I’m always asked by friends “what should I pack?” Well, it all depends on the person but here’s a list of things to pack that I’ve finally pared down from my 3 major backpacking trips plus numerous side trips here and there. The essentials are bolded. Most of the items you can pick up along your travels depending on where you’re traveling. Please feel free to leave a comment on things that you feel others would appreciate on a backpacking trip.
Clothes
(read more about clothes here)
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of long cargo pants that can be folded up to capris or shorts
- 1 pair of flowy pants (fisherman/parachute/linen), two pairs if you’re going to a more reserved/religious region where you need to cover up (the second pair can double as PJs)
- 1 zip up hoodie
- 1 thin long sleeved shirt
- 1 or 2 t-shirts
- 1 or 2 tank tops (again, the second one can be worn for PJs)
- underwear to last a week
- For girls: 2 bras (1 light coloured and 1 dark)
- 2 pairs of socks
- a sun dress for girls or a light collared shirt for guys (you never know when you need to dress it up!)
- running shoes
- flip flops
- a scarf (or you can just buy one)
- bathing suit (2 if you’re planning on going to the beach a lot)
- optional: rain jacket
- sunglasses
- watch
Toiletries
- shampoo/conditioner body wash/soap/face wash
- sun screen
- bug repellant
- lotion
- deodorant
- contact solution/contact case/spare contacts/glasses/glasses case
- hair brush
- tweezers
- minimal makeup: eye liner, lip balm, mascara
- face wipes
- sanitary items (i.e. tampons/pads)
- razors
- eye drops
- small mirror
Medicine/First Aid
(read more about first aid here)
- Tylenol/Advil/whatever pain killer you fancy
- Dukoral
- hydrocortisone cream
- bandaids
- antibiotic cream
- hand sanitizer
- Cipro(floxacin)
- wet wipes/naps
- malaria pills
- over the counter antacid & anti-diarrhea
- anti-nausea medicine (Gravol)
- allergy pills
- vitamins
- any other drugs you’re already taking (i.e. birth control pills, allergy medicine, etc)
Electronics
- camera/camera charger/memory card(s)
- cell phone/charger
- ipod/mp3 player & charger
- alarm clock
- flashlight/head lamp
Home comforts
(read more about it here and here)
- rope
- duct tape
- laundry detergent
- sink plug
- hostel sheet
- water bottle (cheap tip: buy bigger quantities of bottled water and keep refilling your bottle instead of buying smaller ones all the time, plus more environmentally friendly!)
- Swiss Army Knife/Leatherman
- carabiners (they’re always handy for something)
- bag locks (enough to lock all openings in your bag)
- combination lock (to lock your bag up in hostels, on trains etc)
- mosquito net
- money belt
- ear plugs
- quick dry towel
- plastic and ziploc bags
Other
- photo ID (other than your passport, bring student ID if possible as there are often discounts for students)
- passport
- vaccination certificates (for countries where this is a requirement to enter. i.e. most African countries)
- contact info of people at home and in the countries you’re visiting if possible
- photocopies of ID/passport (really came in handy here)
- itinerary/travel book
- books to read/trade
- pen, sketch pencil, highlighter
- notebook/journal/scrap paper
- compass
- credit/debit cards
- US dollars (for emergencies, accepted everywhere I’ve traveled so far)
