Backpacker’s Journal –
The Practical Minimalist.
WHEN PACKING FOR YOUR UPCOMING TRIP IT IS VERY EASY TO
BECOME CARRIED AWAY AND START CRAMMING IN ALL OF YOUR MOST LOVED BELONGINGS
INTO YOUR BACKPACK.
DON’T.
BELONGINGS ARE NOTHING BUT INANIMATE OBJECTS THAT JUST SO HAPPEN TO
BELONG TO YOU, IN REALITY THEY DON’T ACTUALLY MEAN ANYTHING AND YOU WILL
SURVIVE WITHOUT THEM FOR A FEW MONTHS.
I’VE WITNESSED SO MANY PEOPLE LUGGING AROUND BAGS 3X THE SIZE OF
THEMSELVES YET THEY END UP WEARING THE SAME 3 OUTFITS EACH WEEK BECAUSE THAT’S
WHAT THEY’VE FOUND THEY’RE MOST COMFORTABLE IN AND BELIEVE ME, ONCE YOU’VE HAD
A 15KG BAG STRAPPED TO YOU FOR A COUPLE MONTHS YOU’LL SOON WISH YOU REALISED
WHAT YOU REALLY NEEDED BEFORE LEAVING.
SIMPLE SOLUTION, GET A WHEELIE BAG! RIGHT? NO, MOST CERTAINLY NOT.
NOT ONLY WILL YOU BECOME THE MOST HATED PERSON ON THE AIRPORT
TRAVELLATORS, YOUR WHEELIE BAG WILL TOO, BECOME THE BANE OF YOUR OWN LIFE. THE
WAY I SEE IT, IF YOU CAN’T LIFT IT OVER YOUR HEAD (INTO THE OVER HEAD CARRY ON
LOCKERS) THEN YOU MY FRIEND HAVE TOO MUCH SHIT IN THERE.
OH YOU’LL CHECK IN YOUR WHEELIE BAG? OKAY, ENJOY THE FEE’S, THE
CHANCE OF HAVING YOUR BAG DAMAGED OR LOST BEFORE EVEN ARRIVING TO YOUR DESTINATION,
NOT BEING ABLE TO FIT YOUR CASE UNDERNEATH YOUR BED AT THE HOSTEL AND THE
PUBLIC TRANSPORT LIMITATIONS DUE TO YOUR TEN TONS OF UNNECESSARY CRAP WHILST
EVERYONE ELSE IS LIVING FREE WITH ONLY WHAT IS STRAPPED TO THEIR BACKS AND
GETTING AHEAD OF AIRPORT SECURITY QUEUES. IT MAY HAVE BECOME A TREND BUT
BACKPACKING IS NOT A FASHION STATEMENT, OR BEING ‘COOL’, IT’S BEING SMART.
GET TO KNOW YOUR BACKPACK.
I
REMEMBER READING THIS ON ANOTHER BLOG A FEW YEARS AGO AND THINKING WHAT THE
HELL? BUT THEN, AFTER EACH MAD RUSH MESSING AROUND TO QUICKLY GRAB MY RAIN COVER
IT BEGAN TO MAKE SENSE. EACH BAG IS UNIQUE WITH DIFFERENT ZIPS TO DIFFERENT
DIMENSIONS AND SO ON.
NEVER
JUMP INTO BUYING WHICHEVER ONE HAS THE CUTEST COLOUR FOR YOU IG, WORK OUT WHAT
THE MAIN FEATURES ARE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO NEED.
TAKING
A LAPTOP? MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PADDED LAPTOP SLEEVE, IDEALLY WITH SIDE ACCESS
SO THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO GO RUMMAGING THROUGH ALL OF YOUR CLOTHES TO GET TO
IT. THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU’RE HEADING AND WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE? MOST
BACKPACKS WILL HAVE A WATERPROOF COVER ATTACHED AT THE BOTTOM IN A SEALED
COMPARTMENT WHICH IS SUPER HANDY WHEN THE HEAVENS OPEN WITH NO WARNING,
HOWEVER, SOME DON’T. THIS IS EASILY SOLVED BY PURCHASING A COVER SEPARATELY,
JUST INSURE THAT IT IS THE RIGHT SIZE AND THAT YOU HAVE A POCKET ON THE SIDE OR
THE FRONT OF YOUR BAG THAT YOU CAN DEDICATE TO IT FOR EASY ACCESS.
