Let’s be honest, that first time packing your backpack ready for travelling is both exciting and daunting- excited for what is to come, but overwhelmed with knowing what you need (and don’t need), especially if you are going for a longer period of time.
So, please read on to see our top tips on things to pack for your first backpacking trip! We always forget things, but having a list as a guide is always a great start!
We believe these are great things to pack, but everyone differs, and we are sure you will find your own packing style with time; some don’t like packing smaller amounts, and will opt for larger bags to take more, whereas some are just happy with a small bag and simplistic packing list.
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Bag options
A great start to packing is essentially what will hold it all! You may already have your bag, but if you don’t this is our small guide.
We prefer to backpack rather than bringing suitcases, and we also try to opt to handheld luggage rather than checked in bags. For us this keeps costs lower and makes the travel experience more enjoyable. The last thing you want to be doing is walking around with a heavy bag on your back on tiring yourself out!
There are many opinions online about what bags to use, what size, what brand etc, so here is our top list!
Osprey Farpoint 40 – This backpack is a staple amongst many travellers! Being a lot cheaper than the luxury brands, this is a quality backpack from a well known brand. It boasts quality durability, is lightweight with a great framework and is a great option for most people! This backpack has a hip strap to help carry the bag, a breathable harness strap, and comes in multiple colours! Check it out here.
Peak Design Travel Backpack – This backpack is more expensive, however many call this the best travel backpack they have owned! Featuring up to 45l of storage, is can be compressed down to a smaller 30l bag, making it suitable to be a handheld bag for most flights (check individual airline separately)! It features designated laptop space, hidden pockets, a waist/hip belt amongst many cool features! Check it out here.
Cabin Max Ryanair Bag – This budget friendly backpack is a great option for shorter trips! We understand many do not have the funds to buy expensive bags, so this option is a lot cheaper than many mainstream options. This bag fits the Ryanair measurement constraints for hand luggage so no need to pay for booked luggage! It comes in some really fun colours AND patterns, so you can really choose what fits your aesthetic most! There is also an option to get a bag with a built in handle, similar to suitcases, so is great for those unable to carry a bag all day! Check it out here.
How to pack
This probably sounds a strange title. However, travel packing can be a skill in itself! Especially for those longer trips for weeks/months+, you want to take the necessary items without using too much space.
Packing cubes are a necessity to us when we travel! There are a few types of packing accessories you can buy, so we will list some of our favourites below!
Normal Packing Cubes – Packing cubes are a great way to keep your stuff organised when packing for big trips! This set we found here included 11 different packing accessories, with 6 cubes, a shoe bag, underwear bag, toiletries bag, a laundry bag, toothbrush holder and a small items flat bag! It also comes in a few different colours.
Compression Packing Cubes – Compression cubes are our favourite packing accessory! These cubes are similar to the normal packing cubes, but feature a compression zip, meaning you can compress your clothes down… this makes packing easier, limits the space you are using, and means more room for souvenirs etc! We would recommend better quality ones like these ones here as cheaper ones can mean the zip breaks easier!
Toiletry Travel Pouch/Hanger – This isn’t necessarily an essential, but for many it is extremely helpful! This toiletry bag comes with a built in hanger, so when you get ready in your accommodation you can hang it up on the door, which can limit the chance of ruining your things! It can help make getting ready less stressful – no need for countertop space since everything can be arranged and stored in different compartments! Find it here.
Travel Essentials
There are some key items needed for travelling, that normally works out a lot easier (and sometimes cheaper) to sort prior to your trip! We are keeping in mind the budget traveller more so here, with some recommendations being suited to hostel-based accommodation.
Padlocks – Keeping a few padlocks are great for keeping your stuff safe when travelling. Most dorms come with locker space to keep your items safe, however barely any come with their own locking system. This is where your padlock comes in! It is also great to use one on the zips of your bag if this makes you feel safer. We have never been stolen from whilst travelling, but it is always best to stay on the safe side. Find some TSA approved padlocks here.
Carabiners – This is another small item that can come in handy! Carabiners are a great addition to keep, as when you are struggling for space, or you don’t want something held in your bag, you can attach your carabiner to your bag and hang an item outside your bag – i.e. your dirty hiking boots! Find some multicoloured ones here.
Universal Travel Plug Adapter – Most backpackers/travellers visit multiple countries during one trip. And that means it isn’t guaranteed you will be using the same plug head during each place. A universal plug is great as it lets you switch between each plug head style all in one item! We love ours, it has USB slots meaning multiple items can be charged at once. Find similar to ours here.
Ear Plugs – We know a part of dorms means you are open to hearing people snore (some people don’t mind, others really struggle), so ear plugs are great to overcome that! You might even want to shut off from people around you (and that’s okay)! We have recently seen a massive hype for loop ear plugs, due to offering multiple styles of ear plugs (for different noise levels). Find a cool one here.
Water Bottles – we are going to suggest two types here! The first is a filter water bottle – while travelling it can be difficult to find suitable drinking water. This filter system water bottle is meant to help eliminate any harmful bacteria that can come from regular drinking water. Read about it yourself here! Our second recommendation is a collapsable water bottle which can fold down to a very compact size – this is a great space-saving option, and one we have used ourselves! Find it here.
Portable Shower Head Filter – This won’t be for everyone, however in many Southeast Asian countries (guaranteed), tap water is extremely damaging to your hair and skin. People have reported of travelling Bali and experiencing hair loss and damage from the harsh shower water. You can now buy a filter to attach to the shower head that will help remove harsh chemical and will add in some extra vitamins. Find one here.
Basic Medical Kit – This is easily made from home! Check medication requirements for each country, but pack some basic painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, and anti constipations meds, electrolytes (especially for when you get a bad belly). Some plasters and basic medical supplies. We found a great starter kit here.
Head Phones – We also love to take headphones wherever we go! Sometimes you need time to yourself, or you just want to chill and catch up on some YouTube in your down time (please feel free to watch our videos here). We would recommend wireless options, just for ease of charging your phone and carrying your items. Find a great recommendation here.
Laundry essentials – If you are travelling for longer periods, you will need to wash your clothes! We found these through a friend of ours in Costa Rica, you can get laundry detergent sheets that simply go in the washing machine to clean your clothes! They are budget friendly, and can be found here. We would also recommend a separate laundry bag… you do not want smelly clothes mixed in with clean clothes (the smell can get bad). We have found a cute one here.
Bumbag / Pouch – We always love a bumbag to take all your daily necessities along, without needing to drag your big backpack out with you! We love flat ones, that can be easily hidden underneath your tshirt for day to day use. This one here is a great option, it comes in many colours and is discrete for travelling in busy places.
Spare Cards – We would always recommend to take multiple bank cards when travelling. Jack made this mistake… and lost his one travel card the day he left for Southeast Asia (luckily his friend had one he could use). We use revolut but there are many great travel cards!
Razors – There are many hair removal techniques, and you may be able to find what you need while away! To stay on the safe side, maybe take a few back up options. You can buy compact razors like the ones here, or maybe try taking an electronic razor if it’s not too heavy/bulky!
Sanitary items for women – For those who choose to have their periods while travelling, it isn’t always straight forward to buy sanitary towels and tampons. It can either be expensive, or just difficult to find! We would just recommend taking a decent supply for your trip, as they don’t take up too much room! There is the option of trying period underwear (not too sure how these will be for people with heavier periods), also many opt for the eco-friendly alternative of a moon cup, which can be found here.
Waterproof Playing Cards – Yes, we understand this may not be a necessity… but we all know how much a game of cards can be appreciated (especially on your travels). We have found a cool pack of WATERPROOF cards (they look cool too) which are great for any location and occasion, find them here.
Powerbank – Don’t lose power when travelling! It isn’t always guaranteed to find charging ports, so we would always suggest carrying a spare power bank, just incase you do run low on power when you need it! Jack really recommends this one here.
Travel Toothbrush – It’s always great to freshen up, so carry a compact toothbrush and paste so you always feel ready for the day ahead! Find a great one here.
What clothes to take
This will solely depend on the person. Jack likes to pack little, and isn’t majorly fashion focused… however, I myself (Aimee) love to take a few extra options to change up my outfits! Plus, we always try to get some really nice travel photos, and I want to look nice!
We do recommend to not take as much as you think you might need! A great tip we have seen before is put out what you think you need, then half it, and half that again! Apparently that is the right amount!
We won’t give a big list of what clothes to take as that does vary. But we suggest taking these on top of your essentials :
- Swimsuits (at least one full costume for women)
- At least 1x long top/trousers for places you need to cover
- A shawl can be a great option as a cover up!
- Sandles
- Walking shoes
- A proper hat for the sunny days
- Sun glasses
- A jumper/hoodie/cardigan for chilly nights
- A rain mac for all weather and activities
Walking Shoes
We do suggest trying options on if you have never previously brought walking shoes! However, our recommendation for men’s walking shoes would be these Soloman walking boots, and for women’s we suggest checking out some of the Mountain Warehouse ranges like these ones here.
Sandals can also come in walking-approved formats (how fun)! We have seen a massive hype over Teva sandals, which Aimee will be buying some for our next trip! Find a nice pair here.
Apart from that, maybe take a pair of comfy trainers or flats to have a bit of variety!
Packing is different for everyone
Just like travelling is different for everyone, so is the packing! We have put this list together as a rough guide, however it will vary SO much trip to trip, person to person!
We hope this list will help you for your first backpacking trip!
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