My fully-laden pack for hiking Nepal's Everest Region- came in at about 12kg which for a month of hiking was pretty good. Packing to go away for any trip can be a daunting task, whether it is a two-week jaunt around the Philippines or a six-month meander through Africa. Having lived out of a backpack for some years now, I’m slowly refining my technique- though you’ll probably still find me breathing in on my bag’s behalf as I lower it onto the airport scales or wondering why I thought I would need quite so many books with me tramping New Zealand’s hiking trails.
Travel is a constant learning process- though hopefully this article can help you along the way and maybe to skip some of the jeez-I-can’t-even-lift-this shenanigans.
FIRSTLY: BE HONEST
First up, have a good honest appraisal of your travel style. The sort of packing I roll with and will detail here is the carrying-your-home-on-your-back style- not trying to exist on one shirt for six months but also not bringing much in the way of home-style luxuries. Keeping weight down not only makes it cheaper to fly (most budget airlines make you pay for checked baggage) but also makes it easier to get around- there will probably be times you will need to hustle with your baggage in order not to miss a train or to catch the sunset, and if you are relying on those airport trolleys or handsome porters to move your stuff for you this could be a problem. Your travel style is also going to tell you a lot about what you’ll need to bring- if you are staying in resorts in a flash part of town then you certainly won’t be needing a sleeping bag and those hiking boots, but throwing in a pair of heels may be necessary, while if you are roughing it there probably won’t be much cause for Gucci. If you’re used to having your straightener and curler at your beck and call, going straight to the roughest end of backpacking will probably make you miserable (if you don’t know what either of those things are then you have nothing to worry about).
SUITCASE OR PACK?
I am a huge advocate of the good old backpack. The technology that has gone into redesigning the humble backpack is incredible, making it entirely affordable to pick yourself up a sturdy bag that won’t destroy your back or fall apart two weeks in. I have an Osprey Xena 70L- I bought it mainly for lightweight hiking in Nepal, but now use it for all my travelling and I love it. A good backpack means you can carry a decent amount of weight without it feeling like you’re hauling rocks around. However, as the name kinda suggests, you’ll need to be carrying said pack, on your back. If you have back problems or even knee/ankle problems, this could become very unpleasant very quickly. Suitcases tend to be much more of a pain to fit in taxis but often have wheels, which means you can pop up the handle and wheel it behind you like a seasoned travel pro. Watch out for stairs though- while the backpack wielding traveller will have little problem ascending stairs, if your suitcase has a flimsy plastic handle for wheeling-purposes only you may have a much harder time of it, let alone if the wheels should break during your adventures!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THERE?
To pack well it is necessary to have an idea of where you are going and what sort of activities you will be taking part in. Start making a list- packing lists are awesome for helping you not to forget important things, and also great for saving for reflection afterwards (what did I really not need, what should I have taken) and to be helpful for the next time you take off wandering the world. Where you are going should give you an idea of what climate to expect and therefore what clothing to pack- do your research, no one wants to be the numpty who brought a heavy woollen sweater to Bali at, well, anytime of the year. If the tropics are your destination think about sun protection- the idea of a tan is always very alluring but after that first horrible sunburn you’ll also value being able to cover up in the intense midday heat. On the other end of the scale, if you’re heading to New Zealand’s South Island in the winter you’re going to want some serious warm gear- merino wool thermals and waterproof boots to start.
What activities you’re hoping to get involved in also helps guide the packing process- on my trip to Nepal in 2014 I nailed that for the hiking part, planning and refining and bringing my weight down as much as possible as I knew I’d be carrying all of it, at altitude, on my wee back. However, I somehow clean forgot that I was only hiking for one month- leaving me with an entire second month to fill with things like yoga, farmstays, Buddhist retreats- all of which were done in high tech hiking gear. D’oh.
HOW MANY SHIRTS DO I NEED?
A query along these lines is certainly my most-asked packing question- what clothes to bring?