THE
SIZE. BACKPACKS SIZING IS MEASURED IN LITERS. ON MY FIRST TRIP, I CRAMMED AS
MUCH AS I COULD IN A 65 +5L BAG, THIS WAS A RIDICULOUS DECISION (+5 MEANS IT IS
X AMOUNT +5 ONCE EXTENDED ON ADJUSTABLE STRAPS). IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON BEING
AWAY SOMEWHERE COLD, THEN YES I’D RECOMMEND MAKING SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM
FOR ALL YOUR LAYERS AND EQUIPMENT, LIKEWISE FOR CERTAIN ADVENTURE TRIPS,
HOWEVER IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON BUMMING AROUND ON SOME BEACHES DOING A FEW WALKS
AND SEEING WHERE THE WIND TAKES YOU WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR PLAN THEN TRAVEL
LIGHT. REMEMBER, HAVING TENS OF OUTFIT OPTIONS MAY BE GREAT BUT NO ONE IS GOING
TO CARRY THEM FOR YOU, THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THAT BAG WILL BE STRAPPED TO YOU
FOR LONGER THAN YOU’D LIKE AND IT WILL HURT. I NOW TRAVEL WITH THE ‘patagonia arbor
grande 32L’ WHICH IS PERFECT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT AND HIGHLY
RECOMMEND. THE ONE DOWNSIDE I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THE WAIST STRAP (WHICH IS
DESIGNED TO TAKE THE WEIGHT FROM YOUR SHOULDERS AND ONTO YOUR HIPS) IS NOT
OVERLY PADDED AND THEREFORE CAN BECOME SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE OVER TIME,
HOWEVER, TRAVEL LIGHT AND PROBLEM SOLVED.
GO
TO SEE A PROFESSIONAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT HIKES AND CAMPING.
GET YOUR BAG PACKED AND HEAD DOWN TO YOUR NEAREST MILLETTS OR MOUNTAIN
WAREHOUSE TYPE SHOP AND ASK IF SOMEONE CAN ADJUST YOUR STRAPS IN THE BEST WAY
FOR YOUR BACK TO AVOID CAUSING YOURSELF DAMAGE AND THEN TRY TO AVOID TAMPERING
WITH THEM TOO MUCH.
PACKING.
NEVER
TAKE ANYTHING OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE AND AVOID TAKING OVERLY EXPENSIVE CLOTHING
AND SHOES. YOUR BOOKS WILL MOST LIKELY GET WET AT SOME STAGE AND UNFORTUNATELY
AS NICE AS THE PEOPLE MAY SEEM IN YOUR 20 BUNK DORM, YOU WILL PROBABLY NEVER
SEE THEM AGAIN ALONG WITH YOUR LEVI’S JACKET AND BRAND NEW TRAINERS. BUT, THEN
AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE WILL LITERALLY TAKE ANYTHING.
IN
NEW ZEALAND I WAS IN THE SHOWER AND SOMEONE STOLE MY HAIRBRUSH AND SHOWER JEL
FROM THE SHELF OUTSIDE. I’VE ALSO HAD MY ADAPTER AND PHONE CHARGER DISAPPEAR IN
MY SLEEP ALONG WITH MULTIPLE PAIRS OF SOCKS WHICH IS JUST WEIRD. BE PREPARED
FOR THIS AND BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS.
I’VE
PUT TOGETHER A FEW OF MY PERSONAL PACKING ESSENTIALS, OF COURSE EVERY TRIP IS
DIFFERENT AND EACH OF US HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS SO I’VE JUST
DESIGNED THIS LIST OF THINGS PERHAPS NOT EVERYONE WOULD THINK OF AS A ROUGH
EXAMPLE OF MY MUST DO’S FOR EVERY TRIP :
MY
PACKING ESSENTIALS:
- WATERPROOF
COAT. NOT WATER RESISTANT, WATER PROOF.
‘patagonia mens
torrentshell pullover jacket’ - £100.
- 1 X
LIGHT FLEECE OR JUMPER.
