Packing light is a skill which you must learn if you want to backpack of hitch-hike for a long time without straining your back and ruining your trip.
Let’s be honest, it’s useful even if you’re not planning a round-the-world trip with a rucksack firmly attached to your back. Have you ever thought that Ryanair’s luggage limit of 15 kg is not enough? What would you say if I told you that your bag can weigh 6 kg and contain all you will need for a two month trip?
Follow these simple rules and I can guarantee you less stress and back pain throughout your journey:
Rucksack
Your rucksack is your best friend, so choose wisely. Your ideal rucksack should be small and light.
Rule 1: A small rucksack
For a trip during which you’re planning to camp, the maximum size of your rucksack shouldn’t exceed 65 l. If your bag is too big but empty, it will be uncomfortable to carry.
If you are not planning on camping and you’re not taking a tent, a sleeping bag and a mat, then anything between 20 and 50 l should do you.
Rule 2: Personalize your rucksack
If you are planning to move around carrying your rucksack a lot, make sure you buy one with an adjustable back system. This will allow you to adjust it to your unique posture and size, which will make a big difference. The idea is not to feel your rucksack at all.
Rule 3: Straps & zips
If your rucksack is small, make sure it has a lot of straps, which you can use to attach things onto it or compress your rucksack to make it smaller.
It’s also a good idea to buy a rucksack with a bottom compartment which can be accessed separately.
Rule 4: In all weathers
If your rucksack isn’t waterproof, make sure you buy a waterproof rain cover. For example something like this.
Rule 5: Look unassuming
Not in every country it’s a good idea to look like a tourist. In many places tourists are considered easy targets for pickpocket or scammers so the more you look like a local, the better. Therefore avoid attaching anything to your rucksack, which would give an idea that you are a world traveller, like badges, flags etc. They might look cool, but safety first!
Clothes
Rule 1: Take the bare minimum
- 4 t-shirts / tops
- 1 long-sleeve shirt
- 2 pairs of zip-off trousers
- fleece
- waterproof jacket (maybe waterproof trousers)
- hiking boots
- sport sandals
- 4 changes of underwear
- 3 pairs of socks
- headscarf
- swimsuit
- 1 t-shirt + shorts to sleep
Rule 2: Take light & quick-drying clothes
If you’re backpacking, you have to wash your clothes on a regular basis; probably every second day. Sometimes you won’t have enough time to let it dry for a long time; you might get rained on etc… Therefore it’s essential to have quick-drying clothes made of light materials!
So forget about jeans, they are heavy and take ages to dry!
Rule 3: Double function
Think of ways in which one piece of clothing could serve more than one function.
Equip yourself with zip-off trousers, which can be used as shorts or long trousers, if the weather or culture require full-leg coverage. There are many of these kind of trousers on the market, but make sure you buy the quick-drying ones.
A headscarf is also a very useful piece of equipment, which you can use to cover your head & shoulders (weather or cultural reasons), use as a belt, rope, mat or cover…
You can also take one pair of underwear less and use your bikini bottom or swimming trunks.
Rule 4: Comfortable shoes
You will need two types of shoes: for good and for bad weather.
The shoes you choose for bad weather should also be good for hiking or all-terrain walking, so make sure they have gripping soles and protect your ankles well. It’s important to have this kind of shoes if you are planning on hitch-hiking as well, since very often you will be dropped off on the side of the road (mud, dry grass, thorns…) or you’ll have to walk a lot to find a good spot. Your shoes really don’t need to be expensive, choose comfort & light weight over the prize.
The shoes for good weather would normally be sandals. We avoid flip flops as you can’t really run or walk up steep hills in them.
Rule 5: Compact & light jackets
I always take two types of jackets with me: a fleece and a rain jacket.
A fleece is light, warm and can be packed in a compression sack really easily.
A rain jacket should be so small and light that it could fit in the pocket of your fleece or in your hand luggage without any problem. It doesn’t have to be expensive either, I use a 14€ one from Decathlon.
Toiletries
Rule 1: Take the absolute minimum.
(1) shampoo
(2) bar of soap
(3) deodorant
(4) toothbrush + toothpaste
(5) shaving foam
(6) razors
– quick-drying towel (rule 2)
(7) sunscreen
(8) wet wipes
(9) washy flower thingy
(10) tampons, pads and other girl accessories…
(11) cotton buds
(12) small bottle for a second shampoo (explained in rule 3)
And this is what it looks like all packed in a wash-bag.
Rule 2: Small & quick-drying towel is essential
Forget about the old-fashioned terry-cloth towels; buy a modern light, small and quick-drying one!
Rule 3: Soap & shampoo
You won’t need anything more than these two hygiene items; be a minimalist.
You don’t need a shower gel. Even if you use it back home, during the trip it is absolutely redundant. Use soap or the shampoo. What’s good for your hair can’t be bad for your skin, right?
You really don’t need a conditioner, you hair won’t fall out if you stop using it for the time of your trip.
The soap itself is very useful in case there is no washing machine and you have to hand-wash your clothes.
If you are travelling as a couple, take one normal-sized bottle of shampoo + a small bottle where you can decant some shampoo and have showers at the same time. Don’t carry two large bottles!
Rule 4: Sunscreen
If you are hitch-hiking or backpacking, you will be exposed to the sun a lot, so make sure you have a good suncreen. Protect your skin!
This is all I take and you really won’t need more. Forget about make-up stuff, creams, toners, perfumes etc… You are a backpacker, not a model!
Rule 4: Wet wipes
We always carry with us a pack of wet wipes (the kind babies use :) in case we get stuck somewhere while hitch-hiking and won’t be able to have a shower for a day.
Packing
Rule 1: Compression sacks
If you have an old sleeping bag which you don’t use any more, take its sack and put your clothes inside. Pull the straps and compress it. You will be amazed how much extra room you will gain.
Let me show you how it works ;)
I roll up all my clothes up to minimize the creases.
Before: all my clothes apart from the jackets, shoes and the headscarf.
1) t-shirts, 2) trousers, 3) socks, 4) long-sleeve shirt, 5) underwear.
After: all nicely packed in a compression sack!
We use two compression sacks, one for clean and the other one for dirty clothes. You can also use one for your fleece.
Rule 2: Pack light, wear heavy
Pack all the lightest stuff you’ve got and wear the heaviest, e.g. the day you are moving with your rucksack, wear the boots, which are heavier than your sandals.
Rule 3: Take the bare minimum.
Think twice or even three times before you pack and get rid off all the stuff you MIGHT use. Take only those things which you will really need!
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We hope you will find it useful. It took us a number of years to master the art of packing light and we are happy to share our experience with you :)
If you have any other ideas or suggestions which could help us all to pack light, share your knowledge in the comment box below! Thanks!
written by: Ania
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Hitch-Hikers Handbook
Hitch-Hikers' Handbook 