Backpacking Packing List:
Gear and Electronics

First, we start with the gear:

In this article you`ll find:

Gear to bring
How do you choose a backpack?
What you shouldn`t bring...
Electronics

What kind of gear you need to bring is not easy. Because there aren`t any obvious answers to it.

It all depends on what you actually will do during your trip...

I hate to say this, but, what you`ve planned in your head before departure, doesn`t necessarily mean that you will execute it.

Let`s say you`ve brought your sleeping bag with you, cause you have big plans of trekking/staying a long time in the jungle of India.

...But when you get there, you change your mind...

Why you change your mind can be caused by many things. Anything from lack of motivation to bad weather... And you didn`t know of these things before you actually got there. Either because you didn`t do your homework/made some research before departure, or you just lost the urge to trek that long during your trip.

So, when choosing the right gear for your backpacking trip,
you should think it through. It will save you weight and frustration.

Note: Ask yourself what the purposes of your backpacking trip is. And answer it honestly.

Essential Gear to Bring

First of all, get:

A backpack

Then you might consider bringing:

Mini rucksack (for day trips or short treks for a couple of days).

One Travel Guide (Lonely Planet and Rough Guide are the popular ones)

Laundry bag

Laundry bags are essential for dirty clothes. You can use a plastic bag as well, but you can`t wash a plastic bag. A laundry bag isolates the smell, and is washable!

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How do you choose a backpack?

Your backpack is with you the whole time when travelling for months, or even years. Dare to invest time and money to find the right backpack for you.

Before purchasing a backpack, make sure you sample packs in various sizes and comfort level. Ask the sales assistant if you can put something in the pack to weigh it down, so you`ll get a more realistic idea of how it feels. You can find backpacks for ladies, with a shorter back.

Brands to look for: The North Face, Lowe Alpine, Osprey, Berghaus, Eagle Creek

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Things to consider before you buy a backpack:

Instead of digging your arm into the load from the top, unzip the front.. and voila, you`ll get to the content without sweating a pearl!

Ergonomic support to your back
Be light in weight
Waterproof fabric
The right size

Packs come in different volume capacity: between 30-100 litres. It highly depends on how long you`ll be travelling and where you are going (like bush/in cities, or both).

However, the less volume, the better. I recommend 30-45 litres. I bought a 55 litre for a 4-month trip, and that was one of my biggest mistakes. I could have settled for 40 litres.

(Removable) Rain Cover

The rain cover is usually hidden in the top compartment, and you can fold it over your pack. It protects the pack from rain, dust, dirt and thieves. If there`s no extra water-proof bag in your chosen backpack, ask the sales assistant if you can purchase one.

The shoulder straps should curve around your shoulders
The shoulder straps should avoid pressure over the breast, like S-shaped straps.
The hip belt should sit on your hip bone
Be able to be secured using a combination padlock
Guarantee (some packs have either standard or life-time warranty)

Quick tip!

Make sure you don`t buy a travel guide for e.g. Cambodia if you`re not going to arrive there until the 2nd or 5th month of your trip.

Books are heavy. I suggest you buy a travel guide locally and sell it when you don`t need it anymore.

You should read my tips on lightweight backpacking, click here.

Get useful info on Osprey, Eagle Creek and Lowe Alpine packs!

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What gear you DON`T need to bring:

A mosquito net

Bringing a mosquito net is in my opinion not necessary. Most guesthouses provide rooms with air-conditioners which mosquitos will avoid because of the temperature. In rooms with no air-conditioner, there is usually a net available in the room.

I brought mine for my trip, but I didn`t use it all. I was just frustrated about the space it took in my backpack, and it was too expensive to throw away. So I sold it in Bangkok.

I talked to other frustrated backpackers who also brought theirs, but they had no use for it either.

A sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags take too much space and weight! There is bedding and sheets provided wherever you go. If necessary, you can buy cheap sleeping bags in the backstreets of Khao San Road and Soi Rambutri in Bangkok. When you`re done using it, try to sell it back.

A sleeping pad

You don`t need a sleeping bag, so you won`t need a sleeping pad either!

Hammock

Most bungalows have a hammock ready for you so why bring it?

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Electronics

Camera

Memory card(s) for camera

Charger for camera

Camera bag

Cleaning rug for your camera

MP3 player + portable head phones/in-ear earphones

Charger for MP3 player

Universal adapter

It depends on which country you come from, and where you are heading. Click here to find the appropriate plug.

Mobile phone

If you are bringing your mobile, be careful with the usage!

Instead, buy a SIM-card locally and recharge it when you need it. Phones are good for sms communication with anxious parents and fellow travellers. It`s also handy as an alarm clock.

Don`t use it for international calls -- instead use a pay phone which is cheaper.

Charger for your mobile phone

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What electronics you DON`T need to bring:

Your laptop

Laptops are heavy and take loads of space. There are internet cafès and guesthouses providing internet in most cities, even smaller places like Pai, Palolem and Vang Vieng.

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Where do you want to go next?

Back to Backpacking Packing List Main page?

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