- 2 X SETS
OF SWIMWEAR.
- MICRO FIBRE
TOWEL (IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON STAYING IN HOSTELS).
- 1 X
SANDALS OR FLIP FLOPS.
- 1 X
TRAINERS OR WALKING SHOES/BOOTS. TRUST ME, YOU WONT NEED YOU DR MARTENS ON BALI
BEACHES, THEY WILL BECOME A BURDEN.
- 1 X
JEANS (WEAR ON THE PLANE) GREAT FOR GOING OUT FOR MEALS AND VISITING RESPECTED
PLACES WITH DRESS CODES.
- 3 X
APPROX LONG SKIRT OR LIGHT TROUSERS FOR VISITING TEMPLES OR PLACES OF WORSHIP.
- DECENT
SPORTS SOCKS, YOU WILL BE WALKING A LOT IN THE HEAT AND YOUR FEET WILL SWEAT
AND I KNOW IT’S GROSS BUT YOU GOTTA LOOK AFTER YOUR TOOTSIES.
- UNDERWEAR
– ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT MANY HOTELS AND HOSTELS OFFER LAUNDRY SERVICES,
THERE ARE ALSO LAUNDROMATS EVERYWHERE WHICH ARE MUCH CHEAPER BUT YOU MAY NOT
RECEIVE EVERYTHING BACK. TRUST ME, IT HAPPENS.
- 3 X
100ML LABELLED CLEAR BOTTLES TO RE-USE FOR YOUR SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER &
SHOWER JEL. – amazon.
- TEA TREE
OIL, AN ABSOLUTE GOD SEND. CAN BE USED AS A HAND SANITIZER, INSECT REPELLANT,
BITE SOOTHER, AFTER SUN, WOUND HEALER, BREATH FRESHENER ANDEVEN TEETH WHITENER.
– Holland and
barrett
- 100%
PURE COCONUT OIL, AS ABOVE IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOR SO MANY REASONS. LIP
BALM, MOISTURISER, HAIR CONDITIONER, TEETH WHITENER, AFTER SUN AND YOU CAN COOK
WITH IT! – Holland
and barrett
- HENNA –
I WILL ALWAYS RAVE ABOUT HENNA, IT IS AMAZING AS SUN PROTECTION FOR YOUR HAIR
AND MAKES IT LOOK WONDERFUL. – infinity foods.
- A CLEAR
MEDIUM SIZED ZIP WASH BAG FOR ALL LIQUIDS, THIS WAY YOU WONT NEED TO KEEP
SORTING THROUGH ALL OF YOUR COSMETICS BEFORE EACH FIGHT, AND YOU’LL BE SAVING
THE ENVIRONMENT BY USING LESS PLASTIC. – boots.
- A BOOK,
GET THROUGH BOOKS QUICKLY AND WANT TO TAKE 3? BOOKS ARE HEAVY AND YOU WILL
REGRET IT. ONCE YOU’VE FINISHED SWAP IT AT YOUR HOSTEL OR FIND A CAFÉ THAT HAS
A BOOK SWAPPING SHELF. OR INVEST IN A KINDLE AND SAVE PAPER.
- LAPTOP /
IPAD – IF NECESSARY.
- A BIN
LINER / BLACK SACK. – IF FOR WHATEVER CRAZY REASON YOU FIND YOURSELF TOTALLY
DRENCHED FROM RAIN OR SPONTANEOUS CLIFF JUMPING YOU CAN USE THIS BAG TO KEEP
YOUR CLOTHES SEPARATE.
- A SMALL
DRAWSTRING BAG FOR LAUNDRY THAT YOU CAN CLIP TO THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR BACKPACK TO
AVOID YOUR OTHER CLOTHES SMELLING OF FEET. (SANDWICH BAGS ALSO WORK WELL FOR
THIS)
- TUMBLE
DRYER SHEETS TO KEEP ALL YOUR CLOTHES SMELLING FRESH, JUST SLIP THEM BETWEEN
YOUR CLEAN FOLDED CLOTHES.
- UNIVERSAL
TRAVEL PLUG ADAPTER.
- HEADPHONES
/ USB CHARGER SPARES.
