10 things not to pack when backpacking
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Recently in Bangkok I decided to shed all my excess baggage. For two months in India and Nepal I had been carrying around a ridiculously heavy backpack and a day pack. I decided to ditch the day pack and got rid of all the unessential items in my backpack.
I had packed things that were completely useless to me when backpacking but maybe could use when I eventually stopped travelling and to my great expense had to send them via DHL to a family members address in New Zealand. Not only did this bite heavily into my travel funds but also quite a lot of time was spent dealing with frustrating Thai bureaucracy!
Below is a list of things that I should not have taken with me and some other things that I have learned not to travel with.
Mosquito nets
Should have been fazed-out in the early 20th century, In one hundred Indian hotel rooms, I rarely found anything to hook the thing on to, and when I did, I found that it obstructed the much-needed cool breeze from the ceiling fan, creating an uncomfortable pocket of warm air. I have visited almost all of the S.E Asia countries now, and have never encountered mosquitoes in such numbers that they would interrupt my sleep (unlike my experiences in South America) and as for malaria prevention – there are better ways! Any area where Mosquitoes maybe a problem the nets will be provided.
Shampoo and Conditioner
Invest in sun cream but don’t bring large or even medium sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Local products will do just fine and can be purchased in neat travel sized sachets from most chemists.
Hair Dryers and Straighteners
Yes believe it or not people do take these with them. Me included one trip!. Most sockets do not offer enough power to make them work to there full capacity. Not only do they take up valuable space but the heat in Asia makes them virtually pointless.
Sheets/Pillows
A small minority of hotels/backpackers lack sheets and just provide mattress coverings. during most of the year, it is usually so hot that sheets are unnecessary anyway. Whilst in the hills and mountains, you don’t need sheets you need a sleeping bag which can be purchased cheaply then disposed or tied onto the outside of your pack. Whilst travel pillows do help you endure the epic night bus journeys they take up a massive amount of space and tourist bus companies tend to provide a pillow and a sheet.
Swiss Army Knifes
I had one for years and took it on every trip. I never once used it. I am a backpacker not an outdoors man. Unless you’re going camping in the wilderness leave it at home. Wine is rare is S.E Asia and mainly served in bars so you won’t even need it for that and eventually you will forget that you have it in your bag and have it confiscated at the airport like I did.
Jeans
Controversial choice amongst some people but they take up valuable space, are useless if you get wet and it tends to be hot to wear them almost all times of the year. It’s also worth noting that it is almost impossible to keep your clothes looking good when they are washed in rivers and squashed into your backpack for months on end and expensive items of clothing should be left at home. I would also advise unless you own a small cheap waterproof jacket that can be stuffed into your backpack not to bring a jacket either. You will never/rarely need one.
Expensive clothes
No matter how much they cost, or how much you liked them before your trip after six months of rolling them into a ball, squashing them in the backpack and being washed in hostel washing machines you will want to burn every item of clothing you own after travelling. Leave the good stuff at home.
Books
Books take up a large amount of space, controversially I wouldn’t even bother carrying a Lonely Planet guide. South East Asia is full of travellers who can give first hand advice and it is hardly off the beaten track. Books can be purchased much cheaper on the street and most book places offer a book exchange meaning you don’t have to carry around unwanted books.
Large amounts of medical supplies
One for the hypochondriacs, compact, basic first aid kit is essential to bring with you, such as plasters, a small tube of anti-septic cream and so on. But don’t go overboard. I’ve had the same emergency kit with me for five years and it still remains un-open.
Guitars
Apart from the major inconvenience in carrying one you fit every backpacker stereotype in world. If you’re desperate to keep playing you will find a hostel or bar with one lying around or find at the one stereotypical American jock douchebag with a guitar that I always seem to meet who is trying to impress girls with Bob Marley, Jack Johnston songs.
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By rosscameron
I have been travelling periodically for over the past four years; ranging from trips to China, Australia, S.E Asia, South and Central America and have recently completed a trip round India Nepal and am now located in Wellington. I like to concentrate on the real aspects of travelling such as the experiences of meeting intriguing characters from locals to fellow travellers as well as my encounters on the road. Good, bad, weird or ugly. I’d like to think I don’t always report that everything is ‘must see’ and ‘awesome!’ in particular the real aspects of travelling such as the experiences of how to cope on a bus with no functioning toilet combined with twelve hours of non-stop power ballads and the problems with eating sushi at midnight in a Italian restaurant in Venezuela!
