occasionally a bit pricey. A link to the pack Evan, our head tour guide, uses can be found here.
  • A sleeping bag. Although there are many options available, we would prefer it if all travelers under Big Brother Backpacking supervision came equipped with a (0°~5°) stuff sack. Keep in mind that we may be both sleeping on the coast of the Mediterranean as well as in the heights of the Alps. With the right sleeping bag, you can be adequately prepared for both. Although a bit larger than necessary, the sleeping bag Evan will be using can be found here.
  • For clothing we recommend packing extremely sparsely. You will be getting stinky, and your clothes will be getting dirty. Remember that anything you bring will be carried and worn for a month, so think light and durable. On the list we would recommend bringing (1) heavy sweater, such as a thick hoodie, (3) t-shirts, (1) pair of heavy pants, such as jeans, (1) pair of comfortable shorts, (2) pairs of wool socks and (4) pairs of underwear. Also, it should be noted that you will almost certainly not have enough room for a change of shoes. For this reason we find it best to take only the most comfortable shoes we can muster. Evan prefers waterproof sandals, such as Teva's, to regular shoes, as they are more versatile and less prone to weathering.

  • Although not required, there are also a few accessory items that will make your life much easier. These include a sturdy water bottle, headlamp, mess kit and multi-tool. Even if you do not have the opportunity to take advantage of them on this expedition, they are essential parts of a backpacker's gear and will serve you well on into your future travels.

     

    Mental

    • Determination • Perseverance • Freedom •

  • We ask that every member of our group be prepared to deal with the realities of backpacking, both easy and difficult. Many people come to Europe based on an idea they have seen in movies and become disheartened when they realize what it takes to carry their life on their back. Too many travelers come to Europe with the preconception that they will be warmly welcomed and helped wherever they go. Although this may be the case in many instances, it is certainly not true everywhere. If you are the sort of person who cannot handle the idea of arriving in a city without a hotel booking (or without a hotel for that matter), this is not the trip for you. If your desire is to have a simple point and click vacation, there are plenty of itinerary-based tour groups operating in Europe. Big Brother Backpacking offers our students the chance to learn and overcome the challenges associated with real-time decision making, and the unique experience of knowing that every turn and twist in the road was followed through their choosing. We offer our students the capacity to know that at any time in our tours we are able to stop and change direction. We ask that all of our students be fully aware of what is required to not be hindered by weather, reservations or itineraries. If you are capable of carrying your own weight, keeping a positive attitude, and truly respecting the freedom of the road, we are positive that this trip will be one of the single greatest experiences of your life.
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