Essential Packing Guide for Backpackers
As a backpacking traveler, packing smart is essential for a seamless journey, and we're here to help you master the art of efficient and stylish packing.
In this blog, we'll provide you with expert tips and tricks to ensure you have everything you need while minimizing the load. From versatile wardrobe choices to must-have travel gear, our goal is to equip you with what you need to pack like a pro.
Get ready to embark on your backpacking adventures with confidence, knowing you have everything you need to make the most of your travels while packing in a carry-on ONLY!
Travel Light, Travel Bold: Packing Tips for Backpacking Travelers
Getting Started
Being a backpacker gives you endless amounts of flexibility. You’re on your own schedule doing whatever you want, wherever you want! Imagine the weight and bulk of a suitcase being the one thing that holds you back.
Going carry-on only allows you to ditch the extra baggage and travel freely! The best part? It’s easier to do than you may think.
To effectively pack for your backpacking trip, you can follow the Tripped Packing System. This system will follow 3 major steps:
Following these steps while packing will get you ready for the backpacking trip of your dreams.
1. Step 1: Pull Your Clothes
The first step of the process is to begin to pull everything you will want and need for 3 crucial days of your trip. That’s right. You can bring more than just the necessities! We’re talking more than just clothing too. You’ll pull evvvverything you’ll be needing for each of the 3 days.
These three days include: your favorite day of the trip, your most important day of the trip, and your travel day. Let’s go through each day.
Where is the ultimate place for a backpacker to visit? Hmmm… Let’s go to Bali!
PULL FOR YOUR DREAM DAY IN BALI
You’re an island girl! There’s no better place to live the island life than Bali. It’s a place full of other backpackers and will leave you talking about how much you miss dragonfruit smoothies for awhile. It’s time to explore!
Your Dream Day in Bali may look something like:
Early morning waterfall hike
Chilling at the hostel rooftop with new friends
Beachside yoga and picnic
Sunset walk
Dinner and a night out? Come on! You’re only in Bali once… or twice…
REMEMBER: This day could be hypothetical! Think through it all.
Let’s break down your favorite day:
Morning Hike - What are you waking up in? Do you want to wear your bikini on the hike or change into it later? Change of shoes for in the pools? Towel? Sunscreen? Think about it all.
Hostel Chill - You’re going to want to wash off after the hike. Do you have your toiletries? Are they size appropriate for going carry-on only?
Your Inner Yogi - A lightweight workout outfit will be perfect. Do you need sandals for walking down to the beach? Do you have a tote to carry your water bottle and lunch?
Our favorite backpacking travel accessory is the Tripped Travel Gear Daypack. This daypack packs up small but helps you live large while traveling!
Sunset Walk - Do you need to add anything here? Nights can get chilly, ya know. What’s your “holy grail” sweater to throw on?
Night Out- While the vibe is pretty casual, sometimes it’s fun to dress up! A nice sundress is perfect. Do you want to wear the same sandals as before? No? Maybe toss in a nicer pair for outings.
PULL FOR YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN BALI
The Most Important Day of your trip is the reason you are backpacking to Bali. What is the purpose of your trip? Even if you don’t have a set occasion you’re packing for, you might have an excursion or event that you’ve planned specific to the location you’re in!
You’re planning a big hike up Mt. Batur in Bali, you’ll need to pull:
Clothes and Shoes for Hiking - Although Bali is typically warm, it can also be rainy. Is it planning to rain while you’re there? How can you prepare for that? Do you need a sweatshirt or jacket for the morning while it’s still chilly out?
Shoes - Are your regular sneakers enough or do you need to pack hiking boots?
After your hike, you’re planning on doing some island hopping with some friends. You’ll need to pull:
Bathing Suit - Is your bikini from your Dream Day what you want to wear? If not add an additional bathing suit here.
Shoes - Ditch the sneakers for your sandals! Do you need a different pair from your Dream Day?
Towel and Sun Care - These items should both be check✔️ and check✔️ from your Dream Day.
PRO TIP: Renting a private both with some friends and splitting the cost and be more fun and less expensive than structured tours!
