Packing for Adventure

Field-Tested, First-Class Approved

by Tiffany Figueiredo

01. Madewell’s Organic Cotton Bandana is the unsung hero of my duffel bag. It tames windblown hair, provides sun protection, and doubles as a cooling neck wrap when wet. I always pack at least three. These Sid Mashburn Bandanas are timeless.

02. Sadly, my old Gap utility jacket is no longer sold but is a constant companion on safaris, city strolls, and even cocktail parties. Loads of pockets are essential for lip balm, camera batteries, sunglasses, and iPhones. This feminine Buck Mason sateen one has just enough edge. And for him (or her), it's hard to beat the original L.L. Bean cotton field jacket. 

03.  After years of trial and error, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel (55L) is the one I reach for. Soft-sided but rugged, it fits easily into tiny bush planes where hard cases won’t, and expands to carry souvenir baskets from Rwanda or alpaca sweaters from Peru. The 70L is tempting for longer trips, but the more you pack, the heavier the bag.

04. You've got to have a hardwearing, packable, water-resistant, sun-shielding, cool-as-hell hat. As a native Texan, I'm partial to Stetson Crushable Hats, just as at home on Montana trail rides as on walking safaris in Zambia.

05. For incredible wildlife shots without lugging a telephoto bazooka, the Olympus OMD + M.Zuiko Lens combo is light, fast, and nearly indestructible (don’t ask me how I know). I usually pack just the 40-150mm Pro. It’s captured everything from a lion’s yawn to a lilac-breasted roller in mid-flight, tack-sharp.

06. Polarized sunglasses are non-negotiable, and Ray-Bans are some of the best. I’ve been eyeing a fresh moody-blue update on the classic Wayfarer. Chic with safari neutrals, bold without being flashy, they could go from the Saharan dunes to the Arctic Circle.

07. When your wake-up call is 5:00 AM, your beauty routine needs to be foolproof. With just three clean-beauty favorites — a swipe of Ilia Mascara, a layer of Ilia SPF 40 Tinted Serum, and a touch of Ilia Multi-Stick on lids, cheeks, and lips — I’m camera-ready in a minute. It blends effortlessly with my fingertips and holds up beautifully in the elements.

08. I panic-bought my Gore-Tex Salomon hiking boots when I realized my trail runners wouldn’t cut it for a gorilla trek. With no time to break them in, I braced for the worst, but they were light, supportive, and comfortable straight out of the box. They carried me up and down steep, muddy hills and through dense bamboo forests with zero blisters and no twisted ankles.

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