What Should I bring?
A packing guide for your travels.
People are beginning to travel more now than ever before, and why shouldn’t they? To get outside their comfort zone and see what the world around them has to offer. The world around us is an incredible resource that has so many opportunities that we don’t take full advantage of.
Airplane traffic has been increasing every year. In 2018 there was an 8% growth increase and it has been projected to increase another 6% this year. More and more people are setting time aside to go out and explore the world around them. With Elon Musk boasting 30 minutes-or-less world travel in the coming years, air traffic is only going to increase!
Back to the present though. Traveling in today’s world is as simple as opening an app on your phone, selecting where you want to go, paying some money and packing. There, you’re set to go on an adventure of a lifetime.
I had more than I ever needed and I was shocked to realize this as soon as I was in the line for the first set of customs.
Planning can take next to no time at all. Click-clack-click and you’ve got yourself an itinerary that you’ve downloaded from the internet. A few changes here and there and now you know what you’re going to do once you get there. It’s that easy.
While that part can be done with a few taps or clicks, actually hunkering down and packing for your trip is another complete task that can take more time than anticipated. But what if I told you it’s actually quite simple?
What I’ve done and you shouldn’t
On my last trip — the one I was posting almost a year ago now — was a pipe dream since I can remember. It paid off in spades though. More so than I could have ever dreamed, but every step of the way I was bogged down by all the gear I brought. I had more than I ever needed and I was shocked to realize this as soon as I was in the line for the first set of customs.
I didn’t end up using half of it.
I’d bought a new, 60L backpack (not exactly mine, but the updated version — better with the daypack) to bring with me. I mean, I got a good deal so I had no issues with the pack. There is a misconception though that because you have space you need to fit everything into every little crevasse possible and that’s simply not true.
My last trip, I packed over 71 items of various sizes, but more than I needed by a long shot. I did have all my bases covered though: rain, wind, sun, you name it, I had the environment planned and covered! But did I really need all of it on the trip? In all honesty, I didn’t end up using half of it.
Truly, to go anywhere nowadays, you don’t need too much. The world we live in has a convenience store on every corner, and as long as you budget and set some money aside for a hiccup or two, you can purchase anything that comes up as missing along the way!
How to plan your next trip
Backpack
A 60L is a good average backpack from what I’ve found. It gives me the ability to take only a carry on for most European flights cutting down on extra luggage fees and fits more than necessary. There are lots of great options out there, but pick the best for you. Take into account your budget, style, versatility. Really, you don’t need 100+ little zippers etc, because you’ll end up cramming things you don’t need into them.
Top loading backpacks are difficult to get into when you need something quick, so having a side loading pack can be very convenient when you want to lay it all out and get to the entire pack quick. That said, the pack I purchased has a zipper at the bottom to access the main pouch from both ends (score!). Regardless, pick something that you’ll get use out of
Clothing
Depending on where you go will change your whole style of what you bring to wear. Check the forecast beforehand. Do a little research (blah) into what the weather has done the past couple years where you’re going and let that guide your wardrobe, but bring these tips into each item:
- Microfibre dries fast; you’ll be doing a lot of walking and sweating up a storm
- Plain colours work best; toned down colours are good in any situation, and you don’t want to stand out like a sore thumb screaming “I’m a tourist”
With those in mind, lay out everything you want to bring and just look at it from a 20,000ft perspective and reiterate “when am I going to wear this” for every single item there. Fact is, you won’t wear half the items. You’re traveling! Pack as light as you possibly can so that if you find something else you’d like you can buy, or better yet have extra space for food in case you need to pack for a day trip.
If you’re worried about looking fashionable, you’re doing it wrong. Remember, everyone else you’re with (hostel, bus, etc.), everyone there is traveling to, so you’re all in the same boat and don’t need to be on point the entire trip. Everyone should be more focused on being in the moment, meeting new people and enjoying the experience than worrying about what you’re wearing, so pack for the weather and versatility. So long as you don’t stand out like a sore thumb you’re doing OK.
Also, your shoes are VERY important. You’ll be doing A LOT of walking so having the right footwear is key. Grab a set of runners, and/or hiking boots (whatever is necessary for the terrain you’ll be in) and throw in a pair of flipflops/sandals (showering, hostel room, etc) and get ready to tighten up those calves! Just don’t be like me and go walking on cobblestone in sandals at 2 am. You should be sure to have something that’s quick to dry and lightweight as well. Most shoe brands out there are great, but I’m a huge fan of Nike and have to say their Freerun series shoes are my go to for comfort and are overall well made versatile shoes.
Toiletries
You don’t want to smell the whole time. If there’s running water in a more urban setting, or even out in a lake, you’ll have to clean up at some point. Try and keep things light, again you don’t need that much.
Make sure you have all your necessary medication (duh) and since you have a carry on bag, make sure your prescriptions are on the bottle/tube/etc in one way or another. After that, toothpaste, toothbrush, eco-soap (so you can shower in a stream if need be) is really all that’s left; well, ibuprofen if you’re going to head out to some bars, just to be safe.
Packing all that into a folding toiletries bag can be very handy, that way you can hang it up in a stall or on a log for quick access and tidiness. It might also be worthwhile to put some eco laundry detergent as well, in case anything goes awry (dang you pasta sauce!).
There you have it, a packers guide from me to you. This has just been my experience traveling and taking more than I needed and actually complicating things in the long run. I’ll actually be coming back to look at this in the future just to remind myself I’m bringing more than is necessary across on my next travel adventure. While your list will vary, I hope this gives you some foresight into your own pack and makes you rethink that fourth set of shoes. I wish you all the best of luck and safe travels along the way. Be sure to venture outside your comfort zone as much as possible and really make the most of the time wherever you are!
