Packing for long-term travel can be tough - and by long term travel we mean anything lasting longer than a fortnight. What do you need? How many pairs of underwear should you pack? How many litres should your rucksack be? What even is an ESTA? It’s so easy to get lost in packing your whole life into a bag, that it’s easy to forget the essentials (other than your passport and money, of course). Luckily for you, we’ve been there and learnt the hard way about not taking these top ten essential items!
Bug spray
From Scotland’s army of midges or mozzies the size of pterodactyls in India, there is always a need for some reliable bug spray whilst on the road. If you’re not into pouring Deet all over your body, a splash of water lily oil smells like you’ve just stepped out of The Little Princess and keeps those pesky biting insects away. Win, win.
First aid kit
Buy a travel first aid kit from your nearest outdoor store and then double up on zinc oxide tape, plasters and hand sanitizer. Whether you’re taping up blisters, supporting a skiing sprain or braving a nature wee, you’ll thank yourself for thinking ahead.
Flip Flops
They’re comfy when travelling for 27 hours on crowded buses through Peru
No matter what sort of travel agenda lies ahead of you, always make room for your favourite pair of Havaianas flip flops in your rucksack. They’ll be a saviour after a day’s hiking and an essential after a diving trip in the Maldives. They’re comfy when traveling for 27 hours on crowded buses through Peru and even make hostel showers that bit more bearable when unfortunate enough to have to use them. Don’t be tempted to buy cheap flip flops that you’ll no doubt come across on your travels. You get what you pay for.
Duvet cover
For when you have to sleep in those wretched hostel beds. You know how it is.
Dry bags
When you’re caught off-guard in monsoon season in South East Asia, you’ll be glad you packed your DSLR in something dry and safe. Also useful for storing your laundry when you know you’re not going to be able to do any washing for a considerable amount of time…
Camera
As the old travel mantra says ‘Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures’. A compact camera (nothing too heavy) with plenty of memory card storage is recommended. We love the Fuji-Film X Series as they look quite old and retro (less pinchable) when they are in fact amazing modern cameras. The X100s is used by some of the best street photographers in the World for this very reason.
Baby wipes
For cleaning camping cutlery when you’re surviving by yourself in Patagonia or for wiping away the sludge of travel after 49 hours of dust and airports and chicken buses.
Plug adapters
How else are you going to guarantee you can Instagram your way around the world? #traveldeeper #travel
Head torch
Do not underestimate how much you will use a head torch on your worldly adventures. If you don’t want to wake your roomies up when popping to the loo or find yourself mid-hike when the sun goes down or even finding your way back to your tent at a European festival. Remember batteries.
Water bottle
Just make sure you fill it up after going through security!
Fill it with gin, fill it with wine, fill it with its intended liquid – just make sure you fill it up after going through security at the airport. Also helpful when travelling in hot countries and reduces your carbon footprint.
Final thoughts
Okay so that just about wraps things for the essentials to pack for life on the road. Another really good tip before we finish is to bring along some echinacea tablets to keep all the standard traveling ailments at bay (read common cold etc) and multivitamins to supplement your diet of foreign beer and local food. Oh and condoms. Again, it goes back to that old traveling mantra again - leave nothing but footprints :)
Final tip, try not to take too much. Even for a long trip, anything over 15kgs is excessive and realistically your bag should weigh between 10 to 14kgs.