OVERVIEW
Preparing for your trip, especially a long one, can be frustrating and confusing. One of the biggest challenges that really stress people out is deciding what to pack and how. Travelers of all kinds have different requirements and lifestyles. It can also change depending on destination and weather. There is no one right way to pack but there are some common basics to follow that can ease your stress and help you travel comfortably. Here are three tips I think are most useful along with examples of how I packed and my gear recommendations.
PACKING TIPS
1. PACK LIGHT
This is the most important tip and should not be ignored. This tip alone outweighs all other tips combined! See what I did there? An ideal weight should be 10 kg to 15 kg with your bag being no more than three quarters full. This is so you can have room for memorabilia and emergency items during your journey. Packing light is actually split into two parts.
1. Pack only what you need and not what you think you need.
2. Use lightweight gear, clothing, and other accessories.
2. DO NOT PACK LAST MINUTE
Rushing yourself to pack is a recipe for disaster. Your mind is racing and you are in an emotional state. This can cause you to over pack making you hate yourself down the road. Packing is an art and it is best to take your time and be organized. Which leads us to the last tip.
3. BE ORGANIZED AND PACK SMART
You will be living out of your backpack so it essential you keep things organized. Categorize like items and keep them together. Putting things you use the most at the top will lessen the amount of times you need to take everything out and putting them back in again. Make sure to pack to the corners as there is a lot of space there!
STEP BY STEP PACKING
Step 1. Pack only what you need and not what you think you need. Take everything out that you think you will need and lay it all out. Clothes, laptop, camera, toiletries, shoes, appliances, etc. Group them together i.e shirts, socks, undergarments; and then group them again into “must have,” “would like to have,” “questionable.” I would label things as “must have” if they are important documents for traveling and if they will occasionally be used. “Would like to have” are things that you will only use minimal amount of the time. “Questionable” being just ditch it right now.
Step 2. Start shrinking the piles by removing everything you know you do not need. Start shrinking the piles again by picking out the best clothes, gear, and other essentials. Now start selecting in the remaining items only things you absolutely need to bring on your journey. Take a step back and try to visualize how this will fit in your backpack. If it looks to be too much then continue shrinking the piles.
Step 3. Start packing everything into your backpack. I like to roll clothes to maximize space. If it weights about 10 kg – 15 kg then you’ve done a great job! You may find you’ll need to add or subtract things on your journey but this is a perfect start.
OTHER TIPS
- A rule of thumb is to pack a weeks worth of clothing. 3 shorts and one pair of trousers is enough.
- Bring items that have multipurpose usage e.g shorts that double as swim trunks. A Shemagh Scarf is extremely multi-functional e.g. scarf, headband, towel, blanket, sarong as cover up, sun protection, etc.
- Purchase quick dry clothing so you can have them hand washed and dried ready for the next day.
- I found thin clothing like Uniqlo’s Airism line perfect for traveling around hot regions. Not only are they comfortable and cool, they are also extremely thin allowing you to pack 3 airisms to 1 regular shirt. I ended up picking up a few of these during my travels and will be ditching my regular shirts.
- If you need to offload some things during your trip then consider donating them instead of trashing them.
MY TRAVEL GEAR
Below are pictures of my Southeast Asia backpack to help you visualize packing. There are a few things I would change but nothing too drastic. I mainly regret packing so many shorts and swim trunks. I could’ve easily cut this in half.
FAVORITE ITEMS HIGHLIGHTS
Osprey Farpoint 55 liters with detachable day pack: This is a durable front loading backpack with well thought out functions for travelers. The main bag is about 40 liters with a 15 liters detachable day bag. You won’t have any trouble using this as a carry on if you don’t over stuff the bag or keep the day back empty.
eBags Packing Cubes: These cubes are great for keeping your stuff organized. They even compress your clothes leaving you with more space. Though you’ll free up extra space, remember the most important rule is to pack light!
Teva Sandals: These sandals are very comfortable and durable for walking and hiking. They are also easy to clean after a long day in muddy trails and sandy beaches.
Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag: I found out about these during my time at the beaches in the Philippines. The dry bag and I have become inseparable since then. They allow you to keep all your electronics and clothing dry while being in waters. It becomes very useful when you go island hopping and have to jump off the boat and swim in the waters to get through caves or to beaches. They are also perfect as day bags during rainy days and are easy to clean.
GoPro Hero7: This ultra portable camera/camcorder is waterproof up to 10m without a housing. It was easy to wipe out anywhere I go and is great for water sport activities! If I had to choose one camera to bring with me everywhere it would be this. Most of my footage on my Youtube content is created using GoPro footage.
Howard Leight Max Earplugs: These are a must if you are staying at hostels. Shield yourself from loud hostel sex!
I’ve listed below my gear I carry on me during my travels with recommendations to help you get started. Remember to only bring things best fitted for your travels and lifestyle. Adjust accordingly and have a fantastic journey!
