Pack light. Pack smart. Tips for filling your suitcase or backpack are all over the place. Some insane people even suggest packing extra for backpacking.
Everyone packs for a trip differently. Some people need multiple suitcases, a computer bag and a sack of makeup for a weekend away. Others can suffice for a week or more with little more than a change of clothes. We all have our particulars and necessary items we cannot fathom leaving behind.
What about packing for long-term travel? What particulars and necessities do you need for the ultimate backpacking journey? Time to break it down. Here’s what you need to know to pack right, pack light and make the most of your adventure:
This is the first of a three-part series on packing right for long-term backpacker travel. Parts two and three are here.
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Contents
The Basics of Backpacking and Packing Light:
Backpacking is not a fashion showcase. It’s that simple.
When packing for a long-term backpacking adventure, plan with one week’s worth of clothes. That is, bring no more than shirts for one week and trousers for one week. Treat your clothes like they’re jeans. Only insane people wash their jeans after every single wear. Yes, that means wearing something a few times before washing. Get used to it or stay home.
Be more liberal when packing socks and underwear. Happy feet are the key to a happy trip, and fresh underwear is important, too. No one wants to smell your sweaty nether regions.
What’s on the agenda?
If you are an active, outdoorsy traveler, consider what you might wear on a hike of medium difficulty. Packing for a backcountry adventure does not make much sense if half of your time is likely to be spent on beaches and in cities. Comfortable and durable will adequately cover your clothing needs.
On the other hand, round-the-world cyclists and hitchhikers travel in a style requiring more precise packing and should prepare for a more rugged trip.
Partying is the objective for many backpackers in Southeast Asia and beyond. Whether that’s in Phuket, Ibiza or another crazy place, these travelers needn’t pay much attention to this. Actually, these travelers don’t pay much attention to anything. Nevertheless, if the goal is to get as wasted as possible, pack light in order to not lose as much. Get vaccinated, too. And consider getting tested when you get home.
Backpacks – Where Packing Light Begins
A good backpack is more important than a tentative traveler might initially think. Packing light and smart begins with the backpack, and there is a lot to consider when choosing a pack to carry for the next few months.
When it comes to backpack reviews, most reviews focus on price, durability and functionality. These are important, but my advice focuses on other aspects. When considering a backpack, focus on weight, volume and straps.
A good backpack is sturdy, but still lightweight. An extra three pounds in “durability” is unnecessary. An external frame backpack fit for a climb to Mount Everest is not necessary for the average backpacking trip. There are plenty of backpacks available that are strong and lightweight.
The specifications for backpacks always list internal volume. More space is good, right? Wrong! For ordinary travel backpacking, I recommend a backpack with no more than 50L volume.
Choose a backpack for practical reasons. We all pick up the occasional keepsake, but these little pieces of overpriced bullshit quickly add up and weigh down on your back. You’ll be walking in pain in no time, shelling out on overpriced taxis instead of walking a few blocks. If you’re a sucker for souvenirs, either don’t go backpacking or get ready for some costly mid-trip shipping back home. And hope that your trinkets make it from rural Southeast Asia to your mom’s doorstep.
Lastly, good straps are so very important for comfort. As your pack slowly gets heavier and more cumbersome, those once-new-and-thick straps begin to flatten out and dig deep into your shoulders. Seek a backpack that has thick straps that will stand up against the weight of the useless junk collected along the way.
Save money – and your body – in the long run with the purchase of the right backpack!
Day Pack
What exactly is a day pack? Well, it’s a small backpack or bag for use away from your room and backpack. A day pack should be fairly small, lightweight and easily stuffed into your larger bag. Pockets are easier to pick than a bag that is strapped to your back with zippers and deep compartments.
Whatever you do, maintain your day pack for carrying a camera, cell phone, journal or even groceries. Do not use it to store more stuff. Remember, whatever extra junk you collect along the way has to be carried. This stuff adds up quickly, so try to avoid using a day pack as an annex to your backpack. If the temptation is too great and the bag must be filled, leave it at home.
Packing Light – Backpacker Clothing
When it comes to packing light and packing right, clothing is a contentious subject for backpackers. Do you really need five dresses or seven pairs of shoes to go backpacking? No, you do not. That doesn’t stop millions of travelers from packing clothes they never wear on the road.
For long-term travel, and depending on the weather in the destination, my bag has four shirts, two pairs of pants, one pair of shorts and a swimsuit. I usually pick up a souvenir t-shirt at some point to add to the wardrobe. Socks and shoes are covered in the second part of this series.
Continual use, rough washing and travel grime take a toll on clothes. Packing durable clothes is important, but filling a backpack with clothes that you are willing to leave behind is smart packing. When narrowing down a travel wardrobe, make sure you are okay parting with the occasional item of clothing.
