We’ve all heard the stories of those who have been lucky enough to go backpacking for weeks at a time. Driven by wanderlust, they are able to make their way to new and exciting destinations with nothing more than a backpack and their passports. How do they do it? How do they travel to new countries with new climates? Is it possible to be adequately prepared with such a limited amount of space for your belongings? The simple answer is yes. Take a closer look at how backpackers manage to fit everything they need to travel the world into one little backpack.
The Rule Of Three
Most backpackers swear by the rule of three. This means that if you’re not entirely sure about how many items of each kind of clothing to pack, you should stick to no more than three. So instead of packing multiple pairs of pants, pack a maximum of three. The same goes for other items such as shorts and t-shirts. By following this rule, you make sure that you always have one to wear on the present day, one that can be worn the following day, and one more that can be washed and dried at any given time.
Roll Everything Up
One of the biggest mistakes that many people make when packing is folding their clothes up instead of rolling them – or worse for some others, just stuffing them in their bags. It is actually amazing how much extra room you will save in your bag just by rolling your clothing up. This makes it much easier to find items as well, so you don’t have to dump all the contents of your bag out when you are looking for something. Of course, the best part of rolling your clothing is the fact that there won’t be any wrinkles in your clothes when you take them out.
Stay Organised
Nothing is worse than having to rummage through your bag just to find one tiny thing. It’s frustrating and incredibly inconvenient. The great thing about backpacks is the fact that they have plenty of built-in pockets and spaces that are designed to help you stay organised. You can arrange certain things, such as your headphones and mobile phone charger so you don’t miss out and forget to place your lucky bets, in one pocket and then emergency supplies like Band-Aids and headache pills in another. Alternatively, you may want to make use of packing cubes to keep your backpack neat and tidy.
Only Pack Essential Toiletries
One of the biggest mistakes that we all tend to make is taking too many toiletries with us. While they may not weigh a lot, they are certainly bulky and can take up a lot of space in your backpack. Most seasoned backpackers take along only essential hygiene supplies such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and antiperspirant.
The rest of the toiletries you’ll need, such as shampoo, moisturiser and body wash, will also be available wherever you are travelling. Sure, you might have to use a different brand than the one you’re used to, but it’s all just a part of the experience, right?