Top Ten Backpacking Essentials You Need Carry

When you’re packing for your once-in-a-lifetime backpacking trip you want to make sure you’re fully prepared. There’s a fine line between making sure you have everything you need and packing too much. Remember, you’re going to be carrying your backpack around for weeks at a time and you might want to leave extra space for souvenirs. So, to help you on your way, here’s a guide to your top ten backpacking essentials.

10 – Hand sanitiser

It’s a good idea to keep a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel in your bag while you’re travelling. As you’ll be travelling through lots of different environments it’s important to make sure your hands are clean and reduce the risks of picking up any bugs during your trip! And with covid still rife in some countries it’s an absolute must.

9 – Anorak

No matter how warm you think it’s going to be, there’s always a chance that the weather will turn. Particularly in hot countries, there’s usually the risk of thunderstorms, so make sure you don’t get caught out!

8 – Photocopies of important documents

Make sure you bring paper copies of all your important documents such as your passport and travel insurance. If you lose your passport or need to claim on your insurance it can prove very useful.

7 – Travel towel

A travel towel is a great way to save space in your backpack. It’s important to bear in mind that not all hostels will have towels available so it’s good to have one just in case. Plus you can use it to sunbathe on the beach!

6 – Spare credit card

If you’re unlucky enough to lose your credit card make sure you can still access your money by keeping a spare one to hand. Keep it in a secret pocket so that it’s separate from your main wallet in case you need it.

5 – Chargers

When you’re backpacking it’s likely you’ll have a few gadgets such as a camera, phone and mp3 player to keep yourself entertained on long journeys. So, don’t leave yourself disappointed by forgetting your chargers!

4 – Adapter

Following on from this, you won’t be able to make use of your chargers without an adapter. It’s worth doing some research before you leave to find out what sort of adapter you’ll need for all the countries you’ll be visiting.

3 – First-aid kit

Make sure you have plasters, mosquito cream and tummy tablets to cope with every eventuality! When you’re in another country and experiencing different foods and a different climate, it’s easy to get sick – so make sure you’re prepared!

2 – A list of important contact numbers

If you lose your phone or need to make an emergency call home, it’s a good idea to keep a list of important contact numbers just in case.

1 – Passport

It’s an obvious one but you won’t be going anywhere without it! You’d be surprised by the number of people who get to the airport without their passports. When you’re backpacking, preparation is key.

While you can’t prepare for every single eventuality, you can minimise the risk of encountering too many problems by carrying the right equipment with you! If you think we missed a backpacking essential off this list do let us know in the comments below.