When you decide to head off and backpack around any region for an extended time. You will find you have a certain amount of backpacking gear you need to take.
While trying to keep things as light as possible, you also need to be sure you have everything you require for every eventuality.
Once you begin creating your packing lists, you find there are very different areas of what you need to take. You have essential things to pack for traveling, backpacking necessities, and of course, those backpacking essentials.
The good thing is, here, you can learn what you need to take in each section to make up all your travel gear.
Top 5 Essentials for Backpacking
No matter what your backpacking packing list ends up looking like, these are the 5 backpacking must-haves.
1. Foldable Daypack
It may sound counterintuitive to take a second bag, yet when you hit your destinations, and you are backpacking for the day, you don’t want to be lugging your full-sized backpack with you.
A foldable day bag is lightweight, and allows you to stash all you need for the day. You can also use your daypack to keep all your essentials for traveling, either by flying, trains or busses.
2. Real Travel Towels
A towel is not the same as another towel. A travel towel is purpose made for long-term travel. Often made from microfiber materials, they are lightweight, fold up to next to nothing, and dry fast.
Compare this to your regular towel that is large, doesn’t fold up well, and stays wet after a shower.
3. Travel Security Belts
When you are on the road, you always need access to cash. However, depending on the country, there may be others wanting access. Such belts may not be big enough to keep copies of your essential documents.
Nevertheless, they can be enough to keep your money safe and out of other people’s hands as you venture out for the day.
4. Padlocks
A good lock can be essential to protect your belongings. You can use it to lock your bag, and when you use lockers, you can use them there too.
Be sure to take more than one and choose combination locks instead of key locks. Also, look out for those with a TSA symbol.
When airport security has to check your luggage in your absence, they can open your bags with a master key or combination and will not damage it.
5. Worldwide Travel Adaptor
It is debatable for the fifth item because an individual’s travel requirements differ. However, even with a power bank for gadgets, you will still need to charge these at some stage.
Besides, many tout water bottles as a necessity, yet you can easily purchase bottled water.
Therefore reusable water bottles fall into necessities rather than essentials. Be sure to select a travel adaptor that has USB charging ports as well as other standard connections.
Read More: 9 Things You Need To Know Before Traveling To Thailand
Essential Backpacking Gear
On an extended backpacking trip, there can be a temptation to try to take too much gear. Here are things that can make your journey much more comfortable.
Clothing for Backpacking
One of the things that will weigh you down. Here is a rundown of the best backpacking clothing tips.
Dark clothes: Darker clothes hide any stains and you can wear them longer.
Lightweight clothes: Forget jeans. Make sure all your clothing, be it hot or cold weather clothing is light, and you can fold. Don’t forget you can layer items to keep warm. To stay organized, consider packing cubes to keep your clothes separated and easy to access.
Take Fewer Clothes: Depending on where you travel, you can find clothes that are cheaper than at home. Buy what you need on the road and discard it if you need to.
Clothing necessities will encompass a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, bandana or buff, trekking trainers or alternative, and a decent pair of flip-flops.
You can use a buff or your bandana as an eye mask for longer trips where you need to sleep or pack one specially made for the purpose.
Personal Care Gear
You will find these comprise lots of smaller items, so taking a purpose maid first aid kit, either a purchased kit or one you built yourself, as well as a toiletry bag (with hook). Keeping all your hygiene items together can make life much more comfortable.
Be sure to add in a good hand sanitizer. Washing with soap is better, yet if you are mobile or diving in for local street food, then a good dollop of antibacterial hand gel can suffice.
One of the top travel tips is to take a dry bag with you. While you may not be in a wet environment, you never know when you can face a downpour, and you need to be sure your electrical gadgets and travel documents are safe.
Backpacking Adventurer Travel Essentials
When you head off on a trip of this magnitude, it will all be an adventure. Here, you have some items that are travel essentials, while others are nice to have.
A head torch can be more suited than using a flashlight. It means you have both hands free, and can be used while hitting the trails, or in the bathroom when there is a power outage.
You never know where you will be staying overnight, so it is advisable to make sure you have a good sleeping bag and sleeping pad. A good night’s sleep can make you feel refreshed for another full day of adventure.
Add into this a sleeping bag liner, if you are in a hostel or hotel and sheets don’t appear to be that clean, a sleeping bag liner can be just the thing.
Water bottles and purification tablets are a must. Even if you purchase bottled water, it is good to know you are cutting down on plastic waste by taking your water bottle. You can find many purification methods, so think about what extent you may need it.
Read More: 5 Best Books to Read While Traveling
Conclusion
You can compile a list much more extensive than this for things to bring when traveling. Your list will comprise very similar items, yet some will be personal to yourself.
Travel insurance is one thing you need, above all else. If you need medical care, it can be costly in some countries, not to mention canceled flights or any other mishap that may happen on the way.
Back this up with copies of all your essential travel documents, laminated for waterproofing, and a few sets of passport photos for possible visas you may need.
Making your packing list isn’t hard as long as yo cover all the angles. Health and safety are the most important because many of the other things you can cover while on the road.