- PRINTED
COPIES OF BOOKED FLIGHTS, VACCINATION CERTIFICATES, HEALTH INSURANCE AND VISAS
– YOU PROBABLY WONT NEED THEM BUT GOD FORBID YOU DON’T HAVE THEM AND GET DENIED
ENTRY AFTER A £600 FLIGHT. (VISA’S WILL BE ESSENTIAL).
- A PEN
AND A JOURNAL, OF COURSE.
- 20-25L
DAY BAG TO EITHER WEAR ON YOUR FRONT WHILST TRAVELLING OR FOLD SMALL AND USE
FOR ESSENTIALS WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE SAFE TO LEAVE YOUR BELONGINGS.
Patagonia Arbor 22L
- FOR THE
LADIES, A MOON CUP. THEY MAY NOT BE EVERYONE’S CUP OF TEA BUT I CAN HAPPILY SAY
I HAVE USED THEM FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER, EVER LOOKED BACK. NOT
ONLY ARE THEY RELIABLE, CLEAN AND COST EFFECTIVE THEY’RE SAVING YOUR GINI AND
THE WORLD FROM UNNECESSARY MASS PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALLY INFUSED PRODUCTS USING
PAPER, PLASTIC AND ALL KINDS OF NASTIES. YOU’LL BE SURPRISED THAT A LOT OF
COUNTRIES YOU’LL BE HEADING TO DON’T WANT YOU TO BE FLUSHING TOILET PAPER LET ALONE
TAMPONS DUE TO THEIR PLUMBING SYSTEMS NOT BEING THE MOST EFFECTIVE. ALSO, A BOX
OF TAMPONS TAKE UP A LOT MORE ROOM THAN A SINGLE SILICONE CUP AND WONT LAST YOU
ANYWHERE NEAR AS LONG. FOR ROUGHLY £20 YOU WILL BE COVERED FOR YOUR ENTIRE TRIP
AND MORE AND IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON HEADING TO NZ YOU’LL THANK ME FOR THIS
ADVICE AS I REMEMBER COMING ACROSS A BOX OF 12 APPLICATOR TAMPONS IN A GROCERY
STORE FOR $13. YOU CAN ALSO SWIM, RUN, SLEEP, CLIMB AND FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
THAN YOU HAVE EVER FELT. – boots.
OF COURSE YOU’LL WANT YOUR TOOTHBRUSH AND SUNGLASSES AND ALL THAT JAZZ
TOO, BUT IM SURE YOU CAN MANAGE THAT. I DIDN’T CONSIDER HALF OF THESE THINGS
WHILST PACKING FOR MY FIRST ADVENTURE BUT TRULY I WISH I HAD DONE!
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER COULD BE A SLEEPING BAG, I PURCHASED A MINI
CAMP BAG FROM EBAY FOR ABOUT £20 WHICH SERVED ME SO WELL DURING MY TIME IN
COLOMBIA. COLOMBIA IS A COUNTRY WHERE THE WEATHER IS EXTREMELY DIVERSE
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE AND A LOT OF HOSTELS WILL ONLY PROVIDE A SHEET. IF
LIKE ME YOU’RE USED TO HUGGING ONTO YOUR 13 TOG DUVET EVERY NIGHT, A SHEET JUST
WON’T CUT IT. USING KARABINER CLIPS AND CLIPPING IT UNDER YOUR BACKPACKS STRAPS
CARRYING A SLEEPING BAG WILL MAKE NO EFFECT ON SPACE FOR YOUR BELONGINGS.
SLEEPING BAGS ARE ALSO GREAT FOR OVER NIGHT COACH, TRAIN AND PLANE
RIDES.
LIKE I’VE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT AND WE ALL
HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POSSESSIONS, I JUST HOPE TO HAVE
INFLUENCED YOU ENOUGH TO AVOID TAKING ANYTHING OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE AND TO HAVE
INFORMED YOU ON A FEW LITTLE TRICKS THAT I HAVE FOUND MOST BENEFICIAL.
THANK YOU FOR READING AND PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO LEAVE A COMMENT OR
MESSAGE ME PRIVATELY ON MY IG ACCOUNT @ambercass_ WITH YOUR PACKING
HACKS!
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