Do you like to roam by bus or train, to go from one accommodation to another? Sure, backpacking trips stick to you. Are you ready to pack your backpack (for the first time)? Here are our tips.
Some symptoms of the typical backpacker: you prefer a hostel at the hotel, long trips by bus or train that speak to you and your clothes are purely functional.
In practice, the list is much more exhaustive, like the restrictions of your budget for example. If this image fits you, then why not swap your suitcase for your cheap backpacks?
Lists shovel
The Internet offers lists for backpackers who will share their tips. Are you a beginner? Check out the blogs and websites of experienced backpackers.
In addition to the practical lists of things to take away, you will also find those that describe what you should not put in your backpack.
Beginner travelers tend to carry a lot of things that they will not or never use or that they can get cheaply on the spot if necessary. There are also more malignant alternatives.
We propose here 3 tentative lists.
1. Take away absolutely
What you will bring as clothing and other business will depend on the following factors: destination, weather conditions, season etc.
Here are the essentials to remember. Be careful, these are the essentials and not a complete list!
1. emergency numbers, identification papers, bank and credit cards - mobile phone, charger, GPS antenna and travel charger (s)
2. travel documents: train and plane tickets, hotel reservations, etc.
3. phone number (s) and documents of your travel assistance
4. poncho, fast-drying hiking t-shirts
5. limited toiletry bag and small first aid kit
6. water purification tablets and a gourd
2. To leave at home
After long years or months spent abroad, experienced backpackers have well-defined lists of objects that they have never used. So think with your head resting before you pack a lot of things that take up too much space and that may prevent you from taking your backpack in the cabin.
Why pack a complete first aid kit? Get the essentials: a medicine for diarrhea for example bandages, bandages, and common medications are usually on site.
Except of course if you have to take specific prescription drugs. Do not forget to bring these prescriptions in case you are controlled at the borders because some medicines are not legal everywhere.
And what to do with your watch and your jewelry? Leave them at home. Just like jeans, books and your electric toothbrush. The following objects are usually available at destination:
a. bath towels: usually rented or take a small one
b. costly and heavy hiking boots: sneakers with contoured soles are enough for most trips
c. mosquito net protection: usually provided at destination or on-site
d. mosquito spray: often cheaper on the spot and of better quality
e. flashlight or frontal: if really necessary, use your smartphone
f. a 'beauty case': bring only the bare necessities in your toilet bag, it's quite manageable with less than half.
3. Think of the alternatives
We assume that we need the same things we use at home. But it's wrong.
The first aid kit at home is the perfect example: how long have you really needed all that it has?
A. The space available in your backpack is limited, think of the alternatives:
B. bar shampoo instead of a shampoo bottle or conventional soap, or wilderness wash soap, soap-shampoo-detergent all in one
C. e-reader: read your books or travel guides on an e-reader
D. smartphone to replace a camera, GPS, music player, flashlight, etc.
E. samples: if you can not do without toilet water or care products
