Traveling is adventurous and so excitement begins right at the moment of backpacking. You would always feel that did you backpack all? But the real question is “did you pack enough?”
Well, ambiguity is the root of muddle situations and can ruin the fun during the journey.
So, keeping the ultimate bag packing checklist for long trips is going to answer all your queries and ensure the easy, unloaded journey of your trip. So, let’s get started with some quick ways of quick bag packing.
The Ultimate Backpacking Checklist for Long Trips
Nobody wants to carry heavy backpacks because it becomes a burden after a few hours while you are exploring the places. So, it is always a good habit to make a backpacking checklist to understand what you would really need? For that research, keep in mind the main factors in regards to the place you are planning to visit so you can figure what is important and what can be avoided:
- the climate and terrain of the place(s) you will visit
- how many days do you plan to travel?
Well, the planning of a long trip comes along with the calculation of a budget. We cover a checklist of items that you need to backpack when traveling on a budget. Let us explore the insight of the first common question to reach the level of understanding the ultimate bag packing list for long trips: When does your packing start?
ART OF SCHEDULING BACKPACKING
The real answer is It starts the moment you decided the destination you are traveling to, because, it will give you an idea of what all you might need to shop or what you already have? Before you think to shop for new things for your trip, think again. Do you really need it? What alternatives do you have? Can you rent or borrow some of these items? This would help you to plan your trip well, especially when you are traveling on a budget.
Important things to never miss out in your packing:
- A good quality backpacker bag.
- A sleeping bag if going camping or trekking as you might have to sleep in tents or stay at a hostel.
- A combination lock, so that you don’t have to worry about losing your keys in the transit.
- Your medicines (if any) and a first aid kit
- Snacks for munching
- Toiletries because you want to maintain the hygiene
- Undergarments and socks
- At least 2-3 pairs of tops and 1-2 lower or pants which can be easily wrapped.
- Rain cover (if the climate says so but it is good to be prepared anyhow)
- sunscreens
- sun protecting hats/caps
- Your camera to ensure that you never miss on creating memories from your trip, however, if you have a good smartphone to do the needful, you might want to skip it.
- Batteries, power bank (fully charged), chargers
- A Torch or LEDs for the night strolls
- Waterproof backpacking (use small/medium/large sized zip lock bags or any available plastic bag).
Are you all done till now? Now, it’s time to focus on health factors.
FIRST AID BOX PREP IN BACKPACKING LIST
If you are on any prescribed medication, keep those first. You would not really like to spend your trip ailing and looking for pharmacies.
So, along with that, make it clear to keep your medication in the most accessible area of your backpack (preferably the top or side flaps of your backpack). Other than that, know the geography of your tour destination.
For example, if you are going for mountain trips, you would need medications for motion sickness, headaches, medicines that would help in the acclimatization process, etc.
Other than these, a first aid kit shall be there with basic other medicines like paracetamol, aspirin, etc. With this, you are done with one of the most important parts of your backpacking.
TOILETRIES ESSENTIALS
See even if you are not a big fan of bathing daily, you must maintain basic hygiene.
The hotel, or the hostel, or wherever you are staying may or may not provide you with the hygiene essentials. Hence, adjust the quantity bulk since you don’t want a hole in your pocket with the shopping for the trip.
So, the basic things you would require packing and not forget:
Body wash (which can also be used for handwashing purposes and face wash if you are not a high maintenance type)
- Brush, Toothpaste, or a mouth wash
- Shampoo (We would suggest a small bottle or satchels easier to pack and lighter in weight)
- Toilet paper or tissue rolls (We do not recommend wet tissues since they are not biodegradable and unreasonably costly, you can simply use a dry tissue slightly soaked in water)
- Quick-dry or a micro-fiber towel
- Deodorants, sunscreens, moisturizers, lip balm, and any other cosmetics as per your requirement.
For female travelers!
if you are done with your monthly cycle, good to go without any hassles.
But, in case you are not, and you are expecting something to happen during your travel, do keep enough sanitary napkins, tampons, or menstrual cups.
Remember, to please make sure that, if you are putting them to use, hygienically dump them or bring your trash back with you to the city.
Done with your hygiene, you must change your innermost clothes regularly.
So, keeping at least 2-3 pairs of undergarments and socks shall suffice. You can wash and reuse them instead of keeping loads of those.
Also, you can use synthetic ones, since they dry quickly as compared to basic cotton ones.
TIME TO DRESS UP
Keep one thing in your mind while packing that you don’t want to show off your wardrobe to the world.
Meaning, that pack 2-3 pairs of tops and 1-2 bottoms, jacket (padded or fleece as per the requirement of your destination).
You are now good to go with that much. Your backpack would be lighter, and you would be able to focus more on the trip then dressing up for the day.
And of course, since you have decided not to show off your wardrobe, it will be lighter on your pocket as well.
Also, make sure that you pack accordingly to the climate of that place.
So, if it’s going to rain, you must have the rain covers for both, you and your backpack (a large plastic bag that can cover your bag may be cool, so you don’t have to spend extra bucks on that).
Side Stuff for Backpacking
So do with the clothing essentials, you must not forget to keep your sunscreen along with sun-protecting hats/Caps.
Since you might want a tan, but you would not want to burn your skin.
A good sunscreen with SPF 50 shall do the job.
And of course, the most essential part, your camera!
Trust me, you do want to hold on to those memories for a lifetime. Also, would not want to skip sharing the fun on your classy Instagram profile. So, keep your camera all set to capture those unforgettable moments of your trip.
And if you are a professional photographer, no matter what you do, your lenses are going to make that backpack heavy for you.
Otherwise, a phone of good quality can also suffice.
And you would need your camera or phone to live through that experience, for which you need to pack a power bank or extra batteries.
If you are planning on becoming a night owl or strolling in the streets, no matter how much you like to be an adventurer, please keep a torch or headlamp o make it a little easier.
They do not cost much so it shall not be heavy on your budget.
With this, we believe to have covered the most essential parts of backpacking.
So, go on, free your soul and mind, and make the most of that trip without having to regret a well-planned or well-thought-of backpack.
Before we wrap, a few points to always and always keep in mind:
- Do not litter or bring your trash back to your home city.
- Do not be a tourist, rather be a responsible traveler.
Happy Travelling!!
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