This isn’t a packing list.

If you’re planning your first backpacking trip I’m sure you’ll have come across many bloggers making packing lists for you to use. now these are great, but they always seem so perfect, because the writer is using what he/her’s learnt. But what about the stuff they brought and regretted? The stuff you may think you need to bring but aren’t mentioned.

Well I’m going to go through everything I brought on my first backpacking trip and figure out what was worth bringing and what not.

Consider this and Anti-packing list. Like the Deadpool of your classic “what should I bring” list.

Sort of.

Tech:

GoPro Hero 9: Didn’t use it as much as I thought I would, mostly because I’d originally planned on taking a SCUBA course, but it still came in quite handy and got me some great footage. A worthwhile investment.

Accessories: I had the presence of mind to leave most of the GoPro accessories at home, knowing I wouldn’t use more than a few. I was right. I used the helmet clip, chest strap, and selfie stick but that was all.

Phone: Why do I even need to mention this, it’s literally one of Adam Sandler’s original three “must takes” for travel. A better thing would be to make a list of apps and sites that were useful (or weren’t), for my travelling  

Kindle: This obviously depends on if you’re a reader but for me, even though I ended up having a physical book on me at all times, I still used my kindle at least every other day, though usually just for a single chapter.

Laptop: Again this varies person to person. To be honest, if not for my writing there was nothing I used my laptop for that I couldn’t have done on my phone, and it (along with it’s charger) really added weight to my bag. So I’d say unless you need it for work/projects I’d recommend just making due with your phone.

Earphones: Yes yes yes. Obviously. Plus they’re really light and easy to carry so it makes little difference.

Over Ear headphones: Before my trip I was strictly an over ear guy unless walking/doing exercise. But after a week of travelling I ended up selling mine because they were just so… bulky. The in ears took up wayyy less space and they were just an necessary bother to carry and care for.

Chargers: Bring a couple extra wires, these go missing painfully easily.

Misc:

Paracetamol: Only used these over two days but good to have just in case. You don’t want headaches leaving you completely incapacitated while travelling.

Wallet: The fourth amigo; Phone, Wallet, Passport, Keys. Surprisingly, once I bought a fanny pack kinda thing, I never used my wallet once. But it helped that I only had a single card to care for. If you use a wallet regularly then you should definitely bring it.

Travel Mug: Found myself using this often but mostly because of kosher restrictions, if you don’t have to deal with kosher you’ll nearly always have a mug to use in hostels/hotels. 

Flask: Another thing I ended up selling, really redundant with the mug unless you’re going to be doing a lot of hiking, then it’s suddenly a lifesaver.

Water Bottle with filter: Maaaaan, I lost mine in Costa Rica (the one country I didn’t need this), but it would have really come in handy in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. You don’t need one as you’ll have filtered water in nearly every accommodation, but it sure is useful.

Photocopies of documents: these are just important to have as a safeguard.

Drying line: Didn’t even take this out of its package. literally always had better options for hanging clothes.

Mini First Aid kit: Another one of those things to bring regardless of if you use it or not. Better safe than sorry.

Snorkeling goggles: depends completely on where you’re going. I used these a lot in Costa Rica, then left them behind when I realised I wasn’t going to be in the Caribbean. They take up a lot of space and you can always buy them at any coastal spot.

Monopoly Deal: A last second grab which paid off massively! I made so many friends by simply breaking this bad boy out in a hostel common room.

Ear plugs: An absolute must and lifesaver at times.

Sleep mask: Another absolute must. I was in the airport when I realised I’d forgotten to buy one of these and ended up having to spend a whopping 15 quid on a cushioned version. It worked out though because it was so comfy that I used it as a wearable pillow to great success.

Toiletries:

Shampoo and body wash/soap: Most hostels don’t supply these so it’s good to have your own but you can buy them at your destination instead of shlepping them from the off.

Vaseline: If you need it you need it.

Toothpaste and Brush: Please, please bring these lol.

Bug Spray: Obviously depends where you’re going but definitely needed for Central America.

Floss: I don’t think I ever saw a backpacker flossing (and remember I was mostly using shared bathrooms), but I value my teeth so I brought a pack.

Sunscreen: Absolutely necessary. Unless you like sunburns (or you’re going to a place without sun, could never be me).

Deodorant: Of course (can by this anywhere though)

Soap Leaves: Waste of money (not of space, they took up no space), they all melded to one tiny bar that fell apart instantly.

Detergent Sheets: Could be useful but I found myself getting lazy and using the cheap laundry services instead of doing it on my own. I think most of you would do the same so unless you’re doing hand washes I don’t recommend these. They do work though.

