What To Take
"A Packing List - Backpacking Essentials"
When packing to leave to go travelling for a substantial period of time, it is important to remember that you are a backpacker. This means that you will be carrying everything you need in your backpack. You obviously cannot carry 12 months of clothes, you can only afford to take "the essentials" with you as you do not want to be weighed down by the kitchen sink. If you do come unstuck then there is a good chance that you can pick things up at markets at half the price anyway.
I have compiled a list below of the most useful items to take backpacking and the reasons why. Remember, pack lightly and efficiently.
Good pair of shoes: As a backpacker travelling the world you will be doing a lot of walking whether you like it or not and so a good pair of walking shoes is vital. This is not an area to skimp on as there is nothing worse than a pair of shoes that rub, let in water or fall apart. Professional walking shoes are the best buy as they are designed to tackle all terrains and are designed for walking long distances. The second best bet is a good pair of trainers with a good supportive sole. Perhaps wear the shoes before leaving for a week to make sure they are actually comfortable and fit your feet.
Medical Kit: If you get into any kind of difficulty and require medical attention a medical kit is lightweight and can prevent a situation becoming worse than it needs to be. Essential contents of a medical kit may include: Waterproof plasters, fabric plasters, antiseptic cream, wound dressing, Paracetamol and bandages. Travel Medical Kits can be purchased cheaply online.
Mosquito Repellent: To stop yourself being bitten to death by these pests take a good strong repellent. Sprays containing deet are by far the best, but be sure to use carefully as this stuff is very strong and too much can burn your skin. For information of common diseases carried and spread by mosquitoes visit our vaccinations web page.
Camera: A good camera is a must have for any backpacking trip. There are two options depending on how enthusiastic you are about photography. The most popular choice is the point and shoot camera. You get good quality pictures from a camera you can fit in your pocket. They are cheap and store a lot of photos. For more avid photographers an SLR camera is the better option. The pictures are amazing quality at distance, close up and in low lighting (areas where a point and shoot may struggle) but are more bulky and dearer than your average point and shoot. Your camera choice could depend on where you are going and what types of shots you are likely to take, but either way a camera is an essential piece of kit.
A Waterproof: If you think it can rain hard in Britain then you haven’t seen anything yet. If you happen to time your travels to coincide with a wet season or you are backpacking in the tropics then this will be a lifesaver as it can rain hard and for long periods of time even if it was glorious sunshine a couple of minutes ago. Everyone knows what a waterproof does so I will say no more.
Locks: It is a good idea to use padlocks on your backpack as you may have to leave it in dormitories during the day. Small locks can be purchased cheaply and can be fastened across two zips to hold the opening closed. At the airport for security checks these padlocks may be broken off to search your bag so be prepared for this. There are special padlocks you can get for US travel which can be opened by a master key. This means security will not have to break your locks and are a good investment if you are doing a lot of internal US flights.
Things can go missing in dormitories and so it can be useful as an extra precaution to take a light weight bicycle chain with you and chain your backpack to the bunk bed when out for the day.
Mesa Verde national Park, Colorado
Swim shorts: For boys these are a great travel accessory as they can be used when you have no clean underwear as the netting can keep everything in place. They can also double up as a pair of shorts, and of course be used as swim wear. You would find these in my backpack every time.
Quick dry towel: These are thinner and smaller than ordinary towels, and are brilliant at drying out 20 minutes before being thrown in your backpack. This means the remainder of your clothes stay dry and do not have that damp towel smell when they emerge from your backpack after a seven hour coach journey.
Sleeping bag liner: This handy addition to your backpack is very useful even if you are not taking a sleeping bag. Some hostels can be very grotty and sheets can be dirty or need hiring. A sleeping bag liner can save you the cost of hiring sheets and can keep you from lying on dirty sheets. They are very cheap and weigh next to nothing in your backpack.
MP3 Player: The best form of entertainment is music on long journeys. MP3 players can hold 1000s of songs, have good battery life and can have new music added wherever the Internet is available. Try not to flash your mp3 player around if it is expensive as it is easy to make yourself a target to thieves.
Torch: At some point on your travels you will find yourself in the dark scrabbling to find a light switch when you need the loo. Be one step ahead a put a torch in your backpack.
Ear Plugs and face mask: These items are most effective when used together when trying to get some sleep on an over night journey when kids in the row behind are screaming. Look out for these on aeroplanes as on long haul flights these are sometimes provided for free.
Sun Glasses: Buy a good pair of sunglasses