Essential backpacking travel checklist

What to pack for your next travel adventure - an essential backpacking travel checklist

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and have booked that once in a lifetime trip away. Exciting times are ahead and we’re sure you’ve got lots of fun planning to look forward to. However, planning a big trip can add pressure, especially when deciding what and how much to pack. Fear no more! Here at Alpha, our team has put together an essential backpacking checklist. It covers the most important items to spend your money on before your next adventure.

Backpack

Quite an obvious one to start with as it’s in the name! But your first backpacking essential is of course your backpack. You’ll pack your entire life into this, so choose a backpack you love that fits you well. Backpack sizes can range from 35L to 80L (most travellers will take a backpack in the 40L-70L range when travelling for longer than 5 weeks). A useful pro tip is to choose a backpack that opens like a suitcase rather than from the top. It makes packing and unpacking much easier when you move around. Popular brands that we have used and that sell good and affordable backpacks are both Osprey and Mountain Warehouse.

Compression Packing cubes

An absolute essential for organised packing and will save you SO much time and stress. Packing cubes organise your clothes so you don’t need to rummage through your backpack. Compression packing cubes go a step further, compressing your clothes with an extra zip to save space. They help you fit everything you need for your adventure more easily.

Bum bag/day bag

Picture this, you’re in the middle of Indonesia and you have just settled in to your first hostel. You want to go out and explore but you have your water bottle, sun cream, room key and other essentials that you are going to need. The last thing you want is to lug around a big backpack everywhere, so a day bag is essential. This could be a bum bag, crossbody bag or even a tote bag. That way you can go out on your daily adventures without having to take your life’s possessions with you.

Universal charging adapter

A universal charging adapter is an important item to take with you especially if you plan on backpacking across different countries. All in all, this saves you the time and effort of buying a new charging plug every time you visit a country with a different charging plug type. Universal charging adapters will have four different plugs that you can use in over 200 countries as the last thing you want is to be in a country abroad with a phone that you can’t charge. Additionally, a great feature of most universal charging adapters is their USB ports, so you can charge multiple devices at a time. We’ve found our favourite - take a look here.

Filtered water bottle

A filtered water bottle is essential for many reasons. It prevents illness in countries without safe drinking water. It also reduces single-use plastic and saves you money while keeping you hydrated on the go.

TSA Approved Padlocks

Theft is uncommon in hostels, but it can still happen, so padlocks are essential. They let you lock your belongings in a locker and keep them safe. It is important to check that your padlock is TSA approved as it will allow TSA staff to re-lock your baggage without damaging the lock and is in general stronger than standard padlocks. Padlocks can also secure your backpack if a hostel doesn’t provide lockers. They help keep your belongings safe while travelling between destinations, such as on public transport.

Air Tag/Samsung SmartTag

When going backpacking, you are packing your life into one bag and leaving your home country. The worst thing that could possibly happen is that you lose your luggage. Whether you leave it somewhere, it gets stolen or it gets sent to a completely different airport. Simply, an Air tag for iPhone or a Samsung SmartTag for Android is a small tracker you can place in your backpack. That way you can easily track it down and proceed with your backpacking experience if it gets lost. There can also be attached to other travel items such as daypacks, bum bags, and other valuables.

Hanging multi-compartment wash bag

Every hostel has a toilet and shower, but not always a shelf for your belongings while you get clean. Most hostels have something to hook onto, so a wash bag with a hook makes life easier. A multi-compartment wash bag helps you separate and organise your toiletries. It also makes it easier to find what you need and get on with your day.

Microfibre towel

While living away from home and out of your backpack, a microfibre towel is an essential item to bring. Microfibre towels are more durable and lightweight than regular towels. They dry quickly, preventing damp smells in your bag, and fold down small to save space for backpacking essentials. We’d recommend getting two for your travels, one for use after showers and for daily use and the other for if you’re heading to the beach and other activities.

First aid kit

A first aid kit is essential, especially when travelling across countries where medical help may not be nearby. Most basic first aid kits will include things like:

• Adhesive plaster strips
• Bandages
• Emergency blankets
• Wound dressings
• Cleaning wipes
• Gauze sponges
• Gloves
• Tweezers
• Medical Scissors
• Cotton buds

We’ve done the hard work for you and found some great options offered by Amazon and Seton.

Waterproof phone case

Waterproof phone cases are great for those who expect to be at the beach a lot and are interested in water-based activities. A waterproof phone case will allow you to take pictures and capture memories without you having to worry about your phone being vulnerable to water damage.

Shower head filter

Remember when we spoke about visiting countries that don’t produce clean water? Well, this can even affect things such as showers. There was a common issue amongst travellers in relation to showers in Indonesia. Lots of travellers claimed that the unfiltered shower water was causing their hair to fall out and cause irritation to their skin. Since then, shower head filters have been a popular item for travellers to take to South East Asia to avoid these issues, but could be handy for most destinations.

Sun Cream (SPF 50)

From sunny beaches, to the top of snowy mountain tops, the one thing you will always need is sun cream. Wherever you go it is extremely important that you protect your skin correctly. Another little tip is that you will find sun cream can be quite expensive in other countries so you might be better off stocking up at home beforehand!

Travel Insurance

So, the final essential to finish this backpacking checklist is the most important but probably the most ignored, and that’s a scary thing called travel insurance! Yes, travel insurance may not be a glamorous backpacking item or the first one that comes to mind when planning your exciting adventure but it needs to be included in your backpacking checklist.

You may be thinking what is travel insurance and how does it work? Travel insurance will help to ensure that your trip is covered against many unforeseen backpacking and holiday mishaps. Travel insurance will help provide cover for unexpected cancellations, possessions and medical expenses, which trust us, can become very expensive. Take a look at our Alpha long stay policies and If you’re still feeling unsure of what is the right travel insurance policy for you, take a look at a helpful article we have found that can help explain what you need from your policy.

GHIC/EHIC

Additionally, A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), previously called European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is also an essential item to bring whilst travelling, but is not a replacement for travel insurance but should be used as well as. Your GHIC or EHIC card will help to provide discounted or even free state-provided healthcare in certain European destinations in a medical emergency. However, if you need to be transported back to the UK due to a medical emergency, your GHIC/EHIC won’t cover these costs. This is where your important travel insurance policy steps in. Ensure you’re adequately covered by purchasing travel insurance before your trip and also making sure your GHIC/EHIC is in date. You can apply for your GHIC card here.

Travel insurance and GHIC/EHIC cards will help to provide cover for your holidays and backpacking trips within Europe, but if you’re planning longer stays such as over a year, or multiple years out of the UK then you may need to apply for specialist cover or sign up for the health care services that the country you plan to live in offers. As an example Australia has a publicly funded health care service called Medicare. We would always suggest looking into the health care in the country you are travelling to prior to getting on the plane so you are prepared!

If reading this has got you excited for your upcoming backpacking adventure, make sure it’s covered with adequate travel insurance. Click here to get a travel insurance quote for your next backpacking trip today!

We've also put together a travel checklist that will hopefully help to cover the most important items to pack before you head off travelling, click here to download and share it with your friends and travel companions.

Want to find out more about backpacker travel insurance and what we can offer you on your adventure?