Kelty Redwing 2650 Backpack Review

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Way back in high school, I had an older backpack from this series, which I really liked. I ended up using it during a paintball campaign, and it ended up trashed with paint, so I decided to relegate it to holding my paintball equipment.

So I bought a new one, and I have been using this for the better part of 10 years. In general, it has proven to be a great backpack that I have used for all sorts of various tasks and trips. The compression straps help it hold a slimmer profile if you don’t have much you’re carrying, but it can also expand to hold quite a bit of stuff.

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Cocoon Light Microfiber Towel Review

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After many years of using a travel towel that was much too small, I finally decided to get a more practical one. At 15 Bucks, which was totally worth it.

This towel is the M size at 90 x 50 cm (35 x 20 in.). I could have gone L at 120 x 60 cm (47 x 24 in) or even XL at 150 x 80 cm (59 x 31 in.), but then they would pack bigger. Cocoon actually also has an ultralight series of towels with the same dimensions, but they pack slightly smaller, weigh a little less, but also don’t absorb as much water. I figured the medium-sized, slightly bulkier but more absorbent one was a good compromise and I haven’t regretted it. Continue reading →

N-rit Towel Review

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I needed a towel while I was traveling, and another of the items that I prepared myself with before I went to South America was this. I can’t remember why I settled on this little towel, which is only 40 x 40 cm (15.7 x 15.7 in.), but I did. Okay, maybe it’s really just a hand towel, but I had purchased it for drying myself off after showers… Continue reading →

Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag Review

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I bought this after I went to South America. I was using sleeping bags from my parents for the longest time, and I figured it was about time that I get my own.

I did some research on synthetic vs. down, and I decided to get this one. Synthetic can handle getting wet better, but it’s not as efficient at keeping you warm, whereas down is much lighter and compact for the equivalent warmth rating, but you need to be careful about keeping it dry. I figured the pros of down outweighed the cons. If I recall, it was about $130, and it is rated to 20°F / -7°C. Continue reading →

Sirex Himalaya Sleeping Pad Review

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After my last inflatable sleeping pad sprung multiple leaks, I decided to go all old fashioned and get this basic sleeping pad. There’s really not too much to say about it. At 15 bucks, it’s cheap and does the job fine. You unroll it, it keeps a little distance between the ground and you, and you don’t have to worry about it breaking down on you Continue reading →

Eureka DC Lite Sleeping Pad Review

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I have had this sleeping pad for the better part of 4 years. I used to not use a pad at all, but I needed to after sleeping in some uncomfortable places. It wasn’t the uneven ground that bothered me. It was the cold. When you lie on your sleeping bag, it gets squished and doesn’t retain much heat below you. If there is then nothing between you and the cold ground, your heat can get vacuumed right out of you, leaving you chilled and irate in the morning.

I really liked this pad until it broke. Continue reading →

My Backpacking “To Pack” List

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After many years of traveling, I have honed down what I need to take with me. I try to travel as Spartan as possible, so there may be things missing that you would want, but this could serve as a good start.

Before going on any trip, I always glance over my list to make sure there is nothing I am missing. The one time I didn’t consult my list, I ended up forgetting my passport and had to pay 164 euros for a hasty taxi ride. I don’t always need everything, as most weekend trips to visit a friend don’t necessitate a sleeping bag and tent, but I find it’s better to scour through this and eliminate things I don’t need than trying to go from memory and forget something crucial. Continue reading →

Getting a Job Visa in Germany

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I moved to Germany around August 2013. I did a semester abroad in Germany a couple of years prior, and without any other plans after getting my bachelor’s degree, I decided to move to Germany and try to find a job since I liked Germany (You can walk around on the streets with a beer in hand and enjoy it! How cool is that?). I have had many people ask me about what it took to move here, so in this post I will go over the basics of getting a job visa in Germany and then relate my experiences getting my initial visa and getting it renewed.

The Basics

The most important part of finding and getting a job in Germany is getting the permission to work here. Otherwise, you can travel here for vacation, but it is not permitted to work. That pretty much goes for every country in the world, so there should be no surprise there. It can be a bit daunting to get permission here, though. Continue reading →