What to Pack?! A Guide to Your Ultimate Backpacking List

If you’re reading this, your travel plans have probably been initiated and your packing is underway. But, you’re probably asking the question, “What in the world should I bring?” Your packing list will vary depending on weather and location, but here are a few tips that helped me on my excursions that apply to any travel destination:

1. Pack light:

   You don’t want to carry more than 1/5th of your body weight when you’re carrying a backpack. Trust me. The lighter the better, and you really don’t need as many articles of clothing or toiletries that you think you need. I survived with about 4 days worth of clothing for a 6 week trek throughout Europe. It’s easy enough to do laundry at a sink or washers that are available at lodging areas.

   Also, an easy way to save money is by forgoing checking a bag. Most airlines abroad have a 10kg or 22lb weight limit for carry-ons, so the lighter you pack, the more money you save!

2. Invest in a solid pair of versataile walking shoes:

   Your stroll through the Pyrenees isn’t going to be too much fun if your feet are covered in blisters. It’s worth investing a bit of money to save your precious soles (**reference the note below for my recommendation).

3. Useful gadgets:

   • The Rolo Bag: I absolutely love Rolo. A perfect accessory to any adventure, this bag is lightweight, waterproof, and a great way to declutter your backpack by keeping all of your clothing in neat compartments. The best part? It rolls up into a hangable space-saving portable closet. Additionally, if you need more space in your backpack, it’s got a built in sling so you can wear it as a bag or attach it outside of your backpack like a tripod to free up some room (Link: Rolo original).

   • Travel organizers: when you’re in a rush or in tight quarters, you’re going to want to have easy access to your belongings and know exactly where things are. Travel organizers are great for compartmentalizing your gear and keeping the clutter down as you travel.

   • Clothing line: if you’re traveling to Europe or really any other part of the world outside of the United States, you’re going to find that most places don’t have dryers. Clothing lines were very useful at places like hostels or Air BnB’s. Plus, they’re pretty inexpensive. I also brought along a little concentrated bottle of detergent that will last for ages (Link: Travel detergent).

4. My List:

• The essentials:

  • Travel documents (passport and copies of it)

  • Outlet adapters

  • Phone charger

  • 3-4 shirts

  • 2-3 bottoms

  • underwear (I packed about 1.5 week’s worth—this mostly depends on how frequently you’d want to do laundry)

  • a lightweight, but warm jacket

  • a solid pair of walking shoes

  • a day bag

  • microfibre towel (link here)

  • hygiene products (toothbrush/toothpaste/facewash/razor/nail clippers etc.)

• Depending on the season:

  • If it’s Summer:

    • water shoes or flip flops

    • a swimsuit

• Optional, but highly encouraged:

  • sunglasses

  • portable phonecharger

  • Camera gear (charger, SD card, lenses etc.)

  • insect repellant

  • first aid kit

  • ear phones

  • ear plugs

  • sleeping mask

  • compact neck pillow

  • medicine

  • clothing line

  • travel sized laundry detergent

  • moleskin (in case of those stubborn calluses)
    

  • If it’s Winter:

    • A solid down jacket that’s preferably waterproof

    • gloves, hat, scarf

    • waterproof hiking shoes or snow boots

To recap: pack light, your feet are precious, and there are items out there worth investing in to make your trip as seamless as possible. This isn’t a complete list of everything that you may need, but it’s a great place to start!

** Note: If you’re a minimalist fashionista like me, you’re going to want a shoe that’s lightweight and equally as stylish as it is comfortable. I only wanted to take one pair of shoes, so I had to choose wisely. This was no easy feat, but lo and behold, I found one. Olukai is an awesome brand that builds a quality shoe that are fashionable but are simultaneously functional. I’m personally a huge fan of their Upena sandals as they meet all of the above criteria and matched with almost every outfit I put together. These shoes also carried me through cobbly stone streets, mountains, and rivers and still came out looking almost brand new by the end of the trip, so they’re pretty durable. Olukai also carries trainers, flip-flops, and other shoes that meet all sorts of needs for men and women. You honestly can’t go wrong with them! (Link: Upena sandals)