What to take - backpacker essentials

I'm often asked what do you take backpacking?

Depends on what type of trip your going on and for how long. I have been known to take a dress that can be stuffed (literally) into a bag if I'm going to a decent restaurant or have a need however usually its just essentials. Some may argue that they would not take all of the list, it depends on you and how long you are going for. The world is getting smaller, everything is becoming available everywhere. I bought a smart phone in Tajikistan and a hard drive in Kyrgyzstan. Shopping malls are becoming the norm unless going off the beaten track and then local markets will surprise you.

Biggest tip

Lay your belongings out on the bed then half it. Most of it can be bought on route cheaper if you really need it. You want it fine but you have to carry it and it can get heavy after ½ mile or more

Electronics were never an option when I first started travelling now I can’t travel without them. In Taiwan I was actually watching a performance through someone else’s mobile phone as they were recording the event preventing me from being able to see

Large Rucksack - Good quality with chest strap and waist strap -  I use a Ladies Karimoor rucksack and after 16 years had the zip replaced.  My zips opens up the whole rucksack making it easier to see things than having to pack from the top.  Other travellers were in awe of this so choose wisely. The bottom pocket is great for sleeping stuff so easy to get at without unpacking. Wear it in an scuff it up so it doesn’t look brand new so your not a target when you get off the plane

Rucksack waterproof liner or cover -your preference I started with liner now have a cover so can get into rucksack easier

Electronics

Laptop or tablet – to record your trip, process photos or idle away hours searching online

Smart Phone – I bought my Huawei smartphone out in Tajikistan for $50, benefit of this brand it has space for two Sim cards great if you are travelling several countries or have a home and location Sim

Sim card in the country visiting usually they are very cheap  (Japan was about $35 for 3 weeks so I didn’t bother) this helps you stay in contact with friends you meet or use a language translator when things get tough. WIFI is available in most locations now so all is not lost if you don’t buy a Sim. Beware of viruses. I opened a Whatsapp message from a person I thought was a friend it was someone pretending to be. That cost me! My travel phone became infected and added 100 Russian contacts into my phone and email. This then infected my UK phone when back

E-reader – saves carrying books around

Camera – I have a Canon DSLR great photos but smaller phones are more portal and lighter…

Camera Battery - two or three saves charging every night 

Sd cards - lots of small capacity ones best, I lost photos on two out of 10 cards on one trip

External hard drive or store in the cloud – I lost all my sorted photos as it broke, luckily I had not reused my SD cards so had them to sort out again Chargers and adapters – double up where possible. A multi adapter  (cheaper in country) if you have so many gadgets. I bought a new currency convertor off EBay which had two USB sockets attached saving space.

Penang Malaysia

 

 Clothing and sleeping gear

Sleeping bag – weather dependent
 
Silk sleeping bag liner –standard kit as it is much cooler and can be warmer than cotton and
feels nicer on the skin.  Great for trains save having to make your bed on top bunk and then remove it in the middle of the night when it’s your stop. If hostel sheets not clean ideal

Foldaway blanket (which the army use) - kept me warm on the  boat journey from  Mandalay as well as taking up less space than one I used to buy each trip. 

Waterproofs – I generally end up with a thick plastic poncho – why? They are longer than a           waterproof therefore keeps you dryer. It can cover your backpacks as well. If it rips you buy   
 another one they are also available in most countries

Trousers - 2 pairs of zip off trousers (3 maximum) so one can be worn and the other washed

Tops – Wick tops or quick dry T-shirts – 3 is great again take more at your peril

Long sleeve shirt – protect from heat and mosquitos later in the day.

Jumper – 2  wear and wash

Socks / underwear – quick dry and lightweight unless serious trekking or cold climate

Sports bra – I prefer these to regular bra’s as feel freer and gives better support

Walking trainers, walking sandals – if a long trip go good quality. I always have Vibram sole, walking is the new jumping in your car.