You might have more than one Most Important Day, you go girl!
Bali is known for their incredible temples. We actually feature one of their ornate structures as part of our Bucketlist Compression Cube set!
In this case, you’re going to need to pull:
Appropriate Clothing - Every temple is unique, but typical rule of thumb is that shoulders and knees need to be covered for both men and women. Do you have clothing that is suitable for this? Don’t be that girl that shows up in leggings.
Try to add something here that you might where again maybe for a sunset moment or dinner out! That way you’re able to repurpose.
PULL FOR YOUR TRAVEL DAY
This is a part of packing that is often an afterthought.
“Oh, I have a flight tomorrow! Time to throw on leggings and a sweatshirt.”
Before you do, stop and look at what you’ve already laid out to pack. Maybe the leggings and the sweatshirt from your Mt. Batur hike can be worn for your flight. Get warm on flights? Take out a tank from your Dream Day to toss on under your sweatshirt.
Tip: There is rarely ever a reason to wear a different pair of shoes for a flight than you have planned to pack.
This is the point you’ll add in your important documents, your passport, and your trusty chapstick. Everything that you’ll need to get comfortably to Bali.
Don’t forget about entertainment, too! While inflight movies can be pretty great, is there a book you’ve been dying to read that you’re going to want with you for the beach?
2. Push Through Panic
You’re about to go backpacking! You’re fearless and you’re going to be prepared and ready to go. Even though you’ve watched the YouTube videos, listened to the podcasts, and bought every Instagram influenced item, you may still be asking the question of:
WHAT IF…
PULL THE WHAT IFS
Backpacking, especially solo, means that you’re going to be relying on yourself to have what you need when you need it. Don’t be scared by that! Get excited because in this step, you get to add all of the items in that you’re worried you won’t have prepared for you when you travel.
PRO TIP: If you start to look at your What If pile and think it might be more than you can fit in your bag, remove items that you will easily be able to find in country first. ‘
Ex: If your raincoat is seeming to be too bulky, you can easily find a poncho in country you can by incase of weather.
ORGANIZE YOUR ITEMS
If your what if pile is growing, another great tactic is to create a “maybe” pile. This would be what if items that you don’t need but will pack if you have room!
That favorite jumpsuit you have that was perfect for your trip to Mexico. It would be fun to bring but is it totally functional? Maybe, maybe not. Add it in if you’re done packing and have ample space!
3. Time to Pack
Going carry-on only means that space is a factor now more than ever. How do you maximize on space while also maximizing what you bring?
HOW TO PACK WITH COMPESSION CUBES
How nice would it be if there were a direct flight to Bali. Ahh a dream. Unfortunately, getting to Bali requires planes, trains, and automobiles. Okay maybe just planes and a motorbike.
With so much required travel, you’re bound to run into the inevitable and dreaded layover. Using compression cubes, you’re able to easily find your sarong for a quick airport blanket!
HOW TO CATEGORIZE COMPRESSION CUBES
Our favorite way to keep organized while traveling is to pack each compression cube by the type of activity each item will be used for.
This way all of your athletic/hiking clothes are in one cube while your going out/city clothes are in another! This cuts down on how much rummaging around you need to do to find exactly what you’re looking for.
It’s important that the size of the compression cubes you use will fit inside of your carry-on. Our favorite compression cubes for backpackers are the Tripped Travel Gear Carry-On Compression Cubes!
And they come in pink! Ooo!
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR BACKPACKERS
You have now successfully packed everything you need to have an incredible backpacking trip! No matter where you’re going, remember that safety is KEY!
Be sure that someone back home has your itinerary for where you’ll be and when.
When you change accommodations, cities, or countries, be sure to check in with home to let them know you’ve arrived at your next location safely.
Remember that most self defense items like pepper spray are only allowed on an airplane in a checked bag.
If you are planning on bringing self defense items be sure to check with local laws and ensure that you are able to bring these items through customs in your visiting country.
AND HAVE FUN!
For more information on how to backpack, check out Crosby’s episode of Packed. below as she packs for her solo trip to Bali!