Reddit reviews Hitchhike America (1)

Hey, I did a 17-day cross-country trip a while back spending virtually no money. I wrote a book about it that contains lots of advice about hitchhiking and sleeping across America, but I'll summarize the gear advice below:

-carabiners

-one pair of great walking shoes

-two pairs of pants

-three shirts

-one jacket/sweatshirt

-four pairs of underwear

-four pairs of socks

-one belt

-gloves (optional)

-hat

-sunglasses (optional)

-sunscreen

-tent / bivy sack

-sleeping bag

-at least two days worth of food

-big water jug, with reinforced bottom

-lighter (even if you don't smoke)

-portable phone battery (and phone and charger, maybe a car adapter too)

-headphones!

-umbrella

-fat chisel tip Sharpie

-basic first aid stuff

-knife

-pepper spray

-ibuprofin/acetominophen (optional)

-a few feet of rope

-a bandana

-a small paperback book (maybe a small blank book for journaling)

-toothbrush and toothpaste

-wallet

-earplugs (you'll thank me later)

-insect repellent (optional)

40 liters is a fine size, if you clip a few things to the outside with carabiners. For the life of me, I don't understand why people bring cooking stoves around with them. They're far too heavy, and their utility is limited and situational, and completely extraneous. You can eat raw or precooked food, or sometimes make fires to cook stuff. Even when I lived in my car for a month in the Rocky Mountains, I never once wished that I'd brought a portable stove with me.

The ukulele is good, but if you don't already know how to play, you shouldn't bother. Bring something small like an Irish tin whistle/flute or harmonica. I brought my harmonica on the road with me, but I didn't get more than an hour of playtime in 17 days on the road.

I don't want to sound like someone trying to plug my book, but Hitchhike America contains all sorts of advice and stories for a first-time hitchhiker, especially one in the United States. There is a section after the main narrative dedicated to hitchhiking tips and tricks as well as about ten blank pages for journaling. Also there's a blank map of the continental United States for mapping out your general route (no roads though). The paperback edition was released less than a week ago!