You’ve decided to go for it and you’ve booked your first overseas backpacking trip! Congratulations, you are in for such a treat. It is one of life’s greatest experiences and you’re going to absolutely love it.
The next step is for you to think about packing. No doubt you’re going to be feeling a bit anxious about it. You definitely want to take the right stuff with you and feel prepared. That’s where this list comes in to help.
What follows is a solid foundation of packing that will set you on the right course, plus we’ve included a few considerations to bear in mind as you complete the packing process.
Things To Consider While Packing
These aren’t actual items to pack, instead, they are considerations that you should have in your head as you pack.
- Environment: Are you going to be spending a lot of time in cities? Are you going to be trekking through forests or jungles? Will you be by the beach? Ask yourself these environmental-based questions to guide your packing in one direction. At the same time think about the climate of the places that you’re going to visit.
- Culture: Many countries will expect different things from you as you visit. As a tourist, it’s part of your role to be respectful of the local culture. Learn cultural ideals before you get there and be sensitive to them.
- Activities: What will you be doing while there? A trip that involves a lot of city sightseeing will require a different packing style than one that involves a lot of watersports and beach time.
- Trip Length: Think about how long your trip is, that’ll influence how many clothes you’ll pack and the variety too.
- Weight Limits: There’s a limit on how much you can carry plus airline restrictions too. Make sure you know how many oz in a pound and you’ll be able to weigh accurately.
Your First Overseas Backpacking Packing List
Clothes
Clothes are easy to obsess over when packing. Especially for your first trip. It is completely normal to think that you’ll need 3 times as much underwear as you normally use, “just in case.” Plus you’ll end up packing at least 20% of your items that you’ll never actually use. This is just the way of things.
Many people swear by the 5,4,3,2,1 rule. This rule says that for every 5 days that you’re away, aim to take:
- 5 pairs of underwear and socks
- 4 tops of some description based on temperature
- 3 shorts, trousers, skirts
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 1 hat
This might seem simplistic, but it’ll give you a solid foundation to build from. Bear in mind the considerations listed above and you’ll have everything you need. In the worst-case scenario, you can always buy a new item when you reach your destination.
Toiletries
You will definitely be able to purchase toiletries at your destination. You won’t necessarily, however, be able to purchase your favorite brands. Having the familiarity of your usual toiletries can feel nice when you’re traveling somewhere new.
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Soap or body wash
- Shampoo and conditioner (you might want to consider travel-sized bottles)
- Face cleanser or wipes
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Razor and shaving cream
- Feminine hygiene products
- Hand sanitizer
- Travel-sized laundry detergent
- Toilet paper (not every country will have this as standard)
- Lip balm
- Insect repellent
Optional Extras
There are some items that make life more comfortable or might be necessary depending on the activities that you’re going to be doing. You’ll also have different extras based on the local climate.
- Travel outlet adapter
- Portable charger/power bank
- Sewing kit
- Umbrella
- Clothesline with clips
- Money belt or hidden travel wallet
- Portable speaker
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
- Laundry bag
- A padlock or lockable chain
- Inflatable neck pillow
- Packing cubes or compression bags
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Journal or notebook with a pen
- Deck of cards
- Quick-dry travel towel
- Water bottle
- Portable Wi-Fi hotspot device (but you should also consider buying a local SIM card)
Key Takeaways
Everyone’s bags are as unique as they are themselves. You’ll have your own priorities and must-haves, and chances are they’ll be different from anyone else’s.
One of the best things you can do is a practice pack. Don’t leave it until the night before to realize that you’re missing a key item. Do the practice pack a week before. Plus it’ll build excitement to another level!
- Always take into consideration the cultural nuances of the country that you’re visiting.
- Pack for the prevailing conditions and climate.
- Don’t panic if you realize you’ve forgotten something. You can always purchase a replacement while traveling.