What do you think? Post your comments
dunklea says:
11. Underwear – Where I tend to travel, all I need are extra pairs of swimming suits =)
backpackingmatt says:
Sweet list Ross. I like the, “I'm a backpacker not an outdoors man” line. While most of your tips are SE Asia based, I think the same would hold true with backpacking elsewhere.
Matt Preston says:
I always like the idea of taking cool “outdoors-man” gadgets but in reality you need very little extra. S.E. Asia is definitely the well trodden path for backpackers but you probably need even less in many places!
Sarah says:
Hi Ross, I would have to agree on most of the above, particularly the hairdryers and straighteners. One night during our season I noticed the lights on the boat dim dramatically and heard the generator straining. A quick trip around the cabins found a young lady drying her hair. Lucky the poor old generator hacked it so we didn't lose our power for the night. But I couldn't go without a couple of really good books, which I then would trade when I found a good book exchange or with other backpackers. And I love the guitars, it's always fantastic to hear live music by the fireplace in the evening. But again we are one of those places that supplies them jut in case you can't be bothered to carry them around. Safe Travels, Sarah
mavtraveler says:
I take one pair of jeans with me (my only pair of pants). I do tend to live in places (3+ months at a time), plus if you go out anywhere decent, it's a must.
Jools Stone says:
The Jock douchebag minstrel is an enduring image isn't it?
Are you still accepting guest bloggers? I've just started my blog and although I'm not a backpacker I'd be very interested in doing stuff on independent travel generally or by train.
Cheers
Jools
runawayjane says:
Good list! I think it may be a bit harder though for anyone with long hair not to at least bring a hair dryer. The sun may dry it, but if you don't dry it properly it becomes all tangled in knots and really hard/sore to brush! You could get a travel sized one though!
Also, the jeans is a very contraversial one, and I know for a fact you take several pairs with you Ross every trip from TopShop!!! :)
Dina VagabondQuest says:
Good tips, this post match with my backpack contain with a few exception.
So, I'm sometimes sad of not bringing straightener, my hair don't look as good. But I do realize it took too much space in backpack, requires a lot of power that the hostel might can't provide, and after using it, the tool will be hot for too long time, can't just pack and go.
I do have tiny travel hair dryer (really really small!). Dual voltage. And of course I have universal adaptor. How useful is it? Well, it's so tiny, draw a little power presumably, and too weak to quickly dry my hair. It takes long time, and usually I don't bother. Except if I feel like dress up a bit.
I have silk sleep sheet, that fold really tiny, and said to be bedbug proof. We needed it quite rarely, but there are times that we were thankful to have that.
Lilian Loke says:
I have to agree with most..but I do a bring a hairdryer becoz it’s not comfortable to sleep when your hair is wet. And I like jeans too!
Connie Hum says:
Ross, I am guilty of over-packing and over-weighing myself (okay, my boyfriend) down with many of the same things you did! I stopped collecting books I want to read every time I see something good and now only have the book I’m currently reading in my bag and my boyfriend is now forcing me to eat the daily vitamins I brought with me to loose some more of the weight. Unfortunately, I’m still carrying around with me my ukulele which I still INTEND to practice, though in actuality, it hasn’t left its case more than a dozen times in the entire 10 months I’ve been traveling. It’s probably going to be in my next shipment home to my parents…
ZipSetRachel says:
Thanks for the list! I am guilty of bringing a hair dryer, but it’s not always warm (mountains), so I feel like I can justify it! I think another spot on the list should be jewelry, becasue it’s just going to get lost or stolen.
Daivd says:
I will bring a tent with me when I stay in thailand again.It can be used as a mosquito net in a room and as a umbrella on the beach,especially there are 10,000-30,000 people at the full moon party on Koh Phangan Island,all the hotels are full,the tent is a mobile room as well.
Steve says:
Hey, Great article, just finished my Southeast Asia Backpacking trip and im missing it already!
Erin says:
I agree with most of those. We are travelling permanently and only have one carry-on size backpack each. To travel light you need to cut out all the things that you might need and just take things you will use regularly. That said we do travel with jeans (although we didn’t in the past). For hot climates you don’t need them but it’s nice to have something more normal looking in colder climates.
Josh says:
This is a great post, I do have to say that I always keep a swiss army knife with me though as for me it has come in helpful atleast a dozen times.
David says:
I can’t believe that people actually take a hair straightener with them. It seems like such a ridiculous thing to want to bring. Backpacking is all about keeping it light and that is not at all.
Heights Crating says:
Consider packing and shipping items prior to your arrival. You’ll be able to navigate through customs quicker and travel unencumbered. For bulky, heavy, or awkward items, consider the services of a professional crating & shipping company. The cost will be equal to, or less than, the expensive baggage fees and tips.