The general rule when packing is to collect all the clothes you think you need and divide it in half, and I think this generally rings true. While you may not wear the same outfit day after day at home, while you’re travelling it really isn’t conceivable to take a new outfit for every day- and trust me, no one will care. I like to bring clothes that don’t show too much dirt, don’t crease too easily and work well for beach or for going out for dinner. Bring some laundry soap (or pick some up on the way), and you can have clean clothes everyday! I normally carry a pair of shorts/pants or two, a few shirts, a dress or skirt, a loose cotton shift to go over bathers (assuming it is bather-appropriate climate) and that’s about it. Regardless of climate I like to have some shorts/leggings and a top I can workout in, which is also useful if you end up going on a surprise spelunking expedition. It’s good to have a mix of good-quality clothes you want to hang onto and older clothes you wouldn’t mind leaving behind if you need more room in your pack or if you replace them along the way. Or for that surprise spelunking.
A WORD ON TOILETRIES
I’ve noticed for both myself and many other backpacks I’ve inspected, toiletries constitute a weighty and bulky part of many people’s baggage. Over the years I’ve finally stopped bringing half a pharmacy, and, shock horror, it has made no difference to my hygiene and health while being on the road. A lot of people pack the shampoo, conditioner, 6 month supplies of facial cleanser- forgetting that chances are the country you’re visiting has these luxuries too, available for easy (and probably cheap) purchase. That being said, again, do your research- as a woman you want to make sure sanitary items are to be found in your destination, and if not you’ll want to pack yourself a good supply (or be willing to pack hiked prices for imported goods), and the same goes for birth control. If you can cut down the toiletries significantly, it will make a big difference to the weight of your bag.
Travel is a constant learning process- though hopefully this article can help you along the way and maybe to skip some of the jeez-I-can’t-even-lift-this shenanigans.
FIRSTLY: BE HONEST
First up, have a good honest appraisal of your travel style. The sort of packing I roll with and will detail here is the carrying-your-home-on-your-back style- not trying to exist on one shirt for six months but also not bringing much in the way of home-style luxuries. Keeping weight down not only makes it cheaper to fly (most budget airlines make you pay for checked baggage) but also makes it easier to get around- there will probably be times you will need to hustle with your baggage in order not to miss a train or to catch the sunset, and if you are relying on those airport trolleys or handsome porters to move your stuff for you this could be a problem. Your travel style is also going to tell you a lot about what you’ll need to bring- if you are staying in resorts in a flash part of town then you certainly won’t be needing a sleeping bag and those hiking boots, but throwing in a pair of heels may be necessary, while if you are roughing it there probably won’t be much cause for Gucci. If you’re used to having your straightener and curler at your beck and call, going straight to the roughest end of backpacking will probably make you miserable (if you don’t know what either of those things are then you have nothing to worry about).
SUITCASE OR PACK?
I am a huge advocate of the good old backpack. The technology that has gone into redesigning the humble backpack is incredible, making it entirely affordable to pick yourself up a sturdy bag that won’t destroy your back or fall apart two weeks in. I have an Osprey Xena 70L- I bought it mainly for lightweight hiking in Nepal, but now use it for all my travelling and I love it. A good backpack means you can carry a decent amount of weight without it feeling like you’re hauling rocks around. However, as the name kinda suggests, you’ll need to be carrying said pack, on your back. If you have back problems or even knee/ankle problems, this could become very unpleasant very quickly. Suitcases tend to be much more of a pain to fit in taxis but often have wheels, which means you can pop up the handle and wheel it behind you like a seasoned travel pro. Watch out for stairs though- while the backpack wielding traveller will have little problem ascending stairs, if your suitcase has a flimsy plastic handle for wheeling-purposes only you may have a much harder time of it, let alone if the wheels should break during your adventures!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THERE?
To pack well it is necessary to have an idea of where you are going and what sort of activities you will be taking part in. Start making a list- packing lists are awesome for helping you not to forget important things, and also great for saving for reflection afterwards (what did I really not need, what should I have taken) and to be helpful for the next time you take off wandering the world. Where you are going should give you an idea of what climate to expect and therefore what clothing to pack- do your research, no one wants to be the numpty who brought a heavy woollen sweater to Bali at, well, anytime of the year. If the tropics are your destination think about sun protection- the idea of a tan is always very alluring but after that first horrible sunburn you’ll also value being able to cover up in the intense midday heat. On the other end of the scale, if you’re heading to New Zealand’s South Island in the winter you’re going to want some serious warm gear- merino wool thermals and waterproof boots to start.