Clothes: 

Underwear: …

3 trousers 2 shorts: I definitely should have brought more shorts than trousers, I ended up buying a pair of shorts and leaving a trouser behind anyway.

2 caps: I was proven right in bringing a spare when my favourite flew off into an active volcano crater (true story).

2 pj shorts: or whatever you sleep in. 

6 t-shirts: I didn’t need this many shirts but I somehow left with ten. The prices are good out there folks.

1 Hawaiin shirt: A travel tradition.

1 white button down for shabbat: I think it’s always good to have a (slightly) more formal shirt (you never know you’re going to a Salvadorian Opera until an hour before.)

1 fleece button down for hiking: Anything fleece or at least warmer would work, I just happen to have a great button down.

2 swim trunks: I wore these more than I did my trousers and shorts.

6 socks: Pairs worn over 100 days: 2. Pairs lost: 5. To be fair though, my shoes can be sockless and I was almost always in sandals.

Fleece jumper: I used this a ton when in the more mountainous regions. It was barely ever actually cold but sometimes you just want to be cozy. 

Hoodie: Got rid of this literally the morning I arrived. Could have been this or the fleece jumper to be honest, but the hoodie was heavier and cheaper so it made more sense.

Poncho: Extremely light weight and space efficient, only used it a couple times but was worth having.

Winter hat: Kept for two months at the bottom of my bag, but it paid off when I did my hike from Xela to Lake Atitlan. It would’ve been brutal without it.

Microfibre towel: A no brainer. I sometimes got towels in the hostels but this was in constant use. Plus it’s tiny and dries in mere minutes.

Tropic Feel shoes, Teva Sandals, and Birkenstocks: I grouped these all together because I think the shoes you bring depend on each other. Though at first I felt silly bringing three pairs of footwear, in retrospect all three were equally important and I would have had to buy a replacement if I’d left one at home. Shoes are something that can cause you a couple headaches but think about what you’ll need and don’t skimp on them because of the extra weight, they can literally make or break a trip.

Packing:

Osprey Farpoint 55L: A great backpack with a super useful detachable 15L day pack.

20L osprey bag for laptop: I used this for my laptop, tefillin, chargers, and book. You definitely don’t need this, it was only necessary because of my extra kosher stuff (see below). 

Packing cubes: The one thing that actually makes space. As useful as everyone says they are.

Dry bag 10L: I’m sure they can come in handy but I personally didn’t use it a single time.

Kosher/Jewish Items:

Pocket Siddur: It was good to have a physical siddur instead of always using my phone.

Tefillin: You can’t always expect Chabad to show up now can you ; )

Tzitzit: I brought along two of the vest variety, comfortable and lightweight.

2 spare kippot: Ended up losing these too and buying two awesome knitted kippot from the market in Antigua.

Lightweight pot and pan with detachable handle: Used these almost daily until I got to Guatemala. Only useful if you keep kosher because any hostel with a kitchen will also have pots and pans.

Two sets of bamboo cutlery: Lightweight spoon, fork, and knife. Easy peasy 

One sharp Knife: for cutting stuff when cooking. Make sure it doesn’t go in your carry-on.

Rubber spatula and spoon: For pasta, eggs, and more. Super light and easy to clean.

Four collapsible bowls: For storing food and eating with. Didn’t take up too much space.

What I picked up along the way:

Fanny pack: Yes, I looked like an annoying Brit on a Greek Island summer bender, but it was to useful to pass up. (I added a wooden parrot to a zipper to counter the image)

One more pair of shorts: It was too hot to wear anything long.

Two knitted Kippot from Antigua’s market: They were cool souvenirs and my last kippa had flown off into a volcano so… two birds with one stone.

A book: I’m not mentioning the name of the book because I kept swapping books at hostel book exchanges, so one book turned to five.

Two button down shirts: Just two nice shirts I spotted in Mexico which I thought would be nice to have for Passover.

Two glow in the dark T-shirts: Still haven’t worn either of these but I think I was a bit too taken by the art on the shirt to think about how it would look on me (absolutely atrocious).

Souvenirs and Wristbands: Over my journey I picked up a nice amount of little souvenirs and trinkets. I’m a big souvenir guy and I think it’s great to have something physical to remember the trip from. There’s something different than a photo in wearing a colourful Mayan bracelet in the cold rain of London.

So there you have the complete list of what I took backpacking. I hope you find it useful but always remember that if you make a mistake and bring something extra or forget something you think you really need, it’s part of the adventure!

Unless it’s your passport. If it’s your passport I’m sorry.