Packing Essentials

Having travelled with a backpack in Europe and Asia, it is safe to say that I have made my fair share of mistakes when it has come to packing, but I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way too! I would have been lost without the below items, so without further adieu, here is a guide of my top ten packing essentials:

Backpack
I have tried a top loading backpack and one that zips open at the front and honestly for me there is just no comparison. You will have to pry my backpack with a front opening from my cold dead hands! They make packing, unpacking and finding exactly what you need SO much easier. I bought this one from Decathalon and I absolutely loved it although it might be a little on the small side if you’re an over packer (like me!). For me, it was also important that I had some ties on the outside of my bag to attach carabiners and other items, which is another reason why I chose the bag that I did.

Compression Packing Cubes
Going back to the point about being an over packer, I would be lost without my compression packing cubes! Packing cubes in general are a must for me when travelling, even for shorter trips. They are such a great way to segregate your clothes eg. tops in one, pants in another or sometimes I go rogue and pack by style eg. casualwear, gym clothes, etc. These were the ones that I got.

Lightweight Laundry Bag
If you are going backpacking, it is inevitable that you are going to need to do your laundry at some point and having a dedicated bag for this makes life soooo much easier. Yes, you can pop your clothes in any old bag you have, but you don’t want to be without something like your day-backpack for a day or two while your clothes are getting washed. I brought a small, compact bag like this one instead of a ‘laundry bag’ as it was lightweight, but could also be used for other activities like going to the beach. These are the style of bag that I use.

Carabiners
Hear me out! Carabiners were a godsend for me when travelling to hook on bulky shoes to the outside of my bag, or for tying still-wet bikinis or towels to the outside of my bag if they were still wet when I had to pack up and go back on the move. These were such an essential for me that I (somehow?!) lost two of mine and went out and bought more halfway through my trip. They are so cheap, even if you think you won’t use them there is no harm on having them on the outside of your nag just in case.

Padlocks
when staying in a shared dorm you are going to want to lock your valuables away in the lockers provided. The only issue is, not all lockers are the same!! Some fit literally just your valuables and others will be large enough to pop in your whole backpack. I brought 2/3 different padlocks with me of different sizes to ensure I was always able to lock my belongings away. These were the ones that I got here.

International Adapter
I will never go back to using a regular adapter again! Yes, they are a small bit bigger but a universal adapter is a lifesaver when you are visiting multiple countries on one trip. The one that I bought has space for a plug and also two USB ports which is super handy for charging up multiple things at once. You can find mine here.

Waterproof Case
I get asked every time I post an underwater picture on Instagram what I used and honestly, it might be the best thing I’ve ever bought/packed for a trip! This underwater phone case is ELITE compared to those little underwater pouches that you see everywhere and it’s pretty inexpensive. This is the one that I bought: Cozycase

Multi-cable Charging Cable
These things are a lifesaver if you need more than one type of charger! I have an iPhone, but all of my powerbanks are charged with a type-C charger so carrying one of these is super handy to make sure I always have both on me. I bought this one.

Good Earplugs
If you are staying in hostels or in accommodation near a busy street then good quality earplugs are a lifesaver! I got the Loop earplugs on Amazon (paired with a good eye mask and you will have the best sleeps ever)

Airtag & Holder
When you are carrying your bags around a lot, leaving them unattended in some places and trusting they will get on and stay on various ferries, boats and planes it never hurts to have an airtag to help track the location in case something happens. I always have an airtag in my bag, and I also have an airtag mounted on my drone in case it gets lost while flying! You can purchase airtags on the Apple website here and the mount I got to put one on my drone here.

As I mentioned above, I would be lost without all of the items that I mentioned above. Packing for long periods of travel can be daunting, but once you have the right items to hand it makes life so much easier.

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