If you’ve made your way to this article then you should start getting excited because you are on your way to your first backpacking trip. At this point I’m sure you are either completely overwhelmed with how you could possibly fit your entire life into just a backpack, or you have no idea where to start. I’m here to help. Consider this your definitive starting point. Here are 11 of the absolute essentials you’ll need to get started on your first backpacking journey.
#1 Choosing the Right Backpack for You
First things first is you need to figure out what kind of backpack it is that suits your needs. Here’s the sitch: you need enough storage in your backpack to fit all your stuff, but also need it to be as comfortable as possible. It needs to be comfy, durable, and make sense size wise for your body. For me personally I found the Fairview 40L by Osprey fit all my personal needs. I have it linked for you here.
What initially caught my attention about this pack is that it was actually constructed specifically for a woman’s body type, based on our curvature and stature. Osprey also has a men’s version known as the Osprey Fairpoint.
Why I chose this pack over others
This pack worked best for me because it passes most airlines regulations as a carry on. This way I wouldn’t have to spend extra time or money on checking my bag as a piece of luggage. My favorite feature on this backpack was the padded hip straps that help distribute the weight of the pack across your body, trust me, you want a pack with hip straps. Also it has a really supportive and keyword * breathable * back panel so when I was drenched in sweat trudging through Southeast Asia in the height of summer I could still catch a breeze on my back.
There is another version of this pack that I have also used which is the Fairview 55 L, if you’re someone who needs a little more storage.
The 55L has a detachable “day pack” , a smaller backpack that buckles on and off of the larger main pack. Because this backpackpack is bigger I would check the regulations of your airline to see if it qualifies as a carry on or not. Overall, these packs have a great structure, storage, and durability to them.
#1 Packing Cubes (Preferably Collapsible)
Packing cubes are basically fabric storage boxes that store your clothes and keep them organized, and although this might not be something that every backpacker uses, those who don’t, wish they did. Honestly, they just make life backpacking so much easier, and so that you don’t have to tear your whole bag apart to find one piece of clothing.
Not just any packing cube
The collapsible ones are your best bet because they have a double zipper that compresses and completely shrinks down the size of the cube. This will help maximize your backpack space.
You can find these pretty easily online or amazon with different colors and styles to choose from. In addition, to opting for the collapsible ones, its extra helpful if they have some kind of mesh makeup to them so that you can a) see what clothes you have packed in each cube and b) let your clothes breathe while they marinate in a hot backpack for weeks on end. Just trust me on this one, it’s not something you consider until you’re already too far gone.
I’ll link the cubes that I had here.
#2 Flexible TSA Approved Padlocks
During your travels, your bag is not always going to be with you. Sometimes it’ll be stuffed in the undercarriage of a bus, tossed into the back of a pickup truck , or piled in a storage room with a million other travelers’ identical bags. For this very reason you want to make sure to bring a TSA APPROVED padlocks with you. ( I’d recommend at least three)
These locks are one of those hot backpacker commodities that travelers often forget and run around trying to purchase or borrow one from someone else .Avoid all the trouble. Pack your locks.
Locks for every occasion
Not only do you need them to keep the contents of your backpack safe. You will also need them once you arrive at your hostel. Most hostels will provide you with a locker to put your stuff in, but no actual lock to close it. You don’t want to have to worry about the safety of your belongings while you’re out adventuring during the day.
Try to also stick to the flexible locks, this ensures they’ll actually fit on your backpack and the hostel lockers. Most of the hostel lockers will not fit a full size padlock, it’s better for it to be thin and flexible. And by getting the TSA Approved ones it makes your life easier in case TSA has to open up your bag. They won’t have to cut or break your lock, they already have a matching key to it.
#3 Tote Bag/ Day Pack
Even with a giant backpack, you will still need some alternative bags that can hold your things for day to day activities. This can either be a stylish mini backpack, a detachable backpack that comes included with your main pack, or really any pack for the day that works for you. You just want something to carry your day to day stuff in while you are hiking, laying on the beach, going to the store etc. etc.
