I find it sometimes overwhelming trying to figure out what to pack on a backpacking trip. This is why I have narrowed down the essential items and what are the most useful to have when you’re travelling around the world.

*I have excluded clothing and hygiene products from the list as these types of items are very specific to each person.

This is pretty much everything I bring when I’m travelling the world. It may look like a lot, but it easily fits into my bag (Osprey 40L) with lot of additional room for clothes, makeup, and hygiene products. You can also purchase a rain cover for your bag as this is especially important to have when travelling through rainy cities.

This is everything I bring for storage:

• Compression Bag
• Laundry Bag
• Reusable grocery bag
• Pillowcase
• Quick-dry towel
• Makeup bags
• Cosmetic hanging storage bag
• Compact day-pack
• Extra storage bag for random items along the way.

Always Bring More Than One Pair of Shoes

Usually I travel to places that are warm or very hot. This means that I like to bring a comfy pair of sandals for the lazy days and a great pair of running shoes for hikes, walks, and simply roaming around the city. I will also sometimes bring a good pair of boots if I know I am going to be somewhere that is muddy or has lots of water. You will definitely need more than one pair of shoes!

Electronics and Gadgets

I like to keep it simple with the electronics that I bring on my trips. Lugging around 20 pounds of camera equipment can simply be annoying. I’ve made it my mission to only bring a few things such as my phone and my mini laptop.

I only bring:

• A phone charger (plus a backup)
• Two charging adaptors
• Power bar
• Portable hard-drive (2 TB)
• Phone
• Laptop

Stay Hydrated and Nourished

Since I often stay in hostels I am able to cook and prepare meals while travelling. I think its important to bring a water bottle and a compact food container so that you can keep drinks, snacks, and meals with you during the day. This will allow you to save money as you will not have to purchase restaurant food for every meal.

Stay Safe!

When it comes to safety I simply bring a medical travel kit, any important travel papers, and a lock for the lockers that I use in the hostels.

I also use the Life 360 app whenever I’m travelling alone. It lets my family members know where I am through tracking the GPS in my phone. This is a great safety feature as you never know what could happen when you’re travelling alone.

Keep a Journal

Another thing I recommend bringing on your trip is a travel journal. It may seem silly, but it’s the perfect place to glue in any receipts, tickets, or photos you may take along the way.

The Backpack

Lastly, I use the Osprey Talon|Tempest 40L bag. It can be used as a carry-on (depending on the airline). Personally, I usually check the bag in as I’m always over the carry-on weight limit. This is a great bag to use for your travel and it has never let me down.

This pretty much covers everything I bring when I go backpacking. I hope this helps you organise your next travel adventure!

Safe travels,

Carina