A little over two years ago, I read and reviewed my first travel book aimed squarely at the female population. Despite having “lipstick” and “women” in the title, I found it to be perfectly suitable for men as well.
When I was offered the chance to review Chelsea Duke's first book, High Heels and a Head Torch: The Essential Guide for Girls Who Backpack, I figured why not? Since I'd learned with the lipstick book to take titles with a grain of salt, it wasn't Duke's cover which tipped me off that this would truly be a book geared for women. Nor was it the feminine, cursive typography sprinkled throughout the text. Not even the little pair of illustrated, strappy high heels underneath the page numbers gave me that ah-ha moment.
It was when I started chapter one, “First Things First,” which details putting one's kit (or backpack and belongings) together, that I realized I'm in for a steady dose of the female perspective. I noticed there was an inordinate amount of time spent on clothing and accessories, and not just which items to bring, but how to ensure maximum opportunities for coordination. I learned, among other things, that make-up can melt and make a mess in hot weather.
Sure, guys think about what clothes to take, but I've never seen so much time and care devoted to the topic in a backpacking guidebook. Perhaps most writers, even the female ones, assume femininity is sacrificed on the backpacker trail. Chelsea Duke disagrees. For example, she suggests women “take a skirt and/or heels and/or make-up – something to make you feel a bit girlie and sexy.”
As I continued to read, I started to realize that while a man can effortlessly build a rugged persona during a backpacking trip, a woman has to be creative in order to maintain her sense of sex appeal (which we all know is required to attract a man – a fact not at all lost on Duke given the number of condom and safe sex references). I also learned women have built-in money belts in the form of their bras. Duke regularly recommended stashing stuff there for safekeeping.
I appreciated the author's tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, and could clearly tell she was passionate about sharing her lessons learned from a trip around the world. Duke weaves plenty of anecdotes from her adventures in Asia, Australia, Africa and South America into the book, offering lists of Do's and Don'ts at the end of every chapter to sum up her best advice.
She covers the typical budget travel stuff like managing a good night's sleep in hostels, and how to meet new people. In addition, she humorously touches on topics you'd be hard-pressed to find in other guidebooks, such as tricks for ensuring you can use squat toilets effectively, and how to go about bush peeing without making a mess.
I imagine reading High Heels and a Head Torch: The Essential Guide for Girls Who Backpack would be like reading a backpacking column in the pages of Cosmopolitan. Perfect for women, but guys best look elsewhere.
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High Heels and a Head Torch: The Essential Guide for Girls Who Backpack by Chelsea Duke is currently available in UK bookstores and via Amazon.com UK for £4.94. Plans are being formalized for its release in the USA as well.
Last Updated on March 4, 2020 by Dave
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Hmm interesting. I can be quite a girl girl at home but I tend to use travel as an excuse no to wear make up and I can't conceive of dragging a pair of heels in my backpack. I'm sure this book has a lot of great advice though, I'll be checking it out.
That's cool that an entire guide has been published on this matter. I've always noted the double standard where men are sexy in their rough unshaved state and women must exert so much more effort into their look (shaving, make-up etc…).
There are always those girls that wear the backpacker look so well- it almost seems effortless, though I'm sure it's not. They appear hip and fun; sharp while being spontaneous. Hats off to them. Like out of a movie (rough, but not unsexy).
I hope I'm not coming across macho or anything. Oh well. Such is the plight of the sexes, right?
Blake / TBD
When I was in Rome a long time ago, I remember seeing a girl with flip flops as thick as bricks. I couldn't imagine carrying them around just to feel a little bit taller!
“They appear hip and fun; sharp while being spontaneous. Hats off to them. Like out of a movie (rough, but not unsexy).”
Yes, I know exactly what you mean!
I`ve still got a looong way to go on this one–currently sitting in an internet cafe in Madrid wearing dirty sneakers and unwashed hair. I´m totally fine with traveling au naturale, until I get into a big fashionable city (like the one I´m in now). I might need to check this one out. Thanks for reviewing it!
Hi Lauren,
I don't blame you! Normally I didn't mind wearing my comfortable but unfashionable 10-year old Khacki North Face cargo pants and shorts everywhere, but once I arrived in western European cities like Brussels, Geneva, Paris, and Barcelona, I felt self-conscious.
New rule – always pack a pair of jeans. :)
This sounds like a fun book. I know where are people who want to truly rough it when backpacking, but I'm one of those girls who does usually pack one pair of nice shoes (wedges or heels) and wears at least a little eyeliner every day. While I don't wear the heels often, every once in a while it's nice to go out to a nice dinner or event. I also always bring at least one dress — something that is casual enough that I can wear during the day, but something I can dress up with a cardigan and the shoes. Don't get me wrong — most of the time I'm in a tank top and walking shoes — I just like to have one pair of girly shoes just in case :) And my eyeliner is one of things I just don't like parting with if I don't have to. That doesn't mean I can't still backpack like everyone else — I'm just a wee bit more girly than some!
Emily – thanks for sharing your personal preferences. Until I read that book, I really had little insight into how the ladies must be sacrificing more of their daily routines than us guys. I mean for us, we have the perfect excuse to grow a beard, and many guys I meet are experimenting with letting their hair grow out.
I learned toward the end of my RTW trip that I'd been too hard on myself. I need to pack a pair of jeans for going out to clubs, so I'm not always giving off that backpacker-ragamuffin vibe. :)
The money belt in the bra trick is definitely one I've used before =) I remember the first time I went backpacking (went for three weeks) I over packed (hair dryer, flat iron, high heals, mini skirts.. the works!) Pretty ridiculous considering I didn't even use half the stuff. I think, for girls especially, the first time is always tough but you learn from your mistakes and experiences. Now all I backpack with is an extra pair of pants, 3 shirts, sandals, undies, and a bathing suit My days of glampacking are over (although I have still yet to leave the flat iron behind)
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