Flip flops – for shower , beach or when had enough of walking shoes

Travel towel – I originally had a very thin one but upgraded to microfiber and never looked back

Sarong – Multipurpose doubles as a sheet for bed, skirt or shoulder cover for temples


Swimming costume- consider country in as to how much need to cover up

Thermals – depending on location, often use these to sleep in

Sleep wear – can be in mixed dorms or sharing with locals on trains

Money belt – Sits under trousers, I carry this daily,  can leave in locker if totally secure in hostel

Sunhat / warm hat and gloves – depending on location

Sunglasses

Note - I travelled both in hot and cold countries and due to route took ie add on countries I kept switching meaning I had to have both. A Microlight jacket may be a good option and one I would look to buy in the future.

                                     
                                                                                        Argentina
Toiletries
Toothbrush (Battery operated) – My luxury item batteries are easy to buy on location

Tampons – becoming more widely available depending on the country visited

Dental floss string – great for doubling up eg tying up parcels or to chairs

Glasses / contact lenses (solution)

Small shampoo , conditioner or combined  - buy and share with a friend less weight

Dettol soap -  takes sweat away instead of shower gel, available at destination if not in UK

Face cream  - long journeys needed this as exposed to more elements

Malaria tablets – will depend on location

Nail clippers and nail file

Wet wipes - small packet great for removing stains from clothes (optional)

                                           
                                                    Mongolian steppe milking herd

Consider
Thrush cream and tablet - it can be hot and sweaty
Antibiotics - note medication can be illegal in some countries eg Uzbekistan check requirements before leave
Antacids - spicy food can take an effect
Condoms
Pictures of back home – locals love to see them or have them on your phone

                                                      
                                                   Girl playing in happily playing in dung in Mongolia

Online scanned copies
Passport, photos for visa’s, visas, glasses prescription, family addresses and important phone numbers

Insurance – Annual best if out for two + trips a year or may need to shop around depending on how long trip is. Make sure all your electrical's are covered or take out a separate camera policy if necessary.

                                     
                                                                 Mongolian girl

Odds and sods – I keep in one stuff sack
Washing line / bar of laundry soap or small packet of sealed washing power – available in country – this time I paid for my laundry done as my second luxury, life is too short…..

Snacks - Snickers or sweets – quick energy boost buy anywhere

Torch or use phone

2 Carabiner’s – useful to clip backpack to chair or overhead compartment against theft or falling

Travel pillow – saw the benefit of this on my last trip being able to sleep, also great to sit on for long journeys and Asian style bench seats

Ear plugs and eye mask – shared dorms essential kit, cotton wool or tissue if you forget

Small fold up bag to go to market with as less discrete than small rucksack great for food shopping

Reusable coffee mug – Perfect for bus and train journeys I even carried my own coffee so had good coffee on tap

Credit card x 2 , debit cards x 2 in case one lost or damaged

Local Money, dollars easiest as a backup. I tend to carry some back up local money in my bra, depending on country’s safety you could have a small spare purse with an old credit or debit card in with loose change in so it doesn’t matter if stolen.

Diary or notebook - to keep a diary / notes in

Small Pritt stick or cellotape – keep ticket stubs or important memories safe in diary

Needle and cotton - can keep in first aid kit

                                    
                                           Mongolian man at the Nadam Festival
 
Day bag
Hand gel – daily essential to help against food poisoning

Waterproof liner – keeps everything dry and can be used in boating if necessary

Tissues - doubles up as loo roll which was not provided anywhere in Taiwan

Water bottle – reusable best

Mosquito repellent - this can be bought locally although not all countries allow deet

Small first aid kit – can top up as go if need anything else

o   Dioralyte – one  a week to help with salts and sugars sweating out buy on route

o   Imodium instants – never get caught short

o   Blister plasters / regular plasters

o   Bite clicker – more effective than cream

o   Ipruprofen – pain and inflammation

o   Couple of safety pins for those awkward moments

Small notepad and pencil (pencil works even in rain) , one on phone great unless battery dead…

o   Electrical tap wrap around pencil or pen – for emergencies

Small penknife (pack in main bag for airport)….. great for fruit, cheese and yummy food. Make sure it has a bottle opener or corkscrew if you drink.

                                   
                  Travelling upstream by boat in Sarawak we had to make sure luggage was waterproof