Rucksack: not great if you're living out of a vehicle - we pack everything in plastic boxes, but a rucksack is essential if you want to get out and hike.

Day pack - I have a great little Deuter Airflow (keeps my back cool). I certain pieces of gear in it all the time, and add or take out other stuff according to what I'm doing. Although a lot of the stuff finds other places around the car to live, everything below calls the little rucksack it's home:

• Petzl Zipka head torch - absolutely tiny, very long life with 3 AAA batteries, and a very compact and clever retractable head strap that will rip out your hair if you give it half a chance. One of my favourite gadgets, but the new versions have better on-off switches.

• Mossie Repellent - I use Repel 100 (100% DEET) which may eat my skin away, but keeps the bugs at bay when others are getting bitten.

• Compass - I had a basic Silva for years until the needle fell off somehow - the replacement Silva Eclipse is extremely gadgety, with a sighting mirror. Whatever you choose just make sure that you know how to use it.

• 8x20 Monocular - Cheap Light and surprisingly useful.

• Pen - permanent ink overhead projector pen for marking laminated maps.

• Thermometer - Clips on the outside, with a naff compass built in (from any ski shop) Not essential but it's interesting to see how much you are suffering.

• Lip Salve

• Sun Cream - Waterproof high factor stuff, rather than the beach variety

• Sun Glasses - Decathlon cheapies as they get very scratched and battered on a trip like this

• Soft Hat - keeps the sun off

• Lighter - a normal disposable - surprisingly waterproof once it's dry...

• Medical Kit - A few strips of some basic drugs ( Ibuprofen, Piriton, Imodium, Rennies and Micropur)  and some tweezers.

• First Aid Kit - Waterproof pouch with a few small dressings, plasters, tape, scissors, etc.

• Survival Kit - I've always carried a small but (overly) sophisticated survival kit with me (it includes a survival blanket otherwise I'd carry that separately). It goes on any hikes regardless. There are loads of sites that can help you if you want to make on up - they only have to be the size of a sardine tin to make all the difference. Visit Doug Ritter in the internet and you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know.

• Water bottle - I have an ex-army one litre plastic bottle that fits snugly into the side pocket of my day pack, but also use plastic 1.5 litre mineral water bottles a lot.

• Foot Powder - tiny (sample) bottle of Scholl powder, though I prefer anti-fungicidal powder like Mycota.

• Small pack of Kleenex - for toilet breaks

• Energy bars - Any sweet confectionary really, for when you need a bit of a sugar boost

• Minolta Dimage 7 - see the electronics section

When it's looking iffy I'll add:

• Berghaus Gortex Jacket - brilliant waterproof top, expensive but worth every penny.

• Waterproof trousers - for when it gets really wet. rarely used so these are cheap ones

The rest of my stuff lives in a  plastic box (one of many of various sizes that fit together quite neatly. This lot is down to personal choice/taste again, but clothing wise I've got:

• 8 x Undies

• 8 x Woollen Socks (thin M&S ones)

• 8 x Tee Shirts (£3 each from decathlon - brilliant value)

• 2 x Rohan liesure shirts - clever synthetic work better in cold climates

• 3 x cotton shirts

• Fleece

• Shorts - Cheap nylon ones from Decathlon, never worn

• 2 x Polyamide trousers (M&S and Crag Hopper) - they all seem to come in light colours so as to show off how dirty you are. Great cos the have loads of pockets (very important). The M&S pair have zip off legs.

• O'Neill Swimmies - double up as shorts.

• Canvas Bush hat - Australian, wide brimmed for shade, nice but not used much.

• Woolly hat - bought it in freezing Morocco (along with a jelaba) and used it on Mount Cameroon

I like to change my undies and tee shirts every day, which isn't really necessary when you get as dirty on the outside as we did. That's why there's eight of everything (the don't take up much space anyway). The shirts didn't get much use past Morocco, and I definitely could have got away with less.

Footwear: As we intended to climb mountains, hike , and generally get out of the car on a regular basis I started with a pair of Raichle walking boots - these are light things with lots of Gore-Tex, and though they can get a little sweaty, they were good for a year then fell to bits. Their replacement, Boreal walking boots lasted eight months, but where good in their day. These get worn when it's wet, or in the evenings to protect my feet  from mossies

For the rest of the time, and for the all important beaches, I've got a pair of Oakley sandals that heave lasted a lot better than I expected.

Although I bought a cheap pair of leather sandals in Niger, the above two were all I really needed, and the only addition I would think of would be a pair of casual shoes so that you don't look too out of place in hotel bars.

Wash bag: I reckon I've got this down to a fine art now. The bag is a Rohan wash bag which you can hang up and use like a kind of shelf. It has a mirror inside the top, and contains:

• Braun Ultra Electric Toothbrush - I hate using anything else

• Toothbrush (normal) - for when I can't charge the above

• Toothpaste - nothing fancy here I'm afraid - just Colgate regular

• Philips Philishave 384 - compact but could be smaller - rechargeable. It isn't a great shaver, but it's a dry shave anywhere you want, and I've never cut myself with it which is a big consideration in the tropics.

• Razor and disposable blades - for when I can't charge the above, or my beard is too thick

• Shampoo - in a small plastic container that I top up once a month

• Shower Gel - Ditto

• Nail clippers - for clipping - er - nails

• Vitamin Pills - In a small plastic box

• Ear plugs - for noisy campsites or hotel rooms

• Larium - to save me going out to the car when I forget it's Larium night.

I stole a great towel from my sister - it doubles up as a beach bag sort of rucksack thing. Hope she hasn't missed it.

Things to Sleep In:

• Tent - I used my roof tent wherever feasible (see vehicle and tyres section). This is luxuriously equipped with a mattress, pillows and duvet, and an en-suite toilet (well, OK, a plastic bottle). Roxana and Richard brought along their own tents - personal space is important if you are spending all day in car together.

• Sleeping bag - I prefer down bags as they are lighter and smaller, but more expensive and harder to clean. If you get one you will need a

• Sleeping Bag Liner - The silk ones are brilliant, but again expensive, this can double up as a light cover for warm nights.

• Stuff Sack - takes the pain out of packing away sleeping bags.

• Roll Mat/Mattress - if you have the space a foam mattress is great - they will cost you less than a tenner and are available everywhere, especially in Morocco. Otherwise a roll mat is fine - a bit fiddly to pack, but better for taking along when you are hiking away from the vehicle.

• A Real Pillow - Why not opt for the comfortable choice? I have three.

• Hammock - Used once in Scandinavia and almost broke my back. Pinched by some desperate soul in the Congo. If you are considering sleeping on one try it out at home first as it takes getting used to.

Other Stuff:

Money Belt - Scorned by many travellers, I used mine to keep everything together in the built-in vehicle safe. Also useful to have along are a few Ziploc bags for keeping documents dry and dust-free.

Pack of cards - or something to keep you amused in the evenings.

Umbrella - Get a small one and keep it for - er - a rainy day. Good for sun and rain alike.

er... and more stuff to come