What activities you’re hoping to get involved in also helps guide the packing process- on my trip to Nepal in 2014 I nailed that for the hiking part, planning and refining and bringing my weight down as much as possible as I knew I’d be carrying all of it, at altitude, on my wee back. However, I somehow clean forgot that I was only hiking for one month- leaving me with an entire second month to fill with things like yoga, farmstays, Buddhist retreats- all of which were done in high tech hiking gear. D’oh.
HOW MANY SHIRTS DO I NEED?
A query along these lines is certainly my most-asked packing question- what clothes to bring?
The general rule when packing is to collect all the clothes you think you need and divide it in half, and I think this generally rings true. While you may not wear the same outfit day after day at home, while you’re travelling it really isn’t conceivable to take a new outfit for every day- and trust me, no one will care. I like to bring clothes that don’t show too much dirt, don’t crease too easily and work well for beach or for going out for dinner. Bring some laundry soap (or pick some up on the way), and you can have clean clothes everyday! I normally carry a pair of shorts/pants or two, a few shirts, a dress or skirt, a loose cotton shift to go over bathers (assuming it is bather-appropriate climate) and that’s about it. Regardless of climate I like to have some shorts/leggings and a top I can workout in, which is also useful if you end up going on a surprise spelunking expedition. It’s good to have a mix of good-quality clothes you want to hang onto and older clothes you wouldn’t mind leaving behind if you need more room in your pack or if you replace them along the way. Or for that surprise spelunking.
A WORD ON TOILETRIES
I’ve noticed for both myself and many other backpacks I’ve inspected, toiletries constitute a weighty and bulky part of many people’s baggage. Over the years I’ve finally stopped bringing half a pharmacy, and, shock horror, it has made no difference to my hygiene and health while being on the road. A lot of people pack the shampoo, conditioner, 6 month supplies of facial cleanser- forgetting that chances are the country you’re visiting has these luxuries too, available for easy (and probably cheap) purchase. That being said, again, do your research- as a woman you want to make sure sanitary items are to be found in your destination, and if not you’ll want to pack yourself a good supply (or be willing to pack hiked prices for imported goods), and the same goes for birth control. If you can cut down the toiletries significantly, it will make a big difference to the weight of your bag.
Mine and Mum's matching Chacos go for a walk in Cairns, Australia. I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…
The next few things are my travel treasures- bit and pieces that make my travels seem that much smoother and can always be found in my pack regardless of my destination.
- My Kindle
For a long time I was very anti-kindle- I’ve had many a heated argument about the folly of an ebook reader of any description. However, I finally gave in while trekking in New Zealand- I was carrying with me probably 4 books, all of which I’d finished during the first part of the trek and were therefore just dead weight, when an American girl boasted of her hundreds of books in her light-as-light Kindle- and at that moment, I knew I was sold. I’ve never looked back- small enough to pop in my handbag, my Kindle has all my old favourites and promising new reads, which is a godsend on long flights, train journeys, or treks. The battery life is awesome, it has a backlight so I can read in my tent if I’m camping, and there are in-built foreign language dictionaries so you can brush up on that university French whenever you like.
- My Chacos
Chacos are an American brand of sandal designed originally for white-water rafting guides- so they are tough, adjustable, and very supportive. I bought my first pair about 6 years ago now, and I've never looked back. You can run in them, fancy them up with a dress to go dancing, slog through rivers and mud and jungle- the ultimate all-purpose footwear. Bringing these with me normally means I only need maybe a pair of covered shoes/hiking boots with me depending on the trip, and means I don't screw my feet up by wearing flip-flops all day every day.
- Sleeping bag liner
I have a silk sleeping bag liner that folds into a little pouch that will fit in my palm- light weight and tough, it is great for sleeping on not-the-cleanest beds, or for adding some warmth if required on colder nights.
- Pack of cards
A great way to get to know people and pass the time on (again) long journeys of any sort, or for hanging out in huts after a days trekking/climbing etc. Everyone more or less knows the same games, though often with different names, which is all part of the fun!
