Backpacking Essentials for Travelling

Backpacking Essentials

Don’t forget to carry your essentials while travelling.

We can help you out with few of the suggestions of things you may forget:

Money

Probably the most essential of the lot. Obviously no one is going to leave home without a penny to their name, but once you're on the road and all those exciting opportunities are being flung your way, it can be frighteningly easy to blow the budget in a very short space of time. Keep a close eye on what you're spending and have an emergency account to dip into if the situation presents itself. Hitchhiking home from Australia is not for the fainthearted.

Documents

The most important is your passport, and while you're probably feeling slightly patronised that we'd even mention such an obvious thing, have you checked that it's in date and will remain so for the duration of your trip and for some time (usually three months) after your return date? A surprising number of eager backpackers forget about this and return home extremely red-faced – not from sunburn. Other essentials are your insurance details, driver's license and a photocopy of your passport.

Drinking Water

The drinking water abroad is often unsafe to drink, so water purification is often necessary. Of course you could buy bottled water every day, but this is an added expense and also contributes to waste plastic which eventually ends up in landfill. So the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly option is to treat your drinking water. The Water-to-Go bottle removes 99.9% of harmful bacteria, viruses, cysts and protozoa found in water using an in-built filter in its lid. A much easier option compared to using chlorine and chlorine dioxide treatments.

Zip Lock Bags

You don’t have to be travelling during the rainy season to use zip lock bags. Of course you can use them to protect travel documents, currency and gadgets from water, sand and dirt during your trip, but they’re also great for keeping everything organised and easy to find when you need it.

First – Aid

Whether you tailor your own kit to your specific destination, or opt for a pre-made travel first aid kit, you should definitely pack a medical kit for emergencies, minor cuts, scrapes and mishaps! If you’re travelling to remote areas and developing countries, you may also want to consider a sterile needle pack to accompany your first aid kit, or choose a comprehensive first aid kit that includes a set of needles and syringes. Key first aid items for travelling include; diarrhoea relief, rehydration sachets, paracetamol, anti-histamines, plasters, bandages and dressings.

Camera

It's all too tempting to assume you'll remember every moment of your gap year in vivid detail, but you on't. Your memory simply can't cope with the constant barrage of new environments, experiences and people, so you'll need some sort of device to capture as much as you possibly can. A camera does the job pretty nicely, and could even lead to a new hobby: few things complement each other like travel and photography.

Power Bank

Whether all the hostel plug sockets are in use or you need to charge your phone on the move, a portable power bank is a must have for any trip. Get one with USB connectivity and a re-chargeable battery so you can easily charge your USB enabled devices during your trip.

Travel Towel

The travel essential that always seems to appear on travel packing lists! Designed to pack down to a fraction of the size of a standard towel from home, travel towels are extremely compact, lightweight, absorbent and quick drying. The end result is less bulk in your bag and their quick drying design means they don’t fester and produce unpleasant odours. You can even get travel towels with anti-bacterial protection, which helps to keep them fresher for longer.

Anti-bacterial Gel

You’d be surprised at how often travellers become ill due to poor hand hygiene on their travels. Avoid this by carrying a bottle of anti-bacterial hand gel around with you. Hand washing facilities aren’talways readily available and if you’ve just been handling some dirty looking currency or need to wash your hands before tucking into a meal, you’ll be glad you have some to hand. A pack of wet wipes is another hygiene essential for travelling, great for cleaning your hands, freshening up after long journeys or getting dust off your feet and legs after a day of exploring.