How to Pack?

A simple thing that can have devastating consequences is how you pack when you travel.

Bags can and do get lost during transit, especially if you have many different flight segments.

If you pack all your critical marching gear in your checked bag and it goes missing, there is a high risk that you won’t be able to start on Tuesday. This has happened, and it will likely happen again. While you can try to borrow a uniform and buy new boots in Nijmegen, you won’t have time to break in the boots, which often leads to having to withdraw.

Marching Gear in Hand Luggage.

When we travel down, we do so with our marching boots on our feet and all critical equipment in our hand luggage. That means at least one uniform, headwear, beret, underwear, socks, and hydration bladder are packed in the backpack. Tape and medications should also be in your carry-on. Savotta’s Jääkäri Backpack still counts as hand luggage with Finnair, but it may be wise to check the rules of other airlines. Electronics are another thing that should be packed in hand luggage; for instance, a power bank cannot be checked in due to fire risk. If you want to keep it tidy, Varusteleka has had a perfect little pouch that fits a power bank, charging cables, and a flashlight. In the pictures below, you can see how the undersigned organizes their electronics. If you plan to spend a day in Amsterdam before heading down to Nijmegen, it may be worthwhile to have some extra civilian clothes and toiletries in your backpack. This is in case you choose to lock the main bag in at the train station.

Other Items in Checked Baggage.

Everything else, such as spare shoes, sandals, sleeping bag, clothes, lamps, sheets, etc., is packed into the large bag, which can be a duffel bag (keikkalaukku) or a regular suitcase. If you use a duffel bag, it is recommended that it has shoulder straps, as you will need to carry it around quite a bit. Feel free to use some system to organize your bag; it makes it more pleasant for everyone else when you need to get something out in the dark. Use sturdy small boxes for small items and packing cubes for different clothes. Remember that space is limited, so everything you bring must be stored under the bed. The space under the bed is also shared with someone sleeping above or below you.

Other Notes.

Avoid packing unnecessary valuables; the sleeping tents are not supervised, nor is the charging tent. If you leave an expensive power bank charging, there is always a risk that it will be gone when you return. Also, do not leave phones to charge unattended. With a larger power bank, you don’t need to charge it all week, assuming you don’t have a monster phone and spend the evenings watching cat videos. My 20000mAh power bank basically lasts the whole week when I charge my phone and watch with it. Check with your airline regarding their rules on power banks. The simplest way to ensure you have packed everything is to have some form of packing list and check it off. This way, you don’t have to empty the entire contents every time you wonder if you packed something. Since you are flying, it is worth remembering what is not allowed. Check current regulations to avoid embarrassments such as cartridges in your hand luggage or a checked cigarette lighter. Both incidents are fresh in memory.