There’s a classic dilemma when it comes to traveling: overpacking for a weeklong vacation, suitcase bursting at the seams with extra shirts and pants — just in case. And usually, that’s okay because you aren’t lugging everything around with you for months at a time. But what if you are? Packing for an extended backpacking trip can be stressful, so here are some pro tips to ease some pressure from your mind when you’re packing, and from your back while you’re traveling.
- Pick the perfect pack
Arguably the most important part of the backpacking trip is finding a backpack that best suits your travel needs. Are you primarily hiking in the woods and sleeping in a tent? If so, you’ll want a pack that is water-resistant and can take on all the elements of the forest. Ensure that you can comfortably move around and bend over while wearing the backpack.
Or are you planning to splurge a bit along the way by staying in various hostels or perhaps even a hotel? A backpack that opens like a suitcase may be in your best interest if you are staying in these establishments and need to see everything you have at a glance.
- Use packing cubes to combat chaos
There is nothing worse than wrestling with an unorganized backpack while in a 12-bed hostel and in view of everyone. That’s why packing cubes are a traveler’s best friend. These allow you to compartmentalize your gear, which makes it easier to stay organized and repack when it’s time to move on to the next destination. Packing cubes are available in different colors and sizes, making it easier to remember what goes where. For example, tops can be packed in a medium blue cube, bottoms in a large green cube, delicates in a small red cube, and so on. Voilà, a quick and methodical pack, each and every time.
- Write. It. Out.
Packing can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. It is highly effective to have a written list on which you can add notes and cross others off as you complete them. A physical list makes it easier to organize and pack when everything you need to take with you is broken down into sections. Start with clothes; write down everything you think you’ll need while keeping the season and weather in mind. Then move on to toiletries, electronics, medications, and any other essentials. It’s a small but impactful task that can relieve the stress of trying to remember everything when it comes time to pack.
- Adopt a minimalist mindset
Less is more, especially when it comes to traveling. When backpacking, everything you will need will be on your back, so overpacking will cause unnecessary suffering. A capsule wardrobe is a perfect technique to stay stylish on the go. It incorporates a ‘less is more’ mindset, where a few versatile pieces can easily be mixed and matched. Your capsule wardrobe should have anywhere between 25 to 50 clothing items (stay on the lower side when traveling), and it favors mainly neutral colors with a few statement pieces. With this newfound minimalist mindset, getting dressed every day becomes easy, leaving you with more time for adventure.
- Say goodbye to bottles
Bringing shampoo, conditioner, and body wash is a necessity, for your sake and everyone else’s but bringing three different bottles can be heavy and bulky in your pack. A great alternative is bars. Small and cost-effective, shampoo and conditioner bars generally last longer than a standard size bottle of their liquid counterpart and they weigh less, too. It’s possible that bars will last the duration of your trip (depending on how ‘extended’ it might be), thus eliminating the need to buy more while you’re away.
- Practice makes perfect
Picture this: It’s the night before you leave for your big trip, and you want to get your packing done and ready. You collect everything that’s written on your list, grab your packing cubes, and start folding but suddenly realize that certain pants no longer fit, or your favorite shirt or jacket has a serious rip. Now you’re back to square one as you start to rethink everything you’ve planned. Eliminate this scenario well in advance by examining and trying on everything on your list so you can rethink your choices without any time constraints. Secondly, try a practice pack or two with your packing cubes so you can see what fits best and where. Once you’ve ironed out the kinks and had a bit of practice, you’ll feel like a seasoned pro.
- Keep calm and carry-on
Now it’s time for your carry-on, which should hold your most valuable and most used items like your passport, wallet, laptop, collapsible water bottle, medications, toothbrush, and any documents you’ll need during your travels. It’s also a good idea to pack a couple of additional socks and underwear in the unlikely event that your luggage gets lost. A few extra masks, some mini hand sanitizer, and wet wipes are a must when going on a plane, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.