- Journal
As I mention in my article on money, I always travel with a journal- so many amazing things can happen on journeys that it is impossible to remember them all, and journals are fantastic souvenirs for the years to come- it is quite a treat to be able to read back over old journals, I often get lost in mine for hours at a time reliving adventures past. Travelling is also a great time for self-reflection, and it’s as handy to have a journal to record philosophical musings as it is to remember where that amazing pizza shop is in Naples.
FINAL NOTE
I think my best tip for packing like a backpacker is not to get too militant about it. The first time I went backpacking was when I was 18 and I spent 6 months by myself tripping around Europe. Everything I had with me had a purpose- All my shirts were quick-dry polo shirts, my shorts were the classic zip-off-hiking-pants, I had one old sundress but it fell apart and was abandoned in Greece- I had hiking shoes and no makeup. Even if you’re not a big party animal, chances are you’ll end up in situations where you want to get a little fancied up- be it a wine festival on a Greek Island (where the dress met its demise) or a spontaneous beach party in Indonesia. Now I always make sure I have something to wear on such occasions (usually a dress that will function just as well in the daytime) and some mascara for getting my fancy on- especially when you’re roughing it it is nice to be able to dress up every so often!
The next few things are my travel treasures- bit and pieces that make my travels seem that much smoother and can always be found in my pack regardless of my destination.
- My Kindle
For a long time I was very anti-kindle- I’ve had many a heated argument about the folly of an ebook reader of any description. However, I finally gave in while trekking in New Zealand- I was carrying with me probably 4 books, all of which I’d finished during the first part of the trek and were therefore just dead weight, when an American girl boasted of her hundreds of books in her light-as-light Kindle- and at that moment, I knew I was sold. I’ve never looked back- small enough to pop in my handbag, my Kindle has all my old favourites and promising new reads, which is a godsend on long flights, train journeys, or treks. The battery life is awesome, it has a backlight so I can read in my tent if I’m camping, and there are in-built foreign language dictionaries so you can brush up on that university French whenever you like.
- My Chacos
Chacos are an American brand of sandal designed originally for white-water rafting guides- so they are tough, adjustable, and very supportive. I bought my first pair about 6 years ago now, and I've never looked back. You can run in them, fancy them up with a dress to go dancing, slog through rivers and mud and jungle- the ultimate all-purpose footwear. Bringing these with me normally means I only need maybe a pair of covered shoes/hiking boots with me depending on the trip, and means I don't screw my feet up by wearing flip-flops all day every day.
- Sleeping bag liner
I have a silk sleeping bag liner that folds into a little pouch that will fit in my palm- light weight and tough, it is great for sleeping on not-the-cleanest beds, or for adding some warmth if required on colder nights.
- Pack of cards
A great way to get to know people and pass the time on (again) long journeys of any sort, or for hanging out in huts after a days trekking/climbing etc. Everyone more or less knows the same games, though often with different names, which is all part of the fun!
- Journal
As I mention in my article on money, I always travel with a journal- so many amazing things can happen on journeys that it is impossible to remember them all, and journals are fantastic souvenirs for the years to come- it is quite a treat to be able to read back over old journals, I often get lost in mine for hours at a time reliving adventures past. Travelling is also a great time for self-reflection, and it’s as handy to have a journal to record philosophical musings as it is to remember where that amazing pizza shop is in Naples.
FINAL NOTE
I think my best tip for packing like a backpacker is not to get too militant about it. The first time I went backpacking was when I was 18 and I spent 6 months by myself tripping around Europe. Everything I had with me had a purpose- All my shirts were quick-dry polo shirts, my shorts were the classic zip-off-hiking-pants, I had one old sundress but it fell apart and was abandoned in Greece- I had hiking shoes and no makeup. Even if you’re not a big party animal, chances are you’ll end up in situations where you want to get a little fancied up- be it a wine festival on a Greek Island (where the dress met its demise) or a spontaneous beach party in Indonesia. Now I always make sure I have something to wear on such occasions (usually a dress that will function just as well in the daytime) and some mascara for getting my fancy on- especially when you’re roughing it it is nice to be able to dress up every so often!
