You guys have come in hot with the best packing recommendations, and we couldn’t let them go to waste. So, we’ve collated the ULTIMATE Broke but Backpacking essentials kit.
Recommended by backpackers for backpackers… this kit goes beyond the usual packing list and gets right to the nitty gritty items you didn’t realise you needed!
So, let’s get into it…
TOP 5 Essential Backpacking Items
Let’s start by rounding up the 5 top items that any traveller should invest in before hitting the road…
1. Packing Cubes: For keeping some semblance of organisation in your backpack 😉
2. Worldwide Travel Adapter: A multi-country trip requires multiple plugs. Save yourself the faff and get an all-in-one (one with multiple charging ports is even better).
3. Power Bank: A NON-NEGOTIABLE for keeping gadgets juiced on the go. I always pack a chunky one with me that’ll last me a few charges and a MagSafe one for when I’m on the go.
4. Multiple Bank Cards: The more the merrier for this one. No one wants to be stung by an ATM swallowing their card. I’d highly recommend grabbing yourself a Wise card to save yourself on conversion fees. Most savvy travellers you meet on the road carry one of these cheeky, bright green cards with them.
5. Earplugs: A non-negotiable. Soft silicone ones block out everything, even the creaky bunk-bed Olympics or whatever questionable business is going on upstairs at 3 am. Personally, I swear by my Loops. They don’t cut the noise quite as much as silicone, but they’re comfortable, reusable, and I never travel without them.
Essential Travel Accessories
Here are a few more items that you should highly consider stocking up on before you hit the road…
- Reusable Water Bottle – A sustainable way of cutting down your plastic consumption on the road!
- Leatherman Wingman Multi Tool – A thrifty lil device that’ll save your ass more times than you can count.
- Carabiner – Ditto above.
- Head Torch – An essential that you don’t think you’ll need… until you need it.
- Eyemask – For those long travel days or dorms without curtains.
- Microfibre Towel – She’s small, quick drying and multi-functional. We love her.
Bags
- A Good Travel Pack: Living out of your backpack warrants investing in a good one. Our Broke but Backpacking community highly recommends the AER Travel Pack.
- Waterproof Bag Cover – Because, when you’re stuck in the middle of a storm with your backpack on, you’ll wish you had it.
- Dry Bag – A firm favourite within the community. No matter where you are, you’ll know your valuables are protected.
- Waterproof Pouch Bag – Think bum bag, but waterproof. This recommendation from Kirsty will certainly come in handy on boats and traipsing through waterfalls.
- Toiletry bag – An obvious one – hanging ones are a firm favourite within the Broke but Backpacking fam.
Clothing
- Black Diamond Base – Investing in some good base layers is never a bad idea.
- Waterproof Sandals – Dubbed as ‘ugly but practical sandals’ by James, a trusty pair of Tevas will get you far in any activities involving water or even just navigating rainy seasons.
- Running Belt – A good alternative to a bum bag if you don’t have much to carry.
- A Raincoat – Because when it rains in some countries, it POURS.
Techy Essentials
- Jetpac – An eSIM that’ll never let you down, no matter where you are in the world.
- Portable Speaker – This one is always a good shout for bringing the vibes, but folks in the community have specifically suggested bringing one with a carabiner. My JBL Clip 5 always comes in clutch when I need it.
Medication
Obviously, toiletries can be purchased on the go, but there are a couple of things you won’t want to run out of if options are very limited – or non-existent – in rural places. Here are some recommendations of non-negotiables suggested by our community members.
- Plasters
- Pain killers
- Antihistamines
- Nausea remedies
- Diarrhoea remedies
- Electrolytes
- Daisy also recommended Salonpas pain relief patches for those of you who get a sore back and feet after exploring!
Toiletries
- Soap Box – No one wants slimy soap slippin’ and slidin’ in their bag.
- Tampons – These are hard to find, especially in Southeast Asia. Stock up.
- Menstrual Cup – This will revolutionise your period on and off the road.
- Tissues – Rest stops on long travel days never have them. Pack them and thank yourself later.
- Hand Sanitiser – Because travelling is dirty work.
- Dettol Wipes – See above!
Miscellaneous Recommendations
Miscellaneous but certainly not useless, here are your guys’ suggestions that often go amiss on your bog standard packing list!
- Travel Washing Line – This, plus some washing detergent, means that you’ll have clean clothes with you, no matter where you are.
- Inflatable Travel Pillow – We <3 our travel pillows within the community, but we don’t love the space they often take up. Inflatable ones solve this easily!
- Filtered Water Bottle – Perfect for trips that hit rural spots where water is questionable.
- Waterproof Playing Cards – We thank James in the community for protecting us from a beer-soaked and sticky reality.
- Foldable Bag For Groceries – Never be stung by paying for a bag again! Accessible and sustainable, chuck it in your bum bag and you’re good to go.
- Snorkel and Mask – An essential for mermaids like me. Having your own > renting one.
- Travel Journal – You guys said how much you LOVE journaling on the road, so we had to include it.
- Foldable Lunch Box – Great for being able to pack a lunch, saving your pretty pennies on big day trips.
- Spork – And what would a lunch be without anything to eat it with 😉
- Foldable Picnic Blanket – Super versatile and easy to pack down.
- Laundry Hooks – Sharon recommended these hooks as essential to her hostel living kit. Attach them to the bottom slats of bunks and you’ve got yourself a makeshift curtain rail. They also come in handy when you need to dry clothes.
- And of course, as Skt recommended, if you’re heading to Thailand, don’t forget to grab yourself a pair of flowy elephant print pants 😉
And that’s a wrap! If we missed any recs, flick a message in the community, and we will be sure to add them in <3