Mostly Packed

Our trip to Costa Rica is only two days away, and I have to say that I'm more organized and prepared for it than I usually am for any other trip I've taken in the last few years.

On the weekend, I gathered the clothes that I needed for our vacation and packed them in my suitcase. I have lightweight t-shirts and underwear that dry extremely quickly, and I'll take my rash guards that I normally wear whilst kayaking. Two pairs of swim trunks. Two pairs of slacks, plus the one that I'll be wearing for the flight, which has lots of zip pockets that come in useful at the airport.

Three pairs of socks, a spare belt, sandals for the beaches, hiking boots for the jungles, and both my expedition hat and baseball cap. Two short-sleeved button shirts and two long-sleeved button-ups. And, of course, I'll be wearing some of these items on the flight.

My clothes take up half of my carry-on bag: the other half is filled with my tripod, 200–500mm lens, controller and spare batteries for my drone, two monopods, sandals, dry bags, and toiletries. That's the heavy half.

I have a small backpack that I use to carry an electronics case, which holds my Insta360 video cameras, microphones, chargers, cables, spare data cards, and more. I also have a raincoat, which doubles as protective padding for my drone.

And that's pretty much it. So why do I say, in the title that I'm mostly packed?

I have a tendency to overpack when it comes to camera gear and electronics. When we went to Peru, last May, for example, I brought so many things that I didn't use. I had a gimble for my smartphone that I barely touched. I had several lav mics that never left my electronics case. I barely even used my drone (DW and the kids protested when I took it out of my bag, and there were many restrictions when DW and I were in the Amazon forest).

I'm bringing my Neo 2 to Costa Rica because I've thoroughly read the regulations and I have fewer restrictions for flying it in the regions where we'll be.

I'm brining two Insta360 cameras: one as my main camera and another as a backup. But I have a third video camera that I'm considering bringing for when I don't want the wide-angle views that the Insta360 X3 and X5 tend to give.

I've been asking myself where and when I'd use this third action camera. When I'm walking and want to record myself talking at the same time? I have my smartphone and a gimble that will do that just as well.

I have a chest harness that I can attach this action camera to, and provide a POV clip to whatever I'm doing when I need to have free hands. But how often would I do that? The camera and harness add more weight to my backpack and take up more space. Plus, if I bring that camera and want to record sound on a windy day, I'd have to pack a separate lav mic, a receiver, and charger, plus related accessories.

All that take up space in my personal-items bag.

I recently acquired an Insta360 Air Mic that synchronises with my new X5 camera. It also has a tiny receiver that plugs into my smartphone, and lets me use my phone for better video. It also can sync with my drone such that it cuts out the sound of the drone.

I think that, in writing this post, I've talked (typed?) myself out of carrying the extra items.

I still have more camera/video gear than clothing but if I can reduce some of the weight, it will make things easier. I still have some odds and ends to add to my bags but they're minor, and if I forget them, it won't be the end of the world.

Only two more sleeps!