What I pack when travelling for tryouts

Minimalism is the key when travelling

When I travel to Europe to try out for basketball teams in summer I tend to pack very light. Most days in Europe during the periods of May to August the weather is quite nice. In some places it’s extremely hot. When I meet fellow travellers and tell them how much I pack for an overseas trip it blows their mind. Rarely do I go over 15kg of check in luggage. In 2009 when I spent summer and the regular season playing in UK I only travelled with 20kg.

I like packing light. Why? I like to be mobile and the last thing I want to be doing is hauling things around when I am on the road.

Here’s my list of things I pack when I go over to Europe to play summer league.

1. 1. Compression shorts and full length compression leggings
      Travelling with compression shorts makes everything that much easier. If you are on the road bouncing from hotel to hotel (or hostel) finding time to wash clothes can be super challenging. My Eastbay compression shorts can easily be washed with soap while having a shower, hung outside and by morning will be dry. When I travel I use compression shorts as underwear because they are comfortable and easy to dry after wash.Also, another benefit if you sweat as much as I do. When you have to do a bit of walking trying to catch public transport or find your way; compression shorts keep you nice and dry allowing your skin to breath with max comfort.

• 14 basketball tops and shorts
  Excessive, I don’t think so. I use basketball tops to just wear when I am chilling and taking in the sites. Having sleeveless tops that also keeps you dry is so comfortable. Not to mention if you are travelling and trying out for clubs you want to have a fresh set of clothes along with a spare set. Some stadiums and training venues are not air-conditioned so having a spare set of clothes that you can change into half way through the session will keep you comfortable and dry; not to mention putting people off because you smell funky. Having a lot of training clothes also limits the dependency of having to find a Laundromat every second day. As mentioned above, with a busy try out schedule bouncing from town to town it could be weeks until you get the chance to go to the Laundromat.
• Couple of pairs on neat jeans and casual t-shirts
  When trying out for a team you might be lucky enough to get along with a members of the permanent team. Especially if you are from Australia. I always pack some neat casual clothes so that I can join team members and bond with them off court.
• Comfortable pair of walking shoes
  When I am in Europe I use public transport to get to tryouts/ training’s so I am on my feet a lot. If you are going to be walking a lot please do yourself a favour and purchase a good, comfortable pair of shoes. Stay away from flip flows, they kill your back and it’s not good for your posture. Especially when you are walking through old cobble stone streets of Europe. Needless to say, back and feet soreness is not a good thing to have when you are trying out for a team.
• Your favourite and most comfortable basketball shoes
  I have travelled with a couple of my former basketball teammates and they travel with multiple pairs of basketball shoes. Why? I don’t get it. I like packing light and for me limiting the number of shoes is a great way of packing underweight. I believe you only need one pair of basketball shoes if you are going to play a season of length 3 months and/or under. If for example you are trying out for a team and playing summer league games there’s no need for multiple pairs. One pair is enough for a three month summer league season (depending on the condition of the shoes to begin with).

• Recovery and rehab equipment
  Super important! Pack your rehab and recover equipment. Foam rollers, spike balls and bands are great to take with you on the road. Going to a physio overseas can be very expensive and inconvenient. Best thing to do is pack your small pack-able equipment. Try and avoid taking heavy and big equipment. For more ideas please read the Easy to Carry Recovery & Rehab equipment article.

Don’t take my pack list as gospel, this is just an article giving you a basic idea of what I have in mind when I pack. My main goal is to pack light and stay mobile.

Please ensure you are packing other things such as underwear, socks, toothbrush and all the major necessities. Research the weather during the months you are travelling in that particular the region you are visiting.

I always make a pack list and rate each item for its importance. I pack my bags the night before I leave and I work through my list crossing the items off to ensure that everything I need is packed.

Remember, you don’t have to pack your wardrobe. Most of your basketball clothes can be washed while you shower with washing liquid. Or you can just wash it in a bathroom sink, whatever works for you. Pack some string with you (purchase a couple of meters from a hardware store) and pegs. This way you have a washing line that you can put up between any two points anywhere. Even in your dorm room! This will make drying clothes easy.

If there’s advice or questions you have about packing for a road trip for tryouts please do not hesitate to comment below or use the Ask A Question area.

Do you have a packing list? What do you take on a basketball trip? What are the things that you can’t do without? Use the comments section to let us all know your packing habits, no matter how weird. We won’t judge!