Backpacking Tips: What to pack

Planning on traveling abroad and not sure what to pack?  I did a 30-day-16-cities backpackathon and here’s what I recommend:

• A sturdy backpack meant for backpacking – not your book bag – that is small enough to be used as carryon
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 pair of shorts made of a quickly drying material
• 2-3 tshirts or tank tops
• 1 super lightweight button down shirt
• 1 nice shirt
• 5 pairs of underwear
• 1 pair of shoes that are versatile and don’t require socks (I brought my TOMS)
• 1 solid shampoo
• 1 hand towel
• 1 water bottle with carabiner to hook on the outside of your backpack OR a platypus water bottle
• 1 small journal
• 3 safety pins
• 1 pencil
• 1-3 feet of duct tape wrapped around said pencil
• 1 unlocked smart phone with a SIM card slot and its charger
• 1 lightweight thermal zip-up
• 1 Chapstick
• 1 small tin of lotion or salve (i.e. the Nivea tins)
• 1 travel-size bottle of sunscreen
• 1 tube of antibiotic cream
• 1 pack of anti-diarrhea pills (not kidding)
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 small tin of toothpaste (1 tbsp = 1 week)
• 1 travel of ibuprofen
• 3 bandaids
• 1 travel sewing kit
• 1 deodorant
• 1 shaving razor
• 1 nail clipper
• 1 tweezer
• 1 small flashlight
• 1 wristwatch
• 1 small day pack, like a drawstring bag
• 2 TSA approved luggage locks (with tumblers, not keys)
• 1 Master Lock
• Travel pack of tissues
• 1 bandada
• 1-2 photocopies of each: passport (the page with your info), driver’s license, any necessary visa papers, any credit or debit cards you plan on bringing – make sure to shove these all the way at the bottom of your pack or put them in a hidden pocket
• Passport
• 2 compression bags that do not require a vacuum
• Any medications, contact solution, glasses or other medical necessities

Optional:

• 1 scarf (optional: for warmth, and if you’re a lady and wearing shorts, there are many times when you may be asked to cover up your legs or shoulders in places like old churches)
• 1 pair of nice, flat sandals if you’re planning on going somewhere nice
• 1 swimsuit
• 1 comb (brushes take up too much space)
• 1 tablet or netbook with charger to get on the internet
• 1 travel-size umbrella

This set of items will keep you prepared while keeping the weight down and even saving a little room for knickknacks bought along the way.  The liquids/gels listed will fit into a TSA-regulation-sized plastic bag so you can walk right onto a plane with your pack.

The key is to find as many multi-purpose items as you can, for example solid shampoo can be used to clean your hair, body, and clothes.  A bandana can be used to keep sweat off your face, blow your nose, temporarily cover a wound, or dry off after a shower if you can’t fit a hand towel in your pack.  Nail clippers can clip your nails, thread, zipties, and bags you just can’t get open.

A good rule when trying to decide what to pack and what not to pack is if you haven’t used it in at least the last week, if not the last couple days, you really don’t need it.  If you find yourself abroad and without some absolute necessity, it’s okay, you can always buy whatever it is when you’re there (people live there, too, you know).

Fellow nomads, did I miss anything really important?