Shirts depend on weather and personal preferences. Knowing that I would be in hot, humid Asia, and knowing that the copious amount of cheap beer I consumed would be constantly leaking from my pores, I packed thin and loose shirts. Columbia PFGs were perfect for me. While they may only be fashionable in the fishing and pretend-fisherman culture of the US, these shirts are fantastic for backpacking.
I also pack SCOTTeVEST products for their functionality. These products are often lightweight, odor-resistant and are easy to wash and dry. The primary feature is hidden pockets, which adds security and piece of mind for your wanderings.
Pack plenty of underwear. Find underwear that is comfortable and easy to wash in a sink or shower. Do your best to keep it clean and fresh because NO ONE wants to smell your swamp ass.
As for long pants, it seems most of the world prefers long pants. From my various travels, it seems the United States is the place with the most shorts-sporting people. In some countries, such as Azerbaijan, shorts are incredibly taboo and not recommended. It’s important to research the local customs in your destination and dress appropriately.
A high quality rain jacket needs to be at the top of any packing list. Living in Portland, Oregon for a few years has taught me the value of a good rain jacket. Getting caught in the rain is beautiful in a Nicholas Sparks movie. In Bangkok, it’s far less romantic. When the torrential downpour ends, you’ll be wet and smelly. A rain jacket is an easy way to stay dry and keep smiling.
Looking back on a trip, it’s frustrating seeing the same clothes in most pictures. People who have never been anywhere for more than a week or two will make fun of you, but experienced backpackers know that it’s not about fashion and glamour. It’s about packing light.
Why try to impress people you will never see again? And who cares if friends, in their sweatpants at home, see you in the same shirt on Instagram several times?
Packing Light – Towels
Towels and packing light do not go hand-in-hand. They also take up a lot of space in a backpack.
Packed away still damp, towels begin to smell. A few hours later, everything inside the backpack has a musty smell that sticks for days.
If you are only staying in hotels, there is no need to worry about packing a towel. And many hostels provide towels for a small security deposit. Others charge a small fee for renting. Still, most backpacking trips require a towel. Microfiber and polyester towels are a great option. They are lightweight, take up minimal space and dry quickly with a little ventilation.
As for beach towels, do not pack one. Consider buying an overpriced towel at the beach or just before you reach island life, then leave it behind. Beach towels are great on the beach but take up far too much space to practically fit into your bag.
A small hand towel is a great asset to have. Whether it is needed for sweaty days in megacity saunas, for a hike or eating in the hotel, a small towel is an overlooked addition to a backpacking list.
What NOT to Bring Backpacking
Choosing what not to pack is much easier advice to give for light (smart) backpacking. All the little things, the odds and ends that we think we need, are ultimately a waste of space and cause for worry.
Don’t bring books. Yep, that’s right. Books are a serious waste of space while traveling. There are more interesting stories out the window. Leave them on the shelf with the other unread books at home, and read them another time. If you absolutely need to read, keep it to a single book and prepare to leave it behind. The easiest thing to do is to download a book app or find books to buy along the way.
DO NOT BRING A LAPTOP! Laptops are our best friends in the 21st century, but this is a serious mistake made by many travelers. Most hotels and hostels are perfectly safe, but don’t test the theory of the general goodness of people. Unless it is needed for work (trust me, this also sucks), a laptop will become an unnecessary security burden and the perfect way to hinder social interaction. Stay connected with travel by limiting connections to home.
You will not be needing accessories for every occasion. Forget the scarves, ties and purses. And that trendy new clutch is a stupid thing to bring, While not fit for the pages of Vogue, a locally styled and handmade bag – perfect for daily wanderings – can be found in many places for a few dollars.
A few extras that don’t belong in a backpack:
An array of belts for every occasion is also a waste of space. One will be satisfactory. Limit the Hats in your bag. For a cold destination, a single winter hat will suffice. For the sunseekers, one broad-brimmed hat in the backpack will do the job.
Excessive or valuable jewelry is not a statement. It is an advertisement that you are a wealthy foreigner, a target tourist. Sure, most places in the world are safe and full of kind people, but that does not mean tourists travel without risk. Theft happens and countless tourists fall victim to greedy street criminals. Avoid standing out unnecessarily and make a point of blending in as much as possible. Leave the flashy bling at home.
Backpacking Basics & Packing Light
Packing light is essential to backpacking and long-term travel. Packing right – that is, packing smart – is equally important when preparing for a big trip. These basic tips help reduce stress involved with travel and leave more time for enjoying the sights and excitement around the world.
Beyond the journey of getting lost, partying and thousands of photos, backpacking is about simplicity, minimalism and living in the moment. Packing light is the goal, and exercising pragmatism – leave the trendy crap at home – is the first step to packing right and living in the moment.
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