On this same topic I would also recommend in addition to having your day pack to also pack a tote bag of some kind. I can guarantee at some point you are going to be shopping whether it’s for clothes or for food, and while your day pack is already packed with your necessities for the day, you’ll want a tote bag to hold all the items you’ve just bought. Even if it’s for carrying clothes to the laundry service, just bring a tote with you in case and thank me later.
#4 Power Bank
Power bank, Power bank, Power bank. This was one of my most used gadgets that I am so grateful I packed with me. When traveling abroad, being caught in an unfamiliar place with a dead phone, is honestly a nightmare. Especially on those travel days when you’re sitting on a bus for 16+ hours, arrive at your destination in the middle of the night and need to google maps your way to the hostel. The best way to make sure this doesn’t happen is by bringing a power bank with you, hell, bring two if you can. Also another note: I met a lot of fellow backpackers who purchased solar powered charging banks since it seemed convenient in case they didn’t have the time to charge them in an outlet. The idea was great except they quickly came to realize its much more likely to have the time to charge your power bank while you sleep, than finding a spot for it to lay in the sun for hours on end. Just something to keep in mind. I much prefer just a traditional power bank you can plug into the wall to recharge than a solar powered one.
#5 A Travel Adapter
Like I mentioned with the power bank. You absolutely do not want to be caught in a situation where you don’t have access to your phone because of a dead battery. To avoid this, and to make sure you have access to whatever electronics you bring, pack a travel adapter. People tend to forget that most of the time when going to a foreign country the wall outlets for their plugs are different from what yours may be in your home country. I recommend getting an adjustable universal adapter. This will have a whole selection of different outlet settings you can switch it to. This makes it so you can plug your devices in anywhere around the world. I brought just one of these with me to SEA, and was able to use the multiple different settings on the adapter to get me across the 5 different countries I traveled in.
#6 Carabiners
Carabiners are just another one of those things like the flexible locks, that every backpacker should have because it’s just going to make your life easier. You’re moving from place to place carrying a ton of weight. If you’re anything like me, as your trip goes on so will the amount of stuff you have. Just grab a pack of some simple and big carabiners that get the job done. This way you can easily clip things together, attach bags or anything you don’t have hands to carry to the outside of your pack, etc. etc. I know my carabiners came in handy when I needed to carry my dirty hiking sneakers but didn’t want to put them in my bag and make a mess of everything. I was able to easily hang them from the laces to the outside of my pack.
#7 Rain Cover for Backpack/ Rain Poncho
If you are going to be traveling somewhere where you know rain is even a possibility make sure to have a rain cover that fits fully over your bag to protect it. I backpacked during rainy season in Southeast Asia and my rain cover saved my life on more than one occasion.
I would also pack a rain poncho for yourself while you’re at it so you aren’t at the mercy of having to face the elements either. If you have both a rain cover for your backpack and a hooded rain poncho for you, I personally wouldn’t bother wasting the precious storage space by packing an umbrella. It’s going to take up unnecessary space and be a hassle to get in/out of your bag when you need it.
Rain or Shine
Even if the region you’re traveling through is dry and you don’t have to worry about rain. I would urge you to also consider the rain cover as an additional layer of protection for your backpack from any kind of liquid or mess, not just rain.
When I was on the notoriously twisty van ride up to Pai in Northern Thailand, all of our bags were stacked in the back of the van. During the ride someone got sick threw up all over our bags. Once we arrived at our destination I had to haul my pack to the nearest convenience store where I bought every cleaning product I could find, and scrubbed the living hell out of it. This could have been completely avoided had I wrapped up my pack at the beginning of the ride up.
After that unforgettable event I noticed a lot of people actually do wrap their bags in a rain cover anytime they get on a bus or truck for a long journey where our bags would be thrown carelessly into a storage compartment. This helps prevent any possible damage from spilling, or sliding accidents. This is something you might want to doubly keep in mind if you’re going to be carrying any kind of electronics with you on your trip.
#8 Ear Plugs/Eye Mask
I would say this applies for any kind of traveling you are doing even if you won’t necessarily be staying in hostels. This is because you are going to be staying in unfamiliar places where a lot of the time the sleeping conditions will be…. less than optimal.
Hostel life can be its own beast with people stumbling in and out at all hours of the night, turning on all the lights while you’re sleeping, and travelers enjoying their romances abroad…. in the bed right above you. Due to the nature of hostels being the perfect storm for all these scenarios and more, you want to pack an eye mask and ear plugs with you. Bring your ear plugs, and make sure there is enough of them to last you the length of your trip.
I thought I would only use my ear plugs and eye mask in the hostel at night , but they were so helpful on so many occasions of long travel days. For long bus rides or flights it was really nice to have access to some darkness to catch up on sleep when you’re hopping from place to place. Another insider suggestion for you that I figured out was I packed a small “sleep pouch” that i kept my ear plugs, eye mask, and sleeping pills in. This way I could lock up all my stuff while I slept at night, and just take my little sleep pouch to bed with me to get a good nights rest.
#9 Trusty Pair of Travel Shoes
Now I did mention in the beginning of this post that I wouldn’t be getting into specifics of what articles of clothing you’ll want to pack, but this is so much more than just a tank top or bikini. One of the things that takes up the most space when packing for travel is shoes. The backpackers I met all had one main pair of travel shoes that were their every day pair to get them through their trip. This will vary for you based on what activities you have planned for your trip. For three months across Southeast Asia I brought one pair of sports sandals (Tevas) that I wore literally every single day, and were still in great shape even when I got back home. Then because I knew I was also going volcano trekking at some point, I brought lightweight hiking sneakers that I just used for that one specific activity and donated after to free up the space in my pack. This made my life monumentally easier. If you’re more of a sneaker person and want to roll with your one trusty pair of tennis shoes then that works too.
I would personally recommend opting for a breathable yet durable sandal like a Teva, Chaco , or Birkenstock. This is especially true if you’re going to be in a hot/humid climate or on and off a beach.
#10 (Optional) Dry Bag
This is something you may want to invest in if you’re going somewhere beachy. This will be what your waterproof bag to keep all your items on your snorkeling adventures, and boat rides. This makes it stress free for keeping your valuables on you, and safe from any water damage. P.s. I would also recommend just buying one of these in whatever country you are going to because they will definitely have them available and more likely than not they will be cheaper than getting one at home.
#11 (Optional) Airtags/ Tiles
So these are one of the more frivolous items that you don’t necessarily need, but are extremely helpful. I have all apple devices so I bought airtags for my trip, but there are other alternatives if you don’t have an iphone, such as, Tiles. They aren’t exactly cheap so if you are backpacking on a tight budget then this might not be a priority for you, but I really do think its worth the splurge if you can manage. They can save you from having to waste so much more time and money later on down the line. The idea is, they are small electronic trackers that you can attach to your bag, passport case, keys, wallet etc. , so if they were to get lost you can see exactly where they are on your phone. Truly, every travelers nightmare is losing their passport in a foreign country and having to deal with the consequences of it after.
When I was traveling through Cambodia my friend actually left her passport at the first hostel we stayed at and didn’t realize until we had hopped off our bus and tried to check into a different hostel on the other side of the country. Luckily the hostel was able to locate her passport and send it to her, but she did have to wait three days. At that point she had to completely alter her travel plans, and not to mention the absolute panic she lived in for those three days not knowing if she would get her precious passport back. Get the airtags/Tiles if you can and get a passport case that fits them inside. I kept one with my passport, my main pack, daypack, and with my laptop. It just makes everything in your life of traveling easier if you can manage it.
In Conclusion
Here we have it. Your complete list to jumpstart you on the backpacking journey of a lifetime! Good luck and I’m so excited for you!! If you’re planning your first backpacking trip I’d love to hear about it! Share your upcoming travel plans or favorite travel story in the comments below. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message through my socials.
With Love Always,
LyssJustLiving