Packing for a backpacking trip
Packing for a backpacking trip can be a daunting task and a dreaded one as you’re filled with butterflies ahead of your trip. For backpacking it can seem like a never ending task of choosing between different options and trying to minimise the stuff you take with you. Luckily it doesn’t have to be that bad and here I will show you what I usually pack on a my backpacking trips.
I always suggest packing as little as possible. Enough for about 7-10 days is ideal. Almost anywhere you travel you will have the opportunity to do laundry, which means you only need about a week’s worth of clothes. Choosing a smaller backpack also helps you not overpacking as well as other benefits. Here are some tips on choosing the right travel backpack.
1. Gear
Laptop
Smartphone
Power bank (sometimes you won’t have access to outlets)
Headphones
Camera (if you want more than just smartphone photos)
Travel Adapter
Chargers (make sure you brings chargers and batteries for any device you’re bringing)
2. Clothes
7 t-shirts
1 long sleeve
1 pair of jeans/pants (whatever you prefer)
2 pairs of shorts/swim shorts (one pair that doubles as both is ideal for packing light)
1 pair of Birkenstocks or sandals/flip flops of your choice
1 pair of trainers
7 pairs of underwear
4-7 pairs of socks depending on climate (in warm climates you might get away with 1-2)
Lightweight rain jacket
Casual shirt or something you like to dress up a bit.
If hiking or cold weather trip you need to adjust accordingly. Here are some of my picks:
1 pair of hiking shoes
Few pairs of hiking/wool socks
Thermals/base layer
1 fleece jacket
1 down jacket
A pair of hiking pants
Gloves, beanie and a buff
3. Toiletries
1 toothbrush
1 tube of toothpaste (travel size)
Deodorant
1 razor (I bring a machine usually)
Perfume (small)
1 small soap
1 small bottle of shampoo
Contacts (I have bad eyesight)
1 bottle of contact solution (if you need)
1 microfibre towel (not all hostel/places will have a towel, bring your own)
4. Medical
Painkillers
Bandaid
Hand sanitiser
Imodium or similar (you’ll want them, trust me)
Motion sickness tablets
Condoms
5. Miscellaneous
Head Torch (absolute necessity if hiking)
Padlocks
Water bottle (with filter to always have access to water)
Sunglasses
Travel pillow
Small notebook and a pen
So is this all you need? No. As always it depends on what your needs are, and what is important to you. This is just my list from my years of travelling and what I found to be best. Following this list I have never missed anything while on the road. I’ve also learned that if I forget or need something I can easily buy it wherever I am these days.
To prepare, a good starting point is to pull out everything you think you need and then remove 1/3 of that. Pack everything in your backpack and adjust accordingly. Imagine that you will be doing this on average every three days. All set? Time for your